Rumored changes to iPhone 14 include titanium chassis and 48 megapixel camera

[Alder Lake]

Summary

iPhone 14 is going to use 4nm or even 3nm manufacturing along with an option for 48 megapixel cameras, 4x the resolution the iPhone 13 pro uses, they will also apparently feature a display with no notch! though I obviously wouldn't consider it worth it to spend $1200 upgrading from any current iPhone, but here's a picture of what it may look like

Spoiler

remember these are rumors, but according to these rumors it will have flush back cameras, a hole-punch no notch front camera^maybe, and a pretty sleek overall design, it will also feature an A16 chip, it is also rumored to have 6.1" and 6.7" options, they apparently will use under-screen Face ID & thumbprint sensors, which would remove the notch and add thumbprint back, but these are still rumors, remember. Further in the future it also mentioned apple may add foldable iPhones, but that's heavily speculative and purely based on the idea that they want to be compete with Samsung and not let them take over anything. It is also possible that they will add a 2tv model, but take that with some heavy salt, it should also feature Wi-Fi 6E, and potentially satellite communication. Another interesting thing is that it will probably feature a titanium chassis, which is stronger and harder than steel or aluminum, meaning it will be tougher and more scratch resistant, the chasis will also apparently be thicker for the rear cameras, this will make it stronger, meaning foolish teenagers might finally have a phone that they don't break. 

Quotes

Quote

There are months to go before the 2022 iPhone 14 models will be ready to launch, but because there are such major updates in the works for these devices, we've been hearing rumors about them since well before the iPhone 13 even launched.

iPhone sizes are changing in 2022, and the 5.4-inch iPhone mini is going away. After lackluster sales, Apple is planning to focus on larger iPhone sizes, 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. Some 2022 iPhone 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 paired with a pill-shaped cutout to house. These cutouts will house key Face ID components.

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.

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.

New A-series "A16" chips are expected, built on either a 3 or 4-nanometer process by TSMC. Each new chip iteration brings improvements in power and efficiency, and the A16 chip will be no exception.

 

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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.

Note: See an error in this roundup or want to offer feedback? Send us an email here.

No Notch and New Face ID Hardware Design

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 design that's been popular on many Android phones. This hole-punch will reportedly be a center-placed cutout that's for the front-facing camera.

Since Kuo's prediction, there have been other rumors that have made the front design of the iPhon 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

All four of the iPhone 14 models coming in 2022 could support 120Hz ProMotion display technology rather than just the Pro models, but that's not a sure thing as other rumors indicate the ProMotion will be an iPhone 14 Pro feature.

Korean website The Elec, for example, has suggested that at least one of the iPhone models coming next year will use a standard LTPS OLED display without 120Hz ProMotion technology, indicating the feature could continue to be limited to Pro models, and display analyst Ross Young believes just the Pro models will get the feature.

Apple is sourcing LTPO OLED displays for the iPhone 14 Pro models to allow for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. Though Samsung supplied the OLED panels that Apple used for the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple is planning to also source some displays from LG Display in 2022.

Body Design

The iPhone 14 models are expected to look like the iPhone 13 models with the same flat-edged design, but in addition to the display changes, there will be updates to the body design.

Leaker Jon Prosser claims that Apple will introduce a thicker chassis with no rear camera bump. The lenses, LED flash, and LiDAR Scanner will allegedly be flush with the rear glass, for a non-protruding camera design that hasn't been used since the early days of the iPhone.

Along with the flush camera, the iPhone 14 models could feature round volume buttons that look similar to the buttons from the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 models, and redesigned speaker and microphone grilles with elongated mesh cutouts rather than individual holes at the bottom of the device.

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 there's a slim possibility that Apple will introduce "periscope" lens technology that could allow for optical zoom up to 10x.

Other smartphone brands have already adopted periscope lens technology, but Apple has allegedly run into some issues because much of the technology is guarded by patents owned by other companies. Apple could license technology from a manufacturer like Samsung, or continue to work on its own solution. Unfortunately, it's not looking like periscope lens technology will be ready for release in 2022, and it could instead come in 2023 with the iPhone 15 models.

Even if periscope lens technology is not ready for a 2022 launch, there are still telephoto lens improvements coming. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says says that Apple will upgrade the telephoto camera from a 6-element lens to a 7-element lens.

Kuo also 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 for 2022.

A16 Chip

Each new iteration of the iPhone comes with an updated A-series chip, and for the iPhone 14, we're expecting Apple's A16 chip.

The next-generation A-series chip designed for the iPhone 14 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 analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 14 Pro models will feature 8GB RAM, up from 6GB in the current iPhone 13 Pro models. The standard iPhone 14 models are expected to continue to offer 6GB RAM.

Car Crash Detection

Apple is working on a 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.

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 let user 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.

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.

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.

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.

Under-Display Touch ID

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on iPhones that will feature under-display Touch ID, but these devices are not expected to launch until 2023. Other sources like Bloomberg have disagreed that Apple is focused on under-display Touch ID, and it's not clear if the feature would be included in Apple's flagship iPhones or devices like a future iPhone SE.

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.

A mockup of what a foldable iPhone could look like

 

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

January2022

Jan 13Recapping Rumors About Under-Screen Face ID and Touch ID on Future iPhones

Jan 12Face ID Under the Display Returns to Being an iPhone 15 Pro Rumor

Jan 12iPhone 14 Pro Now Rumored to Feature Both Pill-Shaped and Circular Cutouts

Jan 12iPhone 14 Pro Again Rumored to Feature Upgraded 48-Megapixel Camera

Jan 10Mockup Shows What iPhone 14 With Pill-Shaped Cutout Could Look Like in Your Hand

Jan 8The iPhone 14 Is Unlikely to Be Portless, Here's Why

Jan 6Leaker Says iPhone 14 Pro to Feature Pill-Shaped Camera Cutout With Face ID Under the Display

Jan 3iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Feature Periscope Lens With Up to 10x Optical Zoom

Jan 2Gurman: iPhone 14 Models Without Notch, Redesigned MacBook Air With M2 Chip, and More to Launch in 2022

December2021

Dec 31What to Expect From Apple in 2022: iPhone 14, New iMac, AR/VR Headset, and More

Dec 26Apple Allegedly Preparing for iPhones Without SIM Card Slot by September 2022 [Updated]

Dec 23iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max Hole-Punch Displays to Be Supplied By LG and Samsung

Dec 20Kuo: iPhone 14 Pro to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera, Periscope Lens Coming 2023

Dec 15The iPhone 14 in a Nutshell: All the Rumors Summarized

Dec 14How the iPhone 14 Pro's Upgraded 48-Megapixel Camera is Expected to Work

Dec 13iPhone 14 Pro Models Rumored to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera and 8GB of RAM

Dec 8iPhone 14 Pro Models to Feature Hole-Punch Display

November2021

Nov 17Kuo: iPhone 14 and Mixed Reality Headset to Feature Wi-Fi 6E

Nov 3A16 Bionic Chip in iPhone 14 Reportedly Set to Be Based on '4nm' Process [Updated]

October2021

Oct 7iPhone 14 Unlikely to Rely on Hole-Punch Design Entirely and May Keep Notch, No Under-Screen Touch ID, Leaker Claims

 

My thoughts

 This is still a long distance away and most of these are simply rumors, but if any of these find their way into the iPhone 14, I think this is quite cool, I still don't think it's a good choice to upgrade just yet, even if your iPhone's generation is less than half the current generation, unless OS updates prevent software you use from working. If you just can't wait, then if any of these rumors turn out to be true, it should be pretty cool, though if the chassis does end up being thicker, it might end up being a bit heavier, however the pro version might actually lose weight due to the lower density of titanium versus stainless steel.

 

Overall, it's another phone that's almost a year away with a lot of changes, don't expect all of these rumors to be true, and don't complain to me if they aren't, just hope for the best, and plan for the worst

 

Sources

https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/iphone-14-pro-may-ditch-the-12-megapixel-camera-come-with-48-megapixel-camera-instead-1900077-2022-01-14

https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-14/

[Radium_Angel]

I read your headline as "Itanium chassis" and thought...

 

"Well, that's one use for all the unsold CPUs...."

[Alder Lake]

1 minute ago, Radium_Angel said:

I read your headline as "Itanium chassis" and thought...

 

"Well, that's one use for all the unsold CPUs...."

extra processing power, along with probably being cheaper than solid titanium, or even solid stainless

[PeachGr]

Some said, maybe a USB- c, because otherwise you have to transfer their demanding size videos via lightning, and that's taking hours

[WhitetailAni]

I'm gonna say it.

The notch is better than a punchhole.

[RejZoR]

14 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

I'm gonna say it.

The notch is better than a punchhole.

I'm gonna say it too, the notch everyone is whining so hard over is not even that annoying. It's just there and I happen to like FaceID so it has a purpose there. It's not just because someone copied someone, you know, like all the Android phone makers when they copied iPhone X... Ultimately, I don't care for as long as they don't take away FaceID for it. That would be really stupid.

[Mihle]

I prefer punchhole over notch, and I have had phones with both.

With notch, there is only so many, usually few spaces for notification symbols, with punchhole it's much more, not that I need super many, but I need more than 3.

[poochyena]

1 hour ago, FakeKGB said:

I'm gonna say it.

The notch is better than a punchhole.

both are equally as bad I think. Just put a full bar there that takes up only .5 cm

[AlTech]

1 hour ago, FakeKGB said:

I'm gonna say it.

The notch is better than a punchhole.

I'd still say a teardrop notch is better than a regular notch tbh.

[Alder Lake]

2 hours ago, RejZoR said:

I'm gonna say it too, the notch everyone is whining so hard over is not even that annoying. It's just there and I happen to like FaceID so it has a purpose there. It's not just because someone copied someone, you know, like all the Android phone makers when they copied iPhone X... Ultimately, I don't care for as long as they don't take away FaceID for it. That would be really stupid.

actually, they're apparently trying to find a way to have sub-screen face id

[Obioban]

3 hours ago, poochyena said:

both are equally as bad I think. Just put a full bar there that takes up only .5 cm

How is that better? With the current notch setup, you get your status indicators to the left and right of the notch, and then a square uninterrupted screen for your content. With a full bar, you'd have to shift the status indicators down, losing content space. 

[poochyena]

2 minutes ago, Obioban said:

How is that better? With the current notch setup, you get your status indicators to the left and right of the notch, and then a square uninterrupted screen for your content. With a full bar, you'd have to shift the status indicators down, losing content space. 

.5cm of content space. I rather have a clean looking phone and lose a non-noticeable amount of space than have a pimple in the top middle of my screen.

[Blademaster91]

3 hours ago, poochyena said:

both are equally as bad I think. Just put a full bar there that takes up only .5 cm

A full bar bezel at the top and bottom is the best, I'd rather have some bezel area so I can hold the phone, losing some content area isn't that bad, and no awful looking notch in the top of the display.

[Levent]

No USB C rumors this time around? (or I guess there is not one just yet)

[Arika]

7 hours ago, Alder Lake said:

titanium

As if the iPhone needed to be more expensive....

[StDragon]

34 minutes ago, Arika S said:

As if the iPhone needed to be more expensive....

Gold plated would be nice. But not with diamonds, that's just too gaudy.

[Alder Lake]

18 minutes ago, StDragon said:

Gold plated would be nice. But not with diamonds, that's just too gaudy.

just use rhodium, a good $191,361.76/40cm³

[vetali]

Wonder if they are gonna attempt to make it any lighter. Because the 13PM is borderline annoying due to its weight.

[IkeaGnome]

9 hours ago, Alder Lake said:

Another interesting thing is that it will probably feature a titanium chassis

Does this add a "TI" designator? iPhone 14 Plus Max TI?

[Alder Lake]

2 minutes ago, vetali said:

Wonder if they are gonna attempt to make it any lighter. Because the 13PM is borderline annoying due to its weight.

titanium is stronger than aluminum per weight and lighter than stainless, so the pro/pro max could use less titanium and get the same weight, and the non-pro models should all become a bit lighter

[Alder Lake]

47 minutes ago, IkeaGnome said:

Does this add a "TI" designator? iPhone 14 Plus Max TI?

I believe they were going to call it the iPhone 14 Pro Max Tie, just to be like NVIDIA

[seon123]

18 minutes ago, Alder Lake said:

titanium is stronger than aluminum per weight

For bending, you should be considering E/ρ³, since the second moment of area of a flat plate depends on the cube of the height. Using this criteria, you'll find (to no surprise) that aluminium would perform better (higher stiffness) at a constant mass (which does not matter, since that's not what they would do), and steel would perform better at a constant geometry (which is likely closer to what they'll likely do). 

 

 

TL;dr;: By changing from aluminium to titanium, you would get a heavier phone, or a phone that's easier to bend. 

[Alder Lake]

Just now, seon123 said:

For bending, you should be considering E/ρ³, since the second moment of area of a flat plate depends on the cube of the height. Using this criteria, you'll find (to no surprise) that aluminium would perform better (higher stiffness) at a constant mass (which does not matter, since that's not what they would do), and steel would perform better at a constant geometry (which is likely closer to what they'll likely do). 

 

 

TL;dr;: By changing from aluminium to titanium, you would get a heavier phone, or a phone that's easier to bend. 

titanium =/= steel

[seon123]

Just now, Alder Lake said:

titanium =/= steel

Do the math and/or derivations for yourself, it's not difficult

[Alder Lake]

Just now, seon123 said:

Do the math and/or derivations for yourself, it's not difficult

I just checked it, I stand corrected, my mistake