All four iPhone 14 models that are expected to launch later this year will likely feature an upgraded front camera with autofocus and a wider ƒ/1.9 aperture, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet today. The wider aperture would allow more light to pass through the lens and reach the front camera's sensor on iPhone 14 models. Kuo said these camera upgrades could result in an improved depth-of-field effect for Portrait mode photos and videos, while autofocus can enhance focus during FaceTime and Zoom video calls. By comparison, the front camera on all iPhone 13 models has fixed focus and an ƒ/2.2 aperture.

Kuo has previously claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in particular will also feature an upgraded rear camera system with a 48-megapixel Wide lens that will enable 8K video recording, up from 4K currently.


Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max around September as usual. For more rumors about these devices, including other features that are expected, read our iPhone 14 roundup.

Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 14 Models Likely to Feature Upgraded Front Camera With Autofocus

The next iPhone is going to have an upgraded camera?????

GTFO!

You keep posting this same inaccurate hero image, you're just fanning the flames come release time. Put up an accurate depiction based on leaks and set some expectation correctly, lol.

Not only is it missing the obvious camera bulge, but the pill-dot is much, much larger than that per CAD renderings.

I thought the true depth sensor already does auto focus for front facing camera. Does it not? What's the upgrade here? Faster auto focus? Wouldn't that be a software upgrade?

So according to Kuo the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max or whatever will just have an upgraded front camera. They will have the same size notch, same back cameras, same processor, same design as the iPhone 13s. If that is the case the iPhone 14 is not worth it and it would probably better to buy the 13 at a $100 discount.

I really hope Kuo is wrong about the iPhone 14s having the same chip as the current 13s and also about the upcoming MacBook Air having the same M1 chip as the current one.

AmazeSE said:

So according to Kuo the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max or whatever will just have an upgraded front camera. They will have the same size notch, same back cameras, same processor, same design as the iPhone 13s. If that is the case the iPhone 14 is not worth it and it would probably better to buy the 13 at a $100 discount.

If the iPhone 14 really does not have the updated design AND does not have the A16 chip AND does not have the updated rear cameras...I can't imagine how they will actually spin this as a new phone. If anything they should lower the price on it by $100. But you know Apple won't do that.

With the pill and hole design they could put a better front-facing camera in the 14 Pro Max. The front-facing camera should be good considering how often people take selfies and group selfies.

dantracht said:

The next iPhone is going to have an upgraded camera?????

GTFO!

This is like saying "There is going to be a new iPhone next year? GTFO" in response to ANY iPhone 14 rumor.

The front camera going from ƒ/2.2 aperture to ƒ/1.9 aperture and gaining autofocus is new information.

If you don't care, cool, but your comment feels lazy.

dantracht said:

The next iPhone is going to have an upgraded camera?????

GTFO!

Well, there have been years where the camera was minimally updated or not at all, also not everybody has last year's iPhone, many are looking to upgrade from older phones. So, this is still worth reporting.

I am just looking forward to periscope zoom, better low light performance, and astrophotography.

dantracht said:

The next iPhone is going to have an upgraded camera?????

GTFO!

Actually...it's not. Despite the front camera getting a bump on all models, the iPhone 14 models (non-Pro) are expected to retain the same notch and the same A15 chip and the same camera system as iPhone 13. Which is quite absurd, and is why your comment is unintentionally unironic.

You know, by making the front camera more clear and sharper focused Apple is going to make people that FaceTime me a lot more nauseated.

Macative said:

If the iPhone 14 really does not have the updated design AND does not have the A16 chip AND does not have the updated rear cameras...I can't imagine how they will actually spin this as a new phone. If anything they should lower the price on it by $100. But you know Apple won't do that.

Yes I agree. Also I really wonder how Apple is going price the new iPhones and how much price cut are they ging to give to the older ones.
The current prices are:

1. iPhone SE - $429
2. iPhone 11 - $499
3. iPhone 12 Mini - $599
4. iPhone 12 - $699
5. iPhone 13 Mini - $699
6. iPhone 13 - $799

Ignoring the prices of the Pros since Apple always discontinues them.

The expected prices when the iPhone 14 releases:

1. iPhone SE - $429
2. iPhone 11 - Discontinued
3. iPhone 12 Mini(5.4inch) - $499?
4. iPhone 12(6.1inch) - $599?
5. iPhone 13 Mini(5.4inch) - $599?
6. iPhone 13(6.1inch) - $699?
7. iPhone 14(6.1inch) - $699/799?
8. iPhone 14(6.7inch) - $799/899?

Since keeping the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 at the same price would not be beneficial to Apple and it would probably cannibalize the iPhone 14 since both are exactly the same size just that the iPhone 14 will have a better front camera. And also it doesn't make sense. So Apple will probably price the iPhone 14 a $100 higher. But who is gonna get the iPhone 14 for $100 extra just because it has an upgraded front camera?
This is why Kuo's rumor doesn't make sense. An upgraded chip can compensate for the extra $100 but just an upgraded front camera can't.

I don't know how Apple is going to price their upcoming lineup and if you guys have any thoughts about it please let me know.

How much difference is going from f/2.2 to f/1.9 make in terms of bokeh? As a camera guy, on a full frame that's a noticeable difference, but if you go down in sensor size to MFT levels, the difference in bokeh between f/2.2 and f/1.9 would be far less pronounced. I don't believe that with the same sensor size a wider aperture is going to make much difference for portraits, it's all going to be software magic.

f/2.2 aperture front facing camera since iPhone 6 series from 2014

iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone SE 2022 design was from 2014

The innovation at Apple has come to camera updates?. Lots of products this year, innovation diluted.

Macative said:

You keep posting this same inaccurate hero image, you're just fanning the flames come release time. Put up an accurate depiction based on leaks and set some expectation correctly, lol.

Not only is it missing the obvious camera bulge, but the pill-dot is much, much larger than that per CAD renderings.

Seriously, every time I see these renders my heart breaks just a little. I'd take a thicker phone with no bump (and maybe fill it with more batter?) than the ugly mess we are likely to get any day.

xRem said:

How much difference is going from f/2.2 to f/1.9 make in terms of bokeh? As a camera guy, on a full frame that's a noticeable difference, but if you go down in sensor size to MFT levels, the difference in bokeh between f/2.2 and f/1.9 would be far less pronounced. I don't believe that with the same sensor size a wider aperture is going to make much difference for portraits, it's all going to be software magic.

Yep, you answered yourself there, it will come down to computational photography. And that is not at all a bad thing, it is pretty amazing what these smartphones do with such tiny sensors. [And this includes Google Pixels, iPhones, Samsung, etc.]

Wow, 8K video recording? I doubt that they would remove ProRes to accommodate this, hopefully they will add a Thunderbolt connection or those files will take a long time to transfer...

JMStearnsX2 said:

Wow, 8K video recording? I doubt that they would remove ProRes to accommodate this, hopefully they will add a Thunderbolt connection or those files will take a long time to transfer...

Dreaming for USB-C Thunderbolt, it is an insult that we still have a USB-2 (Lightning) connector on an iPhone.

GeoStructural said:

Dreaming for USB-C Thunderbolt, it is an insult that we still have a USB-2 (Lighting) connector on an iPhone.

Yeah, it's nice on my iPad Pro.

Hopefully the front camera has that zoom and follow feature for video/facetime that the ipad has.

Snark on if y'all must, but I don't upgrade every year like some do. I have an aging iPhone 11 Pro and am looking forward to making the jump to an iPhone 14 Pro. My only complaint likely will be the squared-off frame, as I much prefer the rounded edges of the earlier models like my current devices (I also have an iPad Air 3).

blcamp said:

Snark on if y'all must, but I don't upgrade every year like some do. I have an aging iPhone 11 Pro and am looking forward to making the jump to an iPhone 14 Pro. My only complaint likely will be the squared-off frame, as I much prefer the rounded edges of the earlier models like my current devices (I also have an iPad Air 3).

Yeah, I'm looking to trade-in my XS for a 14 Pro.

Another year I won't care about the iPhone and counting