Devices that seek to imitate the iPhone 14 Pro are already available in China, mimicking several of the device's design elements in an effort to fool unsuspecting customers or provide a low-cost way for some to buy a device that looks like the latest iPhone.
The clones, which seemingly began emerging several weeks ago on Chinese social media platforms, attempt to mirror the iPhone 14 Pro's rumored larger rear camera array and "pill and hole-punch" display cutouts that replace the iPhone 13 Pro's notch. Even the box seeks to closely emulate what iPhone customers have come to expect, down to the barcodes, adhesive pull-tabs, and accessories.
The devices seem to run a heavily-skinned version of Android that simply looks like iOS, but clearly cannot replicate a genuine experience with an Apple device. This extends to the hardware, which bears some significant differences to what can actually be expected from real iPhone 14 Pro models, such as a large "chin" bottom bezel and some artificial rear cameras. A video from YouTube channel "Amazing Unboxing" provides a closer look at the clones.
Earlier this year, counterfeit iPhone 14 cases began to go on sale in China, with varying levels of accuracy compared to real Apple accessories. The proliferation of fake Apple products coming from China related to the iPhone 14 lineup may indicate how confident some manufacturers are about the exact design of this year's new devices.
Update: Well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has since corroborated this rumor, saying the cutouts on the iPhone 14 Pro will look like "one wide pill."
It's been almost 12 months since rumors first suggested that Apple's upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models will feature both hole-punch and pill-shaped cutouts near the top of the display. While this design detail has since been corroborated by respected analysts, what has remained less clear is how Apple's software will accommodate the cutouts when the iPhone display is active. Today, we may well have been given another piece of the puzzle.
According to information provided to MacRumors by an anonymous tipster, the discrete pill and hole cutouts are not visually separated when the display is powered on, but in fact appear as one contiguous, longer pill shape.
Rather than stick with the uneven aesthetic, the suggestion is that Apple has chosen to turn off the pixels in the "dead space" between the cutouts in order to create the appearance of a unified pill shape that is less distracting when viewing content on the screen.
In another intriguing twist, the tipster also claims that Apple intends to visually expand the blacked-out areas around the cutouts to host content. For example, Apple could make the area slightly wider to fit status icons on the left and right sides, or even extend it downward into a large rounded square when delivering certain notifications.
Image depicts visual difference of cutouts with display off (left) versus on.
MacRumors has discovered chatter across Chinese social media networks, purportedly originating from Foxconn employees involved in iPhone 14 Pro assembly, suggesting the same unified pill software implementation. Like the original tipster, these sources have not been verified and we are only presenting the information up front to our readers with the usual caveats as a topic for discussion.
We'll know for sure whether this last-minute rumor turns out to be true next Wednesday, September 7, when Apple holds its "Far Out" media event, where it will unveil the new iPhone 14 series. We are expecting a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.7-inch iPhone Max, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. There will be no 5.4-inch iPhone "mini" this year, with Apple instead opting for larger devices.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max may start with an increased 256GB of storage, rather than the starting 128GB option previously offered for the high-end iPhone models, according to updated forecast from TrendForce.
iPhone 14 Pro concept render by Ian Zelbo
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 14 lineup will be around 15% more expensive than the average selling price of the iPhone 13 lineup, but a higher starting storage option on the Pro models may offset the price increase for customers. According to TrendForce, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max may start with 256GB of storage and not 128GB as previously offered. The increased storage option would make sense given the rumored price hike, but rumors are still conflicting on whether or not this will be the case.
The iPhone 13 Pro with 256GB of storage costs $1,099, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max with 256GB of storage is priced at $1,199. According to TrendForce, these will be around the same prices as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, respectively, with 256GB of on-device storage. TrendForce today also doubled down on past reports, including the iPhone 14 Pro featuring updated RAM. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to feature the same 6GB of memory as the current iPhone 13 Pro but will use the newer and faster LPDDR5 type of memory.
Apple's AirPods Max have returned to their record low Amazon price of $429.00 today, down from $549.00. This time around the sale is available in Green, Pink, Silver, and Sky Blue, with only Space Gray not on sale.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The AirPods Max are in stock and ready to ship today in all four discounted colors, with an estimated delivery date between September 2 - 5 for most places in the United States. This $120 discount does not require a coupon code of any kind as the deal has been already applied.
If you're shopping for other AirPods models, you can also get the AirPods Pro for $179.99 on Amazon, down from $249.00. We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Apple has given up its board seat at Didi Global as the Chinese ride-hailing company struggles to return to growth following crushing fines and restrictions imposed by Beijing's cyberspace regulator, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple CEO Tim Cook with Didi Chuxing president Jean Liu in 2016
Adrian Perica, Apple's vice president of corporate development, resigned from the board earlier this month, according to a notice posted on Didi's website.
Perica, who heads Apple's mergers and acquisitions strategy, joined Didi's board in 2016 after Apple made a $1 billion investment in the the ride hailing app. The move was described by CEO Tim Cook at the time as a "strategic investment" that would help Apple better understand the Chinese market.
The problems started for Didi last year, when Apple was informed by China's internet regulator that it must remove the Didi Chuxing ride hailing app from the Chinese App Store, after Beijing raised concerns about the Uber rival's possible misuse of personal data.
Didi's removal from China's mobile app stores effectively hamstrung the company and the action erased more than 80% of its market value. Then last month, following a year-long investigation, Didi was fined $1.2 billion by the Chinese government for infractions that Beijing said compromised national security.
The decision followed broader moves by Beijing to curb the influence of China's largest internet corporations and tighten the ownership of the personal data of hundreds of millions of users held by the likes of Alibaba, Tencent, and others.
Apple's investments and acquisitions have dramatically slowed over the past two years, with the tech giant being more selective in the face of a shaky economy and heightened government scrutiny.
Apple privacy chief Jane Horvath is set to leave the company to join a law firm, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Horvath has served as Apple's Chief Privacy Officer for the last couple of years, and before that, she was senior director of global privacy at the company.
Horvath has worked for Apple for more than a decade in total, and she has also worked at Google and was Chief Privacy Officer of the U.S. Department of Justice. Going forward, Horvath will be working at law firm Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher LLP, which has worked with Apple in the past and handled Apple's recent legal battle against Epic Games.
Bloomberg says that Horvath was also responsible for Apple's dealings with trade groups and Capitol Hill, as well as compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.
Apple has been dealing with major potential privacy issues as of late, and is facing legislation that would weaken the protections the App Store offers the iPhone in multiple countries. The Digital Markets Act in Europe calls for the sideloading of apps, as does U.S. legislation that's being considered. Apple has not provided details on who will replace Horvath.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple in iOS 16 made some notable changes to the Weather app, adding new types of notifications and increasing the information you can see about everything from humidity to temperature to visibility. For many of these new features, Apple has incorporated information from Dark Sky, a weather app that it purchased in 2020.
This guide highlights everything weather-related that's new in iOS 16, which is available now.
Weather Modules
There are no significant updates to the overall design of the Weather app, but Apple did update the information that's available to you.
The Weather app has long had little modules that show you information that includes the 10-day forecast, the daily temperature, air quality, precipitation, UV index, sunset/sunrise times, wind, humidity, "feels like" temperature, visibility, and pressure, but now you can tap into any of those modules for more information and swap between them quickly by tapping the icon in the upper right.
Temperature
The temperature module shows a graph of the temperature throughout the day, including peak high and peak low. This should clear up an issue that people had with the iOS 15 Weather app that made it unclear when the daily low was measured. The module also provides a text overview of the weather conditions.
In the 10-day forecast, you can tap into any day to see the daily chart for temperature ranges, plus there's still an option to see the larger color-coded temperature map.
Air Quality
The air quality module shows a graph of the current air conditions in your area, along with additional information on the health implications of the current conditions and the primary pollutant. You can still see a larger air quality map as well.
Precipitation
The precipitation module is similar to the previously available precipitation information, showing a map of where storms are going to hit. Zooming in provides a 12-hour rain forecast. There's also an interface that provides details on the total amount of precipitation during the last 24 hours, and how much rain, sleet, or snow fell at what time.
Feels Like
This module provides a second temperature chart that takes into account humidity, wind, and other factors so you can get a better idea of what the ambient temperature is like.
UV Index
The UV index module shows the current UV rating and the peak UV levels during the day. It also provides text letting you know if sun protection is recommended.
Sunset/Sunrise
The sunset and sunrise module lets you know when sunrise or sunset is depending on the time of day, and when you can expect first light and last light. It also includes monthly sunrise and sunset averages and a readout of the total daylight.
Wind
The wind module provides a daily summary, the current wind conditions, and a graph of the wind speeds and direction throughout the day.
Humidity
The humidity module shows a chart of the humidity throughout the day, broken down into six-hour increments. It also provides average humidity and dew point.
Visibility
The visibility module provides the visibility range in miles throughout the day, along with a daily summary.
Pressure
The pressure module shows the current pressure, the pressure throughout the day, and a readout on whether pressure is rising or falling.
Severe Weather Notifications
The Weather app in iOS 16 is able to send a notification if there is a severe weather alert issued near you, so you can get a heads up for major rain storms, floods, hurricanes, heat waves, tornados, and more.
You can turn on severe weather alerts both for your current location and any location that you've added to the Weather app.
According to Apple, severe weather data is available in Australia, Canada, Japan, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand, the United States, and most countries and regions in Europe.
Though not technically part of the Weather app, there is a dedicated Weather Lock Screen in iOS 16. It depicts the current temperature and shows the artwork from the Weather app for your location. So if it's sunny, you'll see sun, or if it's raining, you'll see rain, the same as you would in the animated Weather app.
Weather Widgets
There are also a number of different weather widgets that you can add to any of your Lock Screens. There's a larger readout with the temperature, current condition, and high/low along with individual air quality, UV index, and temperature options.
Using the Weather widget requires Location Services to be activated.
Weather App for iPad
With the iOS 16/iPadOS 16 updates, there's finally a Weather app for the iPad. It's identical to the iPhone's Weather app, but crafted to fit the larger display of the iPad.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the Weather app in iOS 16, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple today announced that developers can purchase subscriptions to Xcode Cloud, a continuous integration and delivery service that's built into the Xcode app. Apple designed Xcode Cloud to provide cloud-based tools to developers for building apps, running automated tests, providing apps to testers, and managing user feedback.
Xcode Cloud has been available to all developers since June after several months of beta testing, but subscriptions were not able to be purchased until now. There are a total of four monthly plans that developers can choose from, which vary based on the total number of compute hours needed.
25 compute hours per month is free at the current time, but will later cost $15 per month. 100 computer hours per month is priced at $50/month, 250 compute hours per month is priced at $100/month, and 1000 compute hours per month is priced at $400/month.
Apple says that developers can get started by configuring a workflow in Xcode and will receive 25 compute hours per month at no cost until the end of 2023. As mentioned above, pricing for this plan will be $15 when the introductory period ends.
A compute hour is an hour of time that is used to execute a task in the cloud, like building an app or running tests. Compute hour usage can be tracked in App Store Connect and the Apple Developer app. Additional information can be found on Apple's Xcode Cloud website.
Popular accessory maker Satechi today announced the launch of the upgraded USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD that's been developed for the M1iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air models.
The hub includes a 60W USB-C port that can be used for charging an iPad or to charge USB-C devices that are connected to the iPad. It also comes with an HDMI port that supports up to a 4K 60Hz display, a USB A port, micro SD and SD card readers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Satechi says that the SD and micro SD card slots are new to this version of the hub, as is an extension cable that allows for a more secure connection from the hub to the iPad as well as compatibility with iPad cases.
The USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD can be purchased from the Satechi website for $70. Satechi is offering a 20 percent discount through 9/5 with the promo code SD20.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Satechi. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Belkin today announced the debut of two new Boost Charge Pro Dual USB-C GaN Wall Chargers, which are available in 45W and 65W variants. The chargers feature PPS technology, which Belkin says is designed to deliver the optimum power to compatible devices, including Apple products.
The 65W charger is able to provide up to 65W when a single USB-C port is in use, or 45W from one port and 20W from the second when both ports are used. It is ideal for Apple's smaller MacBooks, such as the MacBook Air, as it can charge at full speed while also charging a secondary device like an iPhone or an iPad.
The 45W charger provides a full 45W when a single port is in use or 25W from the top port and 20W from the bottom port when both ports are charging devices.
With USB-C PD 3.0 technology, an iPhone 13 can be fast charged from either version, going from 0 to 50 percent in 28 minutes. Belkin says that the chargers have been optimized for Apple, Samsung, Nintendo Switch, and other compatible devices.
The 65W Boost Charge Pro is priced at $50, while the 45W Boost Charge Pro is priced at $40. Both chargers can be pre-ordered from the Belkin website starting today and will ship in September.
Although we're still a few days away from the Labor Day holiday on September 5, many retailers have already begun introducing sales and markdowns on Apple-related accessories. We'll keep tracking Labor Day deals as the three-day weekend approaches, and update this article accordingly for any new and notable offers.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
ZAGG
ZAGG is offering 25 percent off digital accessories this Labor Day, and its sale will end later tonight. This one covers screen protectors, iPhone cases, wireless chargers, and more.
ZAGG's event does not require a coupon code and will be applied automatically at the checkout screen. There are a few of Mophie's charging accessories in this sale, like the 3-in-1 travel charger with MagSafe and snap+ powerstation stand.
Nomad
At Nomad you can get 15 percent off any Nomad-branded gear when using the code LABORDAY15 at the checkout screen. Nomad's sale will last through Monday, September 5 and is only valid on Nomad's own gear and not on items from Moment, Orbitkey, and other brands Nomad sells.
Nomad offers a wide variety of iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, USB-C chargers, and various lifestyle gear on its shop. There's also a collection of MagSafe-compatible chargers like the Base One and MagSafe Mount.
Pad & Quill
Pad & Quill is hosting a sitewide sale that's taking 30 percent off all of the company's best iPhone cases, iPad cases, leather bags, Apple Watch bands, and more.
This sale has been applied automatically so you won't need any coupon code to see the discounts. In addition to these accessories, Pad & Quill also has MacBook cases and sleeves for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The Apple Watch Series 8 will be available in a "new shade of red" and is not expected to see a delayed launch, according to the leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro."
In a tweet earlier today, ShrimpApplePro said that the Apple Watch Series 8 will continue to be available in 41mm and 45mm casing sizes, just like the Apple Watch Series 7. Adding to a previous report about the Apple Watch Series 8's color options, the leaker said that the device's (PRODUCT)RED option will be a "new shade of red."
The Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to be available in a smaller number of color options compared to the Series 7. It may only be available in Midnight, Starlight, PRODUCT(RED), and Silver, losing the Series 7's Blue and Green options.
The Apple Watch Series 8's box is also said to feature the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7, but with more glue on the pull-tabs. This change is intended to leave traces of glue when tearing open the tabs to more clearly confirm that the box has been opened. The tweaked packaging is also believed to apply to the iPhone 14 lineup. Sources speaking to ShrimpApplePro said that the contents of the Apple Watch Series 8's box remain largely the same as the Series 7.
Last year, the Apple Watch Series 7 launched almost a month after it was announced and suffered from severe shipping delays. ShrimpApplePro said that the Apple Watch Series 8's stock levels are adequate, leading to the assumption of "little to no shipping delay" upon launch.
As we inch closer and closer to Apple's "Far Out" event in a little over one week, more details about the upcoming iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are beginning to emerge, with the latest batch of alleged details laying out final expectations for the colors, performance, features, and more of the upcoming iPhones.
The latest rumors come from the user "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, who cites a "US developer source" as the origin of the information. In two separate posts (1, 2), the account lays out alleged information on the colors of the upcoming iPhone lineup and details relating to features such as MagSafe, performance, and more.
Colors: No More Sierra Blue
According to the account, Apple will no longer offer a blue color option for its high-end iPhone 14 Pro lineup, including Sierra Blue introduced with the iPhone 13 Pro last year. Instead, in contradiction to existing rumors, the account claims the upcoming high-end iPhones will come in dark purple, silver, gold, graphite, and green. Here's how the iPhone 14 Pro color lineup will compare to the iPhone 13 Pro series, according to this rumor:
iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Graphite
Silver
Gold
Sierra Blue
Alpine Green
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Graphite
Silver
Gold
Purple
Green
For the lower-end iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, Apple will largely stick with the same colors as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, except for pink, according to a post by the "yeux1122" account today.
iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13
Midnight
Starlight
Blue
PRODUCT(RED)
Pink
Green
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max
Midnight
Starlight
Blue
Red
Purple
Green
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro color rumors have been rather confusing in the last several weeks, with the initial rumor of a purple iPhone 14 Pro coming from an unverified source. Alleged images of iPhone 14 Pro dummy units, including a dark purple option, leaked last week. Those images, however, included a blue color option, strikingly similar to Pacific Blue from the iPhone 12 Pro series and in direct contrast to today's rumor.
No High-End Titanium Model
Early rumors suggested Apple would offer a high-end pricey "titanium" model of the iPhone 14 Pro, featuring tougher and more premium materials. According to today's rumor, while Apple had tested a titanium model of the iPhone 14 Pro, it concluded that it was too expensive and difficult to mass produce and would not be offered as an option to customers.
Stronger MagSafe and New Battery Accessory
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will have stronger MagSafe magnets, making them stronger for attaching accessories alongside a new "exclusive battery accessory," according to the user "yeux1122."
Apple introduced MagSafe on the iPhone with the iPhone 12 but made no drastic changes to the MagSafe system with the iPhone 13. While it's unclear what the post refers to as an "exclusive battery accessory," it could be referencing an updated MagSafe Battery Pack for the new iPhone lineup.
A16 Has Improved Heat Management
The A16 Bionic chip expected to power the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is expected to feature performance improvements over the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro, but alongside faster performance, it will also have improved thermal Management, according to the latest rumor.
The rumor suggests that Apple can improve performance thanks to a new way it will handle the heat and thermal Management on the iPhone. The new details come amid past rumors suggesting that Apple may be planning to adopt a vapor thermal chamber for high-end iPhone 14 models.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature the all-new A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will retain the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13.
No 2TB Storage Option, Lineup Still Starts at 128GB
Lining up with predictions from analysts, the iPhone 14 Pro lineup will still start at 128GB despite a rumored increase in price. Rumors initially suggested the iPhone 14 Pro would start with a higher 256GB storage option to compensate for a rumored price hike, but that no longer seems to be the case. Both analyst estimates and today's rumor suggest a starting configuration of 128GB, alongside a higher starting price.
Also related to storage options, a rumor had claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro could come in a massive 2TB storage option, but that is seemingly not going to be the case according to the information shared today. Like the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Pro lineup will top out at 1TB of storage.
Twitter today announced it's launching "Twitter Circle," its new feature that allows users to share tweets, photos, videos, and more with only select users they choose.
The feature had been in testing since May and allows users to create a custom group with up to 150 accounts and share tweets with only those users rather than publicly.
With Twitter Circle, people now have the flexibility to choose who can see and engage with their content on a Tweet-by-Tweet basis. This makes it easier to have more intimate conversations and build closer connections with select followers.
Twitter Circle is rolling out today for users on iOS, Android, and the web.
Apple will base the next-generation iPhone SE on the design it used for the iPhone XR, claims leaker Jon Prosser, citing new information from his sources.
In the latest episode of the Geared Up podcast with Andru Edwards and Jon Rettinger (via AppleTrackr), Prosser claims that "The SE 4, from what I understand - and I don't think I've said this publicly - is just the iPhone XR."
As it is modeled after the iPhone 8 and prior iPhone SE, the current third-generation iPhone SE, released earlier this year, continues to feature thick top and bottom display bezels, unlike Apple's other iPhones. Also, all other iPhones now feature Face ID, so a potential switch to the iPhone XR design would mark the death knell for the iPhone's Home button.
The iPhone XR, which is no longer listed on Apple's stores, has a 6.1-inch LCD display, whereas the current iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display, so the change would additionally bring about a bigger screen size for Apple's most inexpensive iPhone.
The only other solid rumor about the next iPhone SE has come from display industry consultant Ross Young, who has proven to be a reliable source of information for future Apple products.
According to Young, Apple is planning to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE with a larger 5.7-inch display as early as 2023, although he did not say if such a model would retain the Home button and top and bottom bezels or adopt a notched screen with Face ID.
A photo allegedly showing a sticker tab to seal an Apple product box appears to confirm the "iPhone 14" name for the company's upcoming 2022 iPhone series. The photo was highlighted by ShrimpApplePro on Twitter, linking to a post on the Chinese social media network Weibo.
The validity of the image can't be confirmed, but it's not unusual to see images of iPhone packaging surfacing in the run-up to Apple's annual event in September. The same thing happened last year a couple of weeks before the iPhone 13 was launched, just as it did for the iPhone 12 in 2020.
As with our coverage here on MacRumors, most reliable sources have referred to the 2022 iPhone models as the "iPhone 14" series, although the naming convention Apple decides to use is never confirmed until the smartphone's official announcement, which is expected this year at Apple's "Far Out" event on September 7.
The Weibo post also claims that all the models in the iPhone 14 series will have 6GB of RAM –something analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and other sources have previously claimed – and that the Pro models will come in a white box.
The iPhone image shown in the background is also allegedly the display design, but given that all rumors point to separate pill shape and hole cutouts for the front-facing camera components on the iPhone 14 Pro models, this should be taken with a large grain of salt.
Apple is focusing on larger iPhone sizes for its flagship devices going forward, and this year 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. That means there will be non-Pro and Pro variants of both phone sizes, something Apple hasn't done before. Apple is widely believed to be eliminating the 5.4-inch iPhone mini from the iPhone 14 lineup, as the iPhone 13 mini was not popular enough with customers.
The Pro models in Apple's soon-to-be-announced iPhone 14 series will feature a new Ultra Wide camera with a larger sensor for better low light sensitivity, but the technology will come at a significant cost increase, predicts respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest tweet, Kuo says that the two iPhone 14 Pro models will have an Ultra Wide sensor with larger 1.4µm pixels compared to the previous generation Pro models. For reference, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro models all have a 1.0µm pixel pitch.
Practically speaking, the increased pixel size should result in improved light capture and decreased noise in low-light images, but the combined component costs – specifically the CMOS image (CIS) sensor, voice coil motor (VCM), and compact camera module (CCM) – will be up to 70% more expensive than those used in previous models.
According to Kuo, component suppliers Sony (CIS), Minebea (first VCM supplier), Largan (second supplier), and LG Innotek (CCM) will be "significant beneficiaries" of the Ultra Wide camera upgrade on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models.
Kuo has previously said he expects more substantial improvements to the camera system on the iPhone 14 Pro devices, including a Sony-crafted 48-megapixel Wide camera to replace the current 12-megapixel Wide camera used in the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.
With a higher number of megapixels, the Wide camera pixels will be smaller, allegedly measuring in at 1.22µm, a reduction of 0.68µm compared to prior-generation models. It will feature the same Dual Pixel Auto Focus system that Apple calls "Focus Pixels," and it will be able to record 16:9 video at up to 60 frames per second.
(3/4) I predict two iPhone 14 Pro models' ultra-wide cameras will upgrade to 1.4µm (vs. iPhone 13 Pro's 1.0µm). CIS (CMOS image sensor), VCM (voice coil motor), and CCM (compact camera module) have a significant unit price increase in this upgrade, with about 70%, 45%, and 40%.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 30, 2022
Apple is rumored to be using a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor on the main Wide camera, offering a 21.2% increase over the 1/1.65-inch sensor in the iPhone 13 Pro models. Overall, the sensor area will increase by 57%, which is why we are expecting a larger camera array to accommodate the larger lens size.
The iPhone 14 Pro models will offer 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel photo output options, with the latter taking advantage of pixel binning. Pixel binning merges data from multiple smaller pixels on the camera's image sensor into a single super-pixel for better low-light sensitivity and performance.
Unfortunately, the 48-megapixel lens is going to be limited to the iPhone 14 Pro models, with standard iPhone 14 models expected to get a standard 12-megapixel camera lens that's similar in functionality to the 12-megapixel lens used in the iPhone 13 models.
However, Apple on the iPhone 13 Pro models introduced an improved six-element Ultra Wide lens with an improved ƒ/1.8 aperture, and these improvements are expected to come to the standard iPhone 14 models.
Apple will announce the new iPhones at its "Far Out" event on Wednesday, September 7. 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. Note that there will be no 5.4-inch iPhone 14 mini this year.
Apple's paid podcast subscription service has been seeing notable growth, increasing more than 300 percent since June 2021. The metric was shared today by an Apple spokesperson who spoke to Digiday about a new Dateline subscription podcast offering.
More than 25 percent of the top 100 shows from the "Top Shows" chart offer a subscription option more than a year after subscriptions first debuted. Apple introduced Apple Podcasts Subscriptions in April 2021, with the feature designed to allow users to unlock benefits like ad-free listening, access to additional content, and early or exclusive access to new podcast series.
Podcast subscriptions earn Apple a 15 to 30 percent cut of revenue, similar to how App Store subscriptions work. Apple takes a 30 percent cut during the first year a user is subscribed, and a 15 percent cut for each subsequent year.
Apple's latest subscription addition comes from Dateline, which is introducing an ad-free listening experience across nine podcasts and shows, one-week early access to episodes, and monthly bonus episodes. The subscription is priced at $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, with podcasters able to set their own subscription pricing terms.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
