The iPhone 11 is a smartphone designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the thirteenth generation of iPhone, succeeding the iPhone XR, and was unveiled on September 10, 2019, alongside the higher-end iPhone 11 Pro at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, Cupertino, by Apple CEO Tim Cook. Preorders began on September 13, 2019, and the phone was officially released on September 20, 2019, one day after the official public release of iOS 13.

Despite minimal exterior changes from the preceding iPhone XR, substantial design changes within the phone took place, including the addition of the more powerful Apple A13 Bionic chip as well as an ultra-wide dual-camera system.^[9] In October 2020, Apple halted the inclusion of both Apple EarPods and the wall adapter, citing environmental goals.^[10][11]

As of March 2022, the iPhone 11 has sold 159.2 million units worldwide, making it the tenth best-selling smartphone of all time.^[12][13]

The iPhone 11 as well as the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 Pro with its Max variant were discontinued and removed from Apple’s website after the announcement of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro on September 7, 2022.

History

Details regarding the smartphone were widely leaked before the official release; complete specifications and renderings of the phone were widely publicized. Among the most significant changes were improvements in the cameras and the continuation of the ‘notch’ design around the frontal camera which dipped down into the screen, a feature started by the iPhone X.^[14][15][16] The official event invite which was sent out to developers contained a graphic featuring an Apple logo made of layered colored glass, implied to be the new colors for the phone. A patent filed by Apple earlier in the year also hinted at a new camera design.^[17][18]

Design

The iPhone 11 was available in six colors: Purple, Yellow, Green, Black, White and Product (Red). The top of the screen retains the ‘notch’ design, wherein the TrueDepth camera system and phone speaker are encapsulated in a black, rounded-out rectangle that dips into the screen, similar to its predecessor, the iPhone XR. An elevated area in the top corner on the back of the iPhone acts as a camera housing, containing the microphone, the flashlight, and both of the rear-facing digital cameras.^[11][19] The Apple logo on the back of the phone is centered to be equidistant to all edges and is made of a reflective material.

Color	Name
	Black
	White
	Purple
	Yellow
	Green
	Product Red

Specifications

Hardware

The iPhone 11, along with the iPhone 11 Pro, uses Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, which contains a third-generation neural engine. It has three internal storage options: 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB.^[20] It also has 4 GB of RAM.^[21] The iPhone 11 has an IP68 water- and dust-resistant rating along with dirt and grime, and is water-resistant up to 2 m (6.6 ft) for 30 minutes. However, the manufacturer’s warranty does not cover liquid damage to the phone. Also, like previous iPhones, both phones do not have a headphone jack, and initially came with wired EarPods with a Lightning connector, although Apple no longer includes these with any device.^[11][21] The iPhone 11 is the first smartphone with built-in ultra wideband hardware, via its Apple U1 chip.^[22][23][24]

Display

The iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch (15 cm) IPS LCD with a resolution of 1792 × 828 pixels (1.4 megapixels) at a pixel density of 326 PPI with a maximum brightness of 625 nits and a 1400:1 contrast ratio and it is equivalent to the iPhone XR. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, True-Tone, and a wide color gamut. As with the iPhone 11 Pro, XR, XS, and X, the display has a notch at the top for the TrueDepth camera system and the speaker. The display has an oleophobic coating, making it fingerprint-resistant.^[2][21] Apple announced in September 2019 that both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro would show a warning notification if a display were replaced with an unauthorized part. Apple stated that problems with the phone could arise if the wrong parts or procedures were used during the repair process.^[25]

Battery

The iPhone 11 is supplied with a 11.91 Wh (3,110 mAh) battery, a slight increase from the 11.21 Wh (2,942 mAh) found in the iPhone XR. The battery is not user-replaceable.

Camera

The iPhone 11 includes a dual-lens 12 MP rear camera array. It has one ƒ/2.4 ultra-wide-angle lens with a 120° field of view and 2× optical zoom out, and one ƒ/1.8 wide-angle lens. The iPhone 11 supports 4K video at up to 60 fps and 1080p slow motion at up to 240 fps.^[2] The phone also features an audio zoom feature, which focuses audio on the area on which is being zoomed in, similar to the Pro model.^[21] Both of the cameras support video, although only the primary lens has OIS. It supports portrait mode with six portrait lighting effects, depth control, and an advanced bokeh effect. The phone also has an automatic night mode allowing the camera to take brighter pictures with reduced noise in low-light environments. Also, a redesigned camera app adds new features such as a scroll wheel for choosing between the different lenses and a feature called “QuickTake”, which allows the user to long-press the shutter button to take a video. Apple has also announced a new Deep Fusion feature that takes advantage of AI and machine learning for image processing and was released via iOS 13.2 software update on October 29, 2019.^[2][21][26]

Software

The iPhone 11 was supplied with iOS 13,^[27] which includes Siri, Face ID (through the TrueDepth camera), Apple Pay, and Apple Card support. It received iOS 14 on September 16, 2020, iOS 15 on September 20, 2021, iOS 16 on September 12, 2022, and iOS 17 on September 18, 2023.^[28]

Reception

The iPhone 11 drew generally positive reviews after its launch.^[27][29] Reviews generally praised the phone’s performance, battery life, and cameras, while criticizing the display as passable, but aging quickly. Reviewers also criticized the notch as being far too large for 2019. According to Counterpoint Research’s Market Pulse, it was the second best-selling and the most popular model globally for 2019, in less than four months of launch.^[30]

Controversy

Removal of the power adapter and EarPods

Apple, through an environmental initiative, has removed the EarPods and power adapter from new iPhone boxes starting October 2020, including the iPhone 11. Removing these items is claimed to reduce e-waste and permit a smaller iPhone box, allowing more devices to be transported simultaneously to decrease carbon footprint. However, Apple now includes a USB-C to Lightning cable, incompatible with the existing USB-A power adapters that Apple previously supplied with their devices. Upgraders can still use their existing iPhone power adapters and cables, but users wanting fast charging capabilities will have to purchase a USB-C power adapter separately.^[31]

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini (stylized and marketed as iPhone 12 mini) are smartphones designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. They are the fourteenth-generation iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 11.^[20] They were unveiled at a virtually held Apple Special Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on October 13, 2020, alongside the “premium flagship” iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max and HomePod Mini. Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 started on October 16, 2020, and the phone was released in most countries on October 23, 2020, alongside the iPhone 12 Pro and fourth-generation iPad Air. Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Mini began on November 6, 2020, and the phone was released on November 13, 2020, alongside the iPhone 12 Pro Max.^[3]

The major upgrades over the iPhone 11^[21] include the addition of a Super Retina XDR OLED as opposed to the Liquid Retina LED-backlit LCD IPS panel on the iPhone 11 and XR, 5G support, the introduction of MagSafe, Apple A14 Bionic system on a chip (SoC) and high-dynamic-range video Dolby Vision 4K up to 30 fps.^[22] The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini, like the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, are the first iPhone models from Apple to no longer include a power adapter or EarPods headphones found in prior iPhone models; however, a USB-C to Lightning cable is included; this change was retroactively applied to other iPhone models sold by Apple, such as the iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and the second-generation iPhone SE.

Design[edit]

The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini is the first major redesign since the iPhone X. It features a chassis with flat edges, similar to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 designs, as well as the iPad Pro since 2018, and the 4th-generation iPad Air, which was also released in 2020. The notch size is similar to previous iPhone models, despite speculation about a reduction in width.^[23] The borders around the display are thinner by 35% than any previous model. The new design also comes with a ceramic-hardened front glass, marketed as Ceramic Shield, while the back retains the previous generation Dual-Ion Exchange strengthened glass.^[24]

On April 20, 2021, at Apple’s Special Event “Spring Loaded”, Apple revealed a new purple color option which became available on April 30, 2021.^[25]

The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are available in six colors: Black, White, Product Red, Green, Blue, and Purple.^[24]

Color	Name
	Black
	White
	Product Red
	Green
	Blue
	Purple

Specifications

 

Hardware

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini use Apple’s six-core A14 Bionic processor, which contains a next-generation neural engine. They both have three internal storage options: 64, 128, and 256 GB.^[a] Both also carry an IP68 water and dust resistance rating along with dirt and grime, and is water-resistant up to six meters (20 feet) for 30 minutes. However, the manufacturer warranty does not cover liquid damage to the phone.

The iPhone 12 series are the first iPhone models to be supplied from launch without EarPods or a wall adapter, which Apple says was done to reduce carbon emissions and waste since most users already own them. Apple also claims 70% more boxes can fit on a pallet given the smaller box, and thus further reducing emissions.^[26] A USB-C to Lightning cord is still included. This change also applies retroactively to all other iPhone models still in production.^[27] To comply with French law regarding wireless device radiation and health which requires phones to be bundled with and promote use of hands-free accessories by children under 14, iPhone models will still include EarPods in this market.^[28]

A magnetic connector known as MagSafe is introduced on the iPhone 12 models, allowing accessories such as cases and charging cords to be attached to the rear of the device. Accessories can also be stacked together.^[29]

The devices support 5G cellular communications. This allows upload speeds of up to 200 Mbit/s and download speeds of up to 4 Gbit/s.^[30] However, only models sold in the U.S. support the fastest mmWave technology; those sold elsewhere in the world, including Canada, support only sub-6 GHz frequency bands.^[31] A new feature called Smart Data Mode enables 5G only when necessary to preserve battery life.^[32]

Displays

The iPhone 12 features a 6.1-inch (155 mm) display^[33] with Super Retina XDR OLED technology at a resolution of 2532 × 1170 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 ppi.^[34] The iPhone 12 Mini features a 5.4-inch (137 mm) display with the same technology at a resolution of 2340 × 1080 pixels, and a pixel density of about 476 ppi. Both phones have a peak brightness of 1200 nits when viewing HDR content equivalent to the iPhone 12 Pro, and normal brightness of 625 nits.^[34] Both phones also use an improved glass-ceramic covering called Ceramic Shield which is co-developed with Corning Inc. Apple describes it as having “4 times better drop performance” and being “tougher than any smartphone glass”.^[35]

Batteries

The iPhone 12 has a 10.78 Wh (2,815 mAh) battery, a slight decrease from the 11.91 Wh (3,110 mAh) battery found in the iPhone 11 and identical to the battery found in the iPhone 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 Mini has a 8.57 Wh (2,227 mAh) battery. Like previous iPhones, the battery is not user-replaceable.^[36]

Chipsets

Both the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini have the Apple A14 Bionic, the first ARM-based smartphone system-on-a-chip (SoC) manufactured on the 5 nm process node. However, unlike previous years, they are not the first Apple devices to receive the newest A-series processor, with the fourth-generation iPad Air being the first. Both phones use Qualcomm‘s X55 5G modem.

Cameras

Both phones have two rear 12-megapixel cameras: wide and ultra-wide. The wide camera is a 26 mm full-frame equivalent with an f/1.6 aperture which captures 27% more light than the f/1.8 aperture in the iPhone 11^[3] and a seven-element lens. The ultra-wide camera is a 13 mm full-frame equivalent with an f/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens.^[37]

All cameras now support Night Mode for both photo and time-lapse video at full resolution.^[24] Smart HDR has been improved thanks to Smart HDR 3.^[37] This iPhone model is the first capable of shooting 10-bit high dynamic range Dolby Vision 4K video at up to 30 fps which allows for greater brightness and deeper shadows.^[38]

The front-facing, TrueDepth camera features a 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture. This model also added Night Mode to the front-facing camera.^[24]

Sensors

The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini include mostly the same sensors found on prior iPhone models going back to the iPhone X. These include an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and a digital compass. The devices also include the Face ID sensor for biometric authentication.

Software

Both phones originally shipped with iOS 14.^[24] The devices come with the stock iOS apps, such as Safari, Weather, and Messages, and they include Siri, the personal assistant in iOS. They received iOS 15 on September 20, 2021, iOS 16 which was released on September 12, 2022, and most recently iOS 17, released on September 18, 2023. These devices receive full support for iOS 17’s new features.^[39]

Reception

The iPhone 12 received largely positive reviews. The Verge called it a “beautiful, powerful, and incredibly capable device”, praising the new design reminiscent of the iPhone 5, the speed of the A14 Bionic processor, its 5G capabilities, addition of the OLED display like on the high end iPhones, combined with much slimmer bezels than previous iPhone models and improved battery life over iPhone 11.^[40] Engadget also gave the iPhone 12 a positive review, praising the MagSafe wireless charging and accessories magnetic attachment as well as the redesigned camera system, a greatly improved display like in its Pro counterparts.^[41]

iPhone 12 was the third best-selling and was the most popular model globally in Q2 2021.^[42]

Apple was criticized for the continued reliance on Face ID as the sole biometric option to unlock the device, which is incompatible with face masks. iOS 14.5 allowed the use of a paired Apple Watch to unlock the phone while wearing a mask, while iOS 15.4 allows unlocking with a mask on, without an Apple Watch. The third-generation iPhone SE is the only iPhone currently produced by Apple that supports Touch ID, an alternative unlocking option that is compatible with face masks. All models can still use a passcode to log in.^{[43][44][45][46]}

The iPhone 12 mini has received more mixed reviews. Some praised the phone for being a new small phone, while others criticized the price and inferior battery life compared to the full-size 12^[47] (although the battery life of the iPhone 12 mini is longer than that of the second-generation iPhone SE^[48]).

“OLED-gate”

Within two weeks after its public release, a thread was started at Apple Support Communities describing a problem with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro OLED panel black pixels not shutting off completely in black scenes, resulting in what was described as “ugly glowing”.^[49] A considerable number of users have since posted replies reporting the same problem, photos and videos have been shared online demonstrating the issue. As of January 2021, Apple has not yet made an official statement.

EarPods and power adapter controversy

Apple no longer includes either EarPods or a power adapter in the boxes of all iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models, claiming that it is an environmental initiative and no longer including them would reduce e-waste and permit smaller iPhone boxes, allowing more devices to be transported simultaneously to decrease its carbon footprint. The boxes only include a USB-C to Lightning cable, incompatible with the existing USB-A power adapters that Apple previously supplied with its devices. Users can still use their existing USB-A power adapters and cables, but must purchase a USB-C power adapter sold separately to enable fast charging.

In December 2020, a Brazilian consumer rights watchdog Procon-SP Foundation requested Apple to provide proof that not including chargers is beneficial to the environment. The watchdog argues that Apple removing the charger is harming consumers and wants to force the company to include one as it claims the charger is an essential component.^[50]

The Verge reported the reason power adapters and EarPods are no longer included could be to offset the increased cost of 5G components. These new components are reported to cost 30% more than their predecessors.^[51]

Repairability concerns

iFixit and Australian YouTuber Hugh Jeffreys discovered that a number of key components such as the cameras would malfunction or display warnings if they are replaced with new ones or those taken from an otherwise identical donor unit.^[52] Internal Apple documents also mention that, beginning with the iPhone 12 and in subsequent models, authorized technicians would have to run the phones through an internal System Configuration tool to reprogram repaired units in order to account for hardware changes. While Apple has yet to comment on the issue, the inability to replace key system components have raised concerns about right to repair and planned obsolescence.^[53] However, the iPhone 12 Mini does not have this issue.^[54] Apple later addressed the issue with the release of iOS 14.4, which displays a warning message if the phone detects an unpaired camera module but otherwise allows for full functionality.^[55]

Electromagnetic radiation concerns

In September 2023, the French watchdog agency Agence nationale des fréquences [fr] notified Apple that sales of the iPhone 12 must be halted in France due to the device exceeding the legal specific absorption rate for consumer electronics. The agency also requested that Apple must recall all iPhone 12s that have been produced in order to meet safety regulations. However, this coincided with the release of the iPhone 15 models where Apple also discontinued the iPhone 12 globally.^[56]

Despite the move however, France’s digital minister did emphasize the iPhone 12’s radiation levels^[57] remained well below the threshold deemed harmful by scientific studies. Even Apple, “…disputed the findings and said the device complies with regulations…” [Regulations | source 39]. This highlighted a discrepancy between the agency’s tests and real-world phone usage scenarios.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini (stylized as iPhone 13 mini) are smartphones designed, developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. They are the fifteenth generation of iPhones (succeeding the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini respectively). They were unveiled at an Apple Event in Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 14, 2021, alongside the higher-priced iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max flagships. Pre-orders for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini began on September 17, 2021. They were officially released on September 24, 2021. As of April 2024, the iPhone 13 is the oldest iPhone model still officially sold by, and fully supported by Apple (the iPhone 13 Mini was discontinued on September 12, 2023).^[13]

Together with iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 Mini was discontinued on September 12, 2023, with the announcement of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

History

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini were officially announced alongside the ninth-generation iPad, 6th generation iPad Mini, Apple Watch Series 7, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max by a virtual press event filmed and recorded at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 14, 2021. Pre-orders began on September 17, 2021, at 5:00 am PDT. Pricing starts at US$799 for the iPhone 13 and US$699 for the iPhone 13 Mini.^[14]

Design

The iPhone 13 has a flat chassis analogous to that of contemporaneous Apple products, some differences such as the rear cameras being larger and arranged diagonally. The Face ID True Depth sensor housing on the iPhone is 20% smaller yet taller than its predecessors.^[15]

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are available in six colors: Midnight, Starlight, Product Red, Blue, Pink, and Green.^[16][17]

On March 8, 2022, at Apple’s Special Event “Peek Performance”, Apple revealed a new Green color option, which became available and released on March 18, 2022. ^[16][17]

Color	Name
	Midnight
	Starlight
	Blue
	Pink
	Green
	(PRODUCT)RED

Specifications

Hardware

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini use an Apple-designed A15 Bionic system on a chip. The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini feature a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, while the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max feature a 5-core GPU.^[18]

Display

The iPhone 13 features a 6.1-inch (155 mm) display with Super Retina XDR OLED technology at a resolution of 2532×1170 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 PPI with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The iPhone 13 Mini features a 5.4-inch (137 mm) display with the same technology at a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and a pixel density of about 476 PPI. Both models have the Super Retina XDR OLED display with improved typical brightness up to 800 nits, and max brightness up to 1200 nits.^[19]

Cameras[edit]

The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini feature the same camera system with three cameras: one front-facing camera (12MP f/2.2) and two back-facing cameras: a wide (12MP f/1.6) and ultra-wide (12MP f/2.4) camera. The back-facing cameras both contain larger sensors for more light-gathering with new sensor shift optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main camera. The camera module on the back is arranged diagonally instead of vertically to engineer the larger sensors.^[20]

The cameras use Apple’s latest computational photography engine, called Smart HDR 4. Users can also choose from a range of photographic styles during capture, including rich contrast, vibrant, warm, and cool. Apple clarifies this is different from a filter because it works intelligently with the image processing algorithm during capture to apply local adjustments to an image and the effects will be baked into the photos, unlike filters which can be removed after applying.^[21]

The camera app contains a new mode called Cinematic Mode, which allows users to rack focus between subjects and create (simulate) shallow depth of field using software algorithms. It is supported on wide and front-facing cameras in 1080p at 30 fps.^[22]

Software

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini were originally shipped with iOS 15 at launch.^[23] They are compatible with iOS 16, which was released on September 12, 2022. The latest software iOS 17, which was revealed at Apple’s WWDC 2023 event, is compatible with the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini.^[24] The next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard has been added to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini with the update to iOS 17.2.^[25]

Repairability

Some iPhone 13 parts are paired to the motherboard. The user is warned if a paired component (e.g. screen, battery) is replaced by independent repair shops, and the Face ID sensors may completely cease to function if replaced. On later iOS versions Apple removed this limitation. Apple technicians have a proprietary software tool to pair components.^[26][27]

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are smartphones designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. They are the sixteenth-generation iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini, and were announced during Apple Event, Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on September 7, 2022, alongside the higher-priced iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max flagships. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus feature a 6.1-inch (15 cm) and 6.7-inch (17 cm) display, improvements to the rear-facing camera, and satellite connectivity for contacting emergency services when a user in trouble is beyond the range of Wi-Fi or cellular networks.^[12][13] The iPhone 14 was made available on September 16, 2022,^[14] and iPhone 14 Plus was made available on October 7, 2022, priced at $799 and $899 respectively and was launched with iOS 16.^[9][15] Pre-orders for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus began on September 9, 2022.^[16] Along with the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are the last iPhones to feature the Lightning port, as their successors, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (announced on September 12, 2023), use a USB-C port instead, per European Commission regulation.^[17][18]

The iPhone 14 does not have a “Mini” version like its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Mini. Instead, Apple has reintroduced a larger dimension iPhone 14 named the iPhone 14 Plus. Apple has not introduced a Plus model iPhone since the iPhone 8 Plus in 2017. iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models (as well as iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models) sold in the United States drop support for physical SIM cards, making them the first iPhone models since the CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 to not come with a discrete SIM card reader.^[19]

History

The iPhone 14 was originally rumored to come with 6.1-inch and 5.4-inch display size options. However, when the iPhone 14 was unveiled, no smaller display option was available. This may have been due to underwhelming sales of the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini. Instead, a larger 6.7-inch display size option was added to the lower-priced iPhone 14 lineup.^[20][21] The new 6.7-inch variant of the iPhone 14 was named “iPhone 14 Plus”, rather than “iPhone 14 Max”, which was predicted by previous rumors.^[22][23]

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were officially announced at Apple’s “Far Out” event, along with the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and an update to Apple Fitness+ via a virtual press conference filmed at Apple Park in Cupertino, California on September 7, 2022.^[24][25]

Apple started taking pre-orders on September 9, with general availability from September 16 for the iPhone 14 and October 7 for the iPhone 14 Plus.^[26]

Design

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have an identical design to the iPhone 13, although the US models lack a physical SIM tray.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are available in six colors: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, Yellow, and Product Red.^[28] Purple is a new color replacing Pink used on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. The yellow option was added on March 7, 2023.^[29]

Colour	Name
	Blue
	Purple
	Midnight
	Starlight
	Yellow
	PRODUCT(RED)

Hardware

iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are available in three internal storage configurations: 128, 256, and 512 GB. Both models have 6 GB of RAM, an increase over the previous iPhone 13 and 13 mini models’ 4 GB of RAM. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance as their predecessors.^[8]

Chipset

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus use a 5-nanometer Apple-designed system on a chip, the A15 Bionic, while the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have a faster A16 Bionic.^[30][31]

The iPhone 14’s A15 chip has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It is identical to the A15 in the previous year’s iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max,^[30][31] which has more memory and an additional GPU core compared to the A15 in the non-Pro iPhone 13 models.^[32][33]

The iPhone 14 was the first flagship model since the 2008 iPhone 3G whose chip was unchanged from the previous year.^[30] The Verge‘s Mitchell Clark attributed the unchanged chip to an attempt to maintain costs during the ongoing chip shortage and inflation surge. Clark also said the A15 “still outperforms the latest chips from Qualcomm and Google in most benchmarks”, though the older chip may lead to the iPhone 14 receiving fewer updates, similar to what happened with the iPhone 5C from 2013.^[30][31]

Display

The iPhone 14 features a 6.1-inch (155 mm) display with Super Retina XDR OLED technology at a resolution of 2532 × 1170 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 PPI with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The iPhone 14 Plus features a 6.7-inch (170 mm) display with the same technology at a resolution of 2778 × 1284 pixels and a pixel density of about 458 PPI. Both models have typical brightness of up to 800 nits, and a max brightness of up to 1200 nits.^[8]

Cameras

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature the same camera system with two cameras: one front-facing camera (12MP f/1.9), and two back-facing cameras: a wide (12MP f/1.5) and ultra-wide (12MP f/2.4) camera, with the wide and front-facing cameras having a faster aperture than the iPhone 13. The front-facing camera also has autofocus for the first time.^[34]

The cameras use Apple’s latest computational photography engine, called Smart HDR 4. Users can also choose from a range of photographic styles during capture, including rich contrast, vibrant, warm, and cool. Apple clarifies this is different from a filter because it works intelligently with the image processing algorithm during capture to apply local adjustments to an image, and the effects will be baked into the photos, unlike filters which can be removed after applying.^[8]

The camera app contains Cinematic Mode, which allows users to rack focus between subjects and create (simulate) shallow depth of field using software algorithms. It is supported on wide and front-facing cameras in 4K at 30 fps and 60 fps.^[8]

An “action mode” feature was added to extend the electrical video stabilization. When activated, a smaller crop of the image sensor is read out for video recording. While reducing the field of view, a wider area around it can be used as buffer against shakes. The area read out from the image sensor is moved between frames to counteract hand movements.^[35]

Battery

The iPhone 14 is equipped with slightly longer battery life compared to the iPhone 13. According to Apple, the iPhone 14 (3,279 mAh) can provide up to 20 hours of video playback,^[36] 16 hours of streaming video playback, and 80 hours of audio playback. Its predecessor, the iPhone 13 (3,240 mAh), is rated for up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 hours of streaming video playback, and 75 hours of audio playback. The larger iPhone 14 Plus (4,325 mAh) variant provides up to 26 hours of video playback.^[37]

Software

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus originally shipped with iOS 16. The latest version of iOS, iOS 17, which was revealed at Apple’s WWDC 2023 event, was released to the public on September 18, 2023, and is compatible with the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.^[38] The next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard has been added to the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus with the update to iOS 17.2.^[39]

Specifications

showModel		iPhone 14 Plus	iPhone 14

Satellite connectivity

Apple’s new Emergency SOS via satellite service for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models uses the spectrum in L and S bands designated for mobile satellite services by ITU Radio Regulations. When an iPhone user makes an Emergency SOS via satellite request, the message is received by an orbiting satellite operated by Globalstar. The satellite then sends the message down to ground stations located across the globe.^[12]

As of November 2022, Globalstar operates a constellation of 25 satellites in low Earth orbit, with plans to enhance this in the future via its partnership with Apple.^[12][44]

The service became available to US and Canada on November 15, 2022, and to the UK, Germany, Ireland, and France on December 13, 2022.^[45] From May 15, 2023 the service became available in Australia and New Zealand.^[46]

Criticism

Crash Detection false positives

Crash Detection is a feature built into the iPhone 14 that is designed to detect severe car crashes and automatically initiates an emergency phone call 20 seconds after it is detected unless the user cancels it.^[47] Since its release, there have been many reports saying that the feature was automatically turned on during rollercoaster rides, due to the fact that the rides suddenly stop after going at high speeds, acting the same way a car crash does.^[48][49]

Emergency dispatchers have received many false alarm calls from iPhone 14 and Apple Watch users who have been skiing safely. In Colorado, a wave of false 9-1-1 calls led Aspen Mountain to advise device owners to upgrade their operating systems or disable the feature.^[50] In Japan’s Hida Mountains, emergency dispatchers reported 134 false emergency calls, more than 14% of the total emergency call volume, between December 16, 2022, and January 23, 2023, attributed to Crash Detection triggering while an iPhone 14 owner was skiing.^[51]

Repairability

While the iPhone 14 was originally lauded for its innovative new hardware design and recommended by iFixit, concerns over software limitations on parts not authorized by Apple caused iFixit to decrease their evaluation to a 4/10 or “not recommended” in September 2023.^[52][53]

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are smartphones designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. They are the seventeenth and current generation of iPhones, succeeding the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The devices were announced on September 12, 2023, during the Apple Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California alongside the higher-priced iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Pre-orders began on September 15, 2023, and the devices were made available on September 22, 2023. Like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the 15 and 15 Plus are the first iPhones to replace the proprietary Lightning connector with USB-C to comply with European Union mandates.

History

In September 2021, the European Commission began considering a proposal to mandate USB-C on all devices in the European Union, including iPhones.^[12] Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple would drop its proprietary Lightning connector by 2023. At the time of those claims, Apple was considering switching to USB-C due to the likelihood that the EU proposal would pass.^[13] The proposal was passed into law in October 2022, becoming the Radio Equipment Directive. Apple confirmed it would comply with the regulations later that month.^[14]

Two weeks prior to the formal introduction of the iPhone 15, it was announced that some of the devices which were made in India would for the first time be sold around the world on the launch day.^[15]

Design

The iPhone 15 is the first major redesign since the iPhone 12, featuring rounder edges and slightly curved display and back glass. Both models are available in five colors: blue, pink, yellow, green and black.^[3] This makes it the first entry level iPhone since the iPhone XR to not ship with a Product Red variant at launch.

Color	Name
	Blue
	Pink
	Yellow
	Green
	Black

Hardware

Display

The iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch (155 mm) display with Super Retina XDR OLED technology at a resolution of 2556×1179 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 PPI with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The iPhone 15 Plus features a 6.7-inch (170 mm) display with the same technology at a resolution of 2796×1290 pixels and a pixel density of about 460 PPI. Both models have an improved typical brightness of up to 1,000 nits, a peak HDR brightness of up to 1,600 nits, and a peak outdoor brightness of up to 2,000 nits.^[11] The Dynamic Island feature is now standard on iPhone 15, replacing the notch that was introduced in the iPhone X.^[16]

• 
  iPhone 15 with 6.1-inch display
• 
  iPhone 15 Plus with 6.7-inch display

Charging and transfer speeds

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus use USB-C with USB 2.0 transfer speeds (up to 480 Mb/s or 60 MB/s),^[17] compared to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max which have faster USB 3.2 Gen 2 transfer speeds (up to 10 Gb/s or 1.25 GB/s).^[18] The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, are the first iPhone models to use USB-C, as well as the first iPhones since the iPhone 5 to switch to a new charging port.

Video output

All iPhone 15 models have support for DisplayPort Alternate Mode over USB-C video output with HDR up to 4K resolution.^[11]

Previous iPhone models (from iPhone 5 until iPhone 14) had a maximum supported resolution of 1600 x 900 (slightly less than 1080p) with the Lightning Digital AV Adapter due to technical constraints of the Lightning connector.^[19]

Battery

The iPhone 15 Plus offers users up to 26 hours of video playback and up to 100 hours of audio playback, and the iPhone 15 offers significantly less, with up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 80 hours of audio playback.^[20]

Software

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus launched with iOS 17.^[21][22]

Specifications

Criticism

Overheating

Some owners claimed that their iPhone 15s were suffering from overheating issues,^[26] reportedly reaching temperatures as high as 47 °C (117 °F).^[27] Apple later stated that there were several reasons why the phones heat up, mainly hinting at a software bug.^[28] This was purported to be fixed with an update to iOS 17.0.3.^[29] The overheating issues were reported to persist after the update, and some users furthermore noticed a new screen burn-in issue.^[30]