Apple’s upcoming iPhone 14 base model will start at $799, the same entry-level price as last year’s 6.1-inch iPhone 13, according to new information out of East Asia. According to a post by “yeux1122” on the Korean blog Naver, Apple will not raise the price of its upcoming entry-level flagship device to boost sales and offset declining demand in a slowing global smartphone market.
The decision to leave the price of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 unchanged this year was reportedly made at the “highest executive level,” despite the company facing increased production costs and ongoing supply chain turmoil.
The source of the rumor is said to be an unnamed “major U.S. financial institution” with accurate records, but the claim cannot be independently verified at this time.
If Apple does launch the iPhone 14 at the same entry-level price as last year’s iPhone 13, it will be the second year in a row that Apple’s basic flagship 6.1-inch iPhone model remains the same price. 2020 will see the launch of the base iPhone 12, which will also cost $799.
The big difference this year is that the size of the iPhone is changing and there will not be a 5.4-inch iPhone 14 mini. iPhone 13 mini was the most affordable flagship option in 2021, starting at $699, but it proved unpopular with customers, so Apple is focusing on larger iPhone sizes for its flagship devices in 2022.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone lineup will include the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. Notably, the non-Pro models are not expected to have any major design changes, and there are rumors that they may continue to use the same A15 chip that was introduced in the iPhone 13 series.
This is in stark contrast to the iPhone 14 Pro models, which are expected to feature the faster A16 chip. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will reportedly feature a round punch hole for the front-facing camera and a pill-shaped punch hole for the crucial Face ID component.
The Naver account that posted this information today has been the source of some accurate information in the past, including some details about the iPad mini 6 before its launch.
However, the same account had incorrectly stated that Apple would release an “iPad mini Pro” in the second half of 2021, but that didn’t happen, so we’re taking this latest rumor with a grain of salt until other sources can confirm it.
