Top Stories: iPhone 14 Pro Without Notch, AirPods Pro 2, and More for 2022

Happy New Year 2022! With calendars turning over to the new year, it's a great opportunity to look ahead at expectations for 2022 and there has been no shortage of rumors on that front already.

top stories jan 8
This week saw rumors about the iPhone 14 Pro, AirPods Pro 2, the next iPhone SE, and more, while we wrapped up 2021 and kicked off 2022 with the first two episodes of our new podcast, The MacRumors Show, so read on below for all of the details!

iPhone 14 Pro Rumored to Feature Pill-Shaped Camera Cutout With Face ID Under the Display

We've been hearing rumors for a while now that iPhone 14 Pro models won't have a notch, and this week, a leaker known as @dylandkt claimed that Face ID hardware will be moved under the display as a result.

iPhone 14 Mock Pill
Instead of a notch, the leaker claimed that iPhone 14 Pro models will feature a pill-shaped camera cutout at the top of the display, rather than a circular hole-punch cutout that was originally rumored. The above image is a mockup of what this new design could look like.

The MacRumors Show: Mark Gurman Talks Through Everything Apple is Expected to Announce in 2022

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman joined us this week on The MacRumors Show podcast to discuss everything we're expecting from Apple in 2022, providing insights into many upcoming announcements.

MR Show 2 16x9 Featurejpg
Gurman also shared his expectations for Apple in 2022 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, including iPhone 14 Pro models without a notch, a redesigned MacBook Air with an M2 chip, a new iPad Pro with wireless charging, an AR/VR headset barring any further delays, and more.

Apple Testing Multiple Foldable iPhone Prototypes, But Has Some Concerns

Another rumor from leaker @dylandkt this week claimed that Apple is testing multiple foldable iPhone prototypes, but he said that Apple has concerns over the quality of foldable display technology and whether there is a long-term market for foldable smartphones.

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Blue
Last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple planned to release a foldable iPhone with an 8-inch flexible OLED display as early as 2023, but 2024 is also a possibility.

2022 iPhone SE to Feature 5G, Major Update Coming in 2024

Apple is widely expected to release a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022. The device is expected to have the same external design as the current iPhone SE, with key new features being 5G support and a faster A15 chip.

iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean
According to leaker @dylandkt, Apple is planning a bigger update to the iPhone SE for 2024, with the device to have a similar design as the iPhone XR and iPhone 11.

Kuo: AirPods Pro 2 to Feature Lossless Support and Sound-Emitting Charging Case

Apple plans to release second-generation AirPods Pro in the fourth quarter of 2022, with upgrades including a new design, lossless audio support, and a charging case that can emit a sound in the event it is misplaced, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

AirPods Pro Gen 3 Mock Feature Red
Like the third-generation AirPods released in October, it is also likely that the next AirPods Pro will have improved battery life and a water-resistant charging case.

Intel Says New Core i9 Processor for Laptops is Faster Than Apple's M1 Max Chip

Intel this week unveiled new 12th-generation Core processors for laptops, and as part of the announcement, it claimed that the new Core i9 is not only faster than Apple's M1 Max chip in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but is the fastest mobile processor ever.

intel core 12th generation mobile
Of course, we'll have to wait to see how the 12th-generation Core processors perform in real-world testing for a true comparison with the M1 Max chip.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

currocj Avatar
46 months ago
For some reason the pill seems much more pleasant to look at than a perfect circle. The circle just reminds me of Samsung
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
46 months ago
The first week of 2022 is over. Moving forward iPhone 14 rumors and reports will be in a full swing.

Hopefully next week we get to see some iOS, macOS, and watch OS betas.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sciomar Avatar
46 months ago
Of course Intel will hope to reach M1 power, but how will it do with thermal issues, and Apple is already developing M2 so is this even a threat.

Looking forward to the new AirPod Pros for sure.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Momof2.1107 Avatar
46 months ago
I like the pill shaped notch much more than the circle. This is one rumor I hope is true.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MICHAELSD Avatar
46 months ago

I like the pill shaped notch much more than the circle. This is one rumor I hope is true.
It definitely differentiates more strongly from Samsung and seems like a natural extension from the notch.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
46 months ago
Looking forward to iPhone 14 this year with the supposed redesign.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)