Cupertino Have the iPhone cameras been improved?
Yes. The more expensive Pro models of the iPhone 14 get a camera sensor with 48 megapixels (MP). In this case, four pixels can each be bundled into a larger pixel, which should ensure better image quality in difficult lighting conditions.
The new sensor also offers the advantage that the telephoto lens now simply accesses the middle 12 megapixels directly. But professionals can also take advantage of the full 48 MP resolution.
What are the new features of the display
With the iPhone 14 Pro, the display can remain permanently switched on. This could change the use in the long run. Because the function offers completely new possibilities, for example, to keep an eye on content in real time or controls constantly.
So that the display does not quickly empty the battery, it will darken a little during inactivity and the refresh rate can be throttled to 1 Hertz. And if the phone is lying on the table with the screen facing down, the sensors detect this and the display remains black.
Has Apple also come up with something new for motorists?
Yes, a security feature. Both the Apple Watch 8 (from 620 euros with GPS and LTE) presented on Wednesday) and the new iPhones (from 1000 euros) can detect serious car accidents and automatically alert emergency services. On the one hand, new acceleration sensors make this possible.
On the other hand, the built-in barometer also detects changes in the interior pressure in the vehicle when an airbag is triggered. And in addition, the soundscape captured by the microphone is analyzed.
What is Apple’s Dynamic Island?
On the iPhone X, the recess at the top of the screen for selfie camera and facial recognition sensors still caused debate. In the meantime, however, iPhone users have come to terms with the so-called notch. Apple has nevertheless found an elegant way to hide this gap, at least sometimes, with the iPhone 14 Pro.
The cutout has become a third smaller and now no longer sits directly on the edge of the display, but slightly below it. It looks black – and thanks to the OLED technology of the screens, the pixels surrounding it can also look just as black. If, for example, a call comes in, the section is hidden untraceably in the middle of the black notification about it.
When music is playing, the area around the recess is used to display a tiny album cover. If you tap on it, the playback control opens there. The Face ID animation, for example when unlocking the iPhone, is now also displayed around the sensor gap. Among other things, the recess has been reduced by the fact that the proximity sensor, which detects whether the iPhone is currently on the ear, has now been hidden under the display. This solution is called Dynamic Island.
Can I really call for help anywhere with an iPhone 14?
Yes, in perspective, it is. Although the function will initially only be available in the USA and Canada, it could prove to be a lifesaver for many users in the future. Even in areas without mobile phone reception, you can use it to send emergency messages directly via satellite.
However, this is not going to be easy: the data speeds are very slow, so the transmission can also take minutes. And without a large antenna, the iPhone will have to point directly at the satellite. Thanks to precise positioning and the knowledge of when which satellite is flying past where, however, users receive an orientation aid as a graphic on the screen in an emergency.
What’s up with the diver smartwatch?
Diving is just one example. With the Apple Watch Ultra (from 1000 euros), Apple is basically aimed at extreme athletes and adventurers who need a robust computer watch with a very long runtime.
The model with a titanium case and a 49-millimeter display should be able to do without recharging for 36 hours, with power-saving measures even up to 60 hours. An additional large button, for example, should also make it easier for divers to operate.
At the other end of the watch flagpole is the new entry-level smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE 2, which is available from 300 euros.
Will Apple remove the physical SIM cards?
Yes. Initially, this only applies to US versions of the iPhone 14, but at least technically pure e-SIM devices would already be possible in Europe. But Apple is still waiting for that.
In the USA, however, the new models do not require the slot for inserting a physical SIM card from the start. Instead, everything should run via the built-in electronic e-SIM.
A highlight when upgrading to a new model in Europe: the e-SIM of the iPhone 14 can automatically take over the phone number of the previous physical SIM.
Are there any new Airpods?
Yes. Apple has introduced new Airpods Pro of the second generation, where you can control the volume directly on the earphones. Previously, you had to use the iPhone or the Apple Watch or give a voice command to Siri.
The new Airpods Pro 2 (300 euros), on the other hand, now have a touch panel that can be operated by stroking to change the volume. Thanks to the new H2 chip, the noise suppression should also have been improved and the 3D audio settings should now also be customizable.
Are iPhones & Co really cheaper in the USA?
Unfortunately, yes. There are big price differences between USA and Europe. In the US market, Apple made it a point to keep the price of the new iPhones at the previous year’s level, while in Europe, on the other hand, the strong dollar ensures hefty mark-ups. The basic model of the iPhone 14 costs 999 euros compared to 899 euros for the iPhone 13.
The prices for the iPhone 14 Pro now start at 1299 euros instead of 1149 euros before. For the larger Pro Max, it is now at least 1449 euros instead of 1249 euros before. And the most expensive iPhone, the Pro Max with a terabyte of memory, now costs 2099 euros – 250 euros more than the iPhone 13. Also with the Apple Watch Ultra, the US price of 799 dollars in Europe turns into 999 euros.
When is the market launch for Apple’s new products in Germany?
Most of the new iPhones and the Apple Watch 8 will be available for pre-order from September 9 and are scheduled to ship from September 16.
Only the larger iPhone 14 Plus will follow on October 7th. And the Apple Watch Ultra will be available from September 23rd – just like the Airpods Pro 2.
