As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple Stores can replace the battery inside an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max for $99 in the U.S., which is up from $69 for most previous iPhone models. This is a 43% increase to the fee, which includes the cost of a new battery and service by an Apple Store or an Apple Repair Center. iPhone battery replacement fees will vary at third-party Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Customers with AppleCare+ can get an iPhone battery replaced for free, but only if the battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity.
Apple's out-of-warranty service fees have also increased for select other iPhone 14 repairs. For example, in the U.S., Apple charges $379 to fix cracked glass on an iPhone 14 Pro Max's display, compared to $329 for the same repair on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple's iPhone Repair and Service page outlines additional repair fees.
iPhone 14 models are set to launch on September 16, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Plus, which will be available starting October 7.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have seen "bad" pre-order results, indicating that Apple's positioning of the two new standard models may have failed, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest post on Medium, Kuo explained that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have seen "neutral" and "good" pre-order results compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Delivery wait times of more than four weeks may indicate good demand for the new high-end devices. It is apparently "unclear" whether Apple will increase shipment forecasts of its Pro models, but there is a "growing" chance that it will cut orders of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which currently account for around 45 percent of the entire lineup's shipments.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are expected to be in stock in retail stores on their launch dates, "reflecting lackluster demand." As it stands, Kuo says that the pre-order results for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are worse than those of the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini. He noted that Apple cut orders of both the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini in the first half of 2022 due to low demand.
If demand for the two standard models do not improve, Apple may cut iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus orders as soon as November. Suppliers who are not major beneficiaries of Apple's iPhone 14 Pro models will likely see the start of declining revenue in September and October as a result.
For iPhone 14 Plus, in particular, the "pre-order result is significantly lower than expected." As a model that effectively replaces the "mini" form factor in the latest iPhone lineup, with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes now being the only options, Kuo said that "Apple's product segmentation strategy for standard models fails this year."
All four of the iPhone 14 models were announced by Apple last week and have been available to pre-order since September 9. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are set to launch on Friday, September 16, and the iPhone 14 Plus will launch on Friday, October 7.
The Apple Watch Series 8 replaces the Apple Watch Series 7 in Apple's smartwatch lineup, but how different are the two successive smartwatch generations?
In 2021, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 7, including features like taller casing sizes with larger displays, slimmer bezels, improved durability, and faster charging technology. The Apple Watch Series 7 has now been discontinued by Apple, and as year-old models, prices at third-party resellers are falling. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to upgrade to a Series 7 or a Series 8.
The Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8 share the overwhelming majority of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the Series 7 to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the new Apple Watch brings to the table.
Differences
Apple Watch Series 7
Apple Watch Series 8
S7 chip
S8 chip (Same CPU as S7)
Gyroscope and accelerometer
More powerful gyroscope and high dynamic range accelerometer
-
Crash Detection
Third-generation optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, and blood oxygen sensor
Optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, blood oxygen sensor, and body temperature sensor
-
Wrist temperature sensing during sleep
-
Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
Aluminum casing in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), Blue, or Green
Aluminum casing in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), or Silver
Stainless Steel casing in Gold, Silver, or Graphite
Stainless Steel casing in Gold, Silver, or Graphite
Titanium casing in Titanium or Space Black
-
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Apple Watch Series 8 is a very minor upgrade over the Series 7, with the body temperature sensor and Crash Detection being the only significant changes, meaning that it is difficult to recommend upgrading. Many Apple Watch Series 7 users will likely not be able to justify upgrading to the Series 8, but some customers coming from an older model could still have good reason to preference the latest models, namely those who do not have an iPhone 14 model with Crash Detection and women who want to take advantage of the cycle tracking features. The Apple Watch Series 8 is very similar to the Series 7, so customers who have an older Apple Watch model and are looking for an upgrade may prefer to look for a discounted Apple Watch Series 7.
All Apple Stores in the United Kingdom will be closed on Monday, September 19, out of respect for the planned state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Apple told UK-based staff today.
Monday, September 19, has been marked as a bank holiday by King Charles III, given the planned state funeral for Her Majesty. Official government guidance states that it's up to individual businesses whether they wish to close on that day.
Apple also told staff that this coming Wednesday, the first day the Queen's coffin is expected to lie in state in London, it will operate at a reduced capacity in its stores across the United Kingdom. Reduced working capacities are expected to continue into the weekend for some locations.
Following her death, Apple has kept a tribute to the Queen on its UK front page.
Apple does not advertise battery capacities for its new iPhone 14 lineup, but MacRumors has obtained this information from a Chinese regulatory database.
Three out of four iPhone 14 models feature larger battery capacities compared to the iPhone 13 lineup, with the exception being the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is equipped with a slightly smaller battery compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Battery capacities for the iPhone 13 lineup:
iPhone 13 mini: 2,406 mAh
iPhone 13: 3,227 mAh
iPhone 13 Pro: 3,095 mAh
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 4,352 mAh
Battery capacities for the iPhone 14 lineup:
iPhone 14: 3,279 mAh
iPhone 14 Plus: 4,325 mAh
iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh
The same database accurately revealed battery capacities for all four iPhone 13 models and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro ahead of those devices launching last year. These exact battery capacities for all iPhone 14 models were also leaked in a post on Chinese website Weibo that was highlighted by Twitter account ShrimpApplePro in June.
Apple says all four iPhone 14 models feature "all-day battery life." iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max models feature up to one hour longer battery life for offline video playback compared to the equivalent iPhone 13 models, according to tech specs on Apple's website, while there is no directly comparable model for the iPhone 14 Plus.
Due to its larger 6.7-inch display size and lack of some Pro model features, the iPhone 14 Plus features the longest battery life ever of any iPhone, according to Apple. However, this is not entirely true, as Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone 14 Pro Max still gets the longest battery life for video playback, likely due to the ProMotion display's ability to ramp down the refresh rate for lower power consumption.
All four iPhone 14 models were announced by Apple last week and have been available to pre-order since September 9. The devices are set to launch on September 16, with the exception of the iPhone 14 Plus, which will be available starting October 7.
Following its September event focused on new iPhone and Apple Watch models, Apple often holds another event in October focused on new iPad and Mac models, and this year will likely be no exception. October is still three weeks away, but we already have a good idea of the products that would likely be announced at an event next month.
For the October event, rumors suggest that Apple plans to announce new iPad Pro models with the M2 chip, a redesigned 10th-generation entry-level iPad, and at least a few more Macs powered by the M2 series of chips, with potential candidates including the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, the Mac mini, and/or the Mac Pro.
The next iPad Pro models will feature a similar chassis design as the current models, but with "four-pin connectors" on the top and bottom edges, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara. The purpose of these connectors and whether they would replace the existing three-pin Smart Connector on the iPad Pro is unclear.
Apple last updated the iPad Pro in April 2021, with new features including the M1 chip, a Thunderbolt port, 5G support for cellular models, a mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model, and an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for Apple's Center Stage feature, which helps keep you within the frame in video apps like FaceTime.
While the 10th-generation iPad is expected to retain a Touch ID home button, rumors suggest the device will no longer have a headphone jack.
A questionable report from Mac Otakara claimed that the 10th-generation iPad will actually feature a Touch ID power button on the top edge of the chassis, like the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models. The report also claimed that the FaceTime camera could be positioned in the right bezel of the device for landscape usage.
Apple released the 9th-generation iPad in September 2021, with key features including a 10.2-inch display, an A13 Bionic chip, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for the Center Stage feature, True Tone, and double the base storage. In the U.S., the 10.2-inch iPad starts at $329 with 64GB of storage.
More Macs With M2 Chips
In late August, Gurman said Apple had been working on M2-based Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro models, adding that we were "likely to see at least a pair of those machines about two months from now," which lines up with October. However, it is possible that some of these Macs could be announced later in the year or next year.
Mac mini With M2 and M2 Pro Chips
Apple released the Mac mini with an M1 chip as one of its first three Apple silicon Macs in November 2020. Nearly two years later, a new version of the Mac mini with an M2 chip is on the horizon, according to Gurman.
Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are "well into development and testing," and planned for release "as early as this fall," according to Gurman. As usual in recent years, Gurman said the timeframe could be pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors.
While some reports suggested that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may be Apple's first 3nm chips, it looks increasingly likely that the chips will remain 5nm. The chips would still have modest performance improvements over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and increases in GPU core counts and unified memory (RAM) are also likely.
Mac Pro With M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" Chips
After announcing the Mac Studio at its March 2022 event, Apple teased that an Apple silicon version of the Mac Pro tower was coming later.
Back in 2020, Apple said its transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips across the Mac lineup would take around two years to be completed, so the new Mac Pro is expected to be announced by the end of 2022.
The new Mac Pro will be equipped with "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chips, according to Gurman. It's possible the new Mac Pro will be smaller due to the switch to Apple silicon, but it's unclear if the desktop computer will have any major design changes compared to the current Intel-based model released in December 2019.
The new Mac Pro would be the fastest Mac ever, topping the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip.
Apple TV With A14 Chip?
Apple plans to launch a new Apple TV with an "improved cost structure" in the second half of 2022, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but it's unclear if the device would be announced during the October event or at another time.
A new Apple TV is in development with an A14 chip and 4GB of RAM, according to Gurman, but it's unclear if this model is the same one that Kuo referred to. Either way, the internal upgrades would result in faster performance compared to the current Apple TV 4K, which is equipped with an A12 chip and 3GB of RAM.
Released in April 2021, the current Apple TV 4K starts at $179 with 32GB of storage, while the Apple TV HD remains available for $149. By comparison, there are many streaming sticks from brands like Chromecast and Roku available for between $25 and $100.
iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura Release Dates
Apple says iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura will be released in October, and exact release dates will likely be announced at the event.
Apple released iOS 16 on Monday, September 12 as a free software update for the iPhone 8 and newer. iOS 16 includes plenty of new features, ranging from a customizable Lock Screen to the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessages.
To install iOS 16, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General → Software Update. After you update your iPhone to iOS 16, check out our list of six useful new features to try out below.
Customize the Lock Screen
The headline new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with multi-layered wallpapers, widgets, custom fonts for the date and time, and more. You can also select a set of photos to shuffle on the Lock Screen throughout the day.
The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, Moon, and Solar System. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.
iOS 16 introduces the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessages, as well as mark iMessage conversations as unread after opening them.
Apple allows you to edit an iMessage for up to 15 minutes after sending it, with up to five edits allowed per message. Recipients are able to see a record of edits made to the message, and on devices running iOS 15 or earlier, edited messages are received as a new message that says "Edited to [new message]."
To edit or unsend a message, simply tap and hold on a bubble and select the appropriate option in the menu that appears. iMessages that have been edited are marked as "edited" below the message bubble. SMS messages (green bubbles) cannot be edited or unsent.
Use the Full-Screen Music Player
iOS 16 reintroduces a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen with large album art and a color-matched wallpaper.
Apple last offered a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen on iOS 10 in 2016. If you don't like the feature, you can tap on the bottom of the display to minimize the music player and revert to your standard Lock Screen wallpaper.
Game With Nintendo Joy-Cons
iPhones feature support for many additional Bluetooth game controllers on iOS 16, including the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. iPhones running iOS 16 can be used with either single left or right Joy-Cons, or both at once as a singular controller.
This is on top of the iPhone's existing compatibility with PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since the release of iOS 14.5 last year.
Track an Apple Pay Order
Apple Pay on iOS 16 features new built-in order tracking information in the Wallet app for online orders completed via Apple Pay. The tracker provides an order's estimated delivery date and indicates when a package is out for delivery.
Close Your Rings Without an Apple Watch
Starting with iOS 16, the Fitness app is now available on the iPhone for all users, even without an Apple Watch. The app features a daily Activity ring that relies on the iPhone's motion sensors to estimate a person's calories burned and steps per day.
During its iPhone 14 event, Apple announced that its Fitness+ service will be available for iPhone users without an Apple Watch later this year in the 21 countries where the service is available. Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
There are usually multiple features that Apple is not able to finish before the first official release of a major new version of iOS, and this year looks to be no different, with a total of nine iOS 16 features now confirmed to not be present in the first public version of the new OS.
Last year, SharePlay, Digital IDs in the Wallet app, and Universal Control were among a large number of features in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 that were not available in their initial release, taking several months to trickle out to users.
Apple previewed each of the following features upon announcing iOS 16 at WWDC earlier this year, but they will not be present in iOS 16.0 when it releases to the public tomorrow:
Live Activities: Follow activities happening in real-time like a sports match or a ride-share with just a glance at the Lock Screen. Third-party apps and App Clips can implement support thanks to the Live Activities API.
Game Center SharePlay support: Games that use Game Center multiplayer support have SharePlay integration. You can start playing automatically with friends on a FaceTime call.
Game Center Contacts integration: Contacts shows your friends' Game Center profiles. Tap through to see what they are playing and achieving in games.
Support for Matter: The new smart home connectivity standard that enables compatible accessories to work together seamlessly and across platforms. Matter allows users to choose from even more compatible smart home accessories and control them with the Home app and Siri on Apple devices.
Updated architecture for the Home app: Enhancements to the underlying architecture of the Home app to enable faster, more reliable performance and improved efficiency, especially for homes with lots of accessories and multiple controller devices.
Freeform app: A new digital whiteboard app with a flexible canvas for diagramming projects, aggregating important assets, and brainstorming, with real-time collaboration features and rich multimedia support.
iCloud Shared Photo Library: A new option in the Photos app to allow users to create a shared photos library and invite anyone with an Apple ID to view, contribute to, and edit it, including favoriting images and adding captions. There are no limitations, and all participants have the same permissions, making it ideal for families.
Key sharing: The ability to securely share keys in Apple Wallet via messaging apps and Mail.
Easy Shortcuts setup for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X: Siri can run shortcuts from installed apps without any setup process (to be available for newer devices immediately without delay).
iCloud Shared Photo Library became the latest feature to be delayed following Apple's "Far out" event earlier this week, but all of the other delays were known upon the initial preview of iOS 16 at WWDC.
Apple says that all of these features are coming in an update to iOS 16 later this year, but it has not yet offered a more specific timeframe for any of them. After months of beta testing, iOS 16.0 will become officially available for download on every compatible iPhone tomorrow. For a detailed breakdown of all of the new features in iOS 16, see our comprehensive roundup.
As was the case with iPhone 13 Pro models released last year, 4K ProRes video recording on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max still requires a model with at least 256GB of storage, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices.
ProRes video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second on iPhone 14 Pro models with a 128GB storage capacity. To record ProRes video in 4K at 30 frames per second, a model with a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage capacity is required.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max support ProRes video recording in the Camera app at 1080p 30 fps with the 128GB storage option, and up to 4K 30 fps with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
The lack of 4K ProRes video recording support on 128GB models is likely due to the 4K videos having very large file sizes. Apple says a one-minute 10-bit ProRes video is approximately 1.7GB in 1080p and approximately 6GB in 4K.
Introduced on iPhone 13 Pro models, ProRes refers to a family of codecs from Apple that can compress videos into smaller file sizes with "impressive image quality preservation." Apple says ProRes is designed as a final delivery format for high-quality videos like commercials, feature films, and broadcasts.
ProRes video recording is still not supported at all on the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
The new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature dual-frequency GPS support for more accurate location tracking, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices. The functionality is also supported on the new Apple Watch Ultra.
As with the Apple Watch Ultra, iPhone 14 Pro models can receive signals from GPS satellites operating on both the legacy L1 frequency and modernized L5 frequency. L5 satellites broadcast a more advanced, higher power signal that can better travel through obstacles like buildings and trees compared to L1 signals. With a combination of the two signals, iPhone 14 Pro models will have improved location accuracy in apps like Maps.
According to the U.S. government, there were 17 satellites broadcasting L5 signals in orbit as of June. In combination with L1, the government says L5 will "provide users worldwide with the most advanced civilian GPS signal." However, while L5 has been rolling out since 2010, the government says the signal remains "pre-operational."
The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus do not have dual-frequency GPS support, according to Apple's tech specs. All four iPhone 14 models continue to support other navigation systems, including GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.
It's been a crazy busy few days thanks to Apple's "Far Out" media event where we saw announcements in three major product categories including the highly anticipated iPhone 14 lineup.
Following Wednesday's event, we spent the rest of the day and beyond digging deeper into all of Apple's new products, so make sure to check out all of our coverage that extends beyond the announcements highlighted below!
Everything Announced at This Week's Apple Event in Just 11 Minutes
Apple's annual September event on Wednesday saw the company focus on three products: iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro. In addition to a full lineup of iPhone 14 models, we also got three different Apple Watch models as well as updated AirPods Pro.
Apple Unveils iPhone 14 Pro With Dynamic Island, Always-On Display, 48MP Camera, and More
Apple this week announced the high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, featuring a "Dynamic Island" to surface alerts and activity in a new way, a brighter display with always-on functionality, the A16 Bionic chip, a more advanced camera system, new color options, and more.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max continue to be priced at $999 and $1,099, respectively. Pre-orders are already underway, with availability beginning Friday, September 16, but we're already seeing some delayed shipping for new orders.
Apple Announces iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus With New Satellite Connectivity, Better Cameras, and More
Alongside the Pro models, Apple also announced the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, coming in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes that have the same design as the iPhone 13 but feature new cameras, faster performance, and satellite connectivity.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 14 models are available now, and the iPhone 14 will begin shipping on Friday, September 16. The larger iPhone 14 Plus will begin shipping to customers on Friday, October 7.
Apple Unveils Apple Watch Ultra With Large-Screen Design for Athletes and Explorers
Apple at its "Far Out" media event this week announced the Apple Watch Ultra, a new feature-rich smartwatch for athletes and explorers, coming with an all-new design, a large flat sapphire crystal display, an additional programmable Action button, and cellular as standard.
The Apple Watch Ultra is priced at $799 and orders are open now ahead of a September 23 launch.
Apple Watch Series 8 Announced With New Body Temperature Sensor, Car Crash Detection, and More
For more mainstream users, Apple also introduced the Apple Watch Series 8 with the same overall design as the Series 7, including a larger display that curves around the edges. One of the headline new features of the Series 8 is a new body temperature sensor designed for women's health purposes, such as knowing when ovulation has occurred.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is available for pre-order now and will be available starting Friday, September 16. The Series 8 starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular models.
Apple Announces Second-Generation Apple Watch SE With S8 Chip and Crash Detection for $249
And finally in the Apple Watch department, Apple unveiled the second-generation Apple Watch SE, featuring the latest S8 chip, Crash Detection, and new color options at a lower price point.
The second-generation Apple Watch SE starts at $249 for the GPS model and $299 for the cellular model. Orders are currently open and they will start delivering on September 16.
Apple Announces New AirPods Pro With H2 Chip for Up to 2x Noise Cancellation and More
Rounding out this week's announcements, Apple unveiled the second-generation AirPods Pro with an upgraded H2 chip that provides up to twice as much active noise cancellation and more.
A new Touch Control feature on the stem allows users to adjust the volume with a swipe up or down, while the silicone ear tips are now available in a new XS size alongside small, medium, and large.
The new AirPods Pro are available to order now with pricing set at $249 in the United States. The second-generation AirPods Pro will launch on September 23.
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.
The iPhone 14 lineup is the first iPhone series to not include a display size below six inches, despite sticking with the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch form factors of previous generations that included a 5.4-inch model. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love?
Apple debuted the iPhone 12 mini in 2020 following years of calls from iPhone fans for the company to offer a small-screen device with the latest features. When Apple did so, it was assumed that the small form factor would persist for several years – but it appears that the device has come to a premature end upon the release of the iPhone 14 lineup.
Concerns first arose when the iPhone 12 mini appeared to not be selling as well as Apple had hoped, making up just six percent of iPhone 12 sales in the U.S. in October and November 2020, according to data gathered by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). Counterpoint Research reported that the iPhone 12 mini accounted for only five percent of all iPhone 12 sales in the U.S. in the first half of January 2021.
Morgan Stanley believed that Apple chose to cut production of the iPhone 12 mini by two million units to create more manufacturing capacity for the more popular iPhone 12 Pro. This was mirrored by a Taiwanese report, citing supply chain sources, which said that strong demand for iPhone 12 Pro models in China led Apple to increase its supply of the more expensive devices.
Most strikingly, JP Morgan Chase claimed that Apple outright halted iPhone 12 mini production in the second quarter of 2021. While the sales reports for the iPhone 12 mini did not bode well for the iPhone 13 mini, Apple plans its iPhone production and supply chain operations well in advance of launch, meaning that the iPhone 13 mini was already well on the way to production by the time the issues with the iPhone 12 mini's sales were clear.
In April 2022, CIRP released more data suggesting that the iPhone 13 mini accounted for just 3 percent of iPhone 13 sales – half that of the iPhone 12 mini. These continued poor sales were likely the main reason behind the demise of the "mini" form factor iPhone.
With the iPhone 14 lineup, Apple has opted to replace the "mini" device with an all-new "Plus" device. In some respects, the iPhone 14 Plus mirrors the iPhone 12 mini, offering the latest iPhone's features in a different display size. Instead of offering a lightweight small-screen option, customers can now choose an even bigger battery and 6.7-inch display – the same size that iPhone "Max" customers have been used to for over four years now at a price of $1,099 – but at a lower, $899 price point.
Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 Dock provides a multitude of ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a UHS-II card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack, to increase your Mac setup's versatility for a price of $299.
Thunderbolt allows data transfer from all of the ports to take place through a single cable connected to your host device. While not all Macs have a Thunderbolt 4 port, Thunderbolt 4 is backwards compatible, meaning that most Mac models since 2016 should work with Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 Dock, as well as the latest iPad Pro models. The dock comes with a U.S. power adapter and a short Thunderbolt 4 cable. Many competitors are still using Thunderbolt 3, so Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 dock is a great way to get the latest specification.
The dock features a compact, premium look with a sleek aluminum enclosure. It has a tapered design, with recesses on either side housing glossy black plastic with cutouts for the various ports. Though it's a minor concern, I did find the protective film on the glossy plastic difficult to remove since it is recessed so deeply inside the enclosure.
Rubber feet on the underside of the dock stop it from sliding around on surfaces and the overall design feels solid and sturdy. The anodized aluminum finish closely matches Apple's Space Gray, which is perfect for having a consistent-looking setup providing that is your Apple device color of choice, but I wish Satechi would offer a silver option too.
The Thunderbolt 4 Dock is a "plug and play" device, not requiring any additional software or drivers. It features a single Thunderbolt 4 host port that should be connected directly to your Mac or iPad Pro. Simply connect the dock to power and hook a Thunderbolt cable up from the host device Thunderbolt port to a port on your Mac, and you're ready to go.
In my experience, the dock is easiest to set up with a single, all-in-one Mac like a MacBook Pro or an iMac. When you want to use an external display, things have to be thought through a little more carefully. My LG UltraFine Thunderbolt display did not seem to work when connected to one of the three non-host Thunderbolt 4 ports, meaning I had to connect any displays I wanted to use directly to my Mac. Satechi claims that the dock supports dual 4K HDMI output up to 60Hz, so I believe this is just an issue with my LG UltraFine display, rather than a reflection on Satechi's dock.
You can connect up to three USB-C devices to the dock's Thunderbolt 4 ports, with support for 40 Gbps data transfer and 15W charging on each port. The three USB-A 3.2 data ports are ideal for fast data transfers and backups with transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps. When I maxed out the ports with devices like external hard drives, some accessories seemed to be drawing too much power and triggering a warning in macOS, but generally the dock seems to handle lots of devices very well. The single USB-A charging port can be used to power or charge a device with up to 7.5W of power, and there is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II card reader slot, all of which seem to work perfectly.
Overall, Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 Dock provides a great way to simplify cable management, particularly for MacBooks, and expand your Mac's selection of ports in more demanding setups and with a single, fast, reliable connection.
How to Buy
The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock is available from Satechi's website. Note that it only comes with a U.S. power adapter.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner of Satechi. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Satechi provided MacRumors with a Thunderbolt 4 Dock for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Samsung today continued on with its ad campaign denigrating Apple devices, this time sharing a series of tweets highlighting Apple's lack of a foldable iPhone and pitting the iPhone 14 Pro's 48-megapixel camera against the Galaxy S22's 108-megapixel camera.
"What the Flip, Apple?" reads the first tweet, which points out the launch date of Samsung's first foldable device. The second tweet has the same first-to foldables theme, while the third notes that Samsung devices have had higher megapixel cameras for several years.
Samsung has been sharing anti-Apple ads since before the new iPhone 14 models were announced, and the company has a long history of insulting Apple devices in order to promote its own products. "Buckle up for Apple's latest launch," said an ad released in early September. "As you enter a world where heads will turn, must none in your direction. Where the highest resolution smartphone will be in someone else's pocket."
A second "Join the flip side" ad that came out on Thursday attempted to persuade iPhone users to swap to the Galaxy Flip by showing a diehard iPhone fan lusting over foldable technology.
Samsung has in the past mocked Apple design decisions such as the removal of the headphone jack only to follow suit and make the same move a few years later. Samsung has a leg up in this case as it was first to market with foldable devices and high-resolution cameras, but it will be interesting to see if there are iPhone 14 Pro features that Samsung ends up adopting in the future.
With pre-orders for the iPhone 14 lineup now open, many iPhone customers will be weighing up whether or not now is the time to upgrade their device.
The iPhone 14 models offer some substantial upgrades with Emergency SOS via satellite, Crash Detection, camera improvements, and more, but some customers will now be casting their mind forward to next year, when it may be a more appropriate time to upgrade for them. It is still early days for iPhone 15 rumors and everyone's individual circumstances for the best time to upgrade will be different, but what to expect from next year's new iPhones will be important to many of those who are choosing to not upgrade to an iPhone 14 model.
In 2023, it will be 10 years since the launch of the popular iPhone 5s, and five years since Apple revealed the first large full-screen iPhone design with the iPhone XS Max. 2023's presumably-titled "iPhone 15" lineup is currently rumored to feature:
USB-C port
"Pill" display cutout in place of the notch on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
A17 chip, manufactured using a 3nm fabrication process
Periscopic telephoto camera, likely exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max
USB-C Instead of Lightning
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuobelieves that at least some iPhone 15 models, set to launch in the second half of 2023, will feature a USB-C port instead of Lightning to improve data transfer and charging speeds. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman went on to corroborate Kuo's claim, saying that Apple is testing iPhones with USB-C ports instead of Lightning. Gurman added that if Apple switches the iPhone from Lightning to USB-C, it will release a Lightning to USB-C adapter to allow USB-C iPhones to connect to Lightning-based accessories and cables.
Initial speculation suggested that Apple will retain the Lightning port on the iPhone until it no longer requires any ports at all, relying singularly on MagSafe instead. MagSafe was first introduced on the iPhone with the iPhone 12 in 2020, and it remains a relatively new technology on the iPhone with no data transfer capabilities. Now, Apple has seemingly changed its plans.
Apple has used the Lightning connector on all iPhones since 2012's iPhone 5, as well as a wide range of iPads and accessories. Most other devices, including many of Apple's own iPads and Macs, have switched to USB-C as a versatile and highly capable connector, in a small, reversible form factor. Calls for Apple to switch to USB-C on the iPhone have grown in recent years, citing the benefits of faster data transfer speeds, especially for large ProRes video files, and consistency between devices.
It is not clear which iPhone 15 models will feature a USB-C port, but it seems plausible that Apple could reserve the feature for the "Pro" models. USB-C was exclusive to the iPad Pro for several years before it expanded to the iPad Air and iPad mini, so a similar pattern for the iPhone is a possibility. If so, after 10 years of the Lightning connector dominating the best available iPhone, this year's iPhone 14 Pro could be the final flagship iPhone with a Lightning port.
Dynamic Island: No More Notch on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
Display expert Ross Young, who often reveals accurate insights into Apple's plans, was the first analyst to reveal that the iPhone 14 Pro would feature "pill-shaped" and circular cutouts following component leaks. It then emerged that the iPhone 14 Pro's cutouts would appear as a single, unified "pill" thanks to software, in a feature we now know to be called "Dynamic Island."
The iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island.
The Dynamic Island is not a static cutout, and can shift in size and shape to blend itself into the UI and provide new visual tools front and center on the iPhone's display. In standard usage, it is a small pill-shaped cutout, but Apple uses pixels to expand it to match different tasks such as Apple Pay payments and Face ID authentication.
Young believes that this design will trickle down to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus next year, unifying the entire iPhone 15 lineup under one front-facing design. This could offer a substantial upgrade for users of the standard iPhone 15 models, with the Dynamic Island being among the most eye-catching and popular iPhone 14 Pro features.
Under-Display Touch ID
Apple reportedly tested under-screen fingerprint scanner technology for at least some iPhone 13 models, according to The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, but Apple apparently decided not to move forward with the idea at that time.
In a September 2021 research note, Kuo forecasted that Apple will launch at least one new iPhone model with an under-screen fingerprint scanner in the second half of 2023, which would line up with the launch of the iPhone 15 models, but he has not shared any further information about the feature since then.
3nm A17 Chip, But No Custom 5G Modem
Apple has committed to order chips fabricated using TSMC's 3nm process, which will reportedly be used for the iPhone 15 lineup's A17 chip. The 3nm process yields 30 percent better power consumption and 15 percent better performance over the 5nm process behind the A14 and A15, indicating notable advancements.
It is not clear if the A17 will be available in all of the iPhone 15 models, but Apple could continue the trend started with the A15 chip in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and use the 4nm A16 Bionic down for these devices instead.
Taking cues from its work on Apple silicon, Apple was rumored to be working on a custom 5G modem to debut in all of the iPhone 15 models in 2023 for over a year. With the aim of moving away from Qualcomm, Apple is believed to have kickstarted the work by acquiring Intel's modem chip business in 2019. TSMC, the Taiwanese company that currently supplies all of Apple's custom silicon SoCs, was also reported to be preparing to supply Apple with its custom-designed 5G baseband modem.
Kuo said that Apple's efforts "may have failed," with development on the chip reportedly stalling behind the scenes. This means it now looks like Qualcomm will remain the exclusive supplier for all of the 5G chips for the 2023 iPhone models, rather than just 20 percent as previously thought.
It is not clear why Apple will no longer have its modem ready in time for 2023's iPhone lineup, but the company has been aiming to move away from Qualcomm for several years. Apple had a protracted legal battle with Qualcomm and planned to use Intel 5G chips in the 2020 iPhones, but that was not ultimately possible because Intel was not able to manufacture 5G chips that met Apple's standards. Apple ended up settling its lawsuit with Qualcomm in 2019 and has used Qualcomm 5G modems in the iPhone and iPad lineups since then.
Kuo expects Apple to continue developing its own 5G chip, but it will likely take more time for the work to be completed to a satisfactory standard for use in iPhones and other devices in the future.
The periscope camera system of the Huawei P30 Pro.
Apple has allegedly run into trouble developing its own periscope camera system because much of the technology is guarded by other patents, though it has still filed periscope camera patents of its own, and is reportedly exploring purchasing the components from existing patent holders instead. Samsung, for example, owns the "ball-type actuator" technology used in many periscope lenses.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the sole Apple smartphone of 2023 to get a periscope camera lens and benefit from greatly enhanced optical zoom, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, with the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro model retaining the current telephoto lens for optical zoom.
In a periscope system, light entering the telephoto lens is reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera's image sensor. The change in direction in which the light travels allows for a longer "folded" telephoto setup inside phones, enabling users to zoom in further without any blurriness. Largan and Genius are expected to be Apple's main suppliers of such a lens in 2023.
There are already some Android smartphones with periscope lenses. Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra for instance features up to 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. With the addition of a periscope lens, the iPhone 15 Pro Max would follow suit. Kuo says the 1/3-inch sensor will have 12-megapixel resolution with an f/2.8 aperture, up to 6x optical zoom, and sensor-shift stabilization. For context, iPhone 14 Pro models are limited to 3x optical zoom.
Final Thoughts
It is essential to take rumors surrounding future iPhones with a pinch of salt and there is still plenty of time for Apple's plans to change. Nonetheless, given the track record of many of the analysts and leakers from whom these rumors are derived, it is highly likely that there is some truth to them.
USB-C is likely to be one of the most meaningful upgrades for most users, but the periscope camera, potential under-display Touch ID, more advanced technology to deliver the A17 chip, and even the Dynamic Island expanding to the entire lineup could make for a fairly significant overall upgrade regardless of which device customers opt for. Kuo believes that the iPhone 15 models could have more feature differentiation between each of the devices, so customers could face more of a dilemma about which one to buy to get the features they want.
For now, eyes are set on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, which will start arriving to customers on Friday, September 16.
First announced in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 are Apple's next-generation operating systems for iPhone and iPad. Developers and public beta testers have spent the past few months trying out the new versions while Apple has been refining them, and a full public release is now right around the corner...at least for iOS 16.
On iPhone, iOS 16 includes a completely overhauled Lock Screen with extensive personalization features and widgets. There are new Focus filters, Passkeys, Safari Shared Tab Groups, and more.
iPadOS 16 gets a Weather app for the first time, and also offers a range of "pro" features that are exclusive to iPad models with the M1 chip. For example, Stage Manager brings a new way to multitask with multiple overlapping windows and full external display support.
iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 also share a number of new features and changes such as updates to apps like Notes, Mail, and Messages, Live Text, Visual Look Up, and Dictation Enhancements.
iOS 16 Release Date and Time
iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 became available for registered members of Apple's developer program immediately following the WWDC keynote on June 7, and Apple released the public beta on July 11.
Apple originally said iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 would be officially be released in "the fall" of 2022, without specifying a precise date. It has since been confirmed by Apple at its September "Far Out" media event that iOS 16 will be available on Monday, September 12. Apple's iOS releases typically happen around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, but Apple has not announced an exact time for the iOS 16 release.
Assuming the typical 10:00 a.m. Pacific launch time, iOS 16 will be available at approximately these times around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii — 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska — 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia — 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland — 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China — 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore — 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia — 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong — 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea — 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan — 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia — 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia — 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand — 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
In early August, Bloombergreported that Apple was planning to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 until October, which means the iPad software will not launch alongside the new iOS as it typically does. Apple has since confirmed that iPadOS 16 will indeed be launched sometime in October, some weeks after iOS 16.
Device Compatibility
iOS 16 is compatible with the iPhone 8 and newer, while iPadOS 16 is compatible with the iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), and all iPad Pro models.
Popular 1996 shooter Quake 1 has been ported to all kinds of devices, and now it's even able to run on the Apple Watch. YouTuber MyOwnClone in late August ported Quake to the Apple Watch Series 5, with the game offering touch screen and Digital Crown controls.
In a post on Hacker News, MyOwnClone explains that he built the port on top of existing ports for iOS and Mac, with lots of tweaks to get it to work within the watchOS framework. It runs at 60 frames per second with a 640x480 resolution, and it can run at a higher resolution with a lower framerate.
The port is available on GitHub, with a demonstration and more information on the build process available on YouTube. Installing the game on an Apple Watch will require code compiling with a Mac, Xcode, and the copyrighted Quake assets.
Apple today shared its first ad for the iPhone 14 Pro, highlighting new features like car crash detection, the upgraded rear camera system with a 48-megapixel main lens, and an always-on display with the new Dynamic Island feature.
"iPhone 14 Pro comes with Crash Detection, a vital new safety feature that can detect a severe car crash and automatically call for help, even when you can't," says Apple, in the video's description. "Add this to the new 48MP Pro camera and a totally reimagined display, and iPhone 14 Pro redefines what a smartphone can do. Again."
With a new dual-core accelerometer, barometer, and other sensors, Apple says iPhone 14 Pro models can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services if a user is unresponsive after a 10-second countdown. Apple says the feature relies on "advanced Apple-designed motion algorithms trained with over a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data" for increased accuracy.
The crash detection feature is also available on the new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and second-generation Apple Watch SE models.
Exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models, the Dynamic Island replaces the traditional notch found on iPhone 13 models. Aided by software, the pill-shaped cutout morphs into different shapes and sizes for things such as incoming phone calls, alerts, notifications, Face ID authentication, timers, turn-by-turn navigation, Live Activities, and more.
With an always-on display, the time, widgets, and Live Activities are always available at a glance on iPhone 14 Pro models. The display also has up to 2,000 nits peak brightness outdoors, which is up to twice as bright as the iPhone 13 Pro display.
iPhone 14 Pro models became available to pre-order earlier today and launch on September 16.
The periscope camera system of the Huawei P30 Pro.
