Company event invitations often contain an opinionated hint about upcoming news, usually only visible in the rearview mirror. But while some of the company’s expected announcements are likely to bring a sense of surprise, they may not all be in the tone that Apple’s marketing team would have hoped for. Continuing the pattern set four years ago, the new iPhones are likely to be split into two lines, the iPhone 14 Pro and the unbranded and cheaper iPhone 14, each available in regular and large sizes. But for the first time since the launch of the iPhone 3G in 2008, some of the new models are said to contain the same line of processors, Apple’s A15 Bionic chips, already used in the iPhone 13, suggesting that there is unlikely to be a noticeable performance difference between young and old. While the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro will pack an A16 Bionic chip, continuing the company’s long-standing approach of debuting the new silicon in a new iPhone, the cheaper iPhone 14 will not, according to reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The company has struggled with chip shortages facing much of the rest of the industry, as well as supply chain disruption due to ongoing Covid lockdowns in China and geopolitical tension between Taiwan and Beijing. Instead of offering faster phones, the new devices are expected to bring another major upgrade: “always-on” screens. As mentioned in the preview of iOS 16, the next version of the iPhone operating system, the latest devices are likely to have a lock screen that can be reduced without turning off completely, allowing the time and notifications to always be displayed. In addition to solving supply constraints, continuing to use the older chip in the cheaper phones would further differentiate the two iPhone lines in the eyes of consumers. When Apple first introduced a higher-end iPhone model, with the iPhone X, the distinctions between it and the cheaper iPhone 8 were clear, with everything from screen size, design and the presence of Face ID differing . In recent years, however, the distinction has come down to a slight difference in finish and an extra camera on the more expensive phones – even as the price difference has grown to £270. But in another way, the two iPhone series will be more similar, since Apple is expected to end production of the smaller iPhone mini. The mini, which first launched with the iPhone 12, had a 5.4-inch screen, compared to 6.1 inches on the standard iPhone and 6.7 inches on the iPhones max. However, while it survived for two years, the company was reportedly disappointed by its sales figures and won’t be bringing the device back for a third year. The mini was praised for being one of the few phones on the market that allowed people with smaller hands to avoid compromising on their technology choices. Although the phone had, by necessity, a smaller battery than standard iPhones, everything else was the same as its bigger siblings. Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible Women, a book about how the world is designed for men, praised the mini at its launch, calling it “a sign that the world’s biggest tech company is getting wise to the fact that women don’t there are only. but also likes good technology as much as men.” Now, the company’s smallest phone is likely to be the iPhone SE, which is significantly larger than the iPhone mini. Apple is also expected to unveil a redesign of the Apple Watch, splitting it into two tiers just like its bigger sibling. The “Apple Watch Pro,” reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, is expected to have a titanium case and be larger than existing models, with a larger screen and a more durable design that will appeal to extreme sports enthusiasts. Subscribe to Business Today Get ready for the business day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The products will be released alongside software updates that have already been announced, including the latest versions of iOS and macOS, which include new features such as Continuity Camera, which allows users to use their iPhones as a webcam. The next version of iPadOS has been delayed, however, and will not be released with the new devices. As for the “Far out” tagline, there is some speculation as to what it might portend. One is that the company plans to launch a long-rumored feature for emergency satellite connectivity, allowing text alerts to be sent to emergency services even in areas with zero cell coverage. Another is that the company may be planning to improve the telephoto lens now available on iPhones Pro, increasing the phone’s 3x zoom to the 10x or even 40x offered by some competitors such as Samsung or Huawei.
