Apple iPhone 14 release date, price, features, and news

There are a few things certain in life: death, taxes... and Apple releasing a new iPhone generation each and every year! The upcoming iPhone 14 family is coming this September, possibly September 13, and just in accordance with its super-premium status, we've heard tons of leaks and rumors about the upcoming iPhones. 

So, what have we been hearing, exactly?

Lots of things, including but not limited to the swan song of the iPhone mini and the rise of a new size category (an affordable iPhone Max), a big design change in the form of a punch hole cutout replacing the infamous notch, as well as faster hardware on the premium iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but also... a higher price! 

And Apple will be bringing all of this come September 2022.

Let's dive in!

Apple iPhone 14 Release date

Apple will most likely unveil the iPhone 14 series on September 13, 2022, as recent rumors from iDropNews claim, and most likely release it to the market on September 23, 2022. 

That's due to the usual timeframes that the company favors on an annual basis and sticks to: Apple tends to announce its new phones on the first or second Tuesday of September and subsequently release them roughly ten days later, always on a Friday.

The keynote launch of the iPhone usually kicks off at the Apple Park HQ in Cupertino at 10am Pacific Time (6pm GMT), and has Apple CEO Tim Cook officially unveil the new iPhones along with other involved key executives on stage. Just like WWDC'22, we expect the iPhone 14 announcement to be a virtual-only affair. 

Below we have Apple's iPhone release schedule for reference, from 2018 onward, with the iPhone 14 and its expected release date included:

iPhone 14 Price

Recent rumors pin the pricing of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max versions to be higher than predecessors. The anticipated price hike is due to a variety of factors, namely more expensive components and the display in particular, plus an overall price inflation across the supply chain.

What's more, according to CCS Insight's Ben Wood, Apple has been mulling over a $100 price hike of all iPhone 14 devices, but might ultimately decide against the price change due to the increased cost of living. Apple might choose to only raise the prices of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

Apple is reportedly still considering the price hike, especially everywhere outside of the US. Provided it does happen, then the prices of Apple's 2022 lineup could look like this:

It's important to say that the iPhone 14 Pro Max specifically could get a bigger price hike if a rumored massive camera overhaul happens. For the rest of the models, we don't expect a colossal spike in prices, and again, if we do see such a price hike, though, it would likely hit the Pro models the most.

iPhone 14 Name

Apple is reportedly prepping four devices for 2022 and most probably ditching the Apple iPhone mini lineup for good. New here is the large affordable iPhone, which could either be called iPhone 14 Max or, as some recent rumors claim, iPhone 14 Plus, essentially resurrecting the name that Apple gave to its first 5.5-inch iPhone all the way back in 2014.

Here's a purported iPhone 14 lineup:

• iPhone 14 6.1″ — the base iPhone, a logical continuation of the iPhone 11, 12, and 13
• NEW! iPhone 14 Max (Plus) 6.7″ — a larger version of the iPhone 14 with dual cameras and bigger battery
• iPhone 14 Pro 6.1″ — the triple-camera iPhone 14 with all the bells and whistles in a manageable size
• iPhone 14 Pro Max 6.7″ — a largest version of the 14 Pro with premium features and longer battery life

Apple iPhone 14 Camera

New sensors coming in

As per famed Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning a massive camera upgrade for the iPhone 14 family. Notably, Apple is planning to bring a new and much larger sensor for the main camera, a massive 1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor. This sensor is expected to grace the top-tier iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max flagships.

The main wide-angle camera is the most likely to benefit from the larger sensor first, though the improved camera tech would likely trickle down to the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras in subsequent iPhones down the line. Of course, the Pro models will always be one step ahead.

"We believe that the new 2H22 iPhone may support direct 48MP output and 12MP (four cells merge output mode) output simultaneously," says Ming-Chi Kuo. "With 12MP output, the CIS pixel size of the new 2H22 iPhone increases to about 2.5um, which is significantly larger than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, and larger than existing Android phones, and close to the DSC level."

This would be the largest camera sensor ever fitted on an Apple iPhone. Thanks to quad pixel-binning, it should provide superb low-light image quality that would play extremely well with the Night mode of the iPhone 14. It looks like Sony will be supplying these new sensors, whereas LG will be tasked with the production of the camera modules for the iPhone 14 themselves.

What's more, the new sensor will theoretically allow for 8K video capture with the main camera. At the moment, iPhones can only capture up to 4K video at 60 fps. We are not sure whether 8K will actually arrive this year, though, as insiders have said it might not.

All of these nifty camera improvements will however result into increased costs for Apple, which are likely to trickle down to the end-user. It's logical to expect that only the top-end iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max will get the new and improved camera tech first.

However, all four iPhone 14 models are anticipated to have a new front camera that features auto-focusing. Since the front camera on all prior iPhones was fixed-focus, this would be a welcome upgrade that would let you to take selfies and make video calls with a deeper depth of field. Leaks claim that the new front camera will feature an f/1.9 aperture rather than the f/2.2 aperture that was previously utilized, which should let more light in. 

Apple iPhone 14 Design

The premium models are getting a new frontal design

What will the iPhone 14 series look like? Generally, we don't expect any too major changes in terms of overall design, so you can expect the iPhone 14 series to look mostly similar to the iPhone 13 series. However, one very big change that will stick out will be the removal of the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which will be substituted for an "i"-shaped horizontal hole-punch cutout. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will still use the new narrow notches introduced by the iPhone 13 series.

JP Morgan Chase also was among the first ones to break outrumors about a possible titanium frame for some iPhone 14 models, namely the Pro and Pro Max versions. That would be a big change from the stainless steel used in the Pro models currently, but take this one with a grain of salt. Apple has been using a titanium alloy as one of its case material options for the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 models. And while titanium is not a perfect material in any way (it smudges easier), Apple has been reportedly working on different coatings to minimize fingerprint smudges on its next iPhones.

Another recent leak shows the new iPhone 14 series all coming with narrower borders around the screen for a cleaner look. This bezel minimization took off with the iPhone 12 generation, went strong during the iPhone 13 days, and it seems that the iPhone 14 will give us the thinnest bezels on an iPhone so far. In April, iPhone 14 molds have also made the rounds, reinforcing the notion that we should expect four iPhone 14 models, with no 'mini' in sight this time around.

As for the iPhone 14 colors, we expect to see a more conservative color choice with a matte finish on the Pro series, while the non-Pro versions are expected to stick with a glossy finish.

For the iPhone 14 and 14 Max models, we expect to see 5 to 6 different color versions:

• Midnight
• Starlight
• Sky Blue
• Red
• Purple

We first saw Apple use a purple colorway as an additional color for the iPhone 12 that was introduced about half a year since the original release of the phone, and this one could be a similar, slightly darker shade.

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max rumored colors:

• Graphite
• Silver
• Gold
• Purple 

For the Pro models, we see the 3 familiar staple color versions (Graphite, Silver and Gold), and again the new Purple tone as the fourth option. Interestingly, there is no mention of a green version of the iPhone 14, despite this being the latest color that Apple released for the iPhone 13 model. Learn all about the little intricacies of iPhone 14 colors here.

Schematics, published on Twitter by Max Weinbach, reveal the exact dimensions of the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will reportedly feature thicker camera islands due to a larger camera sensor. As was suspected, the new 48MP camera that is rumored to replace the 12MP main sensor is the reason behind the thicker camera bump. Kuo has revealed that compared to the 12MP camera, the diagonal length of the 48MP module will be around 25 to 35 percent greater and the height of its 7P lens will increase by 5 to 10 percent when compared to the primary unit on the iPhone 13 Pro.

As we've mentioned, this might also be the first iPhone without a notch since the iPhone X was introduced in 2017. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max could embrace a floating oval cutout with a dedicated Face ID dot projector to the side. The selfie camera will be placed in the oval cutout, while the dot illuminator for Face ID will be covered by the display itself and essentially be invisible, so the only thing you will be seeing is the oval camera cutout. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will most certainly retain the slimmer notch that debuted with the iPhone 13 series.

Another rumor calls for the total omission of a physical SIM card slot. Dual eSIMs could be used instead, but even if this comes true, iPhones 14 units with physical SIM card slots will likely still be sold in regions where the eSIM standard hasn't been adopted yet. However, judging from some recent leaks by leakster ShrimpApplePro, the iPhone 14 series will include a physical SIM card tray, but it's not too outlandish to assume that Apple might sell both regular and eSIM-only models of the iPhone 14 series. 

On the topic of biometrics, there's little to no chance that Touch ID embedded into the display will be making an appearance on the iPhone 14 series. Apple is seemingly still betting on Face ID as the main biometric solution for the iPhone 14. 

Apple iPhone 14 Display

The biggest change since the notch

Speaking of displays, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to come with 6.1" and 6.7" ProMotion displays with variable refresh rate. Yes, we currently expect that only the Pro models will feature screens with a 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the more affordable non-Pro versions will merely come with your standard 60Hz  OLED displays. That's in line with what we have seen in the iPhone 13 series.

What might set the Pro models even further apart from the regular iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max are always-on displays. Some rumors claim that iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could score always-on displays that show important information on the screen at all times. Apple already does this on the Apple Watch, so it makes sense that the iPhone would be next in line for this feature. In fact, it's LTPO OLED displays that allow for such functionality, and LTPO OLEDs are exactly what allows for fast refresh rate switching. 

What's more, multiple lines of code in iOS 16 points reportedly point to the iPhone 14 having an always-on display, so this feature is almost certainly coming this fall. According to the rumors, the customizable widgets that can be plastered on top of the iOS 16 lock screen will be displayed alongside the clock as always-on elements on the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max. 

Here's what the iPhone 14 series' displays will be in terms of size and features:

• 6.1" iPhone 14 with 60Hz 'slim' notch display
• 6.7" iPhone 14 Max with 60HZ 'slim' notch display
• 6.12" iPhone 14 Pro with 120Hz i-shaped punch-hole display, Always-on Display
• 6.69" iPhone 14 Pro Max with 120Hz i-shaped punch-hole display, Always-on Display

Apple iPhone 14 Specs and hardware

Apple has a bitter surprise in store

What about the iPhone 14 specs? Every year, Apple announces an update to the Bionic chipset lineup, with every new version faster than its predecessor, and this certainly won't change in 2022.

What we're unsure of is what technology the new Apple A16 Bionic chip will be built upon. Some rumors suggest a move to 4nm or 3nm architecture, an upgrade from the current 5nm tech used. This should bring overall performance and power efficiency improvements. Others, however, mention the global semiconductor shortage and say plans have been postponed, so the A16 might still use 5nm tech.

According to TSMC's production schedule, we could theoretically see up to a 15% performance gain as well as 30% power reduction, and a logic density gain of up to 70% over the current 5nm process (in ideal conditions).

What's brand new and very likely, however, is that Apple will use the fancy new A16 chip only on the iPhone 14 Pro and the Pro Max, while the non-Pro models would stick with the older A15 Bionic.

The Pros are also expected to be the first iPhones with 8GB of RAM on deck, which would definitely improve their multi-tasking capabilities. Currently, the 13 Pro models ship with 6GB of RAM, and the non-Pro versions have 4GB. However, one recent rumor calls for at least 6GB of fast RAM in all iPhone 14 models, with the more affordable iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max boasting LPDDR4X RAM and the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max using the faster LPDDR5 RAM. The latter might pair nicely with the Apple A16 Bionic chipset, further widening the gap between top-end iPhones and Android phones.

In terms of connectivity, the iPhone 14 will support 5G connectivity, just like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 generations. Rumor has it that TSMC has secured all Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G chip orders for the iPhone 14 family, taking over from Samsung. TSMC's 5G chips are likely built on a 6nm manufacturing process and are thus more compact and efficient on both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G bands. The smaller chip would allow for a larger battery, which the iPhones are rumored to get, and TSMC is also expected to introduce some additional goodies like Wi-Fi 6E, which has faster bandwidth and lower latency in comparison with regular Wi-Fi 6. 

In the near future, however, Apple is expected to move away from Qualcomm and introduce its own custom 5G chip starting with the iPhone 15. 

Apple iPhone 14 software

iOS 16 is great

The iPhone 14 family will come with iOS 16 on board. Apple previewed the software on stage at WWDC'22. You can read everything there is to know about iOS 16, as well as our preview, in our dedicated iOS 16 hub page right here. Here's a summarized list of the most important new features:

• Lockscreen customization with widgets, animated images, and cleaner notifications
• More filters for Focus Mode
• Edit and Undo Send, Mark as Unread in iMessage
• SharePlay in iMessage
• Improved voice dictation with an on-screen keyboard
• Quick Actions with text captured from the camera
• Photos - lift subject from background with Siri Knowledge
• Share digital keys in Wallet

Apple iPhone 14 Battery and charging

Growth all across the board, with a minor exception

The latest rumors about the iPhone 14 battery sizes are in, and it seems that batteries are growing all across the board, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which will be getting a slightly smaller battery in comparison with its direct predecessor. 

The iPhone 14 will reportedly be getting a 3,279mAh battery, which is mostly similar to its predecessor's one, while the iPhone 14 Pro will be getting a 3,200mAh battery cell, a 105mAh increase over the iPhone 13 Pro. 

As mentioned, the iPhone 14 Pro Max could be coming our way with a 4,323mAh battery, some 30mAh less than what we had in the iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

Finally, the all-new iPhone 14 Max is expected to come with a 4,325mAh battery, technically the largest among the bunch and also the largest battery ever fitted on an iPhone.

In terms of charging, we're certainly retaining the 20W wired charging solution (though the iPhone 13 Pro Max can unofficially receive a 27W charge for a faster top-up), though it's unclear if Apple will be officially increasing charging speeds this year. 

The iPhone 14 most certainly won't have a USB Type-C port and will come with the good ol' Lighting port. Тhe proverbial USB-C iPhone is an extremely high chance for 2023 onward thanks to a recent ruling by the EU that Apple has to comply with. If Apple wants to sell its iPhones in the EU, it will have to comply with the ruling, and we don't see Apple producing two separate versions of the iPhone, one with Lighting and another one with USB Type-C. However, the iPhone 14 will certainly come with a Lighting port. 

All four iPhone 14 will also have MagSafe wireless charging. However, it's unclear whether the series will get reverse wireless charging, a feature that we have seen on many Android rivals. It could happen, and it could also be reserved for the iPhone Pro models only, but we don't have clarity on that yet.