Apple iPhone 14 series launch is on September 7 at 10:30 PM IST.
Let's learn about the new notch, Always-on Display, and other expected features.
Find everything you need to know about Apple Far Out event expectations and predictions here.
Apple is going to hold its Far Out event on September 7, 2022, at 10:30 PM. The event will be live streamed on the company’s YouTube channel. While you can enable notification for the event, there are still plenty of hours before the thing kicks off. And so in the meantime, you can check out our far-out expectations for the show and the star of it — the Apple iPhone 14 series.
In the months and weeks leading up to this event, there has been a deluge of leaks, speculations, and rumors that gives us an idea of what to expect from the Apple September 7 event. So, let’s jog our memory and perhaps dig in for one last time before the Apple keynote.
Mind you, some of these will be…
Far Out Expectations
The iPhone 14 series and Apple Watch Pro are expected to be the key attractions. But there’s a lot to unpack here about both of these product categories. Let’s start with the most exciting iPhone 14 series expectations
Apple iPhone 14 Plus? Max? Ultra?
Apple could rechristen the iPhone models in this new lineup. Four iPhones are expected and no, we aren’t talking about iPhone 14 Mini and iPhone SE. Apple seems to have given up on the idea of a compact, ‘Mini’ iPhone as the sales figures were uninspiring for the precursors. And it isn’t the expected refresh time for an iPhone SE 4.
So as per rumors, the new iPhone 14 lineup could consist of: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Ultra.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are expected to come with 6.1-inch screens, while the iPhone Max and 14 Pro Max could ship with 6.7-inch panels.
The big screen non-Pro iPhone 14 could be called either iPhone 14 Max or iPhone 14 Plus. Also, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg wonders if Apple would name the top-end model as iPhone 14 Ultra instead of an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 satellite connectivity for SOS
This is a feature that has been in the rumor mill for years now, maybe as long as 2019. It was initially expected to be part of last year’s iPhone 13 series but back then “the business model had not been negotiated,” says Apple trade analyst and tipster Ming-Chi Kuo.
He adds that Apple used satellite connectivity to finalize the functionality of the iPhone 14 models.
It is theorized to rely on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver text messages and voice call services in emergency cases (natural calamities or geopolitical conflicts) and especially in places that don’t have a regular cellular network.
Bloomberg notes the two satellite features that Apple could offer: Messaging or calling using the stock iOS apps and the other option could be more of an SOS calling situations like plane crashes and sinking ships.
There could be an option to even notify your contacts via satellite connectivity.
Apple is rumored to have partnered with Globalstar for the satellite infrastructure. The latter is an American company that deals in satellite communications and LEO technologies. Earlier this year, it announced the acquisition of 70 new satellites to “replenish and extend the life of Globalstar’s existing constellation,” and “provide continuous satellite services to the potential customer.” Well, this customer could be Apple.
Even iOS 16 now shows a new “SOS” icon on the iPhone status bar when there is no network. This could be another hint towards the upcoming feature.
However, due to legal regulations associated with national security, the feature may be disabled on iPhone 14 series in markets like India.
Dual-cutout iPhone 14 display or an i-shaped pill and punch hole notch?
The most apparent design change for the iPhone 14 lineup, or at least in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max/Ultra.
We may get to bid adieu to the broad notch on the Pro iPhone 14s. The dated and arguably ugly notch that has been part of iPhones since the iPhone X series is likely to be replaced with a rather small pill or pill plus punch hole cutout. Good riddance!
But, the regular iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max/Plus may continue the notch design.
Now, the new design is not just aesthetically pleasing but is rumored to offer functionality. Bloomberg recently reported that the pill and hole punch could be bridged by software so that the whole thing appears to be a single pill-shaped indent.
Image source: 9to5Mac
In the software space between the actual cutouts, you could get to see color-coded privacy indicators for the camera and microphone usage by apps on your iPhone. The additional space created by the new smaller notch could allow for the classic battery percentage indicator and a redesigned camera app. That is some of the camera app controls like the flash button and live photo button could move upwards to the status bar. This in turn gives a larger viewfinder or preview space.
Always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro series
Image source: 9to5Mac
True it’s a feature that has been part of the Android world for a long time but it would be interesting to finally see Apple’s implementation. Now, this again is believed to be exclusive for the iPhone 14 Pros.
For this purpose, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Ultra/Pro Max could come with an LTPO display that’s more power efficient than the LTPS panels on the regular variants.
According to folks at 9to5Mac, the fully illuminated lock screen and AOD lock screen will share the same wallpaper, colors, fonts, and widgets. You may not be able to set these elements differently for the two lock screen modes. Even the notification visibility is expected to be similar to the regular notification, but some parts of the interface could be customizable.
The iOS 16 widgets are said to “fade in and out at set intervals, unnoticeable to the user, to prevent OLED burn-in” on the two iPhone 14 Pro variants.
People have also discovered the iOS 16 beta 4 code that tells us the new multi-layered system wallpapers could appear darker in the always-on display mode.
Still No USB-C?
iPhone 14 Pro in my hands pic.twitter.com/k8xMsoXEx4
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) September 4, 2022
Even though searches for "iPhone 14 USB" have reportedly been growing more than 300% over 12 months, Apple seems to be sticking to its guns. A recent iPhone 14 Pro mockup by IceUniverse shows the lightning port.
Apple Lightning Connector debuted in iPhone 5 series and although it’s been 10 years since it came, the company doesn’t seem to be ditching the thing. Due to EU pressure, USB-C might be used on iPhone 15 lineup.
This year’s iPhones meanwhile, could get 30W/35W charging support using the Lightning Port.
Apple Watch Pro
This isn’t covered in the CAD drawings, but the new set of bands for the Apple Watch Pro is going to be pretty wide ranging and play into the extreme sports theme. There will also be some pretty info dense faces for fitness metrics. https://t.co/jSD0KZGe1b
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 5, 2022
Apple Watch Pro is expected to be the rugged alternative to Garmin. It could have a 49mm dial. On the right side, there could be a digital crown, a microphone, and a multitasking button.
On the left side, there could be a reprogrammable button and a speaker vent. Other things you could expect are exclusive straps, new watch faces with more stats (perhaps granular even), extreme sports-themed bands, a bigger battery, a low-power mode, and a titanium case.
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) September 6, 2022
This could carry a price tag between $900 to $1000 (~₹72,000 to ₹80,000).
Then there are other expected things like iOS 16, 48MP ultrawide camera, 8K video recording, autofocus selfie camera, A16 Bionic SoC, and more health and fitness features, on the upcoming iPhone Pros.
Meanwhile, the Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 13 Pro series could be discontinued.
Besides these, Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 are also expected to launch today.
And as part of its one more thing announcement, Apple could spill some beans about its Apple AR/VR headset and Apple iPhone subscription service. As for what not to expect at this event, there are rumored products and services like Apple Car, Apple TV, Apple Console, Apple Search Engine, a stronger push to ad business, and Apple Folding iPhone.
In any case, you can tune into the event at the Apple Far Out streaming link below.
For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
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G. S. Vasan
Vasan is a word weaver and tech junkie who is currently geeking out as a news writer at Digit. View Full Profile
