The wait could almost be over for Apple fans, as tech bloggers fuel excitement and rumours predicting the launch of the next generation Apple iPhone.
Speculation over whether shoppers will finally get their hands on what is sure to be one of the hottest launches of the year is building to a climax, but Apple is staying traditionally tight-lipped about this year's potential release. With the help of consumer champion Which?, here's everything we know about this year's - potential - launch:
Will the 1Phone 14 be launched this year?
Although Apple has not made an official statement confirming the release, iPhone enthusiasts are expecting the usual launch this year. Last year's iPhone 13 was launched in the Autumn with pre-orders opening shortly after the announcement, so there's plenty of time yet.
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When is the iPhone 14 coming out?
Predictions are rife, but without an official announcement from Apple, prospective release dates are just speculation. However, Which? reckons that previous iPhone launches give the biggest clue to the potential unveiling date. On 14 September last year, Apple released details of its new iPhone, and customers were then able to pre-order a device on September 17, with availability beginning on September 24. However, the company took a slightly different approach with the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020, when it announced the release on October 13, pre-ordering began on October 16, with customers getting their hands on the phone on October 23.
Tech bloggers are plumping for a September launch, with iDrop nailing its colours to the mast and going for September 13, with September 23 the first date fans can get hold of their new tech. We'll just have to wait and see.
Will Apple release an iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max?
One of the vexed questions among the Apple community is how many other models will form part of the assumed new line-up. In the past, as well as the standard edition, Apple normally launches a 'Pro' range with extras such as better screens, more RAM and longer battery life. The internet is awash with reports that as well as the iPhone 14 there will be an iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max as part of the range, with perhaps an iPhone 14 Max too. According to reports the iPhone 14 will be a 6.1-inch model, as will the Pro, while the Pro Max and Max will land at 6.7-inches. It is thought the new iPhone Max will give customers the bigger screen they crave at a more affordable price.
Will Apple release an iPhone 14 mini?
Fans of the iPhone 13 mini will be disappointed to learn that the smaller device has not made the cut in the iPhone 14 range, if rumours are to be believed. It is thought that poor sales of previous mini models have caused Apple to knock the mini on the head.
How much is the iPhone 14?
The short answer is no-one knows. As a reference, the iPhone 13 was released 'from £779' last year. The iPhone Pro was advertised on the Apple website for £949 and the iPhone Pro Max priced at £1,049. It is thought that the iPhone 14 will cost around the same price.
What colours will the iPhone 14 come in?
Reports on website Phone Arena indicate that the phones will come in Midnight, Starlight, Product RED, Blue, and potentially a new purple colour. The Pro models will come in Graphite, Silver, Gold, and maybe purple as well.
Should I wait for the iPhone 14?
That depends on how big an Apple fan you are. In recent years, we haven't seen big leaps in innovation in the mobile phones market – and that goes for Android brands like Samsung as well as Apple. So you could be paying a premium price for something that's not dramatically different. If value for money is your main concern, bigger discounts on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 range, especially shortly after the iPhone 14 launches, might be worth waiting for.
So what else might be new in the iPhone 14 range?
There are plenty of other rumours doing the rounds about the new iPhone range. Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted back in March that 'high-end 2022 iPhones' will ditch the notch on the display and adopt the hole-punch design instead. Some predictions have gone further and suggested that the hole punch will be pill-shaped.
Another reported design feature of the new iPhone 14 models is a titanium alloy chassis. Rumours around this new design, which will increase the phones resilience, came from an investor report by JP Morgan Chase.
It is also rumoured the new iPhone models will benefit from an 'always on display' function – part of the display remains lit up when the phone is asleep so that users can still see the time or notifications without the phone being activated.
One reported prediction that will be sure to attract potential customers is the camera performance on the Pro editions. Website MacRumors wrote in April that Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the high-end models will have a a 48-megapixel camera, up from 12 on the iPhone 13. Ming-Chi Kuo also tweeted earlier this year that the front-facing cameras on the iPhone 14 are likely to be upgraded which will enhance selfies and video calling.
Predictions differ about the processors, with market researchers TrendForce expecting the iPhone 14 Pro editions to have the 'latest processors' which is understood to be the A16 Bionic chip. However MacRumors reported that analyst Jeff Pu expected all four editions of iPhone 14 to have 6GB of RAM.
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