Rumor machine says Apple will announce iPhone 14 September 7

Apple may announce its all-new iPhone 14 as early as September 7 with the ship date set for September 16, the latest rumors claim.

iPhone 14 is coming in weeks

We can’t be certain if this is the case. I always feel that when claims like these are made someone at Apple thinks about changing the schedule just because it can. But there are some reasons it makes sense for Apple to announce early and ship soon.

• Apple wants to bake in some sales inside the current quarter, which a September introduction achieves.
• Apple knows the subsequent holiday season is strong and has iPads and Macs it can’t wait to ship soon after.
• If other speculation is true, the company already has a plan to maintain interest into the March 23 quarter.

So, what’s the fresh speculation from Mark Gurman? It’s that Apple plans a September 7 launch and September 16 ship date for the iPhone 14.

Betting against the trend

Apple’s being counter-intuitive again, maybe. Smartphone sales are falling for most manufacturers, but not Apple. The company is hoping to seize the moment and move with the day.

Company management doesn’t see a fall in demand for its products, which will no doubt be announced along with a couple of service-focused surprises.

The event will be streamed live from Cupertino and Apple’s saying nothing yet, but it does feel like the company hinted at the plan when it told investors it expected to enjoy another strong quarter into September. Those new phones will help ensure this happens.

What’s expected?

The 5.4-inch iPhone 14 mini is expected to be replaced by a 6.7-inch model. We think these will maintain an A15 chip and the notch but will deliver improvements in performance.

The Pro models are expected to adopt a new pill shaped notch, an A16 chip and a much better camera. Apple Watch 8 will perhaps have a body temperature sensor and sip with a new rugged version also available. There should also be an Apple Watch SE, and AirPods Pro may also see the light of day.

[Also read: Is Apple preparing to go global with Apple Cash and Card?]

For investors, of course, this talk is reassuring.

Analysts have been quietly raising targets in recent days as the rumors circulate, and I’m certain most expect Apple in 2023 to see a lot of benefit as it introduces its take on AR glasses.

There has also been some speculation that the company may introduce new ways to pay for these iPhones, perhaps by offering leasing deals in which the device itself is combined with AppleCare and access to services for one monthly fee, possibly directly from Apple and through key carriers.

And all this as perhaps as many as half of all Android users are potentially interested in making a switch.

We’ll find out more next month.

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