Features of The iPhone 14 That We No Longer Expect

When the iPhone 14 range is introduced this week, some rumors that were once believed after more than a year of reports are no longer anticipated to be accurate.

The A16 Bionic chip, an always-on display, "pill and hole-punch" cutouts that appear to be one "pill" in place of the notch, a taller display with thinner bezels, and a 48-megapixel Wide camera are expected to be included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. In contrast, the standard iPhone 14 models are anticipated to include 6GB of memory, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and an upgraded front camera system with autofocus. These characteristics weren't always etched in stone because rumors change as a device's launch approaches.

Although it has almost always been assumed that an iPhone 14 without ports, or even one with a USB-C port, is unlikely, there have been a number of significant iPhone 14 rumors that initially captured the attention of the Apple community but have since been rejected, revised, or disproved in light of new information.

Rear Cameras that have Undergone a Complete Redesign

The iPhone 14 Pro Max was said to have an entirely new design, according to renders revealed by leaker Jon Prosser just before the iPhone 13 range was announced last year. According to Prosser's knowledge, the iPhone 14 Pro would have a larger chassis that would enable a flush rear camera array, round volume buttons similar to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5, and revised speaker and microphone grilles with extended mesh cutouts in place of holes.

Early in the rumor cycle, realistic design rumors from reliable sources suggested that this would not be the iPhone 14 Pro's final design, including CAD renders and precise measurements, leaked schematics, pictures of accessory production molds, and early cases.

Instead, it is anticipated that the iPhone 14 Pro will have a stainless steel frame and frosted glass back, giving it a very similar overall appearance to the iPhone 13 Pro. Only a few minor differences exist between the two designs, such as more rounded corners and a larger rear camera array. The design of the iPhone 14 Pro appears to be an "elevation" of that of the iPhone 13 Pro, which was itself a redesign of the iPhone 12 Pro.

For The "Pro" Models, Titanium Frame

According to a significant JP Morgan Chase report, the iPhone 14 Pro may use a titanium chassis rather than a stainless steel one for a stronger, lighter, and more scratch-resistant construction. In renders for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Prosser confirmed this rumor.

Despite the advantages of titanium, Apple seems destined to stick with a stainless steel frame for the iPhone 14 Pro, carrying on a design choice made with the iPhone X. A titanium iPhone chassis is reportedly too pricey for Apple to supply at the moment due to production problems.

Face ID on the Under-Display

The first to start spreading reports about the iPhone's transition to a "hole-punch" cutout for the camera was Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The iPhone 14 Pro may incorporate Apple's first under-display Face ID technology, according to Ross Young, a display analyst, who made the suggestion in September 2021. Kuo did not address how Face ID will continue to be included on the iPhone. Then, according to Twitter leaker @dylandkt, the iPhone 14 Pro would have a tiny pill-shaped cutout for the camera and move Face ID underneath the device's display.

Young later revised his prediction, becoming the first analyst to assert that the iPhone 14 Pro will have cuts that were "hole-punch and pill-shaped," as had been suggested by component leaks. As a result, it appears that none of Apple's long-rumored under-display technology will be included in the iPhone 14 series.

'Pill and Hole-Punch' Display Cutout Design Separated

The "hole-punch and pill-shaped" display cuts for the iPhone 14 Pro are one of the most significant late-stage rumors. The cutouts will still be there on the gadget physically, but most observers expected them to be visually distinct. The display cutouts on the iPhone 14 Pro now appear to be a single "pill" form at the top of the display, contradicting the previous perception of what the front of the smartphone will look like. According to rumors, the "pill" will work with iOS, displaying indicators and altering the status bar.

For non-"pro" models, the A16 Bionic Chip

Ever since Apple divided its lineup with the introduction of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, every new iPhone series has included the same new chip. Until Ming-Chi Kuo said that only the iPhone 14 Pro will include the A16 Bionic chip, the ordinary iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models would continue to have the A15 Bionic chip from the previous year, this was thought to be the case with the iPhone 14 lineup. The change, which further distinguishes between "Pro" and non-"Pro" iPhone models, may have been brought on, at least in part, by problems with the supply chain.

A16 Bionic Chip Is Produced Using a Newer 4nm Process

Given that Apple has continued to use 5nm through the A14 and A15 processors, several rumors claimed that the A16 Bionic will be the first Apple chip to be manufactured using a 4nm technology. However, the 5nm TSMC technology is anticipated to remain the foundation of the A16.

Although the A16, Apple's third 5nm iPhone chip, is unlikely to significantly outperform the A14 and A15 Bionic chips, it is nevertheless likely to provide enough performance and efficiency gains to the CPU and GPU to warrant being referred to as a completely new chip. According to one rumor, the processor will offer superior thermal control to the A15 Bionic.

The "iPhone 14 mini"

In much the same way that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus form factors were used through four generations and the iPhone X's form factor was used for three iPhone generations, many people believed that the display sizes and form factors of the iPhone lineup would endure for a number of years when Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone 13 mini was released as planned last year, but following disappointing sales, it became clear that the compact form factor iPhone was going away after only two years. Apple apparently intends to discontinue selling new 5.4-inch iPhone models and replace them with a bigger model.

The iPhone 14 Max Name

The "iPhone 14 Max" has been anticipated to sit atop the iPhone 14 with a 6.7-inch display similar to the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max ever since anticipation of an "iPhone 14 small" waned. The iPhone 14 Max is anticipated to offer all of the same functionality as the original iPhone 14 but with a much larger display, similar to how the "small" iPhones of recent years have offered all of the same capabilities as the standard iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models.

It has been predicted in thousands of stories regarding this smartphone that it will be called the "iPhone 14 Max," to match the expensive iPhone 14 Pro Max variant. The term "iPhone 14 Plus" has recently come up in stories, and since Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has started using it in his most recent newsletter, it becomes highly unlikely that there will be an "iPhone 14 Max" after all.