Other iPhone 14 rumours suggest the most lacklustre update ever.

[Mr. Dee]

There have only been four significant releases of the iPhone:

iPhone 2G - changed the same with the all touch experience.

iPhone 4 - Retina display

iPhone 6 - large screen

iPhone X - all screen design with Face ID unlock and the A11 Bionic SoC.

Since then, it’s just been iterative updates. There were some interim releases like the 4S with Siri, 5S with 64 Bit A7. But the reality is, this has been the story of the iPhone since it’s inception. But it’s been particularly more apparent since iPhone XS. You put a iPhone X next to a iPhone 13 Pro (front facing) and you can’t really tell the difference between the two.

One of the tenets of the iPhone we always forget though was that, the key differentiator is the software. Steve Jobs made it clear at the unveiling is, you don’t really have to change the hardware if you decide you want a new design change to your app six months down the road (paraphrasing here).

So, essence, the iPhone has kinda been doing what’s intended to do. The internal upgrades though have certainly been innovative and I am sure most developers have yet to exhaust it. At the end of the day, what we did on a iPhone 10 years ago is no different today. It’s not that much different either from what we did on a Mac 20 years ago either.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Hahah, good luck with that… hate to say it but nobody is bullying a monolith like Apple.

The European Union says hi.

 

[leslieg]

there's no way apple can sustain the yearly technological updates the iPhone has received over the last 10 years. we are now at the point where the iPhone is so advanced it's difficult to keep topping it every year. gone are the days where iPhones are disposed of every year and I think from about the iPhone 11 onwards, the devices have much more longevity and can be kept for 2-3 years (which is a long time for apple fanboy standards) rather than a yearly upgrade. that means that despite the small incremental updates each year, when someone is upgrading from a 2-3 year old phone its still a large upgrade.

 

[Andeddu]

The European Union says hi.

Yep, and I don’t see a bureaucracy like that petitioning for the return of 3.5mm jacks.

 

[tomtad]

Everything you just said was so blatantly false. The headphone jack will never die because wired will always be superior over wireless due to having a solid connection, something wireless can never have. It’s why wifi will never “kill” ethernet either

Wireless has so many issues, from audio latency, to digital compression (which is why Airpods Max doesn’t have lossless support) and the biggest issue of wireless mics being absolutely terrible. Example:

View attachment 2019047

And another factor: Bluetooth headphones have a finite battery before they just stop working altogether. Wired headphones or wireless headphones with a wired mode can recieve analog power from the headphone jack so even when the batteries die they still work and produce amazing sound, while your $200 AirPods go straight into the landfill. It’s why vintage headphones from the 1970s still work and produce amazing sound when plugged into a headphone jack.

This is why the headphone jack isn’t dead and why it needs to come back. We gave wireless a try, now it’s time to go back to practicality, just like how the Macbook Pro brought its legacy ports back.

Agree with all of this. For me it's the e-waste aspect that annoys me most about removing the headphone jack. And it remains on the Mac. So if I want to get a decent pair of plug in headphones whos battery will never degrade I can use them on my Mac and then have to use a horrible dongle for iPhone. And I can't charge at the same time. Just put the jack on the iPhone FFS

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

You can have that defeatist attitude. I'm still gonna bully Apple until I get my headphone jack back, just like we bullied them to put magsafe and the HDMI back on the Macbook Pro

Why don't you just use a lightning to 3.5mm adapter? If you're attaching a cable already the extra inch adapter shouldn't be a big deal. Now, if you don't care about what headphones you use then get the lightning connector Earpods.

As someone who enjoys music I honestly can't think of a reason to have a headphone jack on a phone. Phones are about mobility/convenience and BT headphones compliment that, I hated having my phone in a pocket and the wire constantly catching on something and tearing it out of my ear. Additionally, if you're going to truly listen to an album with audiophile headphones you're not using a phone and either have a dedicated headphone amp some other setup.

 

[tomtad]

I'm quite surprised the 14 isn't getting the pill cut out. It's a bit like this year if the 13 didn't get the smaller notch of the 13 Pro.

Personally I can see there being something extra on the 14 that the leaks don't suggest, be that the pill actually coming to the 14 or an always on screen. And you can't always take leaks for their word, remember the flat sided Apple Watch?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

The European Union says hi.

You really think the EU requiring Apple to be compliant by 2024 doesn't line up with something Apple is most likely going to do in 2023 and that's getting rid of the port all together? You're delusional if you think this wasn't something Apple had a say in and is letting the EU have a "W" which will end up being a phantom victory.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

You really think the EU requiring Apple to be compliant by 2024 doesn't line up with something Apple is most likely going to do in 2023 and that's getting rid of the port all together? You're delusional if you think this wasn't something Apple had a say in and is letting the EU have a "W" which will end up being a phantom victory.

Apple were literally the ones making excuses to the EU to why they couldn't make the iPhone USB-C because "then all the accessories become eWaste. We can't do that." They brought this on themselves. It's also why they're having to mandate sideloading as well because Apple sure as hell won't add that out of the goodness of their heart.

 

[Al Rukh]

I believe Apple will throw a curveball on us. Remember what they did to the AW Series 7 and all the flat design rumours? There is still room for surprises.

My gut feeling says the pricing will be “reduced”. The 14 will cost the same at the 13 mini and 14 Max will cost the same as the 13.

Apple knows that releasing the “same” device twice is nonsensical and I doubt they would do that.

 

[brooksbrewer]

Everything you just said was so blatantly false. The headphone jack will never die because wired will always be superior over wireless due to having a solid connection, something wireless can never have. It’s why wifi will never “kill” ethernet either

Wireless has so many issues, from audio latency, to digital compression (which is why Airpods Max doesn’t have lossless support) and the biggest issue of wireless mics being absolutely terrible. Example:

View attachment 2019047

And another factor: Bluetooth headphones have a finite battery before they just stop working altogether. Wired headphones or wireless headphones with a wired mode can recieve analog power from the headphone jack so even when the batteries die they still work and produce amazing sound, while your $200 AirPods go straight into the landfill. It’s why vintage headphones from the 1970s still work and produce amazing sound when plugged into a headphone jack.

This is why the headphone jack isn’t dead and why it needs to come back. We gave wireless a try, now it’s time to go back to practicality, just like how the Macbook Pro brought its legacy ports back.

Have you ever repaired a phone and taken a look at the internals of said phone? The 3.5 mm jack takes up a massive amount of real estate inside the hardware of the device, space that was replaced with a larger battery, larger taptic engine, etc.

Anyone still clamoring to the headphone jack has no idea why it was removed, and why its removal paved the way for more internal upgrades now and moving forward. Your “superior” comment is also based on Bluetooth’s limiting bandwidth, nothing that Apple causes. So yes, wired headphones will sound better just like ethernet is faster than wi-fi, and wired charging is better than wireless charging; but this isn’t Apple’s fault. If anything, Apple is working continually in improving BT bandwidth, as well as using nothing “off the shelf” when it comes to how they manufacture AirPods to have the best sounding quality.

You can “bully” Apple all you want, but bringing MagSafe back to the Mac is like comparing Apples to Oranges; the argument isn’t nearly the same. Plus, at the end of the day, I promise audiophiles (like myself) are not clamoring to have our phone play audio in the highest possible quality. We have DACs, wired audio connections, etc. that exist away from the phone so we don’t need our phone to be the best quality… Because it’s a phone. Another point that you can hang onto that the headphone jack is dead.. Look at Google, Samsung, Motorola, etc. They all removed the jack too because they knew it was dying. Sorry for your loss

 

[StellarVixen]

Tech is in a bear market. I hope all tech companies, not just Apple start innovating if they want to reach new ATHs again. This so far in the past few years has been so mediocre and dare I say...lazy. Everyone got too complacent. It's time for a change.

 

[tomtad]

There have only been four significant releases of the iPhone:

iPhone 2G - changed the same with the all touch experience.

iPhone 4 - Retina display

iPhone 6 - large screen

iPhone X - all screen design with Face ID unlock and the A11 Bionic SoC.

Since then, it’s just been iterative updates. There were some interim releases like the 4S with Siri, 5S with 64 Bit A7. But the reality is, this has been the story of the iPhone since it’s inception. But it’s been particularly more apparent since iPhone XS. You put a iPhone X next to a iPhone 13 Pro (front facing) and you can’t really tell the difference between the two.

One of the tenets of the iPhone we always forget though was that, the key differentiator is the software. Steve Jobs made it clear at the unveiling is, you don’t really have to change the hardware if you decide you want a new design change to your app six months down the road (paraphrasing here).

So, essence, the iPhone has kinda been doing what’s intended to do. The internal upgrades though have certainly been innovative and I am sure most developers have yet to exhaust it. At the end of the day, what we did on a iPhone 10 years ago is no different today. It’s not that much different either from what we did on a Mac 20 years ago either.

I would add a couple of significant form factor changes to that list:

iPhone 5 - Larger screen

iPhone 12 - Slab form factor, beginning of clear regular and Pro lines

 

[jav6454]

There have only been four significant releases of the iPhone:

[...]

One of the tenets of the iPhone we always forget though was that, the key differentiator is the software. Steve Jobs made it clear at the unveiling is, you don’t really have to change the hardware if you decide you want a new design change to your app six months down the road (paraphrasing here).

So, essence, the iPhone has kinda been doing what’s intended to do. The internal upgrades though have certainly been innovative and I am sure most developers have yet to exhaust it. At the end of the day, what we did on a iPhone 10 years ago is no different today. It’s not that much different either from what we did on a Mac 20 years ago either.

Steve's quote was referencing application updates on phones with physical keyboards. He stated you can't add a button to things already shipping if you thought of an application update that required it.

Yes, he also mentioned how the iPhone was meant to be iterative each generation as changes usually happen application side. That was the premise of the first iPhone. However, Android handset manufacturers changed the nature of things by trying to out compete Apple. Introducing faster phones and making people believe you need a new device every year when in reality the phone you buy today will work just fine the next 3 years (if it's an iPhone).

 

[MyPhone99]

14 laclustre? 14 Max (non pro) will be a big hit ( if pro models have thicker punch and pill shape holes )

 

[NewBench]

The standard iPhone 14 will just be an iPhone 13S. Did people complain as much when there were the S installments of the iPhone? What's the point again? Just don't upgrade, people coming from a X or XS or beyond will take the 14. No big deal in my opinion. More than that, I would love to see the S versions again. But in the name, not only in the interiors. Would show that we don't need higher & higher every year.

I think it's more that there was expectation this year (the 14) would be a substantial upgrade before all the leaks revealed otherwise, especially in terms of design, as the 12 and 13 were so similar with just a slightly narrower notch and slightly bigger camera array on the 13.

We're due a "big" form factor overhaul, and if Apple don't deliver that then surely they have to be offering something like 120hz for the non-pro to make up for it.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Have you ever repaired a phone and taken a look at the internals of said phone? The 3.5 mm jack takes up a massive amount of real estate inside the hardware of the device, space that was replaced with a larger battery, larger taptic engine, etc.

iPhone 13 teardowns found space at the top where a 3.5 jack could be placed. They can make adjustments to the engineering to do it.

Anyone still clamoring to the headphone jack has no idea why it was removed, and why its removal paved the way for more internal upgrades now and moving forward. Your “superior” comment is also based on Bluetooth’s limiting bandwidth, nothing that Apple causes.

Gonna ignore the fact wireless mics are poo right? Even outside of bluetooth's bandwidth they're poo since they don't have a solid connection. Try using one as a gaming headset and see if you don't get laughed at and made fun of for having a "Dollar Tree quality mic" despite the fact you're using $300 wireless headphones

So yes, wired headphones will sound better just like ethernet is faster than wi-fi, and wired charging is better than wireless charging; but this isn’t Apple’s fault.

No it isn't their fault. It's those darn laws of physics fault. DAMN YOU PHYSICS! (It is Apple's fault the jack was cut in the first place though, that was in their control.)

If anything, Apple is working continually in improving BT bandwidth, as well as using nothing “off the shelf” when it comes to how they manufacture AirPods to have the best sounding quality.

But is it improved yet? No it isn't. They're still objectively worse than wired headphones and there's no signs of that improving for a long while. Just like when Apple jumped the gun on USB-C too fast on the Mac and ditched the SD card slot and HDMI, two ports that are still frequently used to the point they had to reverse that decision. The same is true with wired headphones, even moreso now that the iPod is dead so the last iOS device that had a headphone jack (besides the vanilla iPad) is now gone.

Another point that you can hang onto that the headphone jack is dead.. Look at Google, Samsung, Motorola, etc. They all removed the jack too because they knew it was dying. Sorry for your loss

Uhh...all those companies still sell phones with headphone jacks. The majority of Android phones still have headphone jacks. It's primarily flagships that don't have them.

Once again proving my point memoji profile pics always have the worst takes.

 

[NewBench]

I don't know why I made this thread, clearly Apple won't change their tune and the company has been going downhill for a while. Those early iPhone years where people queued overnight at Apple stores are long gone.

Just wish they'd give us "more", especially when they raise prices.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I don't know why I made this thread, clearly Apple won't change their tune and the company has been going downhill for a while. Those early iPhone years where people queued overnight at Apple stores are long gone.

Just wish they'd give us "more", especially when they raise prices.

And now you know why the only Apple thing I care about are the Apple Silicon Macs and why I stopped caring about phones a long time ago.

 

[now i see it]

Apple are expecting us to pay more

Not expecting but hoping. And every year millions of people buy new iPhones. There’s still millions of people out there still using iPhone 6 or older devices.

It’s one thing to sit by on the sidelines expecting to get dazzled by inconceivable tech every year, but it’s another to actually conceive, design and manufacture magical gizmos every 365 days for eternity.

People waited in lines back in the day to get a new iPhone not because the new phone was all that great, it was because the iphone they had was pretty horrible in comparison (no cut, copy, paste).
Nowadays iPhones aren’t horrible anymore so there’s no longer a desperation to get something better.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Not expecting but hoping. And every year millions of people buy new iPhones. There’s still millions of people out there still using iPhone 6 or older devices.

It’s one thing to sit by on the sidelines expecting to get dazzled by inconceivable tech every year, but it’s another to actually conceive, design and manufacture magical gizmos every 365 days for eternity.

People waited in lines back in the day to get a new iPhone not because the new phone was all that great, it was because the iphone they had was pretty horrible in comparison (no cut, copy, paste).
Nowadays iPhones aren’t horrible anymore so there’s no longer a desperation to get something better.

I was one of them. I only recently got an iPhone 13 Pro not because I wanted one, but because I needed one since my previous iPhone was so old. The only way I will go out of my way to buy a new iPhone now is if they ditch lightning and add USB-C (or a headphone jack. I WILL FIGHT YOU MEMOJI PFPS)

 

[SYCAMOREGRAD]

Hahah, good luck with that… hate to say it but nobody is bullying a monolith like Apple. I would rather not waste my time petitioning for something that clearly isn’t coming back. Even Samsung, who berated Apple for their design choice, has taken up the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack in a massively hypocritical move. If you want wired, use the earphones provided with your iPhone which has a lightning connector on it.

My i12 mini & i13 mini didn’t come with headphones…

 

[Mr. Dee]

I would add a couple of significant form factor changes to that list:

iPhone 5 - Larger screen

iPhone 12 - Slab form factor, beginning of clear regular and Pro lines

3.5 to 4 inch? No, that’s not significant. When Apple introduced the iPhone 5, Android phones were on 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch screens for years.

iPhone 12 is a throw back to the iPhone 4/4s.

 

[xxray]

Meanwhile, there are always people on here saying Apple should only update iPhones every 2 years. Even if they’re keeping the price the same and having minimal updates, at least its some update rather than none, especially if they keep the 13 around and drop its price.

 

[dtm84]

Upgrading my 8 plus next year when something interesting comes out and my phone gets dropped iOS support.

Upgrading every year is crazy.