iPhone 14 Archives - AppleTrack

iPhone 14 delays in question amidst supply chain challenges

The rumors: Sources are currently split on whether or not the iPhone 14 will be delayed due to supply chain issues.

Jeff Pu (50% accurate, source) and Nikkei Asia (accuracy pending, source) report that iPhone 14 Max is currently delayed by about 3 weeks due to lockdowns in China because of COVID-19 outbreaks
Ming-Chi Kuo (72.5% accurate), however, says that things are “under control currently” and that suppliers will be able to work harder and catch up with the production schedule of other iPhone 14 models

Sam’s take: No doom and gloom for the iPhone 14 launch yet. And out of all of these reports, I absolutely put the most faith in Kuo’s prediction. By no means is a delayed launch of some iPhone models unprecedented (it happened with iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max)…I just don’t think it’s likely at this point in time. My bets are on all 4 iPhone 14 models launching simultaneously in September 2022.

(2/2)
I believe iPhone 14's challenges will come from the demand side instead of the supply side.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 26, 2022

Rumor says all iPhone 14 models getting 6GB RAM…but there’s a catch

The rumor: Apple is preparing to put the most RAM ever in all iPhone 14 models, but there’s a catch, according to Trendforce (84.5% accurate, source).

While all iPhone 14 models are said to have 6GB RAM, the type of RAM won’t be the same on all iPhone 14 models
While iPhone 14 and 14 Max will get 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are getting 6GB of faster and more efficient LPDDR5 RAM

Sam’s take: This follows the through line of previous rumors of lower-end internals for iPhone 14 and higher-end stuff for iPhone 14 Pro. Historically, I’ve always been confused why Apple made the non-Pro and Pro model specs so similar…they were always just so close until recently history when we’ve started to see them diverge a bit. This year, there really won’t be many similarities at all…the Pros are getting the new display look, faster chip, better RAM and 48MP camera.

iPhone 14 to finally gain always-on display mode

The rumor: Apple’s most expensive iPhones could gain an always-on on display mode this year, according to Mark Gurman (86.5% accurate, via Power On).

“I’m told to expect the always-on mode as an exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, codenamed D73 and D74, if the feature ends up making the cut,” Gurman
This will reportedly be enabled through iOS 16, which Apple is unveiling at WWDC on June 6

Sam’s take: Extremely petty (but predictable) that the always-on display would be limited to the Pro iPhones only. And as reported, I completely expect this to be software-locked to the newest iPhones (rather than it coming to all iPhone models through iOS 16). Still, better late than never considering that Android has had this for as long as I can remember.

Second report says iPhone 15 getting USB-C port in place of Lightning

The rumor: Following a blockbuster report from earlier this week, Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate) now confirms that Apple is hard at work on putting USB-C on next year’s iPhone.

Here’s the latest, via Bloomberg…

“Apple Inc. is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more prevalent USB-C connector, according to people with knowledge of the situation, a move that could help the company conform with looming European regulations.” Gurman says. “In addition to testing models with a USB-C port in recent months, Apple is working on an adapter that would let future iPhones work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector…”
Apple last switched the charging port from 30-pin to Lightning in 2012 on iPhone 5, USB-C is said to make its debut in 2023 at the earliest

Sam’s take: I can’t believe that Gurman is now echoing Kuo’s report from just days ago. This is no joke, and I really do think that we will be getting USB-C on iPhone 15 considering the caliber of reporting here. I won’t believe it until I see it, but this is the most smoke we’ve ever had for the USB-C fire.

Apple planning larger displays for upcoming iPhone 14 models

The rumor: Some of Apple’s next-generation iPhones will see display increases this year, according to Ross Young (92.9% accurate).

Apple is planning to increase iPhone 14 Pro from 6.06 to 6.12 inches…and iPhone 14 Pro Max is going up ever so slightly from 6.68 to 6.69 inches diagonally
Considering how minor these size increase will be, it’s likely that the phones will still be marketed as 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch class displays, respectively
The change in screen size is reportedly happening because of the new pill + hole notch design and slimmer bezels

Sam’s take: No major size changes here, but I love that we’re seeing confirmation from the display expert himself that there is a tangible size benefit to Apple redesigning the front of iPhone 14 Pro. As each day passes, I grow to like the new look more and more.

iPhone 13 Pro – 6.06"
iPhone 14 Pro – 6.12"
iPhone 13 Pro Max – 6.68"
iPhone 14 Pro Max – 6.69"

Differences due to pill + hole replacing the notch and narrower bezels.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 10, 2022

Leaked photo shows new iPhone 14 display designs

The leak: A new photo has surfaced online that provides our best look yet at the front of the entire iPhone 14 lineup.

The photo, originally posted to Chinese social network Baidu, corroborates what sources have been saying for months now: same notch as before on iPhone 14, all-new pill + hole design on iPhone 14 Pro
It also appears that the bezels on Apple’s higher-end iPhone 14 Pro will be slightly thinner than those on the standard 14

Sam’s take: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but now that I’ve seen that pill + hole deign in a real photo…I actually dig it. I know, a huge change of pace from my thoughts a few months back. I think I’m just glad it’s something truly new, something that we haven’t seen on the iPhone before…or any other phone for that matter. As we’ve been seeing, the differences between the normal and Pro phones this year will be the larger yet.

New video goes hands-on with iPhone 14 mockups

The news: Some freshly printed 3D models of the iPhone 14 have been shared online by Apple blog Macotakara (58.5% accurate, source).

Matching closely what we’ve seen in previously leaked CAD files, the iPhone 14 lineup won’t include a mini model this year
As can be seen in the video and image above, the curvature on the iPhone 14 Pros is slightly different and now matches the camera bump
The lens diameter on all iPhone 14 models is the same as before, but the length of the lenses is increasing (likely due to an upgraded camera sensor)
While the iPhone 14s will retain the same notch as iPhone 13, iPhone 14 Pro models will get the new cutout design

Sam’s take: A riveting soundtrack for this hands-on, if I don’t say so myself. Joking aside, it’s not like we’re learning anything new here…it’s just that we get a better look at these than ever before and some good sizing comparisons to iPhone 13 cases. And the iPhone 14 Pros having no notch or cutout at all? That’s not happening. It’ll be the pill + hole design we’ve come to know, it just wasn’t printed on these models for some reason.

Only some iPhone 14 models are getting the new 48MP camera

The rumor: Apple is working on a radically upgraded camera…but only for the most expensive iPhones, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

“From what I’m told, the new 48-megapixel sensor for the wide-angle camera (which is essentially the “main” camera on the iPhone) will be exclusive to the Pro models. The regular iPhone 14 line will stick to a 12-megapixel shooter,” Gurman says
This 48MP camera rumor has been echoed by numerous sources over the past few months, but up until now it was believed that all iPhone 14 models would gain the extra megapixels…apparently not

Sam’s take: Without a doubt, the difference between the standard and pro iPhones this year is going to be a big deal. Not only will the pro models now have a radically better camera system, they’re also the only ones getting the new A16 chip. As previous rumors suggested, Apple is keeping the A15 chip on standard iPhone 14 models. If there was ever a year to spend $999 on a new phone, this will be it.

iPhone 14 satellite feature gets closer to launch later this year

The rumor: Apple’s highly-anticipated satellite communication feature could launch on iPhone 14, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

Initial rumors in 2021 suggested that the iPhone 13 series could boast satellite connectivity…but at launch it was nowhere to be found
Since then, we have seen reports suggesting that Apple is still actively developing the feature, even though an exact launch date wasn’t known
“There have been signs lately that Apple and its apparent satellite partner Globalstar Inc. might be getting closer to launching such a feature. In February, Globalstar said it reached an agreement to buy 17 new satellites to help power “continuous satellite services” for a “potential”—and unnamed—customer that had paid it hundreds of millions of dollars. Is that customer Apple? We’re probably less than six months from finding out, ” Gurman says

Sam’s take: The fact that this deal was signed and announced with an unnamed company sounds like Apple to me (plus, the first-ever report about satellite connectivity mentioned Globalstar as Apple’s partner). We’ve seen this in a past where an Apple partner talks about a deal before Apple is ready to, and it always happens like this. I would bet pretty heavily that we see this on iPhone 14, especially considering that we know it has been in development for a number of years.

iPhone 14 said to release in new purple color, upgraded flash coming

The rumor: Apple is looking to add new colors and a new flash to iPhone 14, according to a new rumor from Oivo sauce ovo posted to Weibo.

The new flash is described as “a small circle in a big circle,” rather than the dual circle design we have seen in recent history (see illustration below)
Apple is also working on a new purple colorway for both iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro that shifts in tone depending on the lighting
According to the rumor, black, white, blue, red and purple will be the color options for iPhone 14, while graphite, gold, silver and purple will be available on iPhone 14 Pro

Sam’s take: Purple for all models, at launch, is going to be a big hit. I remember when Apple launched the purple iPhone 12 in April 2021, so many folks wanted it! But they had already bought one of the other colors months earlier. Based on the way it is described in the Weibo post, it sounds pretty stunning. If it looks as good as it sounds, I’m in. As for the flash change…it’s unclear what that means right now.

Thanks ShrimpApplePro for the tip!

Apple may finally address an odd design quirk on iPhone 14

The rumor: iPhone 13 models have a strange design inconsistency…but that could be changing on iPhone 14, as noticed by render artist Ian Zelbo..

There is a quirk with the iPhone 13 Pro design: the radius of the phone’s corners do not match the radius of the camera bump (obviously, an odd decision for a company like Apple, who is known for their cohesiveness)
As seen in various iPhone 14 Pro CADs and schematics that have leaked, Apple has rounded the corners of the iPhone 14 Pro significantly, finally addressing the odd look on the iPhone 13 Pro
In addition as the corners being more rounded, the corners of the screen are also far more curved
According to CADs, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will not be getting the rounder corners…mostly likely because the camera module is far smaller, making it unnecessary
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro is rumored to have an upgraded camera setup, and if Apple kept the same radius from the iPhone 13 Pro, it would result in a very uneven looking device

Ian’s Take: Finally! As soon as the iPhone 13 Pro came out, I noticed the uneven radius of the camera module and the device’s frame. I am not only excited that Apple is addressing this design quirk, but the more rounded design looks fantastic. My insanely detailed renders of the iPhone 14 Pro will release first on the Front Page Tech YouTube channel.

iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro – close up comparison, iPhone 14 Pro is in front