As with every year, Apple is back this autumn with a new line-up of smartphones. In this article, we highlight all the ins and outs of the iPhone 14 and iOS 16.
iPhone 14: what’s new
We’ve come to expect that iPhones receive only minor updates each year—slightly faster processors, thinner designs, and improved cameras. Major changes happen less often, like with the iPhone X, which replaced the home button and fingerprint sensor with facial recognition.
This month, four versions of the iPhone 14 were introduced. Two of them fall under the 'slightly improved' category, featuring the same chip as last year's iPhone 13 Pro, the familiar design, and a better camera. The most notable changes appear in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max:
1. Always-On Display
When your phone is locked, it now shows a dimmed version of the lock screen instead of going black. You can always see the time or how long your timer has left.
2. Goodbye ‘notch’
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max no longer feature the ‘notch’ at the top of the screen. Instead, sensors are housed in a pill-shaped cut-out that dynamically resizes to show various notifications and statuses. Apple calls this the ‘Dynamic Island’.
The iPhone 14 Pro with Dynamic Island.
3. An upgraded camera
The new 48-megapixel camera is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, alongside an enhanced wide-angle and telephoto lens. This is a major improvement compared to the previous model’s 12-megapixel camera.
4. Satellite connectivity
All iPhone 14 models can now use satellite connections to share your location and messages—particularly useful in emergencies. However, this feature is currently only launching in the US and Canada.
iOS 16
The iPhone 14 comes pre-installed with iOS 16. Notable new features include:
- More iMessage options: You can now edit or undo recently sent messages. Messages can also be marked as ‘unread’ to remind you to respond later.
- Shared iCloud Photo Library: It’s now easier than ever to share an album with your family members.
- Cut-out images: You can isolate subjects in photos by removing the background.
- Battery percentage returns: You can once again see the exact battery level at a glance.
- A redesigned lock screen: iOS 16 lets you add widgets and overlay photos around the clock display. You can also customise the appearance of the date and time.
- Live Activities: Apps that frequently update (e.g. sports scores or delivery tracking) can now display a live notification on the lock screen that updates in real-time.
The redesigned iOS 16 lock screen.
What’s the impact on existing apps?
The release of the iPhone 14 and iOS 16 also has implications for app developers and existing apps. As developers, we’ve been testing the iOS 16 beta for weeks to ensure all our apps continue to function smoothly. Beyond necessary updates, iOS 16 also offers exciting new features that developers can use to enhance their apps.
The popular Reddit app Apollo recently introduced ‘Pixel Pals’—a mini Tamagotchi-style creature that lives around the Dynamic Island while you're browsing Reddit. We look forward to exploring the creative potential of iOS 16 and the new iPhone 14 together with our clients.
Would you like to learn more about developing apps for iOS 16 or the new iPhone 14? Feel free to get in touch. We’re happy to help.
