Apple’s iPhone 14 event: what to expect

Apple’s iPhone 14 launch occasion is simply days away, and it’s anticipated to showcase a spread of latest units — not only a new iPhone. We’re additionally looking out for 3 (sure, we stated three) new Apple Watch fashions and even a refreshed pair of AirPods Professional earbuds.

Apple’s holding a small in-person occasion at its Apple Park campus and can stream the present on-line, just like what it did with WWDC in June. Right here’s what we’d see at Apple’s hardware-heavy occasion, which is slated for September seventh, 2022, at 1PM ET.

The iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max get some main upgrades

Apple will, in fact, reveal the model new iPhone 14 in September, however the usual mannequin seemingly received’t be the star of the present. The iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max are anticipated to hold the majority of the brand new and thrilling options.

There are three large options anticipated within the 14 Professional and Professional Max: a customizable always-on show (a function Android telephones have had for years); a 48-megapixel rear digital camera with a bigger sensor; and a display that removes the notch in favor of smaller digital camera cutouts.

Talking of the cutouts, a report from MacRumors signifies the digital camera and speaker can have separate cutouts when the display’s turned off however will kind one lengthy capsule form when it’s powered on. A tipster instructed 9to5Mac that Apple will use the additional house between the 2 cutouts to extra prominently show the privateness indicators for the digital camera and microphone, which customers might be able to faucet into for extra details about what’s at present accessing them. 9to5Mac additionally stated Apple might optimize its Digicam app for its Professional units by shifting a few of its controls, just like the flash and autofocus button to the highest of the display, with others housed instantly beneath the cutout.

The cellphone also needs to get an upgraded A16 processing chip and doubtlessly have two new colours: blue and deep purple. It’s additionally rumored to help a quicker 30W charger (however the cellphone itself most likely received’t include USB-C simply but), in addition to begin with 256GB of storage, a bounce from the 128GB flooring that earlier Professional and Professional Max fashions have. The Professional line can also be rumored to have slimmer bezels and greater batteries. It’s a strong listing of latest options that Apple might use to justify a rumored value hike for its higher-end iPhones.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t look like the usual model of the iPhone 14 will include many main adjustments. The most important replace to the non-Professional mannequin is predicted to be the introduction of a bigger 6.7-inch show within the iPhone 14 Max — if it’s even referred to as that. Purported cellphone packaging from Apple’s manufacturing facility signifies that the corporate is likely to be planning to swap the “Max” branding on the usual iPhone mannequin for “Plus,” a moniker Apple hasn’t used for the reason that iPhone 8 Plus.

Naming apart, rumors from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo point out that the iPhone 14 (plus the Professional and Professional Max) can also have a greater selfie digital camera that makes use of autofocus. Efficiency-wise, the bottom iPhone 14 will seemingly use the identical A15 processor used within the iPhone 13 collection. And in case you’re a small cellphone lover, I’m sorry to say {that a} new Mini seemingly received’t make an look this yr.

Rumors have additionally been swirling in regards to the iPhone 14 coming with satellite tv for pc connectivity, one thing customers can make the most of in emergency conditions with out mobile service. Satellite tv for pc connectivity was rumored for the iPhone 13 final yr, and in February, satellite tv for pc firm Globalstar acquired 17 new satellites “to supply steady satellite tv for pc providers to the potential buyer,” which some speculate is Apple. The “Far Out” occasion branding might additionally trace at this chance.

New Apple Watch fashions: Sequence 8, SE, and “Professional”

Apple’s gearing as much as launch three new Apple Watch fashions: the Watch Sequence 8, a refreshed SE, and a brand new rugged “Professional” mannequin designed for athletes who partake in excessive sports activities.

Let’s begin with the Sequence 8. In line with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the next-gen watch will come geared up with a brand new S8 chip, nevertheless it received’t provide a notable efficiency improve over the S7 and S6 chips. Whereas Apple isn’t anticipated to incorporate a method to monitor your blood strain simply but, it might include a temperature sensor that can detect you probably have a fever, in addition to fertility-tracking options.

Picture by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

In the meantime, the brand new Apple Watch SE is predicted to switch the finances Watch Sequence 3. It should seemingly include the identical S8 chip, an improve over the S5 chip the 2020 SE mannequin makes use of. Aside from that, it doesn’t seem like another large adjustments are in retailer — it’s anticipated to retain the identical show measurement as the present SE.

As for the rumored rugged Apple Watch “Professional,” Gurman believes it might include a bigger “almost 2-inch show” that’s “extra shatter-resistant.” It might additionally sport a “sturdy metallic” case as a substitute of a rubberized exterior that was hinted at beforehand. A report from the Japan-based Mac Otakara provides extra coloration to those rumors, noting that the Professional mannequin might have a flat-edged show with a bigger 47mm case, a rise from the Apple Watch Sequence 7’s 41mm and 45mm sizes. It might not even match into older Watch bands.

Whereas we’re not anticipating the primary variation of this watch to come back with satellite tv for pc connectivity, Gurman predicts a future mannequin of the Professional watch might have satellite tv for pc options, which is one thing the corporate has reportedly mentioned internally. Even with out the satellite tv for pc options, don’t count on this watch to be low cost — Gurman expects it to value anyplace from $900 to $999.

The following era of the AirPods Professional

The AirPods Professional haven’t obtained an replace since their preliminary launch in 2019. Now, almost three years later, we might lastly see the discharge of the AirPods Professional 2 on the Far Out occasion.

First off, count on them to look completely different. The brand new AirPods Professional might resemble the Beats Match Professional, doubtlessly with an in-ear wing tip design that drops the stem. They may even have a give attention to health monitoring because of the potential for upgraded movement sensors.

Kuo additionally hinted at the opportunity of the AirPods Professional supporting lossless audio, permitting for higher-quality sound. This could additionally make the AirPods Professional 2 the primary mannequin to make use of the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) — even the high-end AirPods Max don’t help it. If the AirPods Professional 2 do find yourself supporting the Apple Lossless Audio Codec, it’ll be fascinating to see how Apple manages to get across the limitations of Bluetooth, which usually requires compressing audio high quality.

Picture by Chris Welch / The Verge

Nonetheless, experiences from MacRumors and 9to5Mac counsel Apple might take a unique method. Apple might as a substitute be engaged on including Bluetooth 5.2 help, which makes use of a brand new codec that’s alleged to transmit audio extra effectively, permitting for both increased high quality audio or lowered battery utilization. A latest submitting with the Bluetooth SIG merchandise database signifies Apple could also be trying into adopting the expertise for the AirPods Professional, and 9to5Mac says it noticed references to the expertise in iOS 16’s code.

The AirPods Professional 2 charging case can also get an improve. It might include a small speaker that makes a sound while you attempt to find it through the Discover My app. Solely the AirPods themselves make a sound correct now, and including the aptitude to the case might come in useful if it ever will get separated out of your AirPods.

We might get iOS 16 and watchOS 9 launch dates

We first heard about iOS 16 when Apple introduced it in June, and we’ve a fairly good concept of what to anticipate based mostly on what we’ve seen from the general public beta. Gurman says Apple wrapped up growth final week, and the corporate is more likely to launch a finalized model of iOS 16 inside a couple of week of its iPhone 14 occasion.

iOS 16 brings various new options, together with the flexibility to edit and unsend messages in addition to a customizable lock display. It additionally introduces repositioned notifications that seem on the backside of your lock display and a Reside Actions lock display widget that gives updates on real-time occasions, reminiscent of sports activities scores or meals supply progress.

Oh yeah, and battery share is again… however not in the way in which you would possibly count on (or like). Fortunately, Apple might discover a method to squeeze within the previous battery share indicator — which reveals the battery icon and share side-by-side — within the iPhone 14 Professional’s standing bar now that we’re anticipating a design with no notch.

Picture by Victoria Tune / The Verge

Along with iOS 16, Apple might additionally launch watchOS 9 alongside its three new smartwatches. The watchOS 9 beta has been out for a few months now, and it’s set to deliver fairly just a few enhancements to the Apple Watch. This contains new operating metrics, treatment reminders, sleep stage monitoring, passive AFib monitoring, and enhanced watchface customization.

Is that each one?

It seems to be like that is it for this explicit Apple occasion, however fortunately, we shouldn’t have to attend for much longer for one more spherical of latest Apple merchandise. Apple’s anticipated to return to its previous pre-pandemic schedule of holding an iPhone occasion in September after which a separate occasion in October to showcase its new iPads and Macs.

That’s once we can count on a brand new M2-equipped iPad Professional in addition to an entry-level iPad with the A14 chip. Apple’s additionally rumored to launch three new Macs, together with a Mac Mini, Mac Professional, and MacBook Professional, all with Apple’s M2 chip. iPadOS and macOS Ventura will seemingly arrive round this time as effectively.

We’re nonetheless ready for Apple’s long-rumored blended actuality headset, too, and it could be sort of a protracted shot to count on the corporate to point out it off this yr. It seems to be like Apple is making some progress, although. Latest trademark filings point out that Apple’s trying into “Actuality” branding for its new headset, which its board of administrators reportedly obtained to check out earlier this yr. Kuo predicts the gadget received’t launch till January 2023.

And keep in mind that rumored iPhone subscription we heard about earlier this yr? There’s apparently a chance that it might launch by the top of this yr in response to Gurman, doubtlessly supplying you with the choice to pay a month-to-month charge to “lease” an iPhone or iPad.

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