There are still several months until the reveal of Apple’s newest generation of iPhones, but that hasn’t stopped their fanbase from endless amounts of rumor and speculation. We’ve scoured the internet for rumors on everything from design to pricing and specs, and gathered them all here to help piece together what could be in store for Apple fans this coming September.
One of the largest changes rumored to be coming to the new 2022 lineup is Apple’s decision to forgo the Mini iPhone model, and focus on their larger phones instead. A report from Nikkei Asian Review back in July 2021 predicted the iPhone Mini wouldn't last long, and a report in April of this year by reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also echoed those sentiments. Early rumors still suggest there will be four models of phones, “high-end” and “low-end” with two size options for each.
The previous two lineups have offered phone sizes ranging from 6.1 inches for the base model up to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max version, and it looks like Apple is sticking with this for their 2022 lineup as well. Although the screens themselves aren't getting physically larger, there are rumors that the display bezels could shrink by as much as 20% which would give users much more screen real estate.
Starting back in 2020, rumors began to circulate that Apple is planning on ditching physical SIM cards entirely, and now a chain of leaks indicates that the iPhone 14 lineup may be the first to do it. 9to5Mac broke down the leaks which initially started with a Brazilian site claiming the switch to eSIM, followed by an anonymous tip to MacRumors that “Apple has advised major U.S. carriers to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only smartphones by September 2022.”
While rumors on pricing restructures for the new lineup have been relatively mum, Apple didn’t make any price changes between their 2020 and 2021 models. This could indicate that they’ve found the sweet spot for their pricing while also giving us a good starting point for speculation. Kuo predicts that the premium 6.7 inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will launch at a surprisingly low $900. When compared to the 2021 model which started at $1,099 and ran all the way up to $1,599, that’s an impressive reduction in price.
Kuo initially shared his speculation on potential iPhone 14 camera upgrades during an investor’s note shortly after the iPhone 13 launch. He predicts the next generation phones will come equipped with a hole-punch front camera and a 48 megapixel wide-angle rear camera for the Pro and Pro Max models, up from 12 megapixels on the previous models.
However, display analyst Ross Young is speculating that the new generation of iPhones will feature a hole-and-pill shaped layout in order to accommodate both the front facing camera and FaceID. The hole cutout is believed to be for the Face ID dot projector, with the pill-shaped holding the front camera and Face ID camera. Leaked CAD renders seem to corroborate this rumor, but so far there’s no way to be certain.
Apple fans have been anticipating the return of Touch ID since its removal back in 2017, and early rumors were suggesting its return for the iPhone 12. When that didn’t happen, people began to speculate it would come back with the iPhone 13. Now, speculation has shifted to the iPhone 14. Sadly, that’s beginning to look less likely. In September, Kuo predicted we won’t see the return of Touch ID technology until 2023 at the earliest.
Regarding the existence of display notch, rumors are conflicting. A report from Taiwan Economic Times (via MacRumors) claims the notchless design has been finalized as the phone enters into early stages of production. However, a recent leak from MySmartPrice shows CAD designs depicting a prominent notch. Another site, 91Mobiles, posted renders of the iPhone 14 featuring a notchless design just a day before the MySmartPrice leak. If the notchless designs end up becoming a reality, it looks like users will have to spring for the premium Pro models in order to enjoy them.
A report from the Taiwan Economic Daily News speculates that the new generation of iPhones will boast improved battery capacity and life. The battery improvements are said to be due to the new type of 5G chip the phones will utilize. If this turns out to be true, the new chip may provide the iPhone 14 with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
Some early speculation surrounding the iPhone 14 claimed the next generation phones would sport an A16 chip. More recent rumors are now suggesting that the upgraded A16 chips will only be used in the Pro and Pro Max models, while the regular 14 and 14 Max models would still be using last generation’s A15 chip.
Some early speculation surrounding the iPhone 14 claimed the next generation phones would sport an A16 chip. More recent rumors are now suggesting that the upgraded A16 chips will only be used in the Pro and Pro Max models, while the regular 14 and 14 Max models would still be using last generation’s A15 chip.
Initially introduced with 2020’s iPhone 12 lineup, the popular accessory line is expected to return with renewed focus for the 2022 lineup. Magsafe features a line of magnetic, snap-on accessories such as wallets, battery packs, and chargers.
According to a series of leaks across Chinese social media platform Weibo, the iPhone 14 and 14 Max will be available in five different colorways: Purple, Red, Sky Blue, Starlight, and Midnight. It wouldn’t be surprising if these leaks turned out to be true, as the color options are very similar to offerings in years past. The Pro and Pro max models are set to receive their own separate colors which are speculated to include: Dark Purple, Graphite, Silver, and Gold.
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