But while the new iPhones themselves aren’t expected to look dramatically different, some industry observers suggest there may be notable changes to the kinds of iPhones Apple offers.
For the first time since 2019, Apple is staging its September launch event — perhaps the most important product reveal of the company’s year — in person at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. The event will also be live-streamed online starting at 1 p.m. Eastern time/10 a.m. Pacific time on YouTube and on the company’s website.
But before any of that starts though, here’s our guide to what you can expect Apple to announce. We’ll be updating this story as the live event unfolds, so stay tuned for updates.
Shifting sensibilities for the iPhone
Apple’s “mini” line of smaller iPhones — which first appeared around two years ago — may disappear entirely, according to reports from Bloomberg and TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Instead, the new (and normal-size) iPhone 14 may be joined by a larger iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen.
Having a larger version of the regular iPhone 14 could be especially enticing to people who want a big screen “without having to pay more for the extra bells and whistles they might not want” from one of Apple’s Pro Max models, said Carolina Milanesi, lead analyst at Creative Strategies.
The differences don’t end there, either. A report from the Wall Street Journal suggests that the new iPhone 14 and its bigger sibling will use an “enhanced” version of the existing A15 Bionic chipset found in existing iPhone 13 models. That’s a first for the company’s smartphones, though Apple has used upgraded versions of existing processors rather than brand new ones in some of its iPad models. Instead, Apple is said to be reserving the latest version of its mobile chipset — the A16 — for its more premium iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max devices.
Apple’s Pro models might also include a higher-resolution camera and smaller cutouts for the devices’ front-facing cameras and Face ID scanners in lieu of the notch.
One or more of Apple’s new iPhones could also come with the ability to communicate with satellites in case of emergency, according to TF Securities International’s Kuo. Similar rumors surfaced around the launch of the iPhone 13 last year, but in a note published on Medium, Kuo said the company had “completed hardware tests” of a satellite communication feature for the iPhone 14. Whether that feature actually becomes usable, he added, mostly depends on “whether Apple and operators can settle on a business model.”
Apple declined to comment about its upcoming products ahead of its launch event.
Like your milk, eggs and gasoline, at least some of Apple’s new iPhones may wind up costing you more than before.
Since it introduced the first “Pro” iPhone three years ago, Apple has charged $999 for the base Pro model — that’s at least $200 more the standard iPhone model announced at the same time. But in a note to investors, Wedbush Securities analysts Daniel Ives said he expects to see those Pro devices become even more expensive.
“While the base iPhone will stay at the same price, we believe a $100 price increase on the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max is likely in store given component price increases as well as added functionality on this new release,” he said.
Apple Watch and AirPod upgrades
Beyond its iPhones, Apple is also expected to reveal new versions of its popular smartwatches and wireless ear buds.
The Apple Watch Series 8 may have a slightly larger screen, said Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, and could include sensors to help it measure a wearer’s temperature and blood pressure. And in a bid to capture a different class of smartwatch users, the company is also expected to announce a more rugged “Pro” version of the Apple Watch.
A handful of supposedly leaked renders released on Monday suggest the Apple Watch Pro could have a larger screen and an additional physical button on its left side. If true, such a device would put Apple in position to better compete with companies like Garmin, which produce heavy-duty, fitness-tracking smartwatches in addition to more basic activity trackers.
As for audio, the company is expected to reveal a new version of its AirPods Pro, a set of in-ear wireless ear buds with noise cancellation that debuted in late 2019. While it’s unclear how — or if — these new ear buds sound any different from the models they will replace, Kuo has suggested the new AirPods will come in a case that charges them faster and contains a speaker that can play an alert sound if a user misplaces them.
