Tag Archives: iPhone 14 Pro release

Technology

New Apple Exclusive Reveals Lower-Than-Expected iPhone 14 Price

Leave a comment

08/06 Update below. This post was originally published on August 03

Apple leaks have consistently agreed on one thing: iPhone 14 models are getting more expensive. That is, until now.

In a new blog post, anonymous leaker Lanzuk has revealed that Apple has “decided to freeze the launch price of the iPhone 14 base model through a decision at the top executive level.” And given Lanzuk’s solid track record, there is every reason to believe this.

Lanzuk explains that Apple’s decision was based on “global mobile phone market stagnation and demand decline… so the price of the basic model is frozen despite some price increase factors.”

Detailed by other leakers, these factors include an increase in component prices due to shortages and Apple upgrading several key elements of the iPhone 14 lineup. Most notably, an all-new front-facing camera module from LG Innotek, which leaks claim is triple the price of its predecessor.

Lanzuk is undoubtedly aware of the shock and potential disbelief his news will generate and stresses that his information comes from a rock-solid source within a “major US financial institution.” Moreover, Lanzuk has a track record that deserves respect. While the insider has had the occasional miss, there have been a number of accurate leaks for both Apple and Samsung devices in the last year.

08/05 Update: further information has leaked regarding the iPhone 14’s launch, and it is more good news. Influential analyst and industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple has successfully expanded production of the upcoming base model in India ahead of release.

“Foxconn’s iPhone production site in India will ship the new 6.1″ iPhone 14 almost simultaneously with China for the first time in 2H22 (India being one quarter or more behind in the past),” explained Kuo. “In the short term, India’s iPhone capacities/shipments still have a considerable gap with China, but it’s an important milestone for Apple in building a non-Chinese iPhone production site.”

My contacts believe this strategy will deliver an immediate pay-off, with Apple able to supply substantial stock of the iPhone 14 for its September release. This contrasts starkly with the ongoing supply chain issues faced by the iPhone 14 Max. While Kuo expects the new 6.7-inch model to launch alongside the rest of the range, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has warned that “iPhone 14 Max panel shipments [are] still way behind through August.”

So if you plan to buy Apple’s most affordable big-screen iPhone to date, I suspect you will have to move fast when they go on sale.

08/06 Update: speaking to me today, popular tipster AppleLeaksPro says the new prices align with what he has heard for several months. “The Pros are substantially more expensive to manufacture,” LeaksApplePro explained, citing the new punch-hole display, upgraded 48MP camera, stainless steel chassis (which has been a cost differentiator since the iPhone XS) and A16 chipset.

“There are a lot of differences,” the leaker told me, saying the expectation is Apple will focus primarily on the iPhone 14 Pro models at launch. “My guess is that Apple will talk little to nothing about the iPhone 14.”

AppleLeaksPro says the driver behind all of this is “Differentiation”. This ties in with similar moves Apple has made to increase price and feature differences between the standard and Pro models of iPads, Macs and MacBooks in recent years. The strategy has proved successful, even if it is harder to pinpoint any feature that will make iPhone 14 Pro models objectively professional-orientated.

All of which means a split is opening up in the leaks community. Last month, noted analysts at Wedbush explained that price increases across the range were inevitable because “Prices have been increasing across the whole supply chain, and Cupertino needs to pass these costs to the consumer on this release.”

From what I understand, there is some truth to both positions. Pressure in the supply chain is increasing costs, as are several new components in the iPhone 14 range (particularly new front cameras).

That said, I understand that Apple is also determined to make 2022 the year it drives differentiation between Pro and non-Pro models, even if that means swallowing some of the cost increases in the standard models. This is a significant factor behind the iPhone 14’s similarity to its predecessor, both in design and performance, with the upgrades likely to be smaller than any previous generational iPhone upgrade.

As a result, expect this to be one of the more controversial iPhone launches in recent years.

If correct, Lanzuk’s claim would mean the iPhone 14 retains its $799 asking price (instead of jumping to $899), which also builds hope that the new iPhone 14 Max will also be priced $100 lower at $899. These price points make sense, given Apple’s determination to widen the feature and performance gap to iPhone 14 Pro models, which are still expected to go up in price:

  • iPhone 14 Pro – $1099 (iPhone 13 Pro $999)
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1199 (iPhone 13 Pro Max $1099)

Furthermore, I would argue that Lanzuk’s claim still equates to an effective $100 price increase across the range. This is because the $799 iPhone 14 will replace the $699 iPhone 13 Mini as the entry-level model, and the $899 iPhone 14 Max will take the place of the $799 iPhone 13. Given their respective increases in screen size, these rises are also easier for Apple to market to customers.

Will iPhone 14 lineup be worth it? Design, camera and performance upgrades on the Pro models certainly appear so, but with a potential transition from Lightning to USB-C in 2023 I would still urge caution if you don’t have to upgrade this year.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESiPhone 14 Analysis Details Potentially Large Performance GainsBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Exclusive Reveals Lower-Than-Expected iPhone 14 Price

Leave a comment

08/05 Update below. This post was originally published on August 03

Apple leaks have consistently agreed on one thing: iPhone 14 models are getting more expensive. That is, until now.

In a new blog post, anonymous leaker Lanzuk has revealed that Apple has “decided to freeze the launch price of the iPhone 14 base model through a decision at the top executive level.” And given Lanzuk’s solid track record, there is every reason to believe this.

Lanzuk explains that Apple’s decision was based on “global mobile phone market stagnation and demand decline… so the price of the basic model is frozen despite some price increase factors.”

Detailed by other leakers, these factors include an increase in component prices due to shortages and Apple upgrading several key elements of the iPhone 14 lineup. Most notably, an all-new front-facing camera module from LG Innotek, which leaks claim is triple the price of its predecessor.

Lanzuk is undoubtedly aware of the shock and potential disbelief his news will generate and stresses that his information comes from a rock-solid source within a “major US financial institution.” Moreover, Lanzuk has a track record that deserves respect. While the insider has had the occasional miss, there have been a number of accurate leaks for both Apple and Samsung devices in the last year.

08/05 Update: further information has leaked regarding the iPhone 14’s launch, and it is more good news. Influential analyst and industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple has successfully expanded production of the upcoming base model in India ahead of release.

“Foxconn’s iPhone production site in India will ship the new 6.1″ iPhone 14 almost simultaneously with China for the first time in 2H22 (India being one quarter or more behind in the past),” explained Kuo. “In the short term, India’s iPhone capacities/shipments still have a considerable gap with China, but it’s an important milestone for Apple in building a non-Chinese iPhone production site.”

My contacts believe this strategy will deliver an immediate pay-off, with Apple able to supply substantial stock of the iPhone 14 for its September release. This contrasts starkly with the ongoing supply chain issues faced by the iPhone 14 Max. While Kuo expects the new 6.7-inch model to launch alongside the rest of the range, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has warned that “iPhone 14 Max panel shipments [are] still way behind through August.”

So if you plan to buy Apple’s most affordable big-screen iPhone to date, I suspect you will have to move fast when they go on sale.

If correct, Lanzuk’s claim would mean the iPhone 14 retains its $799 asking price (instead of jumping to $899), which also builds hope that the new iPhone 14 Max will also be priced $100 lower at $899. These price points make sense, given Apple’s determination to widen the feature and performance gap to iPhone 14 Pro models, which are still expected to go up in price:

  • iPhone 14 Pro – $1099 (iPhone 13 Pro $999)
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1199 (iPhone 13 Pro Max $1099)

Furthermore, I would argue that Lanzuk’s claim still equates to an effective $100 price increase across the range. This is because the $799 iPhone 14 will replace the $699 iPhone 13 Mini as the entry-level model, and the $899 iPhone 14 Max will take the place of the $799 iPhone 13. Given their respective increases in screen size, these rises are also easier for Apple to market to customers.

Will iPhone 14 lineup be worth it? Design, camera and performance upgrades on the Pro models certainly appear so, but with a potential transition from Lightning to USB-C in 2023 I would still urge caution if you don’t have to upgrade this year.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESiPhone 14 Analysis Details Potentially Large Performance GainsBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Exclusive Reveals iPhone 14 Price Shock

Leave a comment

07/17 Update below. This post was originally published on July 14

Apple leaks have revealed that iPhone 14 Pro models will receive multiple exclusive upgrades and higher pricing. But now a new report claims standard iPhone 14 models will also receive a price bump, despite being virtually unchanged from their predecessors.

Speaking to The Sun, Dan Ives, head of popular analyst group Wedbush Securities, cites supply chain prices as the driving force behind the increase.

“We believe a $100 price increase is coming for the iPhone 14,” explained Ives. “Prices have been increasing across the whole supply chain, and Cupertino needs to pass these costs to the consumer on this release.”

If correct, the iPhone 14 lineup would breakdown as follows:

  • iPhone 14 – $899 (iPhone 13 $799)
  • iPhone 14 Max – $999 (iPhone 13 Mini $699)
  • iPhone 14 Pro – $1099 (iPhone 13 Pro $999)
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1199 (iPhone 13 Pro Max $1099)

While the $100 would hurt, particularly for standard models, which will sport the same design, rear cameras and chipset as the iPhone 13, the big financial hit comes with the range’s entry point jumping from $699 to $899. This near-30% increase results from Apple discontinuing the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini in favour of a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max (also tipped to be called the ‘iPhone 14 Plus’), which pushes the iPhone 14 into the base model position.

07/16 Update: now the iPhone 14 range has started production, leaks are not only accelerating but they are adding a level of detail we have not seen before. Reliable anonymous leaker, ShrimpApplePro — the first leaker to reveal the new iPhone 14 Pro dual punch-hole redesign — has now published detailed schematics for the flagship iPhone 14 Pro Max via Weibo.

The headline news is the schematics again back up the large number of leaks claiming Apple will scrap the notch, though it is expected to be retained for non-Pro models. That said, at this stage, the more interesting information for me is the dimensions they reveal:

  • iPhone 14 Pro Max – 160.71 x 78.78 x 7.85mm
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max – 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm

While the differences are slight, they eliminate one popular line of thought: that Apple would use the same chassis for iPhone 14 Pro models as their predecessors. Speculation will now accelerate about what those changes are.

My suspicion is the new 48-megapixel primary camera exclusive to Pro models will be a significant factor. But hopes that larger batteries are behind the increase seem unlikely based on a recent capacity leak. Leak season is well and truly open.

07/17 Update: LeaksApplePro has cast doubt on Wedbush’s pricing claims. The leaker, who has regularly provided iPhone pricing data in the past, told me the drive for Apple in 2022 is to widen the gap between Pro and non-Pro iPhone 14 models and price is one way that the company will do this.

“The difference between the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro is huge,” the leaker explained. “Apple is really trying to save as much money as possible with the iPhone 14 production, so I don’t think the company plans on the $100 raise Wedbush is talking about”

While this would be good news for buyers of standard models, LeaksApplePro does warn that Apple is looking to raise iPhone 14 Pro prices by at least $100. $799, $899, $1099, $1199 are the prices the insider believes Apple has pinned for the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max/Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max at present but they are not locked in:

“Apple could definitely change these prices, but right now that’s what’s being considered,” the leaker added.

This breakdown makes a lot of sense. By removing the Mini, Apple already increases the entry price for the iPhone 14 range to $799 from the $699 of the iPhone 13 lineup; and by using most of the same parts for standard iPhone 14 models as the iPhone 13, the company avoids major new costs.

This opens the door for higher iPhone 14 Pro pricing, greater hardware differentiation and increased upsell potential. If the leaks are correct, this will be a strategy which polarizes customers at a time of high global inflation. That said, my guess is there will still be queues around the block when these phones launch in late September/early October.

Such a chasm would cause genuine shock. It would also be a hard sell. Historically, Apple has kept previous generation iPhones on sale at lower prices after their successors’ launch. If Apple does this again, opting for a virtually identical iPhone 13 or even iPhone 13 Mini (which could be as low as $599) would be a no-brainer.

There is one popular industry counterpoint. That is, Apple will retain iPhone 13 pricing for the iPhone 14 and the lack of an iPhone 14 Mini will account for a $100 entry-level increase rather than the $200 gap discussed here. However, this doesn’t account for the hike in supply chain prices, so it may prove overly optimistic.

So should you upgrade? Throw in the red-hot rumor that iPhones will move from Lightning to USB-C in 2023 and, for me, I think this is an upgrade year to forget unless you’re in desperate need. That said, based on supplier deposit sizes, it looks like another super cycle regardless.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESNew iPad Leak Opens Door For iPhone 15 USB-C MoveBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Leak Reveals iPhone 14 Battery Surprise

Leave a comment

06/28 Update below. This post was originally published on June 25

Apple’s iPhone 14 design changes leaked months ago, but speculation around their performance has proved much more controversial. And now a new leak has set tongues wagging about their battery life.

Shared by credible industry insider ShrimpApplePro, a new Baidu post has published what it claims are the battery capacities for all iPhone 14 models. This is the first time capacities have been reported for the new range and while three models have received minor battery increases, a drop for the iPhone 14 Pro may mean your money is better spent elsewhere. [06/25 update – Baidu post now removed, this is often seen as a sign of accuracy because accurate data is more sensitive and posters come under significant pressure but it is impossible to know for sure]

The leak breaks down the battery capacities as follows:

  • iPhone 14 – 3279 mAh (iPhone 13 – 3,227 mAh)
  • iPhone 14 Max – 4325 mAh (N/A)
  • iPhone 14 Pro – 3200 mAh (iPhone 13 Pro – 3,095 mAh)
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max – 4323 mAh (iPhone 3 Pro Max – 4,352 mAh)

The big news comes from the big phones and, if these numbers are correct, there is every chance that the new iPhone 14 Max will outlast the flagship iPhone 14 Pro Max.

06/27 Update: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has published a deluge of information on Apple’s upcoming products, including the iPhone 14 line-up, in his latest Power On Newsletter.

In addition to leaks surrounding a slew of new M2-based devices — Mac Mini, Mac Pro and iPad Pro models coming “later this year” sporting a variety of M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra and M2 Extreme chips, a moderate Apple Watch 8 upgrade using the same chipset as the Watch 7, a second-generation HomePod and AirPods Pro and an A14-based Apple TV — Gurman also detailed multiple iPhone 14 upgrades.

“Like the Apple Watch, the iPhone 14 Pro will be able to show widgets displaying weather, calendars, stocks, activities and other data while the screen remains at a low brightness and frame rate,” wrote Gurman, adding his weight to revealing iOS 16 beta code which hinted at the feature earlier this month.

Gurman adds further detail as well, saying “there will be a setting—also like the Apple Watch—that keeps sensitive data from appearing on the lock screen for all to see.” This would combat one of the big concerns iPhone users have expressed about this feature.

Gurman also doubles down on previous industry leaks saying iPhone 14 Pro models will have “a much-improved front-facing camera, a new rear-camera system that includes a 48-megapixel sensor, thinner bezels, a faster A16 chip, and a redesigned notch with a pill-shaped cutout for Face ID and a hole punch for the camera.”

On the flip side, standard models will generate “less excitement” because “The lower-end phones will stick with the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13, though the 5.4-inch mini size will be replaced with a 6.7-inch model.” Meanwhile, despite the entry-level iPad switching to USB-C in the fall, Gurman says iPhone 14 models will stick with Lightning for another year with the transition coming in 2023. Whether the inclusion of a soon-to-be legacy connector puts off potential upgraders in 2022, only time will tell.

06/28 Update: What will be will be! A new report from tech site and supply chain specialist Digitimes claims that components have now been finalized for the iPhone 14 range and shipments have begun.

Citing supply chain sources in Taiwan, Digitimes says the components — which are sourced from numerous different suppliers — have been sent to Apple’s manufacturing partners, the biggest and longest running of which is Foxconn. These components will be stockpiled before mass production begins in the next 1-2 months ahead of the range’s traditional September/October release.

The big news from this development is twofold. First, specifications for the new phones are a lock. Apple has the capacity to switch suppliers mid-cycle but it would only be for like-for-like components (e.g. identical battery capacities, camera resolutions, etc). The company has never improved iPhone specifications for any model after sales have begun. That would undermine buyer confidence and risk the creation of a ‘wait and see’ upgrade approach.

This can be seen even when it has a detrimental effect, such as when it became clear that iPhone 12 Mini battery life was poor. Instead Apple waited until the iPhone 13 Mini to make improvements.

Second, leaks around the iPhone 14 series should now intensify. That may seem surprising given the large number of leaks, but the security Apple has enforced up to this point tends to go out the window when thousands of production lines and tens of thousands of labourers start mass production. Expect photos of components, and the phones themselves at various stages of the production process, to begin leaking over the coming weeks and months.

Where potential controversy for the iPhone 14 models lies is in the greater difference between the lines this year. iPhone 14 Pro models will sport a new i-shaped dual cutout display, which has polarized opinion, an even larger camera hump and a next generation chipset which could be a lot faster than its predecessor.

In contrast, it is going to be difficult to tell the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 apart. Its successor is expected to have an identical external design, camera specifications and chipset. The new phones may have 50% more RAM but all signs are currently that the standard models will be the most incremental generational iPhone upgrade to date.

Moreover, if you’re disappointed by this and want to go Pro, it looks like you’ll be paying more as well. Apple has widened the gap between its iPad, Mac, MacBook and even AirPods ranges in recent years and iPhones are playing catchup here. It’s a strategy which may not be universally popular but there is no denying its success.

The reason for this is not the fractional difference in their battery capacities but what they will be asked to do. iPhone 14 Pro models will have 48-megapixel sensors meaning they will process file sizes 4x larger than the 12MP sensor retained by standard models. They are also expected to have more RAM which means greater performance but increased battery drain.

Whether new efficiencies from the Pro-exclusive A16 chipset and new DDR5 RAM can offset this remains to be seen, but with iPhone 14 Max expected to cost $300 less it could be a tempting downgrade for those concerned by reported iPhone 14 Pro price rises. The iPhone 14 Max is also a dramatic improvement on its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Mini (2,406 mAh) for which battery life was its biggest drawback.

Looking more widely, the minor battery increases to the rest of the range are also eye-opening. After being overshadowed by large Android phones for several generations, the iPhone 13 lineup was a big leap forward and there was hope Apple would look to extend its lead over the competition, having seen success from its M1-based MacBooks streaking ahead of the battery life delivered by Intel and AMD-based rivals.

It is worth noting that ShrimpApplePro has some doubts about the figures, writing “Hmmm” afterwards but the leaker also has a history of only sharing accurate information. So the reaction may be more towards Apple’s strategy than the leak itself.

That strategy would certainly be a gamble. Ever since the iPhone 6 Plus launched in 2014, Apple’s biggest and most expensive model has always had the best battery life. That now looks to be under serious threat and it makes the iPhone 14 Max a lot more attractive. Furthermore, with Pro models set to ditch Lightning for USB-C in 2023, skipping iPhone 14 Pro models altogether in 2022 might just be the smartest option.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESNew iPad Leak Opens Door For iPhone 15 Surprise RedesignBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Leak Reveals iPhone 14 Release Surprise

Leave a comment

06/07 Update below. This post was originally published on June 4

Recent iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro leaks have revealed two very different iPhones, with Apple determined to widen the gap between Pro and non-Pro models. The news has split opinions and now differing information surrounding their release has done the same thing.

In recent weeks, contradictory reports have claimed that there will/won’t be a delay to the release of some iPhone 14 models. And now one of the most respected industry insiders has twisted the picture one more.

06/06 Update: Ahead of Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has used his Power On newsletter confirm that next-generation releases of all the company’s major platforms will be announced:

“What certainly will be at the conference are significant updates to the company’s core operating systems: iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and macOS. This year’s event is likely to usher in a wider-than-usual breadth of new features,” he explains.

Gurman states that new hardware will follow and “the new [MacBook] Air will be the biggest revamp to the device in over a decade”. The potential launch of ‘realityOS’, a platform for Apple’s upcoming VR headset, is also mooted but far less certain.

Central to Apple’s iPhone plans, however, is iOS 16 and Gurman claims that a core element of the release will be an Always-on display. The interesting aspect around this, however, is Gurman claims it will be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models “if the feature ends up making the cut.”

Always-on displays have been a staple of even mid-range Android phones for years, so seeing Apple limit this to its latest flagship models would be another example of how the company is determined to widen the gap between Pro and non-Pro models. Whether this strategy will prove successful or incite fan backlash remains to be seen.

06/07 Update: As expected, Apple officially unveiled iOS 16 yesterday at WWDC and it has set tongues wagging about the iPhone 14. While Apple announced a long list of new features coming to the next-generation release — including a revamped lockscreen with widgets and multiple pages, an upgraded notification system and overhauls of iMessage (edit/recall messages), Apple Pay, voice dictation and a new Safety Check security feature designed to protect people in abusive relationships — the much leaked Always-on display was missing.

This has two clear implications. First, as Gurman warned, the feature may not have made the cut into the final release of iOS 16. Second, the feature is being hidden until the iPhone 14 lineup launches in September. The problem with the latter is it would mean the feature is exclusive, with the company’s current iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models excluded.

And this makes little sense. For starters, leaks report the A16 chip is a relatively minor upgrade from the A15, while the primary requirement for always-on displays are panels which can handle variable refresh rates to conserve battery life. The iPhone 13 lineup already has this technology and couples it with the most power-efficient smartphone chipset available.

As such, my feeling is this should serve as a red flag for aspiring iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max upgraders. Always-on displays have been a staple of Android for years without any of the top-end hardware of the current flagship iPhones, but it looks like Apple is already starting to reserve significant features (justifiably or not) for its next-gen models. I will revisit this should Always-on in iOS 16 get an official announcement as beta testing progresses, but I believe we just received our first big clue as Apple ramps up an aggressive strategy to ensure its iPhone 14 Pro models stand out from the pack.

In a series of tweets, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo disputed a recent report from ET News that supply problems have forced Apple to prematurely install a front-facing camera module intended for the iPhone 15 a year early at great cost.

“This report is not entirely consistent with my understanding,” explains Kuo. “1. If LG Innotek became iPhone 14 front camera supplier in 2Q22, it would be almost impossible to catch up with the development schedule for 2H22 iPhone 14. 2. I believe Apple had already chosen LG Innotek and Cowell as the iPhone 14 front camera suppliers in 4Q21 at the latest.”

This aligns with Kuo’s earlier claims that iPhone 14 production overall is “under control currently.” That said, both Nikkei Asia and Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu believe that supplies of the iPhone 14 Max are delayed by almost a month.

Similarly, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) and one of the most accurate industry insiders, has countered that “iPhone 14 Max panel shipments have always been behind.” Consequently, Apple may be heading for its second iPhone split release in the last five years (iPhone 12/iPhone 12 Mini), which in turn was only the second in iPhone history (iPhone 8/iPhone X).

It is a surprise to see insiders split like this, because historically leaks around iPhone releases are fairly consistent. This tends to be due to the global way iPhones are mass-produced, with even Apple’s secretive expertise unable to stem the flow of leaks as production is cranked up.

Split release or not, the most divisive aspect of the iPhone 14 launch is likely to be the phones themselves. While the standard iPhone 14 models will inherit the same design, chipset and rear cameras as the iPhone 13 lineup, iPhone 14 Pro models will leap ahead with upgrades in all three departments and increased prices to match.

How iPhone fans respond to Apple’s aggressive attempt to upsell buyers to these more expensive models, remains to be seen.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESApple iPhone 14 Models Exposed In New VideoBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Leak Doubles Down On iPhone 14 Design Shock

Leave a comment

05/09 Update below. This post was originally published on May 7

Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro plans are daring but it is arguably the company’s refusal to make any meaningful changes to the standard iPhone 14 models which is where the real shock lies. And that just got worse…

Following eye-opening reports in February that both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will again lack Apple’s 120Hz ProMotion display technology, now the industry’s most accurate insider has doubled down on this news.

05/09 Update: hugely popular (8.3M subscribers) Apple YouTuber EverythingApplePro (aka Filip Koroy) has delved further into the new iPhone 14 design. Koroy obtained schematics of the iPhone 14 Pro models and 3D printed them, admitting that “it doesn’t appear that much has changed at first glance” but on closer inspection they reveal the earpiece has been repositioned higher in the phone.

“Another surprising change that I didn’t notice at first but then I cannot not see is the increased corner radiuses alongside thinner bezels which are getting 21% thinner. You’ll have more screen but less bezel and more of a pleasant rounded shape which is going in the direction of the Series 7 Apple Watch.”

Koroy warns that these changes don’t add a lot of screen estate, but it does take the iPhone lineup in a bold new direction. Koroy also adds that the schematics “absolutely confirmed” the new dual hole punch on the Pro models with the standard iPhone 14 and new iPhone 14 Max retaining the notch. For iPhone 14 Pro buyers, 2022 looks like an exciting upgrade year, but those considering the standard iPhone 14 should probably wait until 2023 when bigger changes are coming.

In an attempt to correct an inaccurate report, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), tweeted that “Only Pro models” will sport ProMotion. And given Young’s remarkable track record, this looks like the final nail in the coffin for technology which has become both popular and ubiquitous in mid-to-high-end Android smartphones in recent years.

And my feeling is Apple has boxed itself into a corner here. This year, Apple is determined to increase the separation between its Pro and non-Pro iPhones and it cannot do this while giving standard iPhone models a feature called ‘ProMotion’. This is despite the fact there is nothing particularly Pro about ProMotion in 2022. It is a rare example of Apple’s marketing jargon coming back to bite the company and it could not come at a worse time.

Under another name, ProMotion would have been an easy and popular upgrade for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max. High refresh rate screens bring a level of smoothness and responsiveness that simply isn’t possible on a 60Hz display, while also reducing eye strain. Apple itself markets ProMotion as the “display that changes the game.”

But without it, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max are left with almost nothing to recommend them. In an unprecedented move, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will reuse the design, display tech, camera modules and chipset from the iPhone 13. All the big upgrades are being saved for iPhone Pro models.

Moreover, this comes at a time when Apple is likely to be forced into price upgrades across the range. So Apple needed an easy win and ProMotion could have been it. As it stands, market analysts are now raising questions about the range’s potential success, and they might just have a point.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESLeaked iPhone 14 Pro CADs Reveal ‘Far More Curved’ DesignBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here

Technology

New Apple Exclusive Reveals iPhone 14 Price Shock

Leave a comment

04/30 Update below. This post was originally published on April 27

Apple leaks have already revealed what everyone knows to be the most shocking change in the iPhone 14 range: the notch-less redesign. Right? Wrong. New information reveals it will be their prices…

In an exclusive report, Bloomberg’s excellent Apple guru Mark Gurman reports that Apple’s decision to replace the iPhone 13 mini with an iPhone 13 Max is likely to result in a price increase of up to $300.

04/29 Update: And now we know exactly what the new iPhone 14 Max and the rest of the iPhone 14 lineup will look like. Thanks to a major supply chain leak on popular Chinese website, Weibo — historically the home of component leaks — (via content creator Saran Byte) we can now see the actual front panels of all four models for the first time. Interestingly, the parts confirm several details which had been hotly tipped:

  • iPhone 14 Pro models will have thinner, symmetrical bezels
  • Pro models appear to be slightly taller than non-Pro models with more rounded corners
  • iPhone 14 Max does indeed replace the iPhone 13 Mini and — aspect ratio margins aside — is approximately the same size as the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • Standard models retain the notch while both iPhone 14 Pros have the polarizing new ‘i-shaped’ cutout.

The alignment of actual parts (which is a regular trend around this time every year as Apple ramps up mass production), also adds substance to leaks around the internals of the new models. That said, this is not necessarily good news. Notably, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max are expected to run on a previous generation chipset (Apple’s 2021 A15 Bionic also used in the $429 iPhone SE) for the first time, while the newly leaked price hikes (below) look even more likely.

04/30 Update: verification of the leaked iPhone 14 front panels has now arrived from increasingly influential anonymous industry insider ShrimpApplePro.

Speaking to popular YouTuber Jon Prosser on his FrontPageTech show, the leaker broke things down with Prosser reporting: “Yes, it’s real… As for why we are seeing these now, well he [ShrimpApplePro] says that mass production could start as early as next month. So what you’re seeing is still technically in the development phase but we are right around the corner from this being made at scale.”

While Prosser has really made his name over the last 18 months with a series of high-profile Apple and Google leaks, ShrimpApplePro has caused waves more recently after his leaked iPhone 14 Pro schematics were the first to reveal a new i-shaped cut out for these models. His information contradicted that of several other established leakers and was initially treated with skepticism but, following a flurry of complimentary leaks from other sources, all major insiders now agree this is Apple’s chosen iPhone 14 Pro design.

As such, a tip-off from ShrimpApplePro is about as good as it gets for iPhone leaks in 2022 and highlights Apple’s plan to widen the design, features and performance gaps between Pro and non-Pro iPhones moving forward. It’s a risky strategy that risks alienating fans during a time of global belt-tightening but Apple rarely gets its product strategy wrong.

“So, for the first time, the non-Pro iPhone line will get a 6.7-inch screen option,” explains Gurman. “…users will now be able to get Apple’s largest iPhone size for at least $200 less than before.”

In other words: an iPhone 14 Max will be circa $200 cheaper than an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Now let’s break this down. Currently, an iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1099 which would price an iPhone 14 Max at $899 – a $200 increase on the $699 iPhone 13 Mini it replaces. But not so fast.

Multiple leaks have claimed that rising component costs and Apple’s determination to differentiate Pro and non-Pro iPhones, will see the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max increase to $1099 and $1199 respectively. That $200 gap now potentially pushes the iPhone 14 Max as high as $999 — $300 more than an iPhone 13 Mini.

And this is just the start because, as Gurman points out, standard iPhone 14 models will share far fewer Pro features than in previous generations. Among the features he claims they will miss out on are:

All of which presents Apple fans with something of a conundrum: How much does size matter?

Poor sales of the iPhone 13 Mini have again shown that large screens are what users really want, so a more affordable iPhone 14 Pro Max should fit the bill perfectly. But if the iPhone 14 Max costs circa $1000 and just $100 more gets you an iPhone 14 Pro, which has a superior design, upgraded camera, next-gen performance and a 120Hz ProMotion display, the reaction might be very different.

Giving users what they want but not how they want it, is an Apple speciality. And it looks like the iPhone 14 range is going to be no different.

___

Follow Gordon on Facebook

More on Forbes

MORE FROM FORBESLeaked iPhone 14 Pro CADs Reveal ‘Far More Curved’ DesignBy Gordon Kelly



Read original article here