When the iPhone 14 arrives later this year, the iPhone 14 Pro will get the most attention. In fact, at this point in the rumor cycle, with so many features being announced for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, it’s tempting to ignore the standard iPhone 14 models.
After all, it’s the Pro, not the regular iPhone 14, which is said to have an upgraded 48MP main camera. The iPhone 14 Pro models will continue to offer a telephoto camera, something that probably won’t appear on the iPhone 14. There are even rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro will get a 2TB storage option or even a USB-C port – features that are anything but certain to come through on the iPhone 14.
It’s certainly understandable that branded improvements are going to be featured in Apple’s Pro phones. The word “Pro” in the product name is likely a sign that it will feature the best of the best. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the iPhone 14 is overlooked or won’t be an eye-catching update in its own right.
Yes, the iPhone 14 Pro seems like a big deal at this point in the rumor cycle. But big changes are on the way for the other iPhone 14 models, too. Here’s why the iPhone 14 should get you excited.
The iPhone 14 will feature a new Apple chipset
Because Apple introduces a new chipset every year when rolling out new phones, we risk overlooking the importance of an upgrade. Ho hum, another chip upgrade. I bet this one is even faster than before.
Well yes. The A16 Bionic that will likely power the iPhone 14 models in the fall – standard and Pro editions – is a good bet to be faster than the A15 you’ll find in the iPhone 13 lineup. And that means Apple is almost certain to maintain its edge over other mobile silicons in terms of performance, since the A15 is already the fastest chipset we’ve tested for mobile devices.
But there will be more to the A16 Bionic than just a speed bump. Analysts believe the A16 will be based on a 4-nanometer process, compared to the 5nm A14 and A15 chips that power the last two generations of iPhones. The smaller the process, the more powerful the chip and the less space it takes up inside the phone. This allows Apple to increase battery size or make other design changes for performance’s sake.
Additionally, the system-on-chip inside the phones involves more than just a CPU and GPU. Phone makers are increasingly relying on these chips to power more AI-based functions – see Google’s Tensor silicon in the Pixel 6 series for examples of what that entails – and we imagine that Apple will find ways to make the A16 Bionic even smarter than before. This will result in iPhone 14 features that we can only begin to speculate about.
The iPhone 14 gets a makeover
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the The iPhone 14 is getting a “complete overhaul”. There is speculation that means a sleeker look for the phone, with rear lenses more integrated into the body of the phone. It looks increasingly likely that the notch will disappear from all iPhone 14 models – at one point rumors suggested that only the Pro versions would lose the notch – with a pill-shaped camera cutout potentially taking the place of the notch. (Or a pill-shaped cutout plus a circular hole, too — listen, we didn’t say all those rumors were good.)
Thing is, the iPhone 14 will likely look quite different from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. That might make this year’s iPhone a more compelling buy, especially if you’ve been sticking with your current model for a while. time.
The iPhone 14 will have a bigger screen option
That’s not good news if you like compact phones as much as I do, but the mini model that’s been around since the iPhone 12 mini probably won’t return for the iPhone 14. Instead, Apple should complete its entry 6.1-inch iPhone range with a new 6.7-inch model. For now, this version is called the iPhone 14 Max.
That’s great news for people who love big phones, which make up the majority of the world’s smartphone purchases these days. Before, if you wanted the biggest screen possible on an iPhone, you had to pay top dollar for the premium handset like the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You’ll get one of the best phones available, of course, but you’ll have to pay dearly for the privilege. Now it looks like Apple is going to have a big screen option at a lower cost, giving customers more choice.
iPhone 14 camera improvements
Most of the rumors about iPhone 14 camera changes have focused on the Pro models, adding to the impression that the standard iPhone 14 might not be so important when it does appear this fall. I think that’s the wrong conclusion to draw, though, and not just because more camera rumors are likely to emerge by the fall.
Even in the years when the cameras of the Pro models see the biggest upgrades, Apple doesn’t neglect its lower-cost iPhones. Take the iPhone 13, which has had its main camera increased in size. This allowed the iPhone 13 to let in 47% more light on shots than the iPhone 12’s main camera. Apple also increased the amount of data than the iPhone’s ultra-wide lens. iPhone 13 could capture, and the Cinematic Mode feature that shifts the focus in video works on both iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.
The takeaways here: The iPhone 14 Pro could get more headline-grabbing changes, like a 48MP main lens, according to current rumours. But Apple isn’t going to release a standard iPhone 14 without adding any improvements. It’s worth knowing what Apple has planned for the iPhone 14 cameras before making a drastic decision on whether it’s a worthwhile upgrade or not.
120Hz screens are still a possibility for the iPhone 14
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max were the first Apple handsets to feature fast-refresh displays, with Pro Motion displays able to dynamically adjust refresh rates based on your on-screen activity. The standard iPhone and iPhone 13 mini were left out of this feature, raising hopes that Apple might add it to their iPhone 14 successors.
Rumors have been back and forth on this front – some rumors claim that all iPhone 14 models will have Pro Motion displays, others suggest that only the iPhone 14 Max will get this feature and even more argue that the Fast-refresh screens will remain a Pro-only capability. We tend to think the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will join the Pro models in offering fast-refresh displays, as too many iPhone competitors already offer this feature. And that would certainly make the iPhone 14 a more compelling upgrade.
iPhone 14 price is like staying the same
There’s an upside even though the iPhone 14 Pro gets more new features than the standard iPhone – the Pro is more likely to get a price hike. Indeed, that’s what the latest rumor claims, with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max reportedly costing $100 more than their iPhone 13 counterparts.
On the other hand, it seems that Apple is maintaining the price line for its entry-level models. In fact, if Apple kept the entry-level $699 price tag for its phones, it might actually lower the cost of the 6.1-inch iPhone. Currently, the iPhone 13 costs $799, but the iPhone 14 would likely take the $699 price tag from the iPhone 13 mini if the iPhone 14 Max joins Apple’s lineup.
Premium features will always appeal to buyers who want their phones to sport all the latest bells and whistles. But those $699 and $799 prices Apple has set for its entry-level iPhone flagships are what most people are willing to pay. So no price increase there would certainly be welcome news.
iPhone 14 Outlook
The thing is, we’re still waiting for more iPhone 14 details that give us a fuller picture of what Apple has planned for the fall. Many more leaks will drop by then, especially on the camera front. And that might lead us to re-examine how exciting the iPhone 14 numbers update is.
At the end of the day, however, regardless of Apple’s releases, it’s still going to be a new iPhone. And for most smartphone users, that’s reason enough to stay interested.
