Everything we know about Apple's upcoming 2022 iPhones.
Rumored 2022 iPhone Lineup
There are still several months to go before the 2022 iPhone 14 models will be ready to launch, but because there are such significant updates in the works for these devices, we've been hearing rumors about them since well before the iPhone 13 models even came out.
iPhone sizes are changing in 2022, and Apple is eliminating the 5.4-inch iPhone mini as it turned out to be unpopular with customers. After seeing lackluster iPhone mini sales, Apple is planning to focus on larger iPhone sizes for its flagship devices, and we're expecting to see a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Since 2017, iPhones with Face ID have had a notch at the front to house all the necessary equipment for facial scanning, but that's set to change with the launch of the iPhone 14. The 2022 iPhone 14 Pro models are expected to eliminate the notch in favor of a new design. Rumors are a bit mixed right now, but it looks like Apple will go with some combination of a circular hole-punch cutout for the camera paired with a pill-shaped cutout to house to key Face ID components. This feature will unfortunately be limited to the Pro models, and the standard iPhone 14 models will continue to feature a standard notch.
The rear camera could also see a new design with Apple introducing a thicker body that allows for the camera bump to be eliminated. If this pans out, the lenses, flash, and LiDAR scanner could sit flush with the rear glass, but we've only heard one rumor suggesting that this might happen.
Some of the new iPhones may feature a titanium frame, and redesigned speaker and microphone grilles are a possibility. Apple could also use a new vapor chamber thermal system that will keep the iPhone cooler to minimize the impact of faster chips and 5G connectivity.
New iPhones always include camera improvements, and the iPhone 14 is no exception. There will be improvements to the Ultra Wide camera, and there's a possibility that Apple will introduce a "periscope" zoom lens that allows for much greater optical zoom, but it's still not yet clear if this will come in 2022 or 2023. The Pro iPhone models could also get 48-megapixel cameras and 8K video recording capabilities.
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 14 models are likely to continue to use the same A15 chip that was introduced in the iPhone 13 series, while the iPhone 14 Pro models receive an updated A16 chip.
Apple is expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon X65 chip, which is the first 10-gigabit 5G modem with faster connectivity speeds and connectivity improvements. Alongside the X65, Apple is expected to introduce new satellite-based emergency features that will let users send texts in emergency situations and report accidents with no cellular coverage.
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No Notch and New Face ID Hardware Design (Pro Only)
For at least some of the iPhone 14 models, Apple is working to eliminate the notch that houses the hardware needed for Face ID. The notch was a controversial design decision when it was introduced in 2017, and since then it's changed little with the exception of the size tweak with the iPhone 13.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March 2021 that the 2022 iPhone models would not have a notch, and would instead adopt a hole-punch style design that's been popular on many Android phones.
Since Kuo's prediction, there have been other rumors that have made the front design of the iPhone 14 Pro models a bit less clear. Leaker Dylandkt has said that rather than a hole-punch design, the camera cutout on the iPhone 14 Pro models will be pill shaped. Display analyst Ross Young has further clarified and said that he expects to see both a pill-shaped cutout and a circular cutout. The circular cutout will likely house the Face ID dot projector, and the pill-shaped cutout will include the front camera, Face ID infrared camera, and possibly other components.
Apple may also be planning to put some of the Face ID hardware under the iPhone's display, which will cut down on the sizes of the cutouts that are needed and will leave more available screen space on the front of the device. Both analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman have said that Apple is working on an under-display Face ID solution, but there's a chance that it will not be ready for use in 2022 devices.
Barclays analysts claim that Apple is planning to adopt a laser-based time-of-flight architecture for Face ID that would allow for substantial changes to be introduced to the front-facing TrueDepth camera array, and other rumors point to a unibody lens design for a reduction in the size of the front camera module.
ProMotion Display
There were early iPhone 14 rumors suggesting that all four iPhone 14 models coming in 2022 could offer ProMotion displays with refresh rates up to 120Hz, but it looks like that's not going to happen.
Apple is likely to restrict ProMotion technology to the iPhone 14 Pro models, a move that display analyst Ross Young attributes to a lack of availability of the necessary displays. Young has made it clear that he believes 120Hz refresh rates will remain an iPhone 14 Pro feature.
Korean website The Elec has said that at least one of the iPhone models coming next year will use a standard LTPS OLED display without 120Hz ProMotion technology, which supports Young's statements. Analyst Jeff Pu has claimed that the feature will come to all iPhone 14 models, but he is not known for his reliability.
Body Design
The iPhone 14 models are expected to look like the iPhone 13 models with the same flat-edged design. Leaker Jon Prosser claimed that Apple would introduce a thicker chassis with no rear camera bump and round volume buttons, but his information appears to have been incorrect based on later rumors and leaks.
Alleged renders depicting the iPhone 14 models surfaced in March, and the renders suggest that the standard iPhone 14 models will have no design changes, featuring the same look as the iPhone 13 models. There will be a standard notch along with the exact same camera bump at the back with the diagonal camera layout.
Size Options
There will be no 5.4-inch iPhone in 2022 because Apple is doing away with the "mini" line following lackluster sales. The iPhone 13 mini will be the last of the mini phones, and going forward, Apple is expected to focus on larger-sized iPhones.
We're expecting a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with the larger 6.7-inch iPhone replacing the mini model.
Titanium
Apple's upcoming iPhone 14 models are also expected to come with a high-end titanium alloy chassis design, according an investors report from JP Morgan Chase. Apple has used titanium for the Apple Watch, but this would mark the first time that the material has been used for an iPhone.
Titanium is more scratch resistant and it's stronger than both steel and aluminum, plus it's more corrosion resistant.
Cooling
Starting in 2022, high-end iPhone models are likely to adopt a vapor chamber thermal system, which Apple is said to be "aggressively testing." The VC thermal system will be required for the high-end iPhones due to their stronger computing power and faster 5G connection speeds. There are already smartphones from companies like Samsung, Razer, and LG that use vapor chamber cooling technology, which is used to keep a device cooler when it is under heavy stress.
It is unclear if the vapor chamber thermal system will meet Apple's high requirements, but Apple is working on improving it and high-end models could adopt it in the near future.
Lightning Port
There have been rumors that Apple is aiming to remove the Lightning port from the iPhone for a portless design with charging done over MagSafe, but it's not clear if that technology will be introduced with the 2022 iPhone models.
At least some of the iPhones coming will continue to feature a Lightning port.
Camera Technology
All of the 2022 iPhones could see improvements to the Ultra Wide camera, and the iPhone 14 Pro models will see significant improvements to the wide-angle camera and updates to the telephoto lens. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the 2022 Pro iPhone models will feature a 48-megapixel Wide camera, which would be a major improvement over the current 12-megapixel camera, and 8K video recording capabilities.
The 48-megapixel camera in the iPhone 14 Pro models will also be able to take 12-megapixel shots, likely through a process known as pixel-binning. Pixel binning merges data from multiple smaller pixels on the camera's image sensor into one "super-pixel" for improved low-light sensitivity.
With this feature, the iPhone 14 Pro models may be able to take full 48-megapixel photos in situations with good lighting, but when lighting is poor, it will use the pixel binning process for a higher-quality 12-megapixel photo that takes advantage of the 48-megapixel lens.
Kuo believes that the 8K video recording feature will allow iPhone-recorded videos displayed on an 8K display or TV to provide "a better user experience," and that this resolution will allow the iPhone to create videos and images more suitable for augmented and mixed reality devices like the AR/VR headset that Apple has in development. 8K video recording and the 48-megapixel Wide lens are believed to be limited to the Pro models, with the standard iPhone 14 models receiving a more modest camera setup.
A16 Chip
New iterations of the iPhone typically come with an updated A-series chip, but Apple might deviate from standard operating procedure this year. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, only the iPhone 14 Pro models will get a new and faster A16 chip.
Kuo says that the standard iPhone 14 models will continue to use the same A15 Bionic that's in the iPhone 13 models, marking a significant differentiation between the Pro and non-Pro iPhones in 2022.
The A16 chip designed for the iPhone 14 Pro models will reportedly be built on TSMC's "NP4" process, which the company says is the third major enhancement of the 5-nanometer family.
RAM
According to Ming-Chi Kuo the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models will feature 6GB RAM, which is the same amount of RAM available in the iPhone 13 Pro models.
Car Crash Detection
Apple is working on a car crash detection feature for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, which could come out in 2022. It will use sensors like the accelerometer to detect car accidents when they occur by measuring a spike in gravitational force.
When a car crash is detected, the iPhone or the Apple Watch would automatically dial emergency services to get help. Since it's planned for 2022, this could be a feature designed for the iPhone 14 models and the Apple Watch Series 8, though it's not likely to be limited to those devices. It will be an expansion of the Fall Detection feature that's in existing Apple Watch and iPhone models.
Snapdragon X65 Modem
The iPhone 14 models will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem, which is the world's first 10 Gigabit 5G modem and antenna system for smartphones.
RF Chip
Taiwan's Economic Daily News has suggested that Apple has ordered 5G radio frequency (RF) chips from TSMC, with Apple using its own technology instead of chips from Samsung.
The chips are allegedly manufactured on TSMC's 6-nanometer process, which offers a smaller package with lower power consumption. This could perhaps lead to better battery life when using 5G technology, along with support for WiFi 6E.
Satellite Connectivity
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 enables some satellite connectivity features, and alongside the modem, Apple plans to implement satellite-based emergency features that will let users to send texts in emergency situations and report major emergencies in areas where there is no cellular coverage.
Emergency Message via satellite will allow users to text emergency services and contacts using a satellite network when there is no cellular or WiFi signal available. It will be a new communications protocol alongside SMS and iMessage, and it will feature gray message bubbles. Message length will be restricted.
Another feature will let users report major emergencies like plane crashes and fires using satellite networks. These features are still in development and will launch in 2022 at the earliest.
WiFi 6E
The iPhone 14 is expected to feature WiFi 6E connectivity, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that WiFi 6E will offer the high-speed wireless transmissions necessary for AR and VR experiences, and it is also expected to be used in the mixed reality headset that could come out in 2022.
WiFi 6E takes advantage of the 6GHz band in addition to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to increase bandwidth and cut down on interference, while also offering the performance boost and low latency provided by the WiFi 6 specification.
2TB Storage?
With the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple added a new 1TB storage tier, and rumors suggest that with the iPhone 14 upgrade, Apple could increase that even further to 2TB. This rumor comes from a source that's not always accurate, however, so it should be viewed with some skepticism until backed up by another more reliable source.
No Physical SIM Slot
The iPhone 14 models may launch without a physical SIM slot, with Apple transitioning to an eSIM-only design. Apple is allegedly advising major U.S. carriers to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only smartphones by 2022, which suggests some iPhone 14 models may be the first to come without a SIM slot.
With the iPhone 13, Apple provided some models without a nano-SIM in the box, with cellular plans instead being able to be activated using eSIM. An eSIM allows for cellular plans to be added to a device without using a nano-SIM.
eSIM functionality is not available in all countries, so iPhones sold in some areas will need to continue to offer a nano-SIM slot. In countries where a SIM-free iPhone is available, it may be optional, with consumers still able to choose a version with a SIM. There are more than 60 countries that support eSIM, with a list available on Apple's website.
iPhone 14 Launch Date
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 14 models at an event that's likely to be held in September 2022, if Apple follows previous launch timelines. Most iPhone events take place during the first or second week of September.
Future iPhone Rumors
In 2023, Apple could get rid of the hole-punch cutout too, resulting in an all-display design with no notch and no holes, though display analyst Ross Young has said that all 2023 models will have a dual-hole cutout similar to this year's iPhone 14 Pro models. The 2023 models will use the same design with circular cutout and pill-shaped cutout, and the feature won't be limited to the Pro models. The pill and hole design could shrink, but it will be a few years before Apple is ready for full under-display Face ID.
In-House Modem Chips
Apple is working on creating its own modem chips that are designed in-house, much like the Apple silicon and A-series chips, which will allow the company to reduce its reliance on modem chip vendors. Apple has been working on the modem for several years and development accelerated after Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple could transition to its own 5G modems as early as 2023. Once Apple comes out with its own modem designs, it will no longer need Qualcomm. 2023 is the "earliest" date, but multiple rumors have suggested that Apple chip supplier TSMC will be ready to manufacture Apple's modem chips in 2023.
Periscope Lens
If a periscope telephoto lens is not ready to debut in the 2022 iPhone models, it could instead be introduced in the 2023 iPhone models.
Under-Display Face ID
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a way to put the hardware for Face ID under the display to get rid of the notch. It was initially thought that Apple could adopt under-display Face ID technology as soon as 2022, but display analyst Ross Young says that components like the infrared camera will not be moved under the display until 2023 or 2024, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also pointed to 2023 as Apple's target date for under-display Face ID functionality.
According to Korean website The Elec, Samsung is developing under-panel camera technology that will be used for an under-screen Face ID system for Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models in 2023.
Foldable iPhone
Further in the future, Apple could potentially introduce some kind of foldable iPhone, based on various rumors and patents the company has published, as well as competition from companies like Microsoft and Samsung, which have developed foldable smartphones.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has started "early work" on an iPhone with a foldable display, but the company has not yet committed to releasing a foldable device. Rumors suggest a foldable iPhone could come in 2023 at the earliest, but that 2024 is a more likely target date.
For details on what we know about Apple's work on folding devices, make sure to check out our foldable iPhone guide.
iPhone 14 Timeline
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