The renaissance of rounded iPhone edges may be put on hold next year when the iPhone 15 launches, as supply chain issues could force Apple to stick with the current iPhone design.
That’s the word from LeaksApplePro, who spoke to Forbes about Apple’s so-called iPhone 15 plans. According to the anonymous leaker, Apple has not committed to bringing back rounded edges, although Apple executives are still strongly considering them for the iPhone 15 series. In fact, LeaksApplePro seems to imply that Apple does want rounded edges, but may not have a choice.
iPhone 15: Flat back or rounded edges?
The past few iPhone versions, dating back to the iPhone 12, have centered around the phablet. Some people like this design because it makes the phone more durable, but others find the edges less comfortable than the rounded design.
Earlier this year, reports suggested that Apple was preparing to bring back rounded edges on the iPhone 15 to update the look of its phones. Now that decision appears to be up in the air.
There are several reasons why Apple is still debating between flat and round back designs. Supply chain restrictions are still ravaging the world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shutdowns in China and other geopolitical issues in the region and the US have Apple making contingency plans, as evidenced by Apple’s partnership with TSMC to produce 4nm process chipsets in Arizona.
Another concern is that Apple also wants to ensure a premium feel and materials for its smartphones, with the iPhone 15’s rumored rounded edges introducing design complications. Apple is reportedly treating the glass back panel of its iPhones as a non-negotiable element because it is required for wireless charging. If Apple can’t figure out how to make a rounded glass rear panel for wireless charging, the company could be forced to use rounded edges on the iPhone 16 or later down the road.
A round-backed iPhone is ideal for many users, which is why Apple may go to great lengths to bring it to the iPhone 15. Ergonomically, phones with rounded corners are much more comfortable to hold in the hand than phablets, and both the back design and Apple seem to be aware of this.
If you want the latest iPhone, you’ll want the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro. But in 2023 there will be the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, and possibly even the iPhone 15 Ultra. Below, we’ve compared all the iPhone 15 rumors so far to what the iPhone 14 has to offer to help you decide whether to buy an iPhone 14 now, or wait patiently for an iPhone 15 next fall.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Design and display
The iPhone 14 series looks very similar to previous generations, with a few minor exceptions. All four versions are flat phones with either a notch or a dynamic island containing the front-facing selfie camera. You can get Pro and non-Pro phones with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch OLED displays, and the Pro models also feature always-on display, a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, and higher peak brightness.
We don’t expect the overall look of the iPhone 15 to be radically different from the iPhone 14, but we could see some notable changes. These include solid-state buttons on some models and curved edges on the back of the phone. The latter design tweak could make the new iPhones more comfortable to hold and use. The iPhone 15 may also feature a new LTPO OLED display, which is said to last longer than current OLED displays. Sounds like a good fit for those who want to use their phone for as long as possible.
Speaking of screens, the iPhone 15’s panel may hold a secret. Next year’s iPhones will likely feature Face ID under the display, though the selfie camera will still be exposed in a hole-punch cutout similar to the one we saw on earlier iPhone 14 concepts. Another change to note is the alleged addition of titanium guardrails to some iPhone 15 models. That’s a rumor we’ve heard about previous generations of iPhones that apparently didn’t materialize, but the ongoing rumors of Apple using this super-tough metal seem to suggest it’s still under consideration.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Cameras
The iPhone 14 brings two major camera upgrades as it replaces the iPhone 13. The first is the autofocus selfie camera on all four models, and the second is the 48MP main camera on the Pro model.
Further enhancements to the iPhone 15’s camera could include a new Sony-made sensor with enhanced exposure controls compared to the iPhone’s current Samsung-made camera sensor, and a 48MP main camera on the base model, but not the same as the Pro phones.
Apple could go a step further with a new periscope telephoto lens, likely using parts from the same suppliers as Samsung, which would allow for greater optical magnification than the current 3x. It will allegedly achieve 5x optical zoom, which beats out many competitors such as the Galaxy S22 and current and upcoming iPhones. However, that’s not enough to beat the best telephoto cameras like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and its 10x optical zoom.
An annoying caveat is that this new periscope zoom camera may only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max model, leaving the regular-sized Pro cold, meaning there may not be major photographic differences between it and the iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 14 Pro models.
A more bizarre rumor is that the iPhone 15 Ultra models may have two front-facing cameras. We’re not sure what the second camera is for, but it could be used to take ultra-wide shots or help with Apple’s rumored AR/VR ambitions.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Specs
Aside from photography, there are other rumors about how the iPhone 15 will be different from the iPhone 14. First, we’ll obviously see another two-tier chipset situation in next year’s iPhones, as we’ve seen with the A15 chip in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The new A16 chip.
The regular iPhone 15 models are said to feature the A16 chipset, while the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature a brand new 3nm chipset, which we assume will be called the A17 Bionic. That could mean some iPhone 14 models could be as powerful as some iPhone 15 models, though all could still perform as well as any comparable Android phone before.
We’d like to see the US iPhone 15s support eSIM only, which means no physical SIM card slot. That may still not be the case for iPhone models sold outside the US, though.
Finally, the iPhone 15 may add a long-awaited feature and use a USB-C port instead of Lightning, as the European Union forces all mobile device companies to adopt USB-C by 2024, and Apple is said to have made a USB-C iPhone. Prototypes have been around for a while.
While that’s more convenient than the iPhone 14’s Lightning port, we probably won’t see any difference in data or charging speeds for the base model, according to one rumor. Only iPhone 15 Pro/Ultra models offer faster data transfers via USB-C.
While this sounds a little creepy, there are benefits to knowing how to find someone’s location on an iPhone — both for the person you’re tracking and for yourself. You can check the location to make sure someone isn’t lost, or if you’re at a busy event like a festival, you can narrow down someone’s location among many others. Whatever the reason, finding someone’s location on an iPhone is pretty easy with the right sharing settings in place. We’ll cover everything in this tutorial.
How to Find Someone’s Location on iPhone
If you want to find someone’s location on your iPhone, that person must agree to share their whereabouts with you. This requires an understanding of how to use Find Finder to share your location on your iPhone, and it’s worth reading the tutorial to troubleshoot any issues you may have. You’ll need to get your friends to follow them, and you’ll need to follow these steps if you want to share your location with someone.
1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone. The quickest way to find it is to pull down on the screen to invoke Spotlight, then type “find my” in the search box. Tap the Find My Apps icon when it appears.
2. Tap the People tab at the bottom of the screen.
If you’ve never shared your location with anyone before, you can tap Start sharing. If you have shared your location before, you can click + and select Share my location.
3. Enter the name of the person you want to share your location with. Now hit send.
4. Choose how long you want to share your location. You can tap “Share for an hour,” “Share for the day,” or tap “Share indefinitely.”
5. The recipient is informed that you have shared your location with them and is invited to do the same. They will need to tap the notification and follow any further instructions on the screen to get started.
HOW TO TRACK SOMEONE’S LOCATION ON IPHONE
You can also ask someone to share their location with you. To do this, you’ll need to share your location with them first – so follow the steps above before moving on to this section.
1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone (see Step 1 above) and tap the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select a person from the list. This will show everyone who can see your location.
3. Scroll down the Contact Information page and click Ask for Location. The request will be sent to your friend, so just click OK.
4. You will now need to wait until you receive a notification that your request has been accepted.
HOW TO FIND SOMEONE’S LOCATION ON THE IPHONE
Once someone has shared their location with you, you can see their location.
1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and tap the People tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select the name of the person you are looking for and you will see their location on the map.
3. You can also use the option in the business card at the bottom of the screen. Tap Contacts if you want to get in touch with the person or select directions to show directions to the person’s location.
4. You can also receive notifications when someone performs a specific action. Click Add under Notifications.
5. Now select Notify me.
6. You can choose when to be notified. For example, you can choose to be notified when someone leaves a set location.
Compared with iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro bring several upgrades. But there may also be a subtle MagSafe charging upgrade that Apple hasn’t mentioned before.
Tests conducted and published by ChargerLAB show that the iPhone 14 Pro Max charges faster, with higher peak speeds, and lasts longer than the iPhone 13 Pro Max when powered through Apple’s own MagSafe charging stand.
Since its debut on the iPhone 12, MagSafe for iPhone has been officially rated at 15W (when using a 20W wall charger) (though slower on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini). However, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is still an improvement over its predecessor, taking 2 hours and 18 minutes to fully charge, compared to 2 hours and 26 minutes for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It was a similar story in the half-hour sprint test, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max hitting 35%, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max was 30% behind.
We also saw this small difference in our own wired charging tests. The iPhone 14 Pro Max charges to 42 percent in half an hour, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max charges to 40 percent, both using the same 20W Apple charger.
The increase in speed could be attributed to changes in power and thermal management in the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 chipset and battery. The difference in battery size may have played a slight role as well. According to a third-party teardown, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 4323 mAh battery, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max uses a 4352 mAh battery.
The enhanced MagSafe speed might not be enough to warrant an upgrade or envy iPhone 14 Pro Max owners, but it’s still a benefit of Apple’s yet-to-be-announced new model.
Comparing the Apple iPad Pro 2022 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra makes sense. After all, they both boast big displays, powerful performance, and sleek, modern designs. They also have optional attachable keyboards that can help them double as laptop replacements.
There’s no doubt that the iPad Pro 2022 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are versatile devices and some of the best tablets you can buy. But which one is right for you? We will detail each of their main functions to help answer this question.
iPad Pro 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Prices
iPad Pro 2022 is available at the Apple Online Store. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099. Since this is an entry-level model, it only offers Wi-Fi connectivity.
You can buy the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra starting at $1,099 from Samsung‘s website. This configuration has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and is made of graphite. Like the Galaxy Tab S8, Samsung is only selling a Wi-Fi model of the Tab S8 Ultra.
iPad Pro 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Design
In terms of design, the iPad Pro 2022 is no different from the iPad Pro 2021 and iPad Pro 2020. Measuring 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches and weighing 1.5 pounds, the iPad Pro 2022 is exactly the same as last year’s model. Without the keyboard attachment, the tablet is lightweight and easy to hold for extended periods of time.
Buttons and ports haven’t changed in any way. There’s a button on the top right for locking the screen and using Touch ID, two buttons on the right for volume up or down and a Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port on the bottom edge of the device.
At 12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 inches, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a massive tablet, but it’s surprisingly light at 1.04 pounds. While it’s difficult to hold with one hand, it’s comfortable to hold with two.
The Tab S8 Ultra has the same thin and light body as Samsung‘s flagship tablet. Even when attached to the Book Cover Keyboard, the tablet maintains its overall svelte appearance. It’s easy to carry, whether it’s in a backpack or held in your hand.
You’ll find the power and volume buttons on the right side of the slate. There’s also a microSD card slot near the bottom right corner, but you’ll need to use the included tool to open the compartment where the slot is located. The back of the Tab S8 Ultra has a rear camera and a magnetic strip for securing the S Pen. A USB-C port and two speakers sit along the bottom edge. There’s no headphone jack to speak of, which means you’ll need to connect headphones via the USB-C port or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
iPad Pro 2022 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Display
The iPad Pro 2022 has a massive 12.9-inch Mini LED display with a resolution of 2,732 x 2,048 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The massive 14.6-inch (2960 x 1848) AMOLED display is the Tab S8 Ultra’s signature feature. Its screen is bright and vibrant, and no matter what you’re looking at – it looks absolutely stunning. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling of webpages and quick opening of apps, but you can lock it to 60Hz to save battery power.
iPad Pro 2022 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Performance
The iPad Pro 2022 features the Apple M2 chip, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU.
On the graphics front, the iPad Pro 2022 scored 25,259 on the 3D Mark Wild Life Unlimited test and hit 151 frames per second. The Tab S8 Ultra couldn’t come close, scoring 9,152 and achieving 54 fps on the same test.
On our Adobe Premiere Rush video transcoding test, the new iPad Pro took 23 seconds to the Tab S8 Ultra’s 47 seconds.
iPad Pro 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Battery life
On the Tom’s Guide battery test, the iPad Pro 2022 lasted 10 hours and 39 minutes on Wi-Fi at 150 nits of screen brightness and continuous surfing. In the same test, the Tab S8 Ultra lasted 9 hours and 22 minutes.
In our tests, it took 15 minutes to charge the iPad Pro to 10 percent and 30 minutes to reach 20 percent battery capacity. The Tab S8 Ultra charges to 15% in 20 minutes and 41% in 30 minutes.
iPad Pro 2022 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Keyboard and Pencil
The Apple Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 are two of my favorite peripherals. The former gives the iPad Pro laptop-like functionality, while the latter lets you write or draw on the tablet.
iPad Pro 2022 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: Software
iPad Pro 2022 comes with iPadOS 16 pre-installed. Features like Stage Manager and Apple Pencil Hover preview add versatility to Apple’s tablet.
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra comes with Android 12 pre-installed. I found that the latest version of the OS is functional. It’s no better than previous versions, and it’s not worse. The tablet also comes with the usual array of Samsung apps.
Apple has made some big changes to the iPhone 14 Pro, and it looks like the upgrade will continue on the iPhone 15 Pro. Of course, there are also rumors of a so-called iPhone 15 Ultra, which some believe will follow in the tradition of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Now, some Ultra rumors seem to apply to the iPhone 15 Pro as well. Some of these include things like solid-state buttons, USB-C and faster data transfer speeds, but Apple could divide the gap even further between its models — similar to the case with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. We’ve rounded up what to expect from the iPhone 15 Pro. Let’s take a look below!
iPhone 15 Pro: Release date
Apple likes September as its iPhone launch time frame, so we’re betting on the iPhone 15 Pro launching in mid-September 2023. The iPhone 14 Pro will be released on September 16, 2022, while the iPhone 13 Pro will be released on September 16, 2022 and September 24, 2021.
iPhone 15 Pro: Design and display
The iPhone 14 Pro truly changes the iconic design of the iPhone. Dynamic Island replaces the infamous notch with a responsive UI thanks to features like iOS 16’s Live Events. We expect Dynamic Island to be here for a long time.
There’s also no reason to believe Apple will change the screen size of the iPhone 15 Pro. The 6.1-inch form factor has stood the test of time and is loved by many. And the always-on display is likely to stay.
But the design could change quite a bit. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted in one of his op-eds that Apple likes to change the iPhone design every three years. The flat-edged look we have now has been around since the iPhone 12, which is three generations older than the upcoming iPhone 15.
That means 2023 could be a new look, but what? Apple may return to rounded edges on the iPhone 15 Pro, which are more ergonomic, especially when considering the weight of modern iPhones. This could also give the iPhone 15 Pro a slimmer appearance. The chassis could be made of titanium, a long-rumored iPhone feature.
Another recent Kuo rumor claims that “two high-end iPhone 15s” will feature solid-state buttons. Replacing mechanical buttons with buttons without any moving parts, and instead using haptic feedback could make phones more durable, last longer, and better resist water and debris. If you want an example of this, look back at the iPhone 7’s home button, which is fully tactile.
iPhone 15 Pro: USB-C
Many, including us, expect 2023 to be the year Apple finally phases out the Lightning port on the iPhone in favor of USB-C instead of the EU requirement. Of course, it could also be the year Apple introduces the dockless iPhone, but that’s a vague guess at best. According to reports, the high-end iPhone will get faster data transfer speeds from its USB-C connector, while the regular version will be stuck at the same speed as Lightning, which is equivalent to the ancient USB 2.0 standard.
iPhone 15 Pro: Camera
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max rank among the best camera phones you can buy, thanks in part to a new 48MP primary sensor. It can take some great photos, even using the full 48 megapixels in RAW photos.
However, we currently know very little about the iPhone 15 Pro’s camera. One thing we’ve heard is that Apple will use Sony’s new “state-of-the-art” sensor for the iPhone 15. The sensor could double pixel saturation levels, potentially improving overexposure and underexposure compensation on the iPhone 15 Pro. That’s great, because the iPhone 14 Pro struggles a bit with exposure control in challenging scenes.
iPhone 15 Pro: Performance
It is likely that the iPhone 15 Pro will be equipped with a new chipset when it is released. It’s safe to assume this will be the A17 Bionic. A report from TrendForce suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro series will feature the rumored A17 Bionic, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will retain the older A16 Bionic chipset.
In fact, the A17 Bionic is rumored to be built on a 3nm process, which could theoretically improve performance and power efficiency. So while the A16 Bionic is pretty impressive, its successor might be even more so.
We’ve long heard that Apple wants to build its own wireless modem for the iPhone, breaking away from Qualcomm. The Cupertino phone maker even bought Intel’s struggling modem business in 2019. Some say 2023 is the year we finally get Apple modems, but that may not be true.
Qualcomm says it expects to supply the “vast majority” of Apple modems in 2023, something we’d rather bet on than analyst forecasts. If that’s the case, we think the iPhone 15 Pro will use the X70 modem.
Apple launched the 2022 iPhone lineup a few months ago, and we’ve already heard news about the next-generation iPhone lineup. The series, which could be called the iPhone 15, is expected to feature Sony sensors for improved camera performance. According to Nikkei, Sony Group will supply Apple with its latest state-of-the-art image sensor. The component is expected to appear in the next line of iPhones due in 2023, the report said.
The new sensor is said to roughly double the saturation signal level in each pixel compared to conventional sensors. This will allow the sensor to capture more light and reduce overexposure or underexposure in certain settings. This in turn will enable smartphone cameras to click sharper photos, even when the subject is standing in strong backlight.
Sony is reportedly using a new semiconductor architecture that places photodiodes and transistors in separate substrate layers, allowing the sensor to add more photodiodes to dedicated layers.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions will produce the new image sensor at its Nagasaki plant. The sensor will be shipped to Apple and other smartphone makers. According to reports, incorporating the new image sensor into the iPhone 15 series is crucial for Sony, as it will allow it to consolidate its competitive advantage in high-definition photography. Biggest rival Samsung Electronics has stepped up pressure on Sony in this area, which already supplies image sensors to Apple.
Sony controls a 44 percent global share of CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensors in 2021, followed by Samsung with 18.5 percent, according to U.K.-based analytics firm Omdia. In May, Sony said it wanted to capture 60 percent of the market for CMOS image sensors by fiscal 2025, reiterating a goal the company first announced in 2019, when it had a 53 percent market share.
Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly planning to replace the clickable volume and power buttons on the iPhone 15 series models with solid buttons. The company may also remove the Lightning port in favor of USB Type-C.
The Apple Watch lineup comes in many different options and configurations, including different case materials, colors, sizes, and more. However, one of the most important things to consider is whether you should buy an Apple Watch with cellular connectivity.
Apple Watch with LTE allows you to be on the go without your iPhone while still staying connected. This is a useful feature, but it comes at a price.
Which Apple Watch models offer cellular capabilities?
Apple currently sells the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch SE starts at $249 with GPS connectivity and $299 with GPS and cellular. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 8 GPS starts at $399, and cellular and GPS start at $499.
One thing to consider, however: the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 8 Hermès, and Apple Watch Ultra only offer GPS and cellular connectivity. This means your Apple Watch will have the hardware required for cellular connectivity, but you’ll have to decide whether to pay the monthly fee.
Cell Phone-Associated Expenses
Most plans cost around $10 a month, which is still significantly cheaper than many iPhone plans. If you buy the watch directly from a carrier like Verizon or AT&T, you might get a discount on a cellular plan.
It’s also important to remember that if you buy a standard Apple Watch with GPS, you won’t be able to add a cellular plan later. You must purchase Apple Watch GPS + Cellular to access the plan now or in the future.
No need to carry your iPhone with you
Having a cellular plan makes sense for those who want to get into the habit of moving away from their iPhone for an Apple Watch. Especially for those who run or walk, with the cellular model, you can access calls, text messages, music, and more without having to carry around a bulky iPhone. When paired with AirPods, you can take calls, listen to music, and more even when your iPhone isn’t around.
But if you find yourself always carrying your iPhone with you, cellular may not be worth it for you. When making your decision, consider your current iPhone usage to see if a cellular Apple Watch makes sense.
If you want to make emergency services calls from your Apple Watch and you don’t have a cellular number, you can still do so, but only if you’re connected to a known Wi-Fi network.
This is one of the most important things to consider. If you’re not planning to bring your iPhone, the cellular Apple Watch can give you peace of mind. The Apple Watch offers a range of health features, and cellular is arguably a health feature as well.
Family settings
Family Setup is popular with parents who want to be able to connect with their kids without an iPhone. With this feature, parents can set up cellular Apple Watches for their kids on their personal iPhones. The child can then use their Apple Watch to make calls, text messages, or use any other available feature, all of which require their own phone number and Apple ID. With Family Setup, the parent’s iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.
Some reasons to choose this option include that it is more cost-effective. Not only is the device less expensive than most iPhones, but it’s also cheaper to add a data plan and Apple Care+ insurance. Also, because Apple Watches are worn on the wrist, they tend to be harder to lose.
Finally, choosing an Apple Watch over an iPhone allows your kids to spend less time behind the screen, a goal of many parents. There are parental controls to make the Apple Watch work for you.
For most people, an Apple Watch with cellular capabilities is probably the right decision. While the associated cost is higher, it unlocks many of the Apple Watch’s best features and helps it become truly independent from your iPhone.
Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that Apple would ditch physical buttons on “two high-end iPhones,” widening the gap between Pro and non-Pro phones in 2023. Now, a second source backs up the report – albeit with a bit of reading between the lines to come to the same conclusion.
This time, it’s analysts from Barclays analysts whose forecasts are based on Cirrus Logic’s comments in a letter to shareholders and then on the most recent earnings call. Context: Cirrus Logic is responsible for much of the haptic technology that currently powers the iPhone, which may be necessary for the buttonless iPhone 15 Pro to function.
As MacRumors discovered, the letter said the company aims to “bring a new HPMS component to the smartphone market next year.” HPMS stands for “High Performance Mixed Signal,” and the company’s existing components include the haptic drivers that power the iPhone’s Taptic Engine.
However, “next year” is a large window, and the earnings call narrowed it down to “the second half of next year.” Notably, this is in line with Apple’s usual September release date for iPhones, and we fully expect the iPhone 15 series to arrive.
Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley of Barclays took advantage of these two data points. While acknowledging that “the company isn’t saying much here,” the analyst still concluded that the component is likely part of the Taptic Engines on the iPhone 15 Pro’s haptic buttons.
“When looking at potential use cases, the biggest change for next year’s new iPhone models is the elimination of buttons, which will require additional haptic engine drivers, making it the most likely use case for new content,” the analysts wrote.
Haptic case
While personally I’m a huge fan of physical buttons and their tactile clicks, there are undoubtedly several advantages to fully embracing haptics. Fewer moving parts means wear is no longer an issue, and more importantly, it reduces the risk of water damage to equipment by reducing the number of vulnerable points.
However, if Apple only considered this for the iPhone 15 Pro, as suggested here and by Ming-Chi Kuo, then we might think about it more from an aesthetic point of view. Just as Dynamic Island, an iPhone 14 Pro exclusive feature that looks neat but doesn’t offer much in terms of practical advantages, I suspect tactile buttons will be a similar way to show off the more desirable iPhone 15 Pro’s ownership.
Not that there aren’t more practical reasons to choose the Pro. We fully expect other advantages such as faster chipsets, 120Hz screens and better camera systems to persist in 2023. But for some, having a top-of-the-line iPhone is as much a fashion statement as it is a fashion statement, and tactile buttons will make that statement even more pronounced.
Apple has announced that the iPhone 14 series can now use the satellite SOS feature. The company revealed the feature during its iOS 16 launch event, but it wasn’t ready at the time.
SOS via satellite on iPhone 14
Emergency SOS is available in the US and Canada for iOS 16.1 users for this year’s iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max series. Even if your phone isn’t connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, you can use it to connect to emergency services. This is somewhat similar to what you can do with a Garmin inReach device.
If someone gets lost on a hike, or gets stranded on an island without food and water, they’ll be left to their own devices without help. Mental health can also be a challenge in dire situations. This could also be useful in the case of natural disasters that could disrupt internet and mobile networks. That’s why I think Apple’s satellite SOS feature is great.
iPhone 14 phones also support crash detection. When it detects a serious car crash, the phone displays prompts on the screen, and if the user doesn’t respond to those prompts, it assumes the person is unconscious and automatically calls emergency services and provides information about the location of the accident.
How does Satellite SOS work on iPhone 14?
Apple recommends that users try calling emergency services first, even if your regular network is unavailable. If you can’t reach them, your phone will give you an option to use an SOS signal via satellite. This allows you to send text messages to rescue services.
You can try out a demo of the feature on iPhone 14 through the Settings app without actually affecting emergency services. Go to the Emergency SOS section and click the Demo option.
It will guide you how to use the service. You need to hold the phone as usual. The only thing you need to make sure is a clear view of the sky, i.e. the connection to the satellite should not be blocked by trees, mountains, canyons or tall buildings. When you choose to text emergency services, the app displays a questionnaire with a variety of options to choose from, describing the nature of your emergency, injuries, and more. Once you provide this information, the phone shares your location, emergency contact information, and medical ID information with the dispatcher or relay center that relays the message to responders.
Keep in mind that in real life, sending text messages via satellite communication will be slow. You must open the Messaging app to text 911 or SOS and tap Emergency Services to provide the above details. Your emergency contacts will also receive your location information, as well as a transcript of your conversations with rescue services.
Share your location with Find My in non-emergency situations
Users not experiencing emergencies can use the Find My app to share their location via satellite service. Even if you don’t have regular internet access, it’s a great way to tell your loved ones where you are.
Apple‘s press release mentions that the SOS satellite service will be available in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK in December. The article also points out that the first 2 years of service for the iPhone 14 series are free.
