One Week Earlier Than Usual
Expected to Be Held Online
Equipped with 6.7-inch 'Max' Instead of 'Mini'
Reduced Notch and Retained Lightning Port
[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Apple's biggest annual event, the 'Apple Event,' where the iPhone 14 will be unveiled, is expected to be held one week earlier than usual. The 'iPhone Mini,' which was the smallest smartphone with a 5.7-inch screen, will disappear starting from the 14, and only new iPhones with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes are expected to be released.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on the 19th, Apple is reportedly planning an iPhone 14 unveiling event on September 7 (local time). Apple stores have been confirmed to be preparing for the new product launch targeting October 16. Bloomberg reported that through this event, Apple will also unveil new MacBooks, high-end and low-end iPads, and three Apple Watch models.
There have been speculations among IT tipsters that this year's Apple Event might be held earlier. Famous IT tipster Max Weinbach also predicted, citing sources, that the next Apple Event will be held on September 6 or 7.
According to Bloomberg, the iPhone 14 unveiling is expected to be conducted as an online event rather than in-person. Accordingly, employees have started recording parts of the presentation to be used in the online event over the past few weeks. This is interpreted as a safe move amid the global resurgence of COVID-19 infections.
This year's iPhone 14 series is expected to consist of four models without the 'Mini' model but with the addition of a large-screen budget model called 'Max': ▲ iPhone 14 (6.1 inches) ▲ iPhone 14 Max (6.7 inches) ▲ iPhone 14 Pro (6.1 inches) ▲ iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7 inches).
Apple is expected to reduce or eliminate the size of the 'notch' on the two higher-end models (Pro, Pro Max). The notch refers to the display design that leaves part of the top of the screen empty to place the camera. The industry expects Apple to equip only the iPhone 14 Pro lineup with the upgraded A16 Bionic chipset. The lower-end models, iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, are expected to use the same A15 chip as the previous iPhone 13.
There is unlikely to be a change in the charging port that iPhone users have been anticipating. In July, the European Union (EU) announced plans to standardize charging ports to USB-C by 2024 to reduce electronic waste and protect the environment. Apple, which has used its proprietary Lightning connector since the iPhone 5 series, is expected to equip the iPhone 15, launching next year, with a USB-C port.
Prices are expected to rise compared to the previous model. Apple specialist analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted that the average selling price (ASP) of the iPhone 14 series will increase by about 15% compared to the previous generation. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives also stated, “Prices of electronic components and raw materials are rising across the board,” and predicted, “Considering raw material costs, the iPhone 14 price will increase by nearly $100 (about 130,000 KRW).” Some speculate that only the high-end Pro lineup prices will increase.
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