iPhone 14 Rumor Report Card: Five Rumors That Turned Out Wrong

[MacRumors]

After months of rumors, speculation, and leaks, Apple last week finally unveiled the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro, the all-new Apple Watch Ultra, the Apple Watch Series 8, and the second-generation AirPods Pro.

While the majority of iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and Apple Watch rumors turned out to be accurate, including last-minute rumors on the iPhone 14 Pro, there were some that ultimately didn't pan out. We've rounded up five of the most notable rumors that did not turn out correctly for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro below.

Prosser: No Camera Bump, Round Volume Buttons, and More

On September 8, 2021, Apple leaker Jon Prosser shared renders he claimed to have been for the "iPhone 14 Pro Max," days before Apple was set to unveil the iPhone 13 lineup. In his renders, Prosser claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro Max would feature a flat back with no camera bump, round volume buttons, a single hole-punch notch replacement, and redesigned speaker and microphone grilles with elongated mesh cutouts instead of individual holes on the bottom of the device.

The renders turned out to be an inaccurate depiction of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with Apple enlarging the camera bump to make room for more advanced cameras, Apple instead opting for a hole punch and pill-shaped notch replacement, and no change to the volume buttons or the speaker and microphone grilles.

2TB Storage Option

A rumor early in the rumor mill suggested that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would be offered in a 2TB storage configuration alongside the existing 1TB option. The rationale was that with the more advanced cameras, Apple would offer a larger storage option for photographers and videographers to store high-res content. That did not turn out to be the case as Apple is continuing to offer a 1TB option as the highest capacity ever in an iPhone with the iPhone 14 Pro series.

Premium Titanium Model

A rumor had suggested that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would be offered in an all-new titanium model. That also did not turn out to be the case, with Apple using the same materials on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max as their respective predecessors.

WiFi 6E Support

Rumored for the iPhone 12, then the iPhone 13, and again for the iPhone 14, Apple has yet to bring the latest WiFi standard to its iPhone lineup. WiFi 6E, compared to WiFi 6 supported on all of Apple's latest products, includes better support for crowded areas and better latency. It remains unclear why Apple has not yet adopted WiFi 6E support, but we could see it on the iPhones next year.

Upgraded Ultra Wide Camera

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated in November of 2020 that all iPhone 14 models would feature the same improved Ultra Wide camera with f/1.8, 6P and autofocus. While the iPhone 14 did get some camera improvements, those specifications did not turn out to be accurate. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus feature an Ultra Wide camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max's Ultra Wide camera has an f/2.2 aperture and a six-element lens.

Article Link: iPhone 14 Rumor Report Card: Five Rumors That Turned Out Wrong

 

[AppleFan91]

A dunk on Prosser comment section 😈

But no, for real, dude is so cocky and throws stuff at a wall to link people to his clickbait articles. Can’t wait until he’s no longer a “source”.

Here’s hoping next year is accurate with USB-C charging!

 

[antiprotest]

I would have preferred no camera bump, but I guess that was never possible with current tech.

Also I would have preferred USB C.

 

[pittpanthersfan]

Typo:

WiFi 6E, compared to WiFi 6 supported on all of Apple's latest products, includes better support for crowded areas and betetr latency.

 

[james2538]

Still waiting on that USB-C

Getting rid of the camera bump would be my 2nd wish. I hate the iPhone can't lay flat on a table.

 

[lightmyway]

A dunk on Prosser comment section 😈

But no, for real, dude is so cocky and throws stuff at a wall to link people to his clickbait articles. Can’t wait until he’s no longer a “source”.

Here’s hoping next year is accurate with USB-C charging!

I unfollowed him a long time ago. He’s wrong more often than he’s right. MacRumors shouldn’t quote him in the future or they’ll lose their credibility like he did.

 

[symphony]

What makes it more cringe for Prosser though is at 3:30, where he mimics Apple’s marketing videos, and it ended up being straight up wrong.

Same thing with the squared off Apple Watch concept video at 8:03.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Jon Tosser

 

[JPack]

Some of these rumors shouldn't make sense to anybody with higher order brain functions.

No camera bump? So Apple will double the thickness of the entire chassis?

Titanium? Use an expensive material that doesn't dissipate heat?

 

[icanhazmac]

Rumored for the iPhone 12, then the iPhone 13, and again for the iPhone 14, Apple has yet to bring the latest WiFi standard to its iPhone lineup. WiFi 6E, compared to WiFi 6 supported on all of Apple's latest products, includes better support for crowded areas and better latency. It remains unclear why Apple has not yet adopted WiFi 6E support, but we could see it on the iPhones next year.

No good reason this didn't make it to the 14.

Here’s hoping next year is accurate with USB-C charging!

Not letting go of my 8 yet but if I am forced to do so it will be a 14 or SE so I don't get USBC. No way USBC is as sturdy as lightning.

I would have preferred no camera bump, but I guess that was never possible with current tech.

It can be done, just need a thicker case. Don't be scared, Jony is gone

 

[tomwarren]

Maybe it's time to stop parroting rumors from certain individuals.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

I actually think someone is feeding Prosser with disinformation. Literally the exact opposite things are happening than his claims. No camera bump but we got a bigger one instead. Little hole punch cutout but we get a dynamic pill instead, round buttons but we still have rectangle ones, etc.

Wondering if apple leaks him fake stuff on purpose to put disinformation out there or if they are testing who does what with certain information to catch leakers. Either way, he's mostly full of it.

 

[Veinticinco]

Has he furiously back-pedalled on this yet or just swept it under the carpet?

What an absolute chancer.

 

[gaximus]

MacRumors should have a page dedicated to rumor sources and their accuracy. This chart could then be used to mark articles on how likely they are to be accurate.

 

[TKSX]

At the end a rumor is only a rumor. I stopped looking at rumors as there is no grounds.

 

[5105973]

I unfollowed him a long time ago. He’s wrong more often than he’s right. MacRumors shouldn’t quote him in the future or they’ll lose their credibility like he did.

Based on what I’ve seen of his Android product reports, I think he does have inside contacts who have let him see products in the pipeline. But I think a lot of what he’s shown are such early stage prototypes that end up never seeing release or are released a year or two after he was told they would be. At which time they’re altered from the original specs in small or significant ways from what he was shown. More recent Google Pixel Watch leaks match very well with what he leaked a couple of years ago. Even the Apple Watch Ultra looks like a derivation or acceptable deviation of the watch designs shown in Prosser’s leaks.

Since we are dealing with rumors, and rumors should always be regarded as such and not actual product previews, I think it’s still worthwhile to see what Jon Prosser has to show us. Some of his leaks can give us an insight into what these companies are thinking of doing at different stages, even if they’re not accurate peeks at final releases.

 

[clevins]

And all the rumors about a $100 price increase that turned out wrong? And no, inflation adjusted prices outside the US are not the same thing.

 

[JM]

Apple just trolling Prosser:

“oh you say flat back Pro? We’ll show you flat back… Bam! Gigantic warts on your Pro. Trolololol.”

 

[kiensoy]

I’m just glad we didn’t get the “i” cutout many were excited about, the one that many said would make it look so unique and different from Android.

Also did we get the stronger MagSafe magnets or was that also a failed rumour?

 

[kerr]

I did not think any of these would happen

 

[Rafterman]

2TB would have been sweet.

 

[Jett0516]

But then this leak of the dynamic island, everyone said it’s fake, actually turn out to be correct 😆

 

[5105973]

I’m just glad we didn’t get the “i” cutout many were excited about, the one that many said would make it look so unique and different from Android.

Also did we get the stronger MagSafe magnets or was that also a failed rumour?

The leaks about the cutouts in the display components appears to have been accurate though. Dynamic Island is a software innovation that’s easier to lock down because you’re not dealing with vulnerabilities in the supply chain.

 

[MrENGLISH]

Wasn't 8K video also rumored? It was a feature I was looking forward to.

 

[Cryates]

It's actually hard to fathom how wrong that Prosser 'leak' actually was. About the only thing he got right was the fact it would be a rectangular slab, which, duh.