Apple's annual iPhone-centric fall event is set to begin on Wednesday, September 7, and unlike last year, there will be an in-person component with members of the media invited to test our new devices. We've been hearing rumors about the next-generation iPhones for many months now, so we know the ins and outs of what to expect.This guide highlights everything that we're expecting to see (and some more distant possibilities) at the September event based on rumors that we've heard so far.
iPhone 14
The biggest change to the iPhone 14 is the elimination of the 5.4-inch iPhone mini, which is being discontinued due to lackluster sales. The iPhone 13 mini will be the last iPhone at the 5.4-inch size, but there are still four iPhones coming this year.
Apple is replacing the 5.4-inch iPhone with a larger 6.7-inch model, so we can expect to see the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, the 6.7-inch "iPhone 14 Plus" or "iPhone 14 Max," the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. For much of the rumor cycle, the standard 6.7-inch iPhone in the works was assumed to be called the iPhone 14 Max after the Pro Max naming scheme, but rumors now suggest that it could instead be called the iPhone 14 Plus.
Aside from the new size, the standard iPhone 14 models are going to look almost identical to the iPhone 13 models, with most of the changes reserved for the more expensive Pro models. There will be no design changes and the Face ID notch will remain, nor are the iPhone 14 models expected to adopt ProMotion technology.
In fact, rumors suggest the iPhone 14 and 14 Max aren't even going to get an updated A-series chip, and will continue to use the A15 that was in the iPhone 13 models. The iPhone 14 models are more of an iPhone 13S refresh, but there are a few new features that are coming.
The iPhone 14 models are getting the upgraded Ultra Wide camera that came to last year's iPhone 13 models, and they'll also have an upgraded front-facing camera with wider f/1.9 aperture and autofocus capabilities.
We're expecting 6GB RAM, up from 4GB, and all of the iPhone 14 models are rumored to feature an updated Snapdragon X65 10 Gigabit 5G modem from Qualcomm. The X65 modem enables some satellite connectivity features, so there have been rumors that Apple is going to implement satellite-based emergency features that will let users send texts in emergency situations and report major emergencies in areas where there is no cellular coverage.
iPhone 14 Pro
While minor changes are coming to the standard iPhone 14 models, the Pro line is getting a much more significant update. The 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes aren't changing, but Apple is rumored to be getting rid of the notch.
Rather than the notch, Apple is implementing a pill-shaped cutout and a hole-punch cutout, both of which will house the front-facing camera and the TrueDepth system needed for Face ID. Though these are two distinct cutouts, Apple plans to combine them into one long pill-shaped notch using software.
The space between the two cutouts will be blacked out when the iPhone is in use, making the cutouts indistinguishable from one another. With this design, it will look like one cutout rather than two different-sized cutouts, which will make for a more streamlined look.
Rumors suggest that Apple will use the space between the cutouts for microphone and camera indicator lights, but the area between the cutouts will otherwise be black and will appear as a single cutout.The iPhone 14 Pro models are rumored to include a 1Hz to 120Hz ProMotion display, which will enable a long-awaited Always-On Display function that's expected to work similarly to the Apple Watch always-on display.
The front-facing camera will feature the same wider f/1.9 aperture and autofocus capabilities as the regular iPhone 14. There will be a larger, more prominent camera bump to accommodate a new 48-megapixel Wide lens with a 21 percent larger sensor that supports higher-resolution images and 8K video recording, marking one of the biggest camera updates we've seen on the iPhone line in years.
The telephoto lens will be upgraded from a 6-element lens to a 7-element lens, and we could also see improvements to the Ultra Wide camera. 6GB RAM is expected, the same as the iPhone 13 Pro models, and we are counting on a faster Snapdragon X65 10 Gigabit 5G modem, WiFi 6E, and up to 2TB storage space. A new purple color could join the graphite, gold, and silver options.
With so many upgrades, the iPhone 14 Pro models could have a higher starting price, with Apple perhaps increasing prices by approximately $100. If that happens, the iPhone 14 Pro would start at $1,099 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max would start at $1,199, but no specific details on pricing are known at this time.