The iPhone 14 will arrive in just a few weeks. Apple traditionally targets the second week of September for a special event, and while some believe it could be earlier, the smart money will take place on Tuesday, September 13, on that big day.
But even though we’ve been through 15 events since the launch of the phone in 2007, this year feels different. All of the recent rumors say that Apple will differentiate the iPhone 14 lineup like never before, with an unprecedented separation of Pro and non-Pro models and more emphasis on high-tech features. Here’s how the new strategy will pose a huge risk:
Prices go up
Over the past few years, Apple has tried to keep iPhone prices stable. The iPhone X cost $999 when it was released in 2017, and the iPhone 13 Pro costs the same $999 five years later. Similarly, the iPhone XS Max cost $1,099 when it arrived in 2018, and Apple hasn’t raised the price of that model either, despite adding a bigger screen and an extra camera.
But this year, there are rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro models will go up $100 across the board, meaning the Pro will cost $1,099 and the Pro Max will cost $1,199. That’s about 10 percent higher, and it’s a pretty big jump from last year. Meanwhile, the non-professional line will also have a higher starting price, with the $699 mini version disappearing to be replaced by the $899 Max model.
Risk factors: Will people be willing to spend $100 or more on a new iPhone? Will the higher starting price of the Max keep the upgrades out?
iPhone 14 will have envy without notches
In 2017, the notch on the iPhone might have been a polarizing feature, but it has become the phone’s most recognizable feature. And it may disappear – at least on the Pro models. Instead of a notch, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to feature a punch-hole + tablet camera notch design that is no different from more expensive Android phones.
While notch haters will certainly appreciate the new look, casual Apple fans may not like it. First, it’s a little general; on the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro will look different than the iPhone 14. People are used to iPhone models being slightly different, but changing the notch on one line and keeping it on the other is a drastic change.
Risk factors: Will the iPhone 14 feel like a smaller upgrade? Will people accept the new cutout design?
Michael Simon/IDG
iPhone 14 will have an old chip
Perhaps the biggest change in the iPhone 14 has to do with the processor. Since the very first iPhone, all models released in the same year have had the latest processor, including the iPhone SE, but Apple is rumored to be ditching the trend. While the iPhone 14 Pro models will get the new A16 chip, the iPhone 14 will reportedly have the older A15 chip found in the iPhone 13 Pro. Apple will certainly tout performance improvements, but for the first time, the iPhone 14 will be significantly slower than the iPhone 14 Pro.
Risk factors: Does processor speed matter to buyers? Will buyers be wondering if they really need the power that the iPhone 14 Pro provides?
iPhone 14 Pro still won’t have a decent zoom lens
If anything has been confusing over the past few iPhone updates, it’s the lack of a suitable zoom lens. This is rumored not to change with the release of the iPhone 14. While the camera will certainly be improved, most notably the 48MP lens on the Pro models, optical zoom will likely remain limited to 3x, which isn’t impressive in 2022. phones have 5x and 10x optical zoom and digital capabilities up to 100x, while the iPhone still has 15x zoom and struggles to achieve it.
Risk factors: Will buyers care more about image quality than proximity? Will the camera on non-professional models offer any reason to upgrade?
Michael Simon/IDG
iPhone 14 will have a two-year-old design
Apple usually changes the design of its phones every two years, but it looks like the iPhone 14 will have the same design as the iPhone 13, which had the same design as the iPhone 12. This will be the first time that Apple has redesigned the iPhone for more generation:
- iPhone
- iphone 3g, 3gs
- iPhone 4, 4C
- iPhone 5, 5C
- iPhone 6, 6C
- iPhone 7, 8
- iPhone x, xs
- iphone 11
- iPhone 12, 13, 14
It’s not that the iPhone 13 is an ugly phone, of course, but we get used to a new design every year. And people heading to the store to see the new iPhone design will find it looks very similar.
Risk factors: Will people know there’s a new iPhone? Will iPhone 12 users wait another year for the update?