Apple iPhone 14 Pro

It was expected that Apple would get rid of the notch. However, it is not completely gone because Apple's solution is still rather large. After all, the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max has to house the Face ID components and selfie camera. And that requires space. Yet Apple managed to make the True Depth camera 30% smaller.

The Dynamic Island has numerous animations that can grow to show notifications, for example. It can be tapped to get more information and expand to display more control buttons. Hardware and software melt together as only Apple can. Whether it is wise to smudge your selfie camera with greasy fingerprints every time is up to you.

Super Retina XDR and A16 Bionic

Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max get a new type of display with Always On functionality, a higher peak brightness of 2000 nits outdoors and with better anti-aliasing. Additional processing power comes from the A16 Bionic chip, built on 4nm for the first time. That makes it more powerful and energy efficient though Apple still promises one-day battery life.

48MP camera sensor

Apple has finally increased the camera resolution. The primary camera now has a 48MP large sensor which is 65% larger than before. This camera can merge four pixels into one for higher light sensitivity (pixel binning) in low light situations. There is also a 12MP ultra-wide angle and 12MP telephoto with up to 3x zoom. Moreover, thanks to the software-based Photonic Engine, all cameras shoot better pictures in the dark.

iPhone 14 Pro price and availability

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro is available for preorder starting Friday, September 9 and should be available September 16. Prices start at $999 for the Pro and $1,099 for the Pro Max. That's the same as last year, although Euro prices are not. Those see a big increase as a result of the dropped exchange rate. The 14 Pro model with 128GB of storage costs a whopping €1,329, the 14 Pro Max starts at €1,479 and goes up to €2,129 for the 1TB version. Available colors include Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple.

This means that the iPhone 14 and its bigger brother the iPhone 14 Max will have to make do with the same notch design of the iPhone 13. Apple more often than once equips only Pro models with new techniques, although a screen notch can't really be called new by now.

Evidence for this story comes from a surfaced photo showing screen protectors for the iPhone 14 lineup. Although, of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that this is what will happen. Apple is Apple and everything can change between now and when the iPhone 14 Pro sees the light of day. Although this rumor is not new.

48MP camera and 120Hz screen

We also know about the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max that they feature a new 48MP camera sensor and a 120Hz screen. The iPhone 13 Pros already had such a screen so the number of new features is somewhat limited. It also seems that the 120Hz screen will remain reserved for the Pro models which makes the novelty of the non-Pro models seem very limited.

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The iPhone 12 Pro was 7.4 millimeters thick, the iPhone 13 Pro grew to 7.65 millimeters and the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to come in at 7.85 millimeters. Every year a bit thicker but still thinner than the iPhone 11 Pro at 8.1 millimeters.

Apple already stopped the trend of ever-thinner Apple products last year. The new MacBook Pro became (much) thicker and now iPhones are seemingly allowed to gain some weight as well. We applaud it because it means more space for a bigger battery. The render above already shows the iPhone 14 Pro with iPhone 14 Pro Max with its presumably new Face ID cutout.

48MP sensor?

The thickness is not the only thing getting bigger, the camera module is also getting slightly larger. About 15 to 20%, presumably to accommodate the larger 48MP sensor. Currently Apple uses a 12 MP sensor, for years in fact. Since the iPhone 6s Plus that Apple released in 2015.

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The notch was always an interim solution, an ugly one for that matter. Nowadays, many manufacturers prefer a punch-hole. Round and usually in the middle while others prefer the corner. Apple seems to be leaning towards the middle for the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.

The punch-hole has the advantage of giving you more screen space. It also disappears while using (for most of us anyways), a lot more than with a notch. Apple stayed away from it for a long time because it needs the space for the Face ID components. Where those sit on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is still unclear. It could be underneath the screen, in the bezel but it could also be completely gone. Although the latter option does not seem very plausible.

Not the end of the notch

Apple isn't really saying goodbye to the notch for ever. The entry-level iPhone 14 will likely still get one, and Apple is introducing the notch in their newer MacBook's. It is not very consistent. We are therefore very curious to know how and why Apple partly says goodbye to this recognizable and also controversial design. The source also mentions a 6.7 inch Max model with notch. With the disappearance of the mini model, the 2022 lineup will still include 4 iPhone models.

Via: The Elec
Photo: Ian Zelbo