Apple iPhone 14 Price Shock
Apple's iPhone 14 series is expected to see a hefty price rise. We now have a better understanding of why...
image credit: forbes.com
For the first time in iPhone history, popular Korean tech
blog ET News says that Apple will include a South Korean front camera in its
smartphone. The camera will provide significant improvements in image quality
(detailed here), but at an exorbitant price.
More information on Apple's iPhone 14 manufacturing plans
has surfaced, and it comes from two of the industry's most reliable sources.
Ming-Chi Kuo, the world's first renowned Apple analyst, has reported that
manufacturing of the new iPhone 14 Max is "running behind." The
Shanghai shutdown is an issue, according to Kuo, but he is optimistic that
"suppliers can work extra to make up."
Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC)
and one of the most knowledgeable industry insiders, adds more background.
Young responds to Kuo by saying, "iPhone 14 Max panel shipments have
always been delayed," and adds, "Not sure why." Interestingly.
"Perhaps they have moderate volume objectives for this one," he
speculates. Although this is a possibility, I believe the iPhone 14 Max will be
the most popular model in the iPhone 14 lineup.
In any case, Apple might be on the verge of its first split
release since the iPhone 12 was released in 2020, which was only the second in
iPhone history (after the iPhone 8 / iPhone X). So, if you want an iPhone 14
Max when it comes out, you'll have to move quickly.
Components for the iPhone 14 continue to leak at a rapid
rate. ShrimpApplePro, a mysterious industry source who originally disclosed the
iPhone 14 Pro's i-cutout display and exact measurements in September, has now
given the first details of their new A16 processor.
According to the source, the A16 Bionic will employ the same
5nm (nanometer) fabrication method as the A15 (2021) and A14 (2020), and will
be built by TSMC once again. "Upgrades are marginally better CPU, LPDDR5
RAM, and better GPU," ShrimpApplePro said, dismissing speculations of
significant performance boosts.
The switch to LPDDR5 memory, which is 1.5 times quicker and
30% more power-efficient than the LPDDR4X memory used in the iPhone 13, is a
huge plus. However, RAM alone will not bring the significant speed improvements
observed in recent iPhone processor generations.
With Apple's recent admission that supply lines are limited,
it appears that the next revolutionary leap will occur with Apple's M2 chip.
Shrimp It is the chip, according to ApplePro, that will shift to 3nm —
something that was previously rumoured for the A16 — which is logical
considering its widespread use throughout the iPad, Mac, and MacBook models.
When compared to 5nm processors, 3nm is predicted to lower power consumption by
25-30%, allowing for greater clock speeds and improved performance.
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the iPhone 14 chipset
remains. We may have the first specifics on the A16 chip, however various
sources indicate the processor will only be available in iPhone 16 Pro variants
— maybe as the 'A16 Pro' — with the A15 chip from the iPhone 13 being renamed
'A16' and utilised in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max. It remains to be seen
how Apple fans will respond to this plan...
ET News reports, citing industry insiders, that Apple was
compelled to swiftly revise its front camera plans for the iPhone 14 due to
"quality difficulties from Chinese manufacturers" during testing. As
a result, this year, Apple will install an LG Innotek camera module that was
initially designed for the iPhone 15.
The good news is that ET News says that the module, for the
first time, adds advanced capabilities to the iPhone's front camera, including
focusing. Autofocus, along with an increased aperture for greater
depth-of-field in Portrait mode for video conversations, was initially
announced by noted industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in April.
The disadvantage is the price. "The unit price of the
iPhone 14 front camera has virtually tripled compared to prior versions,"
according to an ET News source. This is the most significant component price
rise I've ever seen. Apple's advancements to twin and then triple rear cameras,
as well as the inclusion of a high refresh rate display, have all boosted cost
in the past, but not by a factor of three.
All of this supports the theory that Apple will raise iPhone
pricing by $100 for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and that the new iPhone 14
Max would cost at least $200 more than the iPhone 13 Mini it replaces.
On the other hand, with several reports claiming that the
ordinary iPhone 14 would be little more than a (possibly divisive) copy of the
iPhone 13, the phone's improved front camera might be one of its strongest
selling features. Especially because video calling has exploded in popularity
in recent years.
The news that Apple is planning to transition the iPhone
series to USB-C in 2023 and remodel the basic models hasn't changed my mind
about this being a horrible year to upgrade. However, for those who are
committed to upgrading, things have just become a bit better.
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