Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 14 lineup at the company’s annual September event on Wednesday.
The product event, which has been shown with a “remote” tagline, will take place at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, and will be streamed live on Apple’s website and social media channels.
This year’s invite featured a night sky with a constellation of stars forming the Apple logo, leading some to speculate that there will be major camera upgrades to the iPhones to allow for better night or day photography. long distance But in typical Apple fashion, the tech giant was sparse on details as it builds excitement and urges customers to tune in for the big day.
The event will begin at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on Wednesday and will be covered live by CNN Business. Here’s a look at what to expect from CEO Tim Cook and his team.
THE STAR OF THE SHOW
As it has done every year for about a decade, Apple is expected to unveil its latest iPhone at the September unveiling.
Apple is expected to go big with the iPhone 14, literally. It’s rumored to debut a 6.7-inch phone that isn’t a Pro model, meaning it’ll have the bigger screen size but without the higher price tag. The rumor also suggests that Apple might ditch its cheaper, smaller iPhone in the 14 line so they don’t compete with iPhone SE sales.
The predictions suggest that the latest Pro model is slightly thinner and that the much disliked notch around the front camera system is absent from the new iPhone models.
Apple watchers are also excited about a possible major camera quality upgrade with the iPhone 14, possibly one that can record 8K video. If this happens, it could be one of the biggest changes to iPhone camera quality yet.
Apple’s pricing for the iPhone 14 is already shaping up to be a test as broader economic conditions for both the tech sector and consumers have entered choppy waters. A handful of analysts have already predicted slight price hikes for the latest and greatest iPhone model. “My expectation is that Apple will probably have to raise prices,” Ben Wood, chief analyst at market research firm CCS Insight, told CNN Business ahead of the event.
Currently, the regular, non-mini iPhone 13 starts at $799, the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1,099. Some analysts are predicting a $100 price increase on at least the top-end Pro and Pro Max models. But given the strain consumers face, he believes Apple will also do “everything it can to do as little as possible.” This could mean offering attractive exchange bonuses, installment plans and other offers.
Despite rising inflation and other headwinds, Cook said on the company’s most recent earnings call that there is still no “obvious evidence” of a macroeconomic impact on iPhone sales. That doesn’t mean the tech giant is immune to a worsening economic climate. It reported a nearly 11% drop in profits for the three months ending in June, compared with the same period a year ago. This event also comes amid supply chain issues linked to China’s zero-Covid policy.
Finally, there has been talk that Apple could remove the iPhone’s Lightning port in new models and opt for a design that charges via MagSafe wirelessly. There have also been rumors that some US models may launch without a physical SIM slot as Apple moves towards an eSIM-only design.
APPLE WATCHES, iOS RELEASE DATE AND MORE
New Apple Watch models are expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, including a high-end offering. An official release date is also expected to be announced for iOS 16, the latest wildly popular update that will allow users to customize iPhone lock screens (like Android does) and includes a revamped iMessage.
What not to expect
With the new iPhone expected to take center stage, many analysts don’t expect Apple to launch new iPads or Mac computers until October. Of course, rumor can always be wrong about these things. Apple is also unlikely to debut its long-rumored and highly anticipated AR headset on Wednesday.
Despite rival Samsung’s love affair with foldable devices, Apple is still not expected to introduce such an iPhone this fall.
CNN Business will have live coverage of Cook’s big production, so tune in here as the world’s most valuable tech company finally shuts down all the rumors and reveals some of its latest gadgets on the cusp of the shopping season holidays