iPhone 14 Might Kill the Notch, but Only for the Pro

We probably won't catch a glimpse of the rumored iPhone 14 until the fall, but the rumor mill is churning already -- especially when it comes to the new flagship's design. The iPhone 14's release date, pricing and new features are still up in the air, but some new renders (said to be leaked) may have given us a hint fof what the next iPhone will look like.

We will be updating this story as we hear more, so be sure to bookmark this page for later. Here's what we've heard so far, from gossip about a more durable titanium alloy body to a notchless screen.

iPhone 14 display: Turning it down a notch

This one has persisted for years, but one of the biggest rumors is about what the iPhone 14 won't have. After introducing the notch on the iPhone X back in 2017, Apple could finally ditch it this year. The company will trade it out for a smaller hole-punch camera in the Pro models, according to noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A hole-punch design refers to a display with only a small circular cutout for the front camera, as seen on a number of Samsung launches including the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Instead of a hole-punch design, display analyst Ross Young hypothesizes the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have a hole and pill-shaped cutout to accommodate the front-facing camera and Face ID. The pill-shaped cutout would hold the front and Face ID camera, while the hole-punch is believed to be for the Face ID dot projector, according to a January report from MacRumors. The hole-and-pill design is depicted in supposed renders of the Pro published by 91Mobiles. Meanwhile, alleged renders on MySmartPrice show the base iPhone 14 keeping the notch.

Right now, the notch is home to the components that make Face ID work, meaning Apple may need to shrink all that tech in order make a notchless iPhone a reality. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also hinted at the notch's removal in a September edition of his Power On newsletter, wherein he predicted a "complete redesign" for the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14's rumored hole-and-pill display emerged in schematics on Chinese social media site Weibo, and were later shared on YouTube by leaker Jon Prosser. Although we won't know what the iPhone's design will look like until it's revealed, the schematics offer a glimpse at the next iPhone's possible display.

iPhone 14 camera design: Bumping down

Another design feature rumored to be on Apple's list to remove is that chunky camera bump. The iPhone 13 lineup features a protruding camera bump, which houses two or three lenses depending on the model. According to Prosser, who has a hit-and-miss accuracy record, the iPhone of the future will eliminate the bump entirely, which could mean a thicker chassis for camera components. According to Prosser, the iPhone 14's body is going to be a "thick boy." But could it be thick enough to include all that camera hardware without the chunky camera setup on the back? I'm taking this rumor with a grain of salt.

iPhone 14 chassis: Tougher and lighter

Speaking of the iPhone's chassis, Prosser also said the iPhone 14 Pro could receive a titanium alloy body for the first time, replacing the stainless-steel one. This rumor was first referenced in a July report by JP Morgan Chase's China office. Apple has previously used titanium alloy in select Apple Watch models, including the Series 7. Titanium alloy rivals steel in toughness, while also weighing less than stainless steel. Titanium is also more resistant to scratches, corrosion and bending.

Will the iPhone 14 fold?

Probably not. To be clear, we can't say for certain whether a foldable iPhone will ever see the light of day, but I'm holding out hope that it could happen in the next few years. A Bloomberg report published in January said Apple already has a working prototype of a foldable iPhone display, but didn't confirm a launch timeline. Other outlets, including Taiwan's Economic Daily, pinned down 2022 as the year the foldable iPhone will come to fruition, while others suggest 2023. Display analyst Ross Young, however, suggests the foldable iPhone could be delayed until 2025.

Remember, the iPhone 13 was an incremental upgrade from iPhone 12. That means it's potentially setting the stage for a sweeping design overhaul when the iPhone 14 or 15 comes around, just as Apple revamped its phones' look with the iPhone X.