If you don’t like spoilers, look away now: a large outpouring of information has occurred around the forthcoming iPhone 14 line-up.
9to5Mac is reporting (and the site has a pretty good track record with Apple insights, given it predicted the Mac Studio with a high degree of accuracy) that its sources within Apple have confirmed a number of things about the forthcoming phones, such as the iPhone 14 mini not making an appearance at this year’s iPhone launch event.
The sources say that we’ll instead see a 6.1- and 6.7-inch ’base’ model of iPhone (so that would be the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, then) and the expected iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max to make their debut too.
However, if you remember from last week, Apple is reported to be dropping the notch in favor of the pill and punch hole display on the iPhone 14 Pro models – which would require them to be ever-so-slightly longer to accommodate the extra sensors.
(Image credit: Ark Click/Weibo)
Sadly (for those who are desperate to have parity in the iPhone 14 series), 9to5Mac’s sources have ’confirmed’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo‘s claim that there will indeed be a split in the chipsets: the iPhone 14 and 14 Mac will get the A15 Bionic chip from last year, where the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max both are getting the much-vaunted A16 chipset.
There’s also the return of the rumor that Apple will be baking in satellite communications to its iPhone 14 line-up – not to allow you to watch Netflix using space signals, but to offer emergency messaging and connections when you have no cell service.
This is unlikely to be a cheap option if it’s available as a consumer service (although likely free in case of emergency, as is calling emergency services through any network) but it would be interesting to see how Apple markets this.
Opinion: a sad day for the iPhone
While there aren’t any controversial changes to be found in the 9to5Mac leak, the picture being painted isn’t particularly exciting from a consumer standpoint, either.
The iPhone 14 mini could have been the culmination of two years of trying to get the smaller form factor right, so it’s hard to hear of another nail in that coffin (although I am a big fan of the notion of the iPhone 14 Max – it just makes sense).
I’m far less jazzed about the iPhone 14 Pro range coming with a pill and punch hole design – as I said recently, that’s going to look a bit ugly unless Apple can weave some symmetrical magic on the use of it. The claim that the iPhone 14 Pro range will be slightly taller as a result is intriguing though – how much taller exactly? Will it be noticeable?
And while the iPhone 14 range being split by the processor does make a lot of sense – the power in the iPhone is just fine as it is, and adding more grunt to that won’t be noticed by many users – it’s still going to bother some people that they don’t have the latest and greatest silicon in their handset.
It’s a claim that iPhone SE 2022 buyers will be able to make from March 18, and for a phone that costs just $429 / £419 / AU$719 that’s pretty sweet – that won’t be the case in September, it seems.
If you’re wondering about that phone, by the way, read our live iPhone SE 2022 review and see if it’s the phone for you before the iPhone 14 even rears its glossy, glassy head.
Apple Watch doesn’t have any data ports accessible to users, which means that only Apple is able to repair your watch if there’s a firmware failure. Luckily, iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5 introduce a new tool to let users wirelessly restore the Apple Watch firmware using their iPhone.
Shortly after releasing iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5 to the public on Monday, Apple updated its support article with information on what users need to do if the Apple Watch stops working. Interestingly, while the old version of the article instructed users to contact Apple Support to set up a mail-in repair, the article now reveals that users may be able to restore the Apple Watch firmware themselves.
If for some reason your Apple Watch stops working (such as when it crashes during the update process), an alert will appear on your iPhone asking you to restore the Apple Watch.
Your Apple Watch might show an animation asking you to bring it close to an iPhone if your watch experiences a problem that requires it to be updated or restored. You might also see a red exclamation point on your watch. If your Apple Watch with watchOS 8.5 or later displays an animation showing a watch and iPhone being brought close together, follow these steps.
According to Apple, both the iPhone and Apple Watch need to be running the latest version of iOS and watchOS, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth need to be turned on on your iPhone. The Apple Watch needs to be put on the charger during the process, and the user will have to press the side button twice to start the restore process.
The company acknowledges that even the new tool may not be able to recover your Apple Watch. In this case, the watch will show a red exclamation mark icon, so you’ll have to take your Apple Watch to an Apple Store or authorized repair shop.
Interestingly, 9to5Mac first reported that Apple was working on this tool internally known as “OS Recovery” back in 2020. Based on code seen by 9to5Mac at the time, the tool was also capable of restoring another iOS device’s firmware wirelessly, so perhaps we’ll see more of what it can do in a future update.
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Today Apple’s official Certified Refurbished store has added iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models, which are up for grabs if you’re interested in the company’s previous-gen devices and want to save some money.
To recap – products you buy from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store come with a new battery, new outer shell, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary), and a one-year warranty. You get free delivery and returns too, and the latest OS is preinstalled. The only downside? You’re not getting the original box.
If you can live with that, then you can save $110 on the iPhone 12 with 64GB of storage, $120 on the one with 128GB of storage, $140 on the iPhone 12 Pro with 128GB of storage, $150 on the iPhone 12 Pro with 256GB of storage, and $180 on the iPhone 12 Pro with 512GB of storage. That’s quite a good deal for something that will look and feel like a brand new device, isn’t it?
Supplies are limited however, so if you’re interested in any of the aforementioned models, make sure you check out the Source linked below as soon as possible, pick your color, and place your order. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro units may not be around for long.
And if you’re curious about them, here’s our in-depth review of the iPhone 12, and that of the iPhone 12 Pro.
More evidence is emerging that this year’s high-end Apple iPhone 14 Pro models and the regular models will differ in more ways than just their screens and cameras. Yesterday, trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that only the Pro models would get a new chip. 9to5Mac corroborates the news, while also adding that the satellite data transfer feature that was expected to come to the iPhone 13 will be included in this year’s lineup.
The outlet has corroborated rumors that the 5.4-inches iPhone 13 mini will not be getting a successor. Instead, the iPhone 14 series will feature the 6.1-inches iPhone 14 and the 6.7-inches iPhone 14 Max, codenamed D27 and D28, respectively, and 6.1-inches and 6.7-inches iPhones 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, internally known as the D73 and D74.
The Pro models are expected to have the same resolution as their predecessors, meaning the iPhone 14 Pro will have a 1170 x 2532 screen, and Pro Max’s display will have a resolution of 1284 x 2778 pixels.
Per today’s scoop, the Pro variants will also have slightly taller displays than the outgoing models, which means they will have a different aspect ratio than the current variants’ 19.5:9 ratio. This would give the phones a slimmer look, but we don’t think Apple will copy Sony Xperia 1 III’s 21:9 ratio, but who knows.
The alleged reason behind this design is the new dual pill and hole cutout setup that’s expected to replace the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
Only the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will flaunt the new A16 Bionic chip
2013 was the last time that Apple divided its smartphone range according to the type of chip explicitly. Otherwise, if we pay attention to details, the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro models has an extra GPU core.
That said, an extra GPU core is not the same as a chip built on a new manufacturing process. The A15 Bionic is based on the 5nm process and the rumored A16 Bionic will reportedly be manufactured using the more advanced 4nm tech which should make it faster and more energy-efficient.
It’s not clear why Apple is breaking from the decades-long tradition of outfitting all phones in a series with the same chip, but insiders such as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have suggested it may have something to do with the supply shortage.
It’s not all gloom and doom for the regular models as the phones will likely have a minimum of 6GB of RAM, up from 4GB, but only the Pro variants are expected to feature the faster LPDDR 5 RAM tech. Previous rumors had said that Apple would bump up the maximum RAM to 8GB, but this again would only apply to the Pro models.
It’s also not clear if iPhone 13 Pro’s fluid 120Hz display will trickle down to the iPhone 14 and 14 Max, but what’s fairly certain is that only the Pros will get a new 48MP camera that will help them outshine the best camera phones of 2022.
Lastly, today’s report also says that the satellite communication feature that Apple has allegedly been working on since 2017 may arrive with this year’s lineup. The system is internally known as “Stewie” and the company is said to be testing a prototype that can send a message over satellite, eliminating the need for cell service.
The 2022 lineup will likely break cover in September.
Apple has just released new iPhone 13 models, but the company has already been working on iPhone 14. While 9to5Mac sources corroborated a report about the new models having different chips, we also learned that the iPhone 14 Pro models may have a taller screen due to the new design and that Apple has still been working on satellite features.
iPhone 14 details
Early iPhone 14 rumors suggested that Apple’s smartphone lineup in 2022 will have four new models but this time without a “mini” version. According to our sources, the new iPhone 14 (codenamed D27 and D28) will be available in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch versions, and the current 5.4-inch iPhone mini form-factor will be discontinued.
These mid-range phones will have the same display resolution as the current iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, the display on the flagships iPhones 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (codenamed D73 and D74) may be slightly taller to accommodate the new “notch + pill” design that will replace the notch.
As for the chip situation, 9to5Mac’s sources confirm that there will be two new iPhone 14 models based on the A15 chip, while two others will have a brand new chip. It’s worth noting that Apple already has two different versions of the A15 chip, one of which has an extra GPU core and 6GB of RAM (used in 13 Pro models).
Apple could use the high-end version of its A15 Bionic chip in the entry-level iPhone 14 models, as 9to5Mac also heard from our own sources that all this year’s iPhones will have 6GB of RAM. The company could even rebrand the chip as “A15X,” as it has done in the past with the 2020 iPad Pro’s A12Z chip – which is essentially the A12X chip with an extra GPU core.
As another example, the Apple Watch Series 7 has the same CPU as the Apple Watch Series 6, but the chips are named “Apple S6” and “Apple S7” due to minor internal changes that have been made to the SoC.
Satellite features
A few weeks before the iPhone 13 announcement, some reports suggested that Apple had been working on satellite communication features for upcoming iPhone models. Although these features were never added to the iPhone 13 lineup, 9to5Mac’s sources told us that Apple is still working on satellite communication for iPhone.
It’s unclear whether the technology will be ready for this year’s iPhone, but the company has been testing prototypes that are capable of sending text messages over satellite. That system is internally known by the codename “Stewie.”
Both iPhone 14 and 14 Pro are expected to be introduced this fall. Be sure to check out our guide with everything we know so far about Apple’s next generation smartphone.
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I’ve been testing it for the past several days, and it’s a good option for people who just need an iPhone without all the fancy stuff you’ll pay for on the iPhone 13, such as a nicer screen and better cameras.
The iPhone SE is $30 more than the identically named model that launched in 2020 for $399. It offers more than that model, including support for faster 5G cellular, stronger glass, and the same high-speed processor that appears in the more expensive iPhone 13 (which starts at $699 for the Mini model). But it seems inflation and supply chain constraints could also be playing a role. I think Apple could really have boosted the appeal by dropping the price a bit, considering consumers are getting squeezed everywhere else right now, from the grocery store to the gas pump.
The iPhone SE isn’t as popular as Apple’s other phones. According to Counterpoint Research, the 2020 version of the iPhone SE accounted for 12% of all iPhone sales from its launch until Q4 2021. The addition of 5G, however, could make it a compelling option in international markets such as Europe and China where Apple didn’t yet have a low-priced 5G phone to compete with budget Android devices.
Here’s what you need to know about it.
What’s good
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Todd Haselton | CNBC
Apple’s strategy for the iPhone SE is to take the same body and screen from older phone models to save on costs, while adding in the latest processor and cellular chip to keep it up to date. That means it can still run all the latest games and apps that you’d expect from any new iPhone — I played Disney’s Melee Mania, for example — without any slowdown that you might otherwise see in a phone that’s a few years old.
It’s got the same body design as the iPhone 8 from 2017, which looks a bit out of date but also means it’s the only iPhone you can still buy with a fingerprint-reading home button instead of Apple’s Face ID unlock system, which is only now getting support for face masks.
I love the size. I normally carry Apple’s much bigger iPhone 13 Pro Max, which feels a bit like a brick next to the iPhone SE. I’d turn to the iPhone SE to toss in my pocket for a run, and it was a lot easier to use to watch movies with one hand while lying down without worrying about it dropping on my face. The stereo speakers are good, too. But if you have the budget, the iPhone 13 Mini is the same size with a way better screen, slightly longer battery life, and nicer cameras.
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Todd Haselton | CNBC
The 5G works well, too. It doesn’t support some of the fastest mmWave networks that other iPhone and Android devices can, but those networks aren’t widely available anyway. More importantly, it does support the new C-band networks that are being rolled out by Verizon and AT&T, as well as T-Mobile’s solid nationwide 5G network. So, while 5G still isn’t a must-have for most people, it’s great if you need to download a big playlist or a couple of TV shows before you hop on a flight. In my tests, T-Mobile’s 5G network hit about 300Mbps at home, which was faster than my Wi-Fi in parts of my house.
The camera captures rich colors.
Todd Haselton | CNBC
The camera is good but it’s definitely one area where you can feel the cost savings. It’s got the same lens as the 2020 model but still takes slightly better pictures thanks to the image signal processor that comes with the latest A15 chip. Portrait shots, which nicely blur the background of your subject, can be taken of people, but it doesn’t detect pets for those images. There’s no night mode, which means shots taken in the dark aren’t as clear as they are on Apple’s more expensive phones. But it took nice, clean shots and did a good job capturing the deep reds of some tulips. The front-facing camera is solid for selfies with nice color and tone balance.
My dog Mabel
Todd Haselton | CNBC
Finally, while it’s not as water-resistant as Apple’s other iPhones, it can still survive a dunk in the bath or a spill without any worry, and has the same strong glass as other iPhones to help prevent shattering if you drop it. It doesn’t feel cheap like some low-cost Android phones, which often use plastic instead of glass and metal.
What’s bad
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Todd Haselton | CNBC
The iPhone SE isn’t really made for power users, and that shows in the battery life. It’ll get you through a day if you’re making phone calls and surfing the web, but don’t expect it to last all day if you’re doing a ton of gaming or more processor-intensive tasks.
It looks the same as the iPhone SE from 2020, which looked the same as the iPhone 8 from 2017. It does look dated, and there are lots of phones with nicer screens that reach the top and bottom of the phone.
The screen is adequate, but won’t wow you like the brighter and faster screens on Apple’s more expensive phones.
I like that it supports wireless charging if you have a Qi charging pad around the house, but it doesn’t support Apple’s newer MagSafe pucks, which magnetically attach to the back of the phone and charge even faster wirelessly.
Finally, while most people looking for a budget phone are probably fine with 64GB of storage, I recommend spending $479 for the model with 128GB if you plan to download and save more apps, movies and games.
Should you buy it?
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Todd Haselton | CNBC
People always ask me what iPhone they should buy. My response is usually to ask another question: What do you want to do with it?
If you just need an iPhone that can run every app and the latest software, then the iPhone SE is a great buy for the price. It’s a huge upgrade for folks coming from similar devices, like the old iPhone 8. It’s also a great first phone for teens — these days, a lot of kids get their first phone when they’re in middle school.
But if you have a bigger budget, I still think the best phones for most people are the $799 iPhone 13, or the smaller $699 iPhone 13 Mini if you like that size. You can unlock those phones with your face, they have nicer screens, they take better pictures, and they have better battery life.
If you want to go all-out with the smoothest, brightest screen and nicer stainless steel materials, then the iPhone 13 Pro models are your best bet.
Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE made its debut at the company’s event on Tuesday, alongside a new iPad Air. (Check out everything else Apple announced here.) The iPhone is a new-and-improved model of the 2020 iPhone SE, which features the iPhone 11’s A13 processor and an iPhone 8-like body for $399.
The new SE is the same concept, retaining an iPhone 8 shell and a Touch ID home button, except it’s outfitted with the iPhone 13‘s A15 Bionic processor and 5G support. You can preorder the 2022 iPhone SE starting today, and it will become available March 18, starting at $429 — a slight price hike from its 2020 predecessor.
Apple
The long-awaited successor to the iPhone SE (2020) has been announced by Apple during its March 8 “Peek Performance” event. It features Apple’s A15 chip (which is the same one found in the iPhone 13 series), 5G, stronger glass and maintains the same overall design as the previous gen.
Pricing for the new iPhone SE starts at $429 and preorders begin on March 11.
John Kim/CNET
Apple’s $399 iPhone SE, released in 2020, looks like an iPhone 8 but works like Apple’s newer iPhone 11 Pro.
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Here’s how the specs for the new 2022 iPhone SE compare to those of the previous iPhone SE.
iPhone SE 2022 specs vs. iPhone SE 2020 specs
iPhone SE 2022
iPhone SE 2020
Display size, resolution
4.7-inch
4.7-inch
Material
Glass and aluminum, same durable glass used on the back of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
Glass and aluminum
Colors
Midnight (black), starlight (white), red
Black, white, red
Mobile software
iOS 15
iOS 13
Cameras
Back: 12-megapixel with feature upgrades (Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, and Deep Fusion)
Back: 12-megapixel; front: 7-megapixel; video capture: 4K
Processor
Apple A15 Bionic
Apple A13 Bionic
Storage
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Special features
Home button with Touch ID, water-resistant and dust-resistant (IP67), wireless charging, fast charging, 5G support, longer battery life
Home button with Touch ID, Water-resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM, e-SIM); wireless charging
Price off-contract (USD)
Starting at $429
$399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)
Price (GBP)
Starting at £419
£419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB)
Price (AUD)
Starting at AU$719
AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB)
For more on Apple’s latest, check out our roundup of all the features iOS 15.4 will bring to your iPhone. Here’s everything announced at Apple’s recent event, including the new iPad Air and the new green color options for iPhone 13 models. Plus, is the iPhone SE 2020 still a good buy in 2022?
03/13 Update below. This post was originally published on March 10
iPhone 14 leaks have already revealed dramatic design changes are coming to Pro models this year, and now we know that they will impact all new iPhone releases for years to come as well.
Apple iPhone 14 range concept renders, based on leaks
EverythingApplePro
MORE FROM FORBESiPhone 14 Pro CutOut Dimensions Revealed, And It’s BigBy Gordon Kelly
In a new blog post, industry display specialist Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has revealed that within 18 months every iPhone will look very different. According to Young, who has a flawless track record, Apple’s plans to replace the notch in iPhone 14 Pro models with a divisive new i-shaped cutout this year will be expanded to every iPhone model in 2023.
03/12 Update: further information has now leaked revealed Apple’s intentions for the design of standard iPhone 14 models. While the Pro models will move to the controversial i-shaped cutout detailed below, I had missed a new blog post from popular industry insider yeux1122, who reveals that buyers of the iPhone 14 and new iPhone 14 Max (which is tipped to replace the iPhone 13 Mini) will have a very familiar experience.
The anonymous tipster, who has a solid track record, says recent claims that Apple will slim down the bezels on the standard models is incorrect and the phones will be identical to the current iPhone 13. Given they will also retain the notch for a fifth successive generation, the appeal of these phones is going to be entirely dependent on a) what Apple upgrades internally, b) as a way to escape the so-called ‘i-sore’ of the new display cutouts on the iPhone 14 Pro models.
The news also makes sense given Apple’s moves to widen the gap between its standard and Pro devices. In recent years, non-Pro MacBooks and iPads have retained older designs even when getting the latest hardware (such as the M1 chip in MacBooks and, earlier this week, the new iPad Air). In these categories Apple has widened the price gap between Pro and non-Pro devices and, with rumors of iPhone price hikes, it will be interesting to see if this also happens with the iPone 14 range.
03/13 Update: Acclaimed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has today revealed the names of the upcoming iPhone 14 range and the good news is they align with what we have heard from other leakers. “According to Apple’s rules for naming iPhones, the four new 2H22 iPhones could be called iPhone 14 (6.1″), iPhone 14 Max (6.7″), iPhone 14 Pro (6.1”), and iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7″),” said Kuo. Apple’s decision to drop the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini has been expected for some time, but its demise is likely to split opinion. While sales had been slower than expected, there is simply nothing else on the market like it for fans of smaller handsets. The iPhone 13 Mini is a genuinely one-handed device with top tier performance.
The flip side is both economic and practical. From an economic standpoint, user interest has clearly migrated to bigger phones with their unwieldiness accepted for the benefits their extra screen-size brings and their form factor allows for bigger, longer lasting batteries to be fitted. This latter is also likely a key element in the transition. Battery life has always been the Achilles Heel of iPhone Mini models and cramming so much top tier tech into its smaller frame likely causes Apple an engineering headache which the move to an ‘iPhone 14 Max’ will ease. The move is also set to justify a price hike for Apple with the company tipped to sell it for $100 more than an iPhone 14, while the Mini sells for $100 less than an iPhone 13.
As such, Apple gets to give customers what they want, streamline their design process (more components can now twin with the iPhone 14 Pro Max) and increase the average selling price of the range. It’s a win-win situation in all areas, other than our carpal tunnels.
“This will be another instantly recognizable display shape for Apple,” explains Young. “The pill + hole design is nearly as wide as the notch but will certainly save some pixels above the holes. In 2023, we believe all four models will have the pill + hole design.”
Yes, there is no escaping Apple’s polarizing design decision, which manages to both follow the trend set by Android handsets for several years yet also look worse. The good news is Young does state Apple will try and reduce the size of the new cutouts in the 2023 models while also working on more discrete options.
iPhone 14 Pro’s actual i-shaped cutout overlaid Vs what was expected
John Prosser
“Apple does have plans to replace Face ID with under panel Face ID, placing all the elements under the display without a visible pill shaped hole,” he explained. “However, we have heard from a few sources that under panel Face ID won’t likely meet the timing for 2023 mass production.”
Reaction to Apple’s new i-shaped cutout has been mixed. It was initially met with a combination of skepticism and incredulity but with multiple sources now confirming the new iPhone 14 Pro design, the reaction to it seems to be softening. That said, there is no denying that after four generations of the notch, few expected this to be its replacement. Especially given its large size.
Price increases are also coming. That said, Apple’s next generation iPhones will undoubtedly be faster and feature better cameras than ever before. A radical plan to scrap the SIM card, alongside a more efficient 5G modem is also expected to boost battery life.
Consequently, while iPhone fans may not like the look of Apple’s upcoming models, I suspect they will still buy them in droves.
More On Forbes
Leaked iPhone 14 Pro Schematic Shows Larger Cutout Than Expected
Leak: iPhone 14 Has Top Samsung Tech Missing From Galaxy S22 Ultra
Earlier this week Apple announced the iPhone SE (2022) – the third generation model in the series that spans 7 years. We have already talked at length about the original iPhone SE from 2016, but in truth the new model isn’t really a sequel to that one. No, both the second and third SE models are based on the design of the phone that we will talk about today.
And that is the Apple iPhone 6, which (ironically) is older than the original SE – the 6-series arrived in 2014. Of course, the SE itself was based on the iPhone 5 from 2012, a game-changing phone in its day. If you look at the iPhone 5 and the iPhone SE (2016) side by side, you will barely be able to notice any differences.
iPhone 6 on the left and iPhone SE (2022) on the right
The same goes for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone SE (2022). It has the same rounded silhouette and almost the exact dimensions – the differences are less than a millimeter. The phone still has a 4.7” display, still with 750 x 1,334 px resolution (and 326 ppi pixel density to make it a Retina Display, something the 4 introduced).
The chunky bezels above the below the display remain, the bottom one of which holds the sole remaining Touch ID fingerprint reader on iPhone. iPads have front or side-mounted readers too, but Apple’s phones have long since moved on to Face ID. Since the iPhone X (from 2017), in fact, a hated but influential design decision. One that Apple may never undo as analysts predict the company will turn the notch into a punch hole and then push the Face ID module under the display. An under display fingerprint reader does not sound likely.
Fingerprint readers do have their uses. For example, you can’t confuse one by wearing a mask and that is something that Face ID has been struggling with. Also, if you’re nimble enough, you can put your thumb on the FP reader while pulling the phone out of your pocket and it will be unlocked by the time it is in front of your eyes. This works especially well when it is a physical reader that you can feel by touch rather than something hiding under the glass display.
To be fair, some things have changed since the iPhone 6. In fact the change happened on the iPhone 8 – did you notice the antenna lines on the back of the 6? Those are there because the iPhone 6 had an aluminum back, which blocks signals. More recent Phone models (since the 8 and X generation) have glass backs, which simplifies antenna placement.
Other things have changed too, the SE phones now have IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance (they can last for half an hour under 1m of water). The new SE also gained a Ceramic Shield glass for the front, which is more durable than typical glass (more durable than even Gorilla Glass, if you believe Apple’s marketing). The iPhone 6 had “Ion-strengthened glass” instead.
The iPhone 6 did not arrive alone – in fact, 2014 was the first time Apple offered two different sizes. The iPhone 6 Plus had a larger 5.5” display and a larger battery (2,915 mAh vs. 1,810 mAh) and that was almost the only difference.
There was a single camera on the back (it was the iPhone 7 Plus that added the second camera), but the 6 Plus was the first iPhone to offer Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). That was its one camera advantage over the vanilla 6. However, both the 6 and the 6 Plus could shoot 1080p video at 60 fps, while the 5s from the year before could only do 30 fps. Phase detection autofocus was another upgrade over the 5s, which only had contrast detection AF.
Some might have hoped for a second camera on the iPhone SE (2022), but Apple really didn’t stray too far from the iPhone 6 design. The new SE has a much better camera, of course. It has a higher resolution sensor (12MP vs. 8MP), a brighter aperture (f/1.8 vs. f/2.2) and OIS, not to mention an Apple A15 chipset that has much, much more number crunching power to throw at image processing.
Also, the selfie camera was bumped up to Apple’s old 7MP unit. That’s better than the 1.2MP cam that the 6 had, which really was only good enough for FaceTime video calls. Newer iPhones (since the 11 series) have 12 MP front cameras with wider lenses. But even the latest models don’t have Center Stage, Apple’s clever system that uses the wide-angle lens to always keep you in the center of the frame even as you move around.
Having mentioned the Apple A15, we should note another major change – the SE model now offers 5G connectivity. 4G was a relatively fresh feature for Apple when the 6 came out, it was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012. As we mentioned before, metal and antennas don’t play well with each other, something that Apple found out the hard way with the 4 and the whole “antennagate” scandal. The proper design was figured out before the iPhone 6 came out, though.
The iPhone 6 series introduced NFC to Apple’s line-up. It was still quite locked down compared to the functionality offered by Androids – dedicated exclusively to Apple Pay.
The iPhone 6 generation had its own “gate” scandal. The way that the all-aluminum body was designed created weak spots around the buttons, which made the phones easier to bend if you sit on them or apply force on them in another way. A related issue was that the touch screen could become disconnected form the motherboard. There were other problems too, ones related to the flash storage and the frustrating “Error 53” that plagued the Touch ID fingerprint reader.
Going back to the chipset for a moment, the Apple A8 was the company’s second chipset with a 64-bit CPU (the A7 inside the iPhone 5s was the first). However, even these chips can’t run the latest iOS (support for them ended with iOS 12). Newer models (e.g. iPhone 6s, the original SE) do currently run the latest iOS 15.
Before we wrap up, a few audio-related things we wanted to note. The iPhone 6 had a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that the iPhone 7 series took away two years later. However, it also only had a single speaker, while newer models (SE included) have stereo speakers.
It wasn’t perfect, but the iPhone 6 series reached a record-breaking 10 million sales over the weekend after launch. A week later the number rose to 13 million units. And this was before the series reached some major markets (e.g. China).
It’s safe to say that superficially the design of the iPhone SE (2022) is nearly identical to that of the iPhone 6, which will be eight years old soon. Looks can be deceiving, a lot has changed since 2014’s finest iPhone. Most importantly, the flaws of the original design have been fixed and many improvements have been implemented. Looking old-fashioned is not something that can be fixed without moving forward a few years to the iPhone X derived designs.
PS. we brushed past the iPhone 6 Plus too quickly. We want to spend more time on the history of iPhone sizes in another installment. Here we will just mention that the iPhone 6 Plus lineage ends with the iPhone 8 Plus from 2017.
Apple makes an EXTRA £5billion by no longer providing chargers and earphones with its new iPhones
Apple said the move was to cut waste and drew praise from environmentalists when it claimed annual carbon emissions would reduce by two million tons
Critics say customers have been hit in the pocket by continued high prices
Since 2020, Apple has charged customers £19 for a new plug or earphones
Experts believe that Apple could be saving about £27 on each phone
By Daniel Jones For The Mail On Sunday
Published: | Updated:
Apple has made an estimated £5billion by no longer providing chargers and earphones with its new iPhones.
The tech giant said the move, announced two years ago, was intended to cut waste and drew praise from environmentalists when it claimed it would reduce annual carbon emissions by two million tons, the equivalent of taking 500,000 cars off the road.
But critics say customers have been hit in the pocket because the withdrawal of the adapters and earphones was not accompanied by a reduction in price.
Since 2020, Apple has charged £19 for a new plug or earphones. Critics argue that if it had passed on the full savings, including an estimated 40 per cent reduction in shipping costs as smaller packaging allows 70 per cent more devices on each pallet, iPhone prices would be lower.
Since 2020, Apple has charged its customers £19 for a new plug or earphones
Experts believe that Apple, whose new iPhones cost up to £1,549, could be saving about £27 on each phone. The analysis takes into account that while the adapters and earphones sell for £19, they are far cheaper to produce.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at technology experts CCS Insight, said: ‘Apple is the phone industry market leader in helping the environment, with removing chargers and headphones one of many things it is doing. But of course there is a cost saving to Apple in removing chargers and headphones when it sells iPhones.’
Since announcing the move, Apple is thought to have sold 190 million iPhones worldwide. Total gains from removing chargers and earphones, plus reduced shipping costs, could be as high as £5 billion, with an additional estimated £225 million from the sale of accessories.
The UK share is estimated at more than £280 million.
In 2020, Apple’s head of environment, Lisa Jackson, said: ‘We know customers have been accumulating adapters and that producing millions of unneeded adapters consumes resources and adds to our carbon footprint.’
Last night an Apple spokesman said: ‘We’ve set a goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030. One of the steps along our path is to reduce the materials used in our products and packaging. This cut two million metric tons of carbon emissions and others are following our lead.’
