Author: angel

The answer depends on your budget, which carrier you have and how long you plan to hold onto your new phone.

Access to 5G used to come at a high cost just a few years ago. Now, the technology is standard in most new smartphones and is available in devices that can cost less than $300.

But there are times when you might be wonder whether 5G is a necessary feature in a phone. Maybe you’re getting a great deal on a refurbished device from a couple of years ago that doesn’t support 5G. Perhaps you’re eyeballing the iPhone 11, one of the cheapest phones Apple currently sells at $500 but that can’t connect to 5G.

For US shoppers, the answer largely depends on what carrier you have, how much you’re willing to spend and how long you’re planning to hold onto your next phone. Since 5G is available in just about every new phone at no additional cost, there are few reasons not to buy a 5G-enabled phone.

Combine that with the fact that carriers are building out their midband networks — which offer faster speeds than low-band 5G offerings as well as broader coverage than the fastest millimeter-wave networks — and the argument for buying a 5G phone is even stronger.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that 5G speeds and coverage will vary depending on your carrier. And 4G phones will continue to function for years to come.

“They’re not turning off those 4G networks anytime soon,” said Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst for research and advisory firm Techsponential. “Your phone will be dead before you need to worry about it.”

Understanding 5G
Figuring out whether you need 5G in your next phone starts with understanding the current state of 5G. All three major network providers in the US offer 5G, and there are three main flavors to be aware of.

There’s low-band 5G, which is available broadly but provides similar speeds as 4G LTE, and millimeter wave 5G, the super fast version that only operates at a short range. You likely won’t notice the difference between 4G and 5G when you’re on a low-band network. But millimeter-wave networks are so scarce you probably won’t find yourself near one on a regular basis unless you frequent busy venues like stadiums, arenas or airports. Even then, the coverage is often only in select locations.

The happy medium between both of these networks is midband 5G which provides faster speeds than 4G but can also cover much larger distances than millimeter wave. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are all at different phases of their midband deployment, with T-Mobile currently taking the lead. The carrier said in February that its Ultra Capacity network, which is mostly comprised of midband spectrum acquired from Sprint, reached 210 million people by the end of 2021. T-Mobile expects to reach 300 million people with its midband network, Ultra Capacity 5G, by the end of 2023.

Verizon, on the other hand, is aiming to cover 175 million people with its Ultra Wideband network, which uses millimeter wave and its midband spectrum, in 2022. AT&T plans to cover 200 million people with its own midband network by the end of the year.

All these technologies can work together to provide better coverage, speed and performance than 4G LTE.

“So we’re not just talking about cities, but a lot of the country where people live is covered by T-Mobile 5G,” said Greengart. “And so you’re going to want to buy a 5G phone both for coverage reasons and for speed.”

How much are you willing to spend?

The biggest factor in determining whether you should buy a 5G phone is how much you’re willing to spend. If you have less than $200 to spend on a new device, it might be difficult to find a worthwhile 5G phone.

If your budget allows for spending more than $400, there are several compelling 5G options like the $429 iPhone SE and $450 Galaxy A53 5G. The upcoming $450 Google Pixel 6A will also support 5G when it launches on July 28. That’s a significant departure compared to when the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G launched roughly three years ago for a sky high price of $1,300.

Cheaper phones may not support all flavors of 5G, namely the fastest millimeter-wave networks, but that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most people shopping today. With its benefits in speed and range, the three major networks have prioritized midband 5G deployments over the past year. As long as your new phone supports midband 5G, you should be able to connect to faster speeds in more places.

It’s important to consider what matters most to you in a phone and how long you’re planning to hold onto a device. If you’d rather have a larger screen, a more contemporary design, dual-cameras and are planning to upgrade your phone again in two years, the 4G-enabled $500 iPhone 11 might be a better choice than the $429 5G-capable iPhone SE.

But if you’re looking for a phone that can get you through the next three years or so, it’s probably best to look for a 5G device. Most Android phones in the $400-$500 range have 5G and modern features like multi-lens cameras and large screens.

The situation is different for Apple fans. The only 5G-enabled option under $600 is the 2022 iPhone SE, which has Apple’s latest smartphone chip but lacks other staples like a big screen and multiple cameras. That might change this fall when the rumored iPhone 14 launches and Apple drops the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini’s price accordingly.

Bob O’Donnell, president and chief analyst for Technalysis Research, says 5G will likely feel more essential in early 2024. By then, carriers will have had more time to build out their midband networks.

“You will get faster speeds,” said O’Donnell. “Hopefully by then we’ll see some additional services and apps that take advantage of 5G.”

The bottom line

To decide whether you need 5G in your next phone, consider how much you’re willing to spend, how long you plan to hold onto your phone before upgrading and what type of coverage your carrier provides.

Investing in a new 5G phone is generally the best move if you can afford it since it ensures that your device will feel fast and relevant for years to come. But if your budget is limited, or the 5G phones available to you right now don’t fit your needs, you won’t be missing out on too much by opting for 4G instead.

“As a purely functional phone, you can’t go wrong with a good LTE phone,” said O’Donnell.

Apple’s iOS 16 is now available in a public beta, which means you can try the operating system’s new features on a compatible iPhone ahead of its public release in fall. Communication, personalization and privacy are the main focuses of iOS 16, which offers upgrades to your iPhone’s lock screen, Messages app and Wallet, just to name a few.

First previewed at the company’s annual WWDC keynote, iOS 16 should get a wide release alongside the heavily rumored iPhone 14. The new software will work on iPhone 8 models and newer.

Here’s every iOS 16 feature you should know about.

Edit and ‘unsend’ messages
“Embarrassing typos are a thing of the past,” Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said as he introduced three of the most requested features for the Messages app.

First, in iOS 16 you’ll be able to edit sent messages. So if you notice a typo after a message, you’ll be able to edit the message after the fact. A tiny “edited” appears in the status under the message.

Next, and this might be my favorite new feature, you can immediately recall a sent message. If you accidentally send an unfinished message, you can use the Undo Send tool to prevent it from being read and hopefully look less chaotic to your friends and family.

Last, you can mark messages and threads as unread. This could be an excellent tool for when you don’t have time to respond to a message in the moment, but want to make sure you come back to it later.

A new customizable lock screen
One of the things you look at the most on your iPhone is the lock screen, especially if you have a Face ID-equipped iPhone. iOS 16 brings the most substantial update to the iPhone’s lock screen yet. Press and hold to edit your lock screen. You can swipe to try out several different styles. Each style changes the color filter for the background photo and the font on the lock screen so everything complements each other. This feels a bit like Apple’s take on Google’s Material You, which launched with Android 12.

You can also customize the fonts for the time and date, and add lock screen widgets like temperature, activity rings and a calendar. The widgets are akin to complications on the Apple Watch lock screen.

You can even set up multiple customized lock screens with different widgets and easily swipe to switch between them. There’s also a photo shuffle option that automatically changes the pictures on your lock screen.

One feature we hoped to see Apple add was an always-on display. It’s something nearly all Android phones have; even the Apple Watch does. There’s hope the iPhone 14 will have one.

Notifications and live activities
Sometimes notifications can cover up your lock screen’s photo, so iOS 16 moves notifications to the bottom of your display. As you receive them, instead of being compiled into a list, they appear like a vertical carousel. This not only looks better but should be a big help for one-handed use of your iPhone.

iOS 16 also aims to solve another notification problem. Sometimes you get a bunch of notifications in a row from one app, like the score of a basketball game. A new tool for developers called Live Activities makes it easier to stay on top of things happening in real time from your lock screen, instead of getting a series of interruptions.

Live Activities should make it easier to follow sporting events, workouts or even the progress of an Uber ride.

Skip CAPTCHAs using Private Access Tokens
The CAPTCHA — which stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart — has been a necessary evil across the internet. CAPTCHAs are designed to make sure that a person is accessing a website or service, and not a bot. I find them annoying, as they often involve reading strangely written letters or having to find all the images that have a truck. With iOS 16, Apple plans to start replacing these awkward interactions with Private Access Tokens.

According to a video on Apple’s website demonstrating Private Access Tokens, websites that support the token will essentially log in and authenticate that you are indeed a human without your having to play any of the usual CAPTCHA games. Apple says in the video that the company is working with other companies to roll out support for this feature, so we can’t say the CAPTCHA will be dead after iOS 16 rolls out to the public. But the concept could provide some relief if it gets adopted.

Wallet and Apple Pay Later
ID cards from more states will be available in your Wallet app along with more security and privacy features. In iOS 16 you can also protect your identity and age. So rather than showing your exact birth date, the Wallet app will display your ID and that you’re over 21.

iOS 16 makes sharing keys easier with apps like Mail and Messages. When your friend receives the key, they can add it to the Wallet app on their iPhone. Apple said it’s working to make sure that shared keys are an industry standard and free for others.

Apple Pay will support new types of payments and adds a new feature called Apple Pay Later, a Klarna-like service that lets you split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees. Upcoming payments are managed through the Wallet app, making it easy to keep track of dates and payments.

But Apple Pay doesn’t stop there. A new feature will also help you track Apple Pay orders and lets merchants deliver detailed receipts and tracking information. This should make it easier to stay up to date on the status of all your orders.

Visual Lookup’s tap and drag for photos
In iOS 15, Visual Look Up analyzes your photos and can identify objects like plants, landmarks and pets. iOS 16 takes this to the next level. When you touch a photo’s subject like the dog in the image above, you can lift it away from the background and add it to apps like Messages. Essentially it’s a tap-and-hold tool that removes a photo’s background.

Apple sometimes overuses the word “magic,” but this feature truly seems like it.

SharePlay comes to Messages
SharePlay, which debuted in iOS 15, lets you have a shared experience while connecting with someone over FaceTime. You can watch TV shows, listen to music in sync and other things. iOS 16 adds the ability to discover more apps that support SharePlay from within FaceTime.

But perhaps one of the coolest things Apple did for SharePlay was to make it work within the Messages app. Apple said that this was one of the biggest requests from app developers. Now when you want to share a movie on Disney Plus, you can start SharePlay together with a friend while chatting in Messages.

Safety Check aims to help people in abusive relationships
Safety Check is a new feature intended to be helpful for people in abusive relationships. It lets you review and reset who has access to location information as well as passwords, messages and other apps on an iPhone.

Focus mode updates and Focus filters
Focus mode gets several updates. The first applies Focus behaviors to widgets and lock screen looks. So you could have one lock screen set for when your Work Focus is enabled and another for workouts.

Apple added specific Focus filters that apply your iPhone’s Focus mode within apps. For example, in Safari, you can limit what tabs are shown depending on what Focus mode you have active.

Apple Maps adds transit fare cards
Maps will get several updates. You’ll be able to plan trips with up to 15 different stops along the way. If you start planning a trip with the Maps app on your Mac, you’ll be able to share that to your iPhone.

And in something similar to what Google announced for Google Wallet in Android 13, you’ll be able to see transit fare estimates as well as add more money to a fare card from within Apple Maps.

iCloud family checklist
iCloud gets several new features. One of the more interesting ones is the option to quickly set up a new device for your child. When Quick Start appears, you have the option to pick a user for the new device and use all the existing parental controls you’ve previously selected and configured. However, this is not what many of us still want: the ability to set up separate users for the same device.

There’s a new family checklist with tips for updating settings for your kids as they get older, like a reminder to check location-sharing settings or share your iCloud Plus subscriptions.

With a faster chip, bigger screen, new design and better webcam, this new M2 MacBook from Apple is the biggest change to the Air line since its launch.

In the 14 years since the MacBook Air line launched, I’ve often described it as “the most universally useful laptop you can buy.” That’s because the Air has always attempted to hit a delicate balance between price, portability, ease of use and features. And since 2008, Apple has succeeded in nailing that formula more often than not.

Thanks to a new design, a larger display (13.6 inches versus the previous 13.3 inches), a faster M2 chip and a long-awaited upgrade to a higher-res webcam, I feel comfortable keeping that “universally useful” title for the new 2022 version of the MacBook Air, with one caveat. At $1,199, the $200 increase over the traditional $999 MacBook Air starting price is a disappointment. Note that we’re reviewing the step-up $1,499 configuration, which adds more GPU cores and more storage space (but still only includes 8GB of RAM).

The previous M1 Air, with an older design, remains available at $999, somewhat mitigating the price increase on the new version. But you’re inevitably going to be drawn to the new design and features. The latest MacBook Air represents the biggest overall change to the product line, arguably since 2008, but at least since 2018. That’s when the Air gained modern features like a higher-res screen and fingerprint reader. In 2020, the Air switched from Intel chips to Apple’s own M1 chips, but without a physical redesign.

One of the tech industry’s most influential device designers, who became famous for his work on iMacs, MacBooks, iPods and iPhones, is stepping away.

Apple’s former design chief, and a key executive who worked with co-founder Steve Jobs to save the company from bankruptcy and turn it into the titan of industry it is today, has reportedly parted ways with his former employer.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Ive and Apple have agreed to stop working together, citing two sources with knowledge of their contractual agreement.

The move comes three years after Ive stepped away from his role as Apple’s design leader to begin his own firm, LoveFrom. Back then, Ive said he felt the time was “right” for his departure, and said he hoped to keep working with the company for “many, many years to come.” Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

UK-based company Nothing has launched an Android phone it hopes will re-energise the smartphone market.

The distinctive-looking Nothing 1 has a translucent back featuring hundreds of light-emitting diode (LED) lights that function as notifications.

Nothing raised more than $144m (£122m) in funding to develop the handset.

Backers include iPhone designer Tony Fadell, YouTuber Casey Neistat, and gaming channel Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.

Teething problems
Nothing 1’s creator, China-born Carl Pei, 32, who co-founded phone company OnePlus and is highly regarded in the smartphone industry, told BBC News he wanted to “make tech fun again” – for consumers and investors.

The company says it has received more than 200,000 requests for pre-orders of the £399 phone – about half the price of an average iPhone – manufactured in China and India.

The company also has ambitions to create a luxury product and Mr Pei says he hopes to collaborate with electric-car manufacturer Tesla.

Nothing has sold more than half a million units of its first product – wireless, noise-cancelling headphones Ear 1, launched in August – despite software teething problems.

‘Huge challenge’
But Nothing 1 – despite a fair amount of hype, not least because of the high-profile names behind it – has “a mountain to climb”, according to Ben Wood, from CCS Insight.

“The smartphone market is frighteningly competitive and is dominated by Apple and Samsung, who have incredible resources,” he said.

“The rest of the addressable market is a firefight between numerous Chinese manufacturers desperate to grab share, making it even harder for a new entrant to break into the segment.

“Add in the current macroeconomic situation and cost-of-living pressure, and it means being successful will be a huge challenge.”

Globally, smartphones sales were down 17% in May, compared with last year, according to CounterPoint Research.

There are a number of reasons for this:

people holding on to their devices for longer because of rising living costs
environmental concerns around e-waste
global chip shortage and supply-chain issues
“The big suppliers, they owe their bigger customers a lot of chips, they were really hesitant to bring in a new customer like us, a much smaller company,” Mr Pei said.

“We had to spend so much time finding different suppliers and pitching to them why the market needs somebody like us.”

All Apple Watches from the Series 4 onward will get the new update.

The Apple Watch is getting a major software update with WatchOS 9, adding in-depth running metrics, new watch faces and some clues to what we might see in the rumored Apple Watch Series 8. The WatchOS 9 public beta has just arrived along with iOS 16, which means we get to preview most of the new features ahead of the general release in the fall. That’s likely the same timeframe when we expect Apple to announce a new Apple Watch and the iPhone 14.

The WatchOS 9 public beta is now available for all Apple Watches from the Series 4 onward. You’ll need to have the iOS 16 public beta also installed on the iPhone. Both updates are a free download from Apple, however you should exercise caution with installing any beta software. Features are subject to change between now and the final release, plus there may be bugs or unstable elements. If you’re going to install the public beta, I strongly suggest backing up your Apple Watch and your iPhone. Here’s our full guide to how to install the beta.

All that said, there are plenty of reasons why I’m excited to test the public beta. I’ve used testing the developer beta for weeks to find some of the best new features coming to your Apple Watch, and I’ll update this article as I discover more in the public beta to share.

WatchOS 9 looks fresher and more like the iPhone
One of the first things I noticed after installing the public beta is how different notifications look on the Apple Watch. New banner notifications that look similar to the iPhone’s now appear at the top of your screen. Notifications no longer occupy the entirety of the screen when a text message or email arrives, unless your Watch is inactive or locked.

Siri also borrows some of the same look from the iPhone by having the icon appear at the bottom of the screen when you summon the virtual assistant. Also, I really like how you can swipe up to access the control center and now see the text size settings. Before, you’d have to pop into the Settings menu to change the font size.

Another small but welcome improvement is the battery widget, which you can add to the iOS 16 lock screen. Now you can easily see the battery level on the Apple Watch (or AirPods, if you have those connected) without unlocking your phone. It even reflects in real-time the charging status if you have the Watch on its charger.

New watch faces capitalize on the Apple Watch Series 7 screen
There are four new watch faces to choose from:

Metropolitan: A customizable clock face with complications and numbers that move in and out as you rotate the digital crown
Astronomy: Higher resolution than before, and you can now see changing cloud coverage updated hourly
Playtime: Just as the name describes, big bouncy numbers float around the screen and move as you tap the screen or rotate the crown
Lunar: Shows the lunar calendar when you rotate the crown
But my favorite is the portrait mode face, because it now works with pets (it didn’t on WatchOS 8). This is the watch face that takes portrait mode photos and lets you turn the digital crown to make your subject pop in and out of the screen, separated from the background. Existing watch faces like Activity Analog, Kaleidoscope and Numerals have been updated to support rich complications. That makes it easier to see details on the screen, particularly on larger displays like the Apple Watch Series 7’s.

WatchOS 9 boosts the workout app with more screens
A new multisport mode automatically lets you link together two or even three activities at a time, without manually needing to stop, restart or tack on another workout using the “add” feature. You might be competing in a triathlon, or just wanting to go for a run straight after jumping off your bike. WatchOS 9 will automatically detect when you start this new activity and switch between workout types as you go, hands-free.

Bloomberg reports one of the rumored editions of the Apple Watch Series 8 may be a “Pro” edition with a rugged finish and aimed towards extreme sports, so it makes sense to introduce a multisport feature on the new update.

More exciting for athletes like me who only take on one activity at a time are heart-rate zones. Your Apple Watch can now show you which heart-rate zone you’re in at any given moment during the workout. Based on your personal estimated maximum heart rate, you can get alerts when you enter into different zones. This can help give you an idea of how hard your heart is working during a cardio-based workout and if you’re hitting your max. All these zones are fully customizable and you can change them by going to Settings > Workout > Heart Rate Zones.

All the workout screens have also been revamped to show you even more stats as you scroll the digital crown, rather than the single screen from earlier WatchOS versions. Scroll down to see your activity rings for an idea of how you’re progressing during the workout. I also love that I can now see an elevation view in real time when doing an outdoor run, bike ride, walk or hike.

WatchOS 9 is built for runners
For the first time, the Apple Watch will be able to show you running form metrics in the workout app, including vertical oscillation, stride length, ground contact time and a running power metric. These also appear after your run in the Activity app on iPhone.

You can now create custom workouts by tapping the three dots before starting an activity, to set personalized distance and time goals that may be better suited for your training program. You’ll also see a new feature here too called Pacer. This lets you choose a distance and desired finishing time, then the watch will give you the pace you need to hit that goal and alert you along the way if you’re above or below that pace.

Improved dictation and app tweaks
I’m a heavy user of the Apple Watch’s dictation tool for sending messages since it automatically converts my voice to text. Now WatchOS 9 goes one step further by automatically inserting punctuation into your sentences as you speak. Rejoice! No more having to say “period” and “comma” or the awkward “question mark” to manually add your punctuation. This should be turned on by default, but if not, go to Settings > General > Dictation and turn on Auto Punctuation.

Some of the native apps have also had some usability tweaks, including the Calendar app that now lets you add events straight from the watch. You can also see a new week view. The Reminders app also lets you add and edit them from the watch, plus the Podcasts app lets you search, follow content, provide suggestions and download episodes to the watch.

Your iPhone can now control and mirror your Apple Watch
Just like how Assistive Touch on WatchOS 8 lets you control the watch by moving muscles in your hand and arm, Apple Watch Mirroring on WatchOS 9 is a game-changer for accessibility. It allows you to mirror the Apple Watch on the iPhone, so you can control every aspect of the watch by touching the larger iPhone screen. It even lets you use the digital crown and side button, too.

On the iPhone go to Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring. Now you’ll see a little emulation of your Apple Watch live on the phone. You can even use iPhone-specific features like voice control and switch control if you can’t tap the display.

These are just a few of my favorite new features in the WatchOS 9 public beta, but there are even more updates to explore including AFib history, improved sleep tracking that now shows sleep stages, plus reminders to take your pills using the new Medications app.

When is the iPhone 14’s release date? How much will it cost? And what will Apple’s new iPhone look like? We’re collecting all the buzz.

We’ve seen the beta of Apple’s latest iPhone software update, iOS 16, but what about a new iPhone? Although we likely have a couple months before its release date, gossip about the iPhone 14 lineup has already started to spread. In fact, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro rumor mill kicked off even before the iPhone 13 arrived last year.

In an effort to piece together what’s in store for Apple’s 2022 flagship ahead of its release date, we’re collecting all the rumors about the iPhone 14, from possible design changes to price. We even have a wish list of features we want to see on the upcoming iPhone.

While we wait for more intel on the iPhone 14, here’s a sneaky way to message someone on iPhone without anyone ever seeing and the 20 iPhone tips that’ll make you a power user. We’ll update this story as new information becomes available.

iPhone 14 lineup rumors: Will there still be four phones?
We still don’t know much about the iPhone 14, but we’ve heard that Apple’s next lineup will nix the Mini and focus on larger phones instead. A 2021 report from Nikkei Asian Review predicted the death of the iPhone 14 Mini, and a research note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by MacRumors also suggested that the Mini was not long for this world. However, Kuo reported, the iPhone 14 lineup will still comprise four models, a “high-end” and a “lower-end,” with two size options for each.

While name speculation isn’t as germane to the discussion of Apple’s 2022 lineup as it was for unlucky 13, rumors suggest a small shift in naming conventions, with an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max, with “Pro” designating higher-end specs and “Max” referring to the larger screen size.

iPhone 14 size rumors: How large will screens be?
Apple’s last two iPhone lineups have featured the same 6.1-inch size for the base model, going up to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max. According to the same Nikkei Asian Review report, Apple will stick with these sizes for the iPhone 14, but delete the 5.4-inch Mini. This rumor is corroborated by a March report from 9to5Mac. Reports showed sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, so it’ll be no surprise should Apple retire the small phone in 2022.

Although the size of the next iPhone is expected to stay the same, the display bezels for the Pro Max are rumored to be 20 percent smaller compared to previous iPhone generations, according to CAD renders shared by Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro. This means the screen would be slightly larger. However, it’s important to note that this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt since ShrimpApplePro doesn’t have an extensive track record to support their speculations.

iPhone 14 rumors: Will there be a SIM card?
In 2020, rumors began to surface that iPhone was ditching physical SIM cards entirely, and now a chain of leaks suggests that the iPhone 14 might be the first line to do it. 9to5Mac broke down the cascade of leaks, which started with a Brazilian site claiming the iPhone 15 Pro would go physically SIM-less. Then MacRumors reported an anonymous tip that Apple was preparing major carriers for eSIM-only phones by September. Apple leaker DylanDKT confirmed being “in agreement” with reports of the tray for physical SIM cards being removed, though his Twitter account has seemingly disappeared since.

Release date: iPhone 14 will likely arrive in the fall
There haven’t yet been many reputable release date rumors for the iPhone 14, but we expect Apple to hold its annual fall iPhone event in September, as it does almost every year, with the phones being released shortly thereafter, usually the following Friday. Sometimes Apple will stagger release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. So it’s possible that the iPhone 14 lineup will have more than one release date.

Here’s what we know:

Apple likes to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
iPhone release dates are typically a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.
In general, new iPhones are released on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.
A few years ago, CNET took a deep dive into the Apple event timeline and emerged with a compelling Labor Day hypothesis, which you can read about here. Based on the 2022 calendar, the Labor Day rule would put the September Apple event (and unveiling of the iPhone 14) on Sept. 7, with a Sept. 16 release date. However, our Labor Day hypothesis was a week off for 2021 — and, because of coronavirus delays, about a month off in 2020.

iPhone 14 price: How much will Apple’s 2022 iPhone cost?
There haven’t been many credible rumors regarding the iPhone 14’s price. Apple didn’t make any major price changes between 2020’s iPhone 12 and 2021’s iPhone 13. But with bigger changes expected to be on the way for the iPhone 14, it’s responsible to believe that Apple may raise prices in 2022.

The new iPhone may see a $100 price increase, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. “Prices have been increasing across the whole supply chain, and Cupertino needs to pass these costs to the consumer on this release,” Ives told The Sun. However, Kuo predicts the high-end 6.7-inch phone (the iPhone 14 Pro Max) will launch at a record-low price, under $900. Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which ranges from $1,099 all the way up to a staggering $1,599, that’s quite a steal.

Camera rumors: A better front-facing camera and more for the iPhone 14
Apple may have a few camera upgrades in store for the upcoming iPhone 14. Rumors say the tech giant has chosen a new supplier for its front-facing camera to make a higher-end lens. According to a report from Korean tech site ET News, citing unnamed industry sources, South Korean supplier LG Innotek will provide the new selfie camera for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

Kuo also shared insights about the iPhone 14’s potential camera upgrades in an investors note reported on by 9to5Mac just after the iPhone 13 launch. In the note, Kuo predicts a hole-punch front camera, making the iPhone 14 notchless, as well as a 48-megapixel wide rear camera for the Pro and Pro Max models, up from 12 megapixels on previous iPhones.

Display analyst Ross Young hypothesizes, however, that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have a hole-and-pill shaped design to accommodate for the front-facing camera and Face ID. The hole cutout is believed to be for the Face ID dot projector, and the pill-shaped cutout holds the front camera and Face ID camera, according to a January report from MacRumors. Supposedly leaked CAD renders of the iPhone 14, seen by 91mobiles, corroborate this rumor.

Kuo’s speculation regarding the camera’s megapixel capacity aligns with both a recent research note from Haitong International Securities, also reported on by MacRumors, and a report from research company TrendForce. Both Jeff Pu and TrendForce hypothesize the two Pro models will be equipped with a 48-megapixel wide lens. Pu, however, adds that the iPhones will sport a triple-lens rear camera system with a 12-megapixel ultrawide and telephoto lenses in addition to the 48-megapixel wide lens. The analyst adds that the Pro versions of the iPhone 14 could sport 8GB of RAM, as well. (In comparison, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have 6GB.) This is corroborated by a report from a Korean blog that cites domestic supply chain sources, as MacRumors spotted.

iPhone 13 camera upgrades include a new Cinematic mode, ProRes video and some improvements in zoom capabilities. We had previously reported on rumors that the entire lineup would feature lidar, the iPhone 12 Pro’s standout depth-sensing feature, but lidar ended up making an appearance only on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max after all. It’s possible Apple might expand the feature to its full lineup in 2022 instead, but we haven’t heard anything yet.

Another of the camera features we’re still waiting on is an improved telephoto lens. While the iPhone 13 Pro’s zoom capabilities were given a 3x optical zoom, it still pales in comparison to a lot of competitor flagships, including Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, which boasts a 10x optical zoom.

Will iPhone 14 get under-display Touch ID?
The feature that seems to get kicked down the road the most in Apple rumor world is the return of Touch ID. Early rumors supported the Touch ID’s return coming in the iPhone 12, and when that didn’t happen, speculation turned to the iPhone 13. But even before the iPhone 13 launched (sans Touch ID), word on the street had shifted again: iPhone 14 would surely be it. Now, that’s looking less likely, too. In late September, Kuo predicted that it won’t be until 2023 that the iPhone regains Touch ID technology. That would be… the iPhone 15?

Design rumors: iPhone 14 might be notchless… or will it?
YouTuber and iPhone leaker Jon Prosser (whose track record is admittedly spotty) made waves the week before the iPhone 13 announcement by releasing renders he commissioned of the iPhone 14 Pro Max based on “real images and schematics” leaked to him from purported sources at Apple.

Prosser’s renders corroborate a number of previously reported rumors, including the notchless display and hole-punch camera previously reported by Kuo, and the iPhone 14 Pro’s titanium alloy chassis, which was first referenced in a 2021 report from JPMorgan Chase. We’d been expecting to see the iPhone 13 go notchless, but instead we got a slimmed-down, but still very notchy, notch. Apple introduced the world to the notched display in 2017 with the release of the iPhone X, and as rivals solved the selfie conundrum with hole-punch and under-display cameras, Apple still hasn’t, er, taken it down a notch.

Read more: iPhone 14 Design Rumors

But Prosser’s renders seem to align with these earlier reports that Apple would finally excise the iPhone’s notch in 2022. And Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also hinted at its removal in a September edition of his Power On newsletter, wherein he predicted a “complete redesign” for the iPhone 14, while Young says Apple could introduce a hole-and-pill shaped design for the new iPhone. This hole-and-pill display emerged in schematics on Chinese social media site Weibo, and were later shared by Prosser.

Those who’ve been crossing their fingers for a notchless iPhone since the iPhone 12 and had their hopes dashed once again by the iPhone 13 can possibly now look forward to a potential realization of their all-screen dreams in 2022’s iPhone 14.

However, before you get too excited, there’s a possibility that not all the iPhone 14 models will get a new notchless design. MySmartPrice published supposed CAD renders of the iPhone 14 in March, depicting — you guessed it — a notch. But renders of the 14 Pro model published the day before on 91Mobiles do show a notchless display. If these rumors prove true, it looks like you’ll have to spring for the Pro in order to get rid of the notch.

iPhone 14 says buh-bye to the camera bump but keeps the Lightning port
The other big design change Prosser’s renders show is a flattened camera bump. According to Prosser, the iPhone 14’s body is going to be a “thick boy,” thick enough, it seems, to encompass all the camera hardware without an annoying, protruding camera setup on the back. Why is the iPhone 14 supposed to be so thick? Perhaps to house a bigger battery, or even the previously rumored periscope camera, which Kuo projected in 2020. However, Kuo and famed tech leaker Max Weinbach have actually pointed to a thicker camera bump in the 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Two prior rumors that won’t pan out, according to Prosser at least, are the death of the Lightning port and the addition of USB-C (the EU may force Apple to add USB-C ports to iPhones, however). Rumors of a completely portless iPhone have been circulating for a while, but it appears those won’t come true in 2022.

Rumored iPhone 14 features and specs
Here’s everything else we know (and think we know) so far about the iPhone 14 lineup’s specifications and potential new features.

An always-on lock screen
Apple’s iOS 16 will include an always-on mode for the lock screen, according to Bloomberg. This feature, however, may be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Better battery life
Apple’s 2022 iPhone could offer better battery life, according to a report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News (via MacRumors). This is said to be due to a new 5G chip that could also provide the new iPhone with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.

A larger battery capacity for each model in the iPhone 14 lineup could also contribute to the better battery life. According to ShrimpApplePro, the standard iPhone 14 may have a 3,279-mAh battery, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max may sport a 4,323-mAh battery.

Wi-Fi 6E adoption
The iPhone 14 could be equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, according to a November note from Kuo, reported on by 9to5Mac. However, the analyst says the components needed for Wi-Fi 6E may be in short supply. Apple’s rumored VR headset is also said to have Wi-Fi 6E.

A16 chip
Previous speculation was that the whole iPhone 14 series would upgrade to an A16 chip, improving upon the last iPhone’s A15 chip in keeping with Apple’s previous pattern. However, Kuo predicted in March that the A16 will only appear in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the 14 and 14 Max will keep the A15.

120Hz ProMotion display
All iPhone 14 models could include Apple’s ProMotion display, which only the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max variants currently have. ProMotion boosts the screen’s refresh rate for smoother performance, up to 120Hz. This is more speculation than actual rumor, based on changes in Apple’s supply chain that would make it easier for the company to offer the feature across its next lineup.

Young, however, speculates that Apple will continue to offer ProMotion displays exclusively to its Pro models. The analyst suggests that Chinese manufacturer BOE would be one of Apple’s LTPO OLED display suppliers, but the company doesn’t have a large production capacity right now.

5G connectivity
Apple introduced 5G connectivity to its iPhone 12 lineup and, unsurprisingly, included it in the iPhone 13 as well. There’s no reason to believe we won’t see 5G-compatible iPhone 14s, too. A 2021 report from Nikkei Asian Review also predicts Apple will “go all in on 5G” in 2022.

MagSafe accessories
Like 5G, MagSafe was introduced to the iPhone in 2020’s iPhone 12 lineup. The snap-on, magnetic accessories include wallets, battery packs and chargers, and it was one of our favorite iPhone 12 features. The iPhone 13 is also compatible with MagSafe, and we expect the same for Apple’s next generation of phones.

Satellite connectivity
An 11th-hour iPhone 13 rumor via Kuo that didn’t come to fruition was the addition of satellite connectivity, which would allow users to send text messages via satellite in areas without cellular coverage, at least in emergency situations, as reported by Bloomberg. Alas, satellite connectivity is nowhere to be found in the iPhone 13 lineup, but perhaps that means it’s coming in the iPhone 14 instead.

Google will soon launch the Pixel 6A, a more wallet-friendly version of the Pixel 6 that it announced nearly two months ago during its I/O conference. As expected, the Pixel 6A includes many of the Pixel 6’s highlight features like the Tensor chip at a lower price of $449.

Coming July 28, the new 6.1-inch Pixel will serve as a successor to last year’s Pixel 5A. As rumored, it will feature a design similar to last year’s Pixel 6 line, including a camera bar in the middle of the back of the phone for its 12-megapixel ultrawide and main cameras. Preorders begin on July 21.

Google’s custom Tensor chip will power the phone alongside 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Google says the 6A will be capable of the same tricks the Pixel 6 offers, including camera features like Night Sight, Real Tone and Magic Eraser — with the last of these getting an improvement that will allow you to “change the color of distracting objects in your photo.”

The phone will support 5G and all three major US wireless carriers will offer the phone, though Verizon’s version will run $500 since it supports millimeter-wave 5G. Google is promising roughly three years of Android software updates and five years of security updates. The company says the 6A will be “among the first Android devices to receive the upcoming Android 13” update later this year.

Like the Pixel 6, the 6A will have an under-display fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. The fingerprint reader may even be more responsive than the Pixel 6 Pro’s, according to a video posted by a Malaysian YouTuber that obtained the device early. While the 5A had a headphone jack, the 6A will not. Like the Pixel 5A, the new phone will be IP67-rated for water and dust resistance, and will not support wireless charging.

“[The] Pixel 6A is about maximizing the user value,” Google said in a statement to CNET. “To maintain a $449 starting price point we needed to make some trade-offs, one of which was the exclusion of wireless charging.”

The new phone will come in charcoal, chalk and sage colors.

The Pixel 6A is one of several new gadgets in Google’s pipeline, along with the long-awaited Pixel Watch, new Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, the Pixel Tablet coming in 2023 and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones due in the fall.

The launch also comes at a time when rivals like Apple and Samsung are focusing more on their competitively priced devices. Apple released a new 5G-enabled version of the iPhone SE in March, which at $429 is just $20 cheaper than the Pixel 6A. Samsung debuted the $450 Galaxy A53 5G in during that same month.

The “rugged” version of Apple’s smartwatch may be revealed later this year.

Apple is rumored to be working on a new version of the Apple Watch that’ll be geared toward extreme sports. The more “rugged” Apple Watch will feature a larger display screen, longer battery life for workouts and a protective metal case, according to a report Wednesday from Bloomberg, which cited people with knowledge of the company’s plans. The new Apple Watch will reportedly be unveiled later this year.

The larger watch screen will reportedly measure approximately 2 inches diagonally, be more shatter-resistant and will have around 7% more screen surface than current Apple Watches. This will be the third time Apple has increased the screen size of Apple Watches since they debuted in 2015. With the increased screen size, the rumored extreme sports Apple Watch would offer consumers one of the largest screens on the market.

Changing the case to a “strong metal material” instead of aluminum and including a larger battery are the other main changes geared toward extreme sports enthusiasts. Apple will reportedly unveil two other updates in the Apple Watch Series 8, a standard Apple Watch and a lower-end Apple Watch SE, both of which will keep their current screen size. The entire series of watches will run on an S8 processor, according to Bloomberg.

The new rugged Apple Watch is expected to be more expensive than existing standard stainless steel Apple Watches, which start at $699.

Apple has announced a new security feature to protect high-risk users from spyware cyber-attacks.

Lockdown Mode will be available in the autumn with the next operating system across all of the company’s iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The setting blocks certain functions and prevents unknown users from calling.

It comes after Apple devices owned by activists, politicians and journalists were infected with spyware.

Apple is currently suing Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, accusing it of targeting victims in 150 different countries with its powerful Pegasus spyware.

The firm’s software could infect both iPhones and Android devices, allowing operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras.

NSO Group says its tools are made to target terrorists and criminals and insists it only supplies Pegasus to military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records.

NSO Group: Israeli spyware company added to US trade blacklist
Pegasus spyware seller: Blame our customers, not us, for hacking
When the extent of the alleged surveillance was revealed last July, Apple faced criticism from privacy and security experts for not protecting users.

It quickly released an emergency software update to all devices to patch up the vulnerability that Pegasus had secretly been using for years.

Now the company is releasing Lockdown Mode as a wider security feature it claims can protect devices from all known spyware currently on the market.

Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:

Messages: Most message attachment types other than images are blocked. Some features, like link previews, are disabled
Web browsing: Certain complex web technologies, like just-in-time JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site
Calls: Incoming invitations including FaceTime calls, are blocked if the user has not previously sent the initiator a call or request
Wired connections with a computer or accessory are blocked when iPhone is locked
At launch, Lockdown Mode will be available to all users in the device settings, but Apple suggests it should only be activated if someone is a risk of what it calls “mercenary spyware attacks” – for example a journalist or opposition leader in a repressive regime.

“While the vast majority of users will never be victims of highly targeted cyber-attacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture.

Apple announced it will double the bounty threshold it pays out to ethical hackers who discover security flaws in Lockdown Mode to $2m (£1.7m).

The US firm will also donate $10m to a fund helping organisations expose the misuse of spyware.

“The global spyware trade targets human rights defenders, journalists, and dissidents, and facilitates violence, reinforces authoritarianism, and supports political repression,” said Lori McGlinchey, director, technology and society at the Ford Foundation, which will oversee the grant.

In November, US officials placed NSO Group on a trade blacklist, saying the software had “enabled foreign governments to conduct transnational repression, which is the practice of authoritarian governments targeting dissidents, journalists and activists”.

NSO Group is also being sued by WhatsApp, which accuses it of using the messaging service as a vehicle to spread Pegasus.