This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Apple’s most popular product.
Apple’s new iPhone 14 line is expected to be among the reveals at the company’s “Far Out” event on Sept. 7, and it’s natural to want to compare this year’s rumored model against last year’s iPhone 13. While rumors further point to the iPhone 14 getting a Sept. 16 release date, nothing is official just yet.
In the meantime we have questions: How much better will the cameras get? Will the iPhone 14 get more expensive? And what’s the deal with the notch anyway — is this the year of the no-notch iPhone? We’ve sorted through the rumors to find some answers or at least form a better idea of what features Apple’s 2022 flagship phone may include. To be clear, none of these specs or features have been confirmed by Apple.
Read more: Apple iPhone 14: Release Date, Price and Every Other Noteworthy Rumor
iPhone 14 design: Bye-bye, notch; hello, cutouts
This one has persisted for years, but one of the biggest rumors is about the notch at the top of the screen. After introducing the notch on the iPhone X back in 2017, Apple could finally ditch it this year — though apparently only on the Pro models. The company is expected to trade it out for a smaller hole-punch camera in the Pro models, according to noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Kuo. A hole-punch design refers to a display with only a small circular cutout for the front camera, as seen on a number of Samsung launches including the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 4.
However, display analyst Ross Young predicts the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will receive two cutouts: a hole and pill-shaped cutout to accommodate the front-facing camera and Face ID. Right now, the notch is home to the components that make Face ID work, meaning Apple may need to shrink all that tech in order make a notchless iPhone a reality. Whether the next iPhone receives one cut-out or two, the rumors we’re following point to members of the iPhone 14 lineup going notchless for the first time in five years.
iPhone 14 selfie camera: Revamped front-facing camera
Apple made major changes to its rear cameras over the years, but the cameras on the front have been overlooked. That may no longer be the case this year. If the notch goes away iPhone 14’s front shooter may alter visually with the addition of cutouts, but there’s also chatter about the camera system itself receiving a noteworthy upgrade functionally.
In an April tweet, Kuo said the entire iPhone 14 lineup will receive a larger aperture (f/1.9), which should help the device take better pictures at night, and an upgrade to autofocus. All this potentially represents the iPhone’s biggest front-facing camera upgrade since 2019.
(2/2)
AF support and a lower f-number can provide a better shallow depth-of-field effect for selfie/portrait mode. In addition, AF can also enhance the focus effect for FaceTime/video call/live streaming.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) April 19, 2022
The iPhone 14 display: Pro models might have an always-on display
One of the biggest iOS 16 features previewed by Apple was its overhauled lock screen. Set to launch in the fall as part of iOS 16, the lock screen will show more information at a glance, including weather, activity progress, battery levels and your calendar. It’s a feature that pairs well with an always-on display — and it makes sense that Apple would launch it via the upcoming iPhone 14.
A June report by 9to5Mac discovered references to backlight management tools as well as hidden flags for engineers that could allow them to test an always-on display on an iPhone 13 Pro. The always-on display is already found on numerous Android phones as well as the Apple Watch. Instead of lighting up your entire display like your lock screen does, an always-on display only activates a portion of the screen to save power.
iPhone 14 price: Pro models might more expensive by $100
Apple didn’t make any price changes between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineup, but Wedbush analyst Dan Ives expects a price hike for iPhone 14 pro models to the tune of $100. Currently, the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1,099.
That’s backed up by Kuo, who recently said he expects the average selling price of the iPhone 14 lineup to increase. The macro-economic environment also points to a price hike. Inflation remains persistently high, while Apple continues to grapple with supply chain issues in China — both of which have been pushing up the price of conducting business.
iPhone 14 size: Same, same but different bezel size for Pro models
Apple’s last two iPhone lineups have featured the same 6.1-inch size for the base model, going up to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max. According to a Nikkei Asian Review report, Apple will stick with these sizes for the iPhone 14 series, but eliminate the 5.4-inch Mini. This rumor is corroborated by a March report from 9to5Mac. Reports showed sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, so it’ll be no surprise if Apple ends up retiring the small phone in 2022.
Although the size of the next iPhone is expected to stay the same, the display bezels for the Pro Max are rumored to be 20% smaller compared to previous iPhone generations, according to CAD renders shared by Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro. This means the screen would be slightly larger. However, it’s important to note that this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt since ShrimpApplePro doesn’t have an extensive track record to support their speculations.
