Apple is really early this year. While the iPhone keynotes have always taken place in mid-September in recent years, the group will switch to the beginning of the month in 2022. Next Wednesday (September 7th) the time has already come: iPhone 14 and Co. will celebrate their world premiere.
Apple has a lot on the list
The iPhone event 2022 will finally once again be a combination of virtual and live event – similar to WWDC 2022 in the summer, albeit a little smaller. Apple will probably run the actual product presentation as a video as usual, but has invited at least selected journalists to Apple Park in Cupertino in order to be able to show them the new products right away.
And there’s a whole lot of that. First of all, there would probably be a total of four new iPhone models, as we have seen in recent years. In addition to two “normal” variants, two Pro models should also appear again. The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 replaces the iPhone 13 and probably comes with a better camera and a little more battery life, but it should probably keep the old SoC A15 Bionic from the predecessor – a novelty for Apple. The iPhone 14 Plus (which has meanwhile also been haunted by the rumor mill under the name iPhone 14 Max) will replace the iPhone 13 mini and will probably come with a 6.7-inch display. Mini-iPhones would then be buried.
Pro models will be exciting
More interesting than the regular 14 iPhones are the two new Pro models, in which Apple has tweaked both the inner workings and the design. Instead of the usual notch, the indentation with a TrueDepth face recognition sensor for Face ID and a selfie camera, there should now be a combination of a round selfie camera and a pill-shaped Face ID module. Both would form an elongated oval “pill” with new indicators for the active camera or active microphone in the middle. By slightly reducing the element, Apple could accommodate more elements in the interface, for example to finally revive the old battery indicator.
Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Pro (6.1 inch) and the iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7 inch) will probably get the new A16 SoC, for the first time bring an always-on display, as known from the Apple Watch, as well as have an improved rear camera on board. Among other things, the always-on display should handle notifications and show color and depth effects. The prices of all new iPhones could – not only because of increasing inflation – become more expensive: Apple is said to be planning to equip all models with 256 GB flash as standard and then adjust the tariffs for it.
Apple Watch and live ticker
The second important product presentation of the keynote will probably be the Apple Watch Series 8. It is said to bring only a few innovations compared to the Series 7, including a body temperature sensor, which probably cannot be used as a fever measuring device. Apple is said to be using the old System-in-Package (SiP) from Series 6 and 7 again, so it’s not speeding up the clock. A successor to the Apple Watch Edition is said to be the Apple Watch Pro – which will be exciting: the model should be particularly robust, have a larger screen (47 mm) and, for the first time, a new, more angular design. Apple could also present a new version of the Apple Watch SE entry-level watch. The Series 3 is finally being scrapped.
In terms of other keynote innovations, we also expect an overdue revision of the AirPods Pro with Bluetooth LE Audio and the new H2 chip. Apple is also likely to present the final version of iOS 16, which will be released in a timely manner. It remains to be seen whether this will also be the case with the devices announced on Wednesday: Zero-COVID lockdowns have just started again in several cities in China, where Apple production facilities are said to be located. No matter what can also be seen in the keynote on Wednesday: Mac & i reports as usual with a live ticker in the minute log. After the event there will also be a live stream on voonze.de and YouTube, where we will analyze the innovations.