2022-iOS 16 May Be Giving Us Clues to the iPhone 14

Apple’s subsequent main iPhone working system, iOS 16, was previewed at WWDC and is now out there to download for builders. The brand new iPhone replace will work on the iPhone 8 and newer and certain launch alongside the rumored iPhone 14 this fall. iOS 16 provides a bunch of closely requested options, akin to the power to customise your lock display screen or edit despatched iMessages. However for those who look carefully, iOS 16 may additionally reveal some clues in regards to the iPhone 14.

Whereas Apple informed us rather a lot about new options coming to present iPhones, it lacked any particular point out of what to anticipate from the iPhone 14. That is not stunning; Apple by no means discusses new merchandise earlier than asserting them. Typically the corporate reserves sure software program bulletins for its annual iPhone occasion so it may possibly debut these options as exclusives for the newest iPhone. 

For instance, Cinematic mode was absent from Apple’s iOS 15 announcement and as an alternative launched as an iPhone 13 characteristic within the fall. Although for those who look carefully, there have been some refined hints sprinkled in iOS 15. Since Apple launched Portrait mode for FaceTime calls in iOS 15, it is easy to think about Apple making a Portrait mode for video recording — which is basically what Cinematic mode is.

iOS 16 appears to be no completely different. A number of options appear like they’ve the potential to supply hints as to what we’d count on for the iPhone 14 collection. One in every of these clues is definitely buried within the code for iOS 16.

The iPhone 14 may need an always-on show

I used to be disenchanted to see that Apple did not add an always-on show to iOS 16. It is a useful characteristic discovered on quite a few Android telephones, and even the Apple Watch. An always-on show exhibits primary data just like the time or climate whereas your cellphone is asleep. As an alternative of lighting up your complete show like your lock display screen does, an always-on show solely prompts a portion of the display screen to avoid wasting energy. It is an incredible comfort and would make the iPhone extra glance-friendly.

The Apple-focused website 9to5Mac reports it found a number of references in iOS 16 that recommend assist for an always-on show could possibly be within the iPhone’s future. The weblog discovered references to backlight administration instruments in addition to hidden flags for engineers that would enable them to check the characteristic on an iPhone 13 Professional.

However always-on show assist is perhaps restricted as a result of the display screen’s refresh price must dip right down to 10Hz and even decrease to make use of much less energy; method under the common iPhone’s typical 60Hz refresh price. The always-on show for the Apple Watch works at 1Hz which is not supported on any present iPhone (the 13 Professional can go as little as 10Hz) and that would imply that it debuts on the iPhone 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max since it might possible require new {hardware}.

Even with out these clues within the code, the revamped and customizable lock display screen additionally hints at an always-on show. Particularly, the best way iOS 16 notifications are corralled on the backside of the display screen makes me marvel if Apple is experimenting with methods to protect display screen actual property. That is vital for an always-on show since that characteristic solely makes use of particular parts of the display screen to protect energy.

iOS 16’s new lock display screen widgets are one other potential clue, since they really feel extra akin to Apple Watch issues and are subsequently extra glanceable. Some Android telephones have comparable widgets on their very own always-on shows.  

Visible Lookup may imply a extra highly effective Cinematic mode

One in every of iOS 16’s extra refined options is revamped Visible Lookup which may determine objects, individuals, pets and landmarks in pictures and supply further data or context. A nifty addition this 12 months is the power to faucet on any picture to take away the background. You may actually tap-and-lift a foreground topic like an individual or a canine away from the background and add the “cutout” to different apps to share or create a collage.

I may see Cinematic mode getting a lift from the machine studying that powers the brand new Visible Lookup tap-and-lift instrument. That machine studying acceleration mixed with a possible new A16 Bionic chip may make Cinematic mode movies look higher. Topics could possibly be extra reliably “cutout” and backgrounds have extra of a constant out-of-focus look. Apple may additionally use the separation know-how to make Cinematic mode do extra issues akin to Portrait mode like exchange the background for a black coloration or place your topic towards a white backdrop.

Cinematic mode made its debut on the iPhone 13 collection and is mainly Apple’s tackle a Portrait mode for video. Whereas Cinematic mode is enjoyable to make use of, the outcomes might be hit and miss. It is paying homage to when Apple launched Portrait mode with the iPhone 7 Plus: Initially it labored however wasn’t nice. Over a number of years, Apple improved Portrait mode to the purpose the place it is truly fairly great.

A Professional mode for the Digital camera app

With out even studying a single rumor, you possibly can guess that the cameras on the iPhone 14 collection will probably be higher than these on the iPhone 13 lineup. A number of these enhancements will possible come from computational photography-powered options akin to SmartHDR and Deep Fusion, which straight correlate to the chip powering the cellphone. So an iPhone 14 working on an A16 chip would theoretically have new digicam options or improved picture processing strategies that the iPhone 13 lacks.

Apple’s addition of a customizable lock display screen in iOS 16 has me looking forward to an overhaul to the Digital camera app on the iPhone 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max. New skilled options like ProRaw and ProRes video recording could make the Digital camera app interface really feel a bit cramped. Maybe there could possibly be a Professional mode that may be toggled on and off and supply shortcuts to tweak digicam settings on the fly. Or possibly Apple will clear up the Digital camera app’s interface to make it extra visually interesting. 

Do not get me incorrect, the iPhone nonetheless has probably the greatest Digital camera apps on any cellphone bought at the moment. However very like a household can outgrow a home, the variety of options and modes is beginning to develop previous the app’s unique intent.

That is all hypothesis, nonetheless, and we cannot know something in regards to the subsequent iPhone till Apple broadcasts it. But when there’s one certainty, it is that it’ll run iOS 16.