The date for Apple’s iPhone 13 event was only announced this week, but the rumour mill has already moved on to the next big item. The iPhone 14 has already sparked a flurry of leaks and rumours, implying that it will be the device’s most significant makeover since the iPhone X was unveiled in 2017.
Jon Prosser, a leaker, recently revealed some unofficial renders of the forthcoming handset, which reveal two key differences: no camera bump and no notch, which eliminates two of the most common concerns about the iPhone’s design since the iPhone X.
Rather than completely removing the bulge, Apple appears to be considering making the phone a little thicker. Hopefully, this means a larger battery, which is the route that every phone manufacturer should pursue. Circular volume buttons, similar to the iPhone 4, and a titanium frame around the phone’s perimeter are among the other modifications. In fact, the phone looks to be based on the iPhone 4/4S, which, according to Prosser, is still the best-designed iPhone. I’m inclined to agree with you.
Of course, it’s very early – the iPhone 14 isn’t even close to being completed, and Prosser warns that the phone’s design may change. This should be self-evident at this point, but Prosser also says he expects the design to mostly adhere to this format. However, display analyst Ross Young believes Apple is working on an under-display Face ID technology for at least its Pro models, lending some credence to the leak. He claims that using Face ID under the display is easier than using under-panel cameras.
While it seems strange given that we’ve already seen multiple phones with under-display cameras, I wouldn’t be surprised if Young means that Face ID is easier for Apple to deploy than a camera without sacrificing image or screen quality.
Under-display cameras have traditionally come with trade-offs. In most situations, such as on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, this also means that you can see where the camera is buried beneath the display because the area appears fuzzy and pixelated. However, ZTE’s new Axon 30 does a far better job at concealing the camera without sacrificing display quality.
Another issue is that the quality of the selfie camera degrades. While Samsung and ZTE use processing to reduce the fuzziness and haziness caused by having the display under the screen, this means you’re sacrificing image quality in exchange for the convenience of not having a camera hole — which is one of the reasons why we haven’t seen this technology on many camera-focused phones. It’s likely that Apple is waiting for the technology to improve before attempting to go full-on under-display.
Again, this is all conjecture at this point. The iPhone 14 could be shaped like a taco and built of jello for all we know. Still, perhaps this will influence your decision on whether you really want to spend a thousand dollars on a new iPhone this year or wait for the snazzy new design next year. It will take some time for confirming these leaks.
