Release date rumors, pricing, early leaks, and all we know so far about the iPhone 14
Although the iPhone 13 was just released, we’ve already heard a lot about the iPhone 14, Apple’s flagship phone set to launch in late 2022, with leakers providing likely specs and even unauthorized renders of the device. Given a result, we have a pretty clear picture of the iPhone 14 range’s shape – though we’d be extra dubious this close to launch, as there’s still plenty of opportunities for things to alter. Then, below, you’ll find everything we’ve learned so far, including information on a possible release date and pricing. And as soon as we learn more about the iPhone 14, we’ll update this story, so stay tuned. Leaks are already pouring in at an alarming rate, so keep an eye on this space.
When will the iPhone 14 be released and how much will it cost?
There’s no word on when the iPhone 14 will be unveiled, but we can make a decent guess based on the fact that Apple releases new models around the same time every year, generally at a special event. On September 14, 2021, Apple introduced the iPhone 13, which would be available on September 24. While the iPhone 14 is unlikely to be released on those days in 2022, Apple usually announces new models on the first or second Tuesday in September, which would be September 6 or September 13 next year.
Then, on that week’s Friday, September 9 or 16, they normally go up for pre-order, and ship the following Friday, September 16 or 23. Occasionally, Apple will introduce the phones on the first or second Wednesday of the month, but it appears extremely likely that it will happen around those dates. The iPhone 12 series was an exception, arriving in October 2020, although that was due to Covid-19-related delays and supply concerns. There’s no word on the price, but the iPhone 13 starts at $799, so don’t be surprised if the iPhone 14 starts at the same level.
Design and display
The most important information about the design of the iPhone 14 comes from a large leak, which includes unauthorized renders of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead of a notch, it has a punch-hole camera, with the Face ID components apparently hidden beneath the screen. It also lacks a camera bump, with the lenses laying practically flat on the back – a feat that appears to be accomplished by making the phone thicker.
The back is semi-glossy glass, the volume buttons are circular, and the sides appear to be titanium rather than stainless steel, as in the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You can also see that a triple-lens camera and a Lightning port are still present. The colors displayed above aren’t official (though the source claims to have seen a rose gold model), and it’s also worth noting that this design is only expected to apply to the Pro models, with the iPhone 14 (and, if there is one, the iPhone 14 Max) likely to retain the notch. It’s unclear which, if any, of the other design elements featured here will make it into the standard versions.
Of course, we’d take this with a grain of salt, especially because it comes from Jon Prosser, who has a shady track record, and another source has claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro series will still have a notch (although a smaller one) – potentially along with a punch-hole.
However, Prosser is frequently correct, and both Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo (two renowned Apple leakers) have since stated that the notch will be replaced with a punch-hole camera, as has The Elec.
Kuo also believes that there will be two 6.1-inch iPhone 14 models (a regular and a Pro), as well as two 6.7-inch iPhone 14 models (a Pro Max and a Max). Another insider told us something similar regarding the design (Ross Young). Young has been talking about under-display Face ID in the iPhone 14 Pro range since June 2021, but he doesn’t seem as confident as Prosser, saying in September that under-display Face ID is still being worked on and isn’t final yet, despite the fact that it’s reportedly easier to achieve than an in-screen camera.
The iPhone 14 will also sport a 6.06-inch 1170 x 2532 OLED screen with a 60Hz refresh rate and 460 pixels per inch, according to Young. The iPhone 14 Pro is expected to have comparable screen specifications, but with a variable refresh rate of 120Hz. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is claimed to sport a 6.68-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a pixel density of 458 pixels per inch. There will also be an iPhone 14 Max (which will replace the mini) with the same screen characteristics as the mini but a 60Hz refresh rate.
Another source claims that the two lower-cost versions will be limited to 60Hz displays, as is the case with the present lineup. However, we’ve now learned that Apple is investigating a 120Hz screen for the iPhone 14 Max, but has yet to make a decision.
We’ve also heard that the Pro versions’ frames could be made of titanium alloy, which would match the leak. This would most certainly be more durable than the materials used in current models, and according to this source, an iPhone 14 Max will replace the iPhone 14 small.
A leak also claims that all four iPhone 14 variants would have 120Hz displays, however, this is an old leak that contradicts the one above, so we’re not persuaded. A patent for a method that could make the iPhone screen tougher without making it thicker has also been filed. That would be a good feature, but patents seldom become reality, so don’t hold your breath.
Battery and camera
On the photography front, the iPhone 14 Pro Max appears to have a triple-lens camera in the unofficial renders above, and another source also claims that the phone (along with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Max) will have a triple-lens camera. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 is said to include two lenses.
That doesn’t sound like much of a departure from the iPhone 13 lineup, however, the lens and sensor characteristics may differ. Indeed, Ming-Chi Kuo (an Apple analyst with a good track record) claims that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will each have a 48MP main camera, up from the current models’ 12MP. This appears to be capable of recording 8K footage, which he has since confirmed.
There are also reports that a periscope camera (for long-range optical zoom) is in the pipeline, and we’ve seen a patent to back up these claims. However, most sources indicate that this is still a ways off, with the iPhone 15 or later being the most likely candidate. In terms of the battery, it appears that there will be improvements, with one source claiming that it would be larger in future generations and another claiming that the phones will be thicker – potentially allowing for a larger battery.
According to one patent, you’ll be using a MagSafe charger instead of the Lightning connector when it comes time to charge, while early unofficial models show the Lightning port intact. We’d be astonished if Apple removed the Lightning port from the iPhone 14, but a new EU plan could spell the end for it.
Specifications and features
One thing is almost certain: the iPhone 14 will feature a new chipset, most likely dubbed the A16 or A16 Bionic. According to Ross Young, this would be manufactured on a 4nm process, implying that it would be a respectable upgrade over the iPhone 13’s 5nm A15 Bionic.
According to DigiTimes, the technology might possibly be scaled down to 3nm (via MacRumors). However, we’ve lately heard that a 5nm process may be used again, as TSMC (the chipset’s manufacturer) is reportedly having trouble switching to a 3nm (or 4nm) technology.
Beyond that, some sources believe we’ll see under-display Touch ID on the iPhone 14, though Mark Gurman (an Apple leaker with a good track record) has said that while Apple apparently tested it, the company is now all-in on Face ID, so it sounds like this won’t happen – and if it does, it’ll probably be alongside Face ID rather than instead.
Another source has stated that under-display Face ID would not be implemented, therefore this appears to be quite improbable. A move from a Lightning port to USB-C is another rumored but unlikely feature. Apple is purportedly contemplating this for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, but we’re suspicious because just one source has mentioned it.
The iPhone 14 will almost certainly contain 5G compatibility, and a patent reveals it may also include a new type of 3D Touch that uses haptic feedback to make interactions more intuitive. However, as with many patents, we don’t expect anything to come of this one. The iPhone 13 Pro models boosted the maximum amount of internal storage available from 512MB to 1TB, and we’re hearing that the iPhone 14 Pro phones may quadruple that again — to 2TB.
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