iPhone 14 Leaked Images, Biggest Changes: Titanium, No Notch and Cheaper?

Knowinsiders September 11, 2021 | 06:37

Renders for the "iPhone 14" have been shared a full year before its expected announcement, showcasing a design lacking both the notch and the camera bump.

Biggest Changes for iPhone 14

iPhone 14's Leaked Images

iPhone 14 is a hot topic right now, even though the iPhone 13 is still not quite with us. Apple will announce the "iPhone 13" during its September 14 "California Streaming" event. Once announced, expect the floodgates to open for "iPhone 14" speculation and rumors.

The iPhone 14's leaked image has appeared for the first time, giving us a look at how the 2022 iPhone might look like.

The renders for the "iPhone 14" show a similar design with a hole-punch camera and no camera bump on the rear.

iPhone 14 Biggest Changes: Face ID, Design and Supercycle

iPhone 14 Leaked Images

iPhone 14 Face ID could be hidden

Without a doubt, Apple giving up on the notch is big news for the future of the iPhone, so the bigger question is where is the Face ID module sitting if such a change really happens?

Ross Young, mobile display expert and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, made a recent comment on Twitter that backs up claims that one of the iPhone 14's biggest changes will be under-display Face ID.

The original claim of under-display Face ID comes from a massive leak by Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech for next year's iPhone. There are other interesting details such as a new flat back and titanium side rails featuring redesigned buttons, but the almost complete removal of the notch is the most obvious rumored change.

Happily Young says in a follow-up tweet that making Face ID work from under the screen is easier than making under-display cameras work. Since Face ID just needs to recognize your face, the quality loss from the screen being in the way shouldn't matter.

The iPhone 14 is over a year away however, so despite the confidence of some of these claims, it's possible that Apple will change things around before the final 2022 iPhone is locked in.

A gold 'iPhone 14' image credit: Jon Prosser and Front Page Tech

Big Changes for iPhone 14

According to a report from Front Page Tech, the "iPhone 14" will feature slight design changes that address many user complaints. The hole-punch style camera replaces the large notch and the rear of the device is now flush thanks to no camera bump.

Prosser says he only saw images of the "iPhone 14 Pro Max" and has no knowledge of the technology being used to enable these design changes. The renders shared show several colors, but those are made up for the render, with the exception of the gold color. Prosser says he's seen this color, though it may not be final.

Other new design changes include round volume buttons, similar to the iPhone 4, and changes to the glass-sandwich design. This blend of design changes make the "iPhone 14" look like a futuristic iPhone 4.

Jon Prosser has a fairly accurate history when it comes to design aspects, colors, or expected features. He's made a few poor predictions, especially when it comes to release dates, but his sources appear to have access to some sensitive information.

This isn't the first time we've heard information pertaining to the "iPhone 14." Ming-Chi Kuo, a longtime supply chain analyst, says that Apple is developing a 48MP camera with 8K video support for the 2022 iPhone.

Another rumor says Apple could bring titanium alloy to the frame of its "iPhone 14." That same report suggests the 2022 iPhone cycle will be a "supercycle" thanks to high demand for its expected upgrades.

Other long-time rumors for the iPhone suggest it could go port-less, meaning there will be no Lightning port or USB-C port. Such a device would rely upon wireless communication, wireless charging, and perhaps only a physical connection via MagSafe for data and power when needed. However, Prosser's leaks show a Lightning port in the "iPhone 14."

There's no word on whether or not the design will remain so for all the iPhone 14 models. There are chances it could be slightly different for the non-Pro models. Apple is expected to release four models next year, but with a slightly changed naming scheme. There could be an iPhone 14, an iPhone 14 Max, an iPhone 14 Pro, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

While the Pro models are expected to feature a 6.7-inch display, the non-Pro models could get a 6.1-inch screen. All devices are expected to feature an under-the-display Touch ID. The iPhone 14 Max could replace the Mini variant and become the most inexpensive 6.1-inch iPhone. More changes are expected.

In other words, Apple isn’t planning to go for USB-C, but on the other hand, it’s not creating a portless iPhone either, so Lightning cables and wired CarPlay would survive for one more year.

iPhone 14: Performance, battery, and biometrics

The iPhone 13 is said to have 120Hz ProMotion displays on the Pro models, with panels made by Samsung, while the non-Pro variants will reportedly use regular 60Hz displays made by LG. With the iPhone 14, LG is said to be making LPTO OLED displays capable of 120Hz to supply the entire iPhone line. So it’s possible that the entire iPhone 14 line will have 120Hz ProMotion technology, which would follow Apple’s natural cadence: bring a feature to the Pro model first and then follow with the rest of the line a year later.

Though it hasn’t been widely reported, every new iPhone has a new A-series system-on-chip (SoC) and we expect the iPhone 14 to follow suit. The A16, as it will likely be called, could be one of the first large-scale processor releases to use TSMC’s 3-nanometer manufacturing process, which should help improve performance, efficiency, and battery life.

Following a rumor by Ming-Chi Kuo, Mark Gurman suggested in his Power On newsletter that Apple is testing an iPhone with an in-display Touch ID sensor that could come to the Pro models, echoing previous rumors. However, he says Apple is “all-in on Face ID for its higher-end iPhones” with the ultimate goal of “implement Face ID in the display itself.” That tracks with Prosser’s rumor of a notch-less iPhone 14, though Gurman hasn’t said whether he expects the 2022 iPhone to retain the notch.

iPhone 14: Release date and price

Apple typically releases new iPhones in the fall, usually announcing them in September with a release date from two to four weeks after. We haven’t heard anything that leads us to believe that 2022 will be any different.

Pricing on the iPhone 14 models will probably be a little different from existing iPhones, in that there isn’t expected to be a 5.4-inch mini version but rather a lower-cost 6.7-inch Max size that Kuo said could come in at under $900. With that in mind, we expect the lineup to range from roughly $800-$1,000, depending on model and size.

Watch Video iPhone 14 - EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: