Could the iPhone 14 be released earlier than expected?

The Apple launch event in September will probably be held a week earlier than scheduled, with new smartphones and a new Apple Watch unveiled

The iPhone through the ages: Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone to the world in San Francisco, California, on January 9, 2007. It had a 3.5-inch screen and 2MP camera. Reuters

The iPhone 3G was launched in 2008 with a faster 3G connection. It also added location services. Reuters

The iPhone 3GS was released on June 19, 2009. It was twice as fast as its previous version. AFP

The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010. It featured FaceTime for the first occasion as well as a retina screen. Reuters

A later release, this time on October 14, 2011, the iPhone 4S had a new dual-core processor. Reuters

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes to the stage following the reveal of the iPhone 5 in San Francisco, California, on September 12, 2012. This was the first 4-inch screen and the phone was faster and slimmer. Reuters

The iPhone 5C arrived on September 20, 2013 and was less expensive and very similar to the iPhone 5 except it came with colourful casing. Getty Images

The iPhone 5s came at the same time as the 5C and introduced touch ID and a motion data processor as health and fitness apps started to come to the fore. Getty Images

The iPhone 6 marked another double launch when unveiled on September 9, 2014. The 6 had a 4.7-inch screen, faster processor and improved camera. AFP

The iPhone 6 Plus had a 5.5-inch screen and was $100 more expensive. Reuters

The iPhone 6s came on September 25, 2015 with 3D touch and a camera that could shoot 4K video. EPA

The iPhone 6s Plus is displayed at Tokyo's flagship store on September 25, 2015. Both new phones came in a new colour - rose gold. AFP

Unveiled on March 21, 2016, the iPhone SE had the same design as the iPhone 5 and saw a return to the 4-inch screen which was preferred by some users. It was more affordable and hence lacked features such as Touch ID. AFP

The iPhone 7 announced on September 7, 2016, said somewhat controversially goodbye to the audio jack. Reuters

The iPhone 7 Plus had a dual camera added. AFP

The iPhone 8 was released on September 22, 2017 and had a new glass and aluminium design, retina HD screen. Reuters

A customer gets his hands on an iPhone 8 Plus on launch day in Tokyo on September 22, 2017. The launches also saw speakers that were 25% louder and the most powerful and smartest chip in a smartphone (according to Apple). AFP

The iPhone X marked a decade of iPhones on September 12, 2017. It's main changes were an edge-to-edge super retina screen. Touch ID was removed with Face ID introduced. Reuters

The iPhone XS was released on September 21, 2018 and had a Super Retina OLED screen with improved scratch and water resistance. Face ID was faster. Reuters

The iPhone XS Max had the largest iPhone screen to date at 6.5 inches. It could handle 3 million pixels. Reuters

The iPhone XR was slightly cheaper than the XS and came with a 6.1-inch screen. AFP

A customer looks at the iPhone 11 at an Apple store in Dubai Mall on September 20, 2019. EPA

A man tries out the iPhone 11 Pro in Cupertino, California, on September 10, 2019. AFP

Midnight Green was introduced for the iPhone 11 Pro Max, while there was also a new three-camera system. Reuters

Arriving on April 15, 2020, the iPhone SE was for budget-minded customers and was pretty much a replica of the iPhone 8. Its 4.7-inch screen felt rather on the small side compared to the big screens of its big brothers. Apple Inc. / AFP

The iPhone 12 on October 13, 2020 introduced a new processor and a screen that offered four times better protection if dropped. Apple / AFP

The iPhone 12 mini offered a 5.4-inch screen. Getty Images

Mr Cook showcases the iPhone 12 Pro during an event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on October 13, 2020. This upgrade saw a faster chip, 5G speed, a "camera system that’s killer in low light. A LiDAR Scanner for more realistic AR. And two great sizes to choose from — including our largest display ever". Apple / EPA

The iPhone 12 Pro Max was categorised as a 'legacy phone'. Reuters

The new iPhone 13 was unveiled on September 14, 2021. It has a smart data mode which helps battery life, more 5G bands and antenna lines that use material made from recycled plastic water bottles. AFP

Apple CEO Tim Cook showcasing the third generation iPhone SE featuring 5G and the A15 Bionic chip on March 8, 2022. EPA

The Apple iPhone 14, 14 Plus, Pro Max and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro were unveiled during an event on September 7, 2022. It didn’t raise its US prices during one of the worst years for inflation in decades. The biggest addition was emergency calling after a car crash. Bloomberg

The Apple iPhone 14 may be arriving a little sooner than expected, according to industry sources.

The technology company's next launch event, when the iPhone 14 will be unveiled, is set to take place in September, as it usually does each year.

However, having initially been expected to take place on September 13, industry insider Max Weinbach said that the event could actually take place on September 6, with the phones available from September 13.

This comes after Bloomberg technology reporter Mark Gurman, who has a long history of accurate reporting on the technology company's product plans, reporting that Apple has already started to record and assemble its September media event.

The highly anticipated event is expected to unveil the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro (both 15.5 centimetres or 6.1 inches), as well as the iPhone 14 Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max (both 17cm or 6.7 inches).

The Pro versions of both models will be equipped with the new A16 processor while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will retain the A15 chip present in the iPhone 13 series that was unveiled in September, said Apple analyst Kuo Ming-chi.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro could come with an always-on screen mode, a redesigned notch and better cameras.

Satellite technology could also be included, allowing users to communicate with first responders in case of emergency in areas without 4G or 5G coverage.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is also set to be unveiled. It could include a model with a refreshed design, a bigger screen and a more durable casing.

“The high-end model is going to be a good bit bigger than the standard Apple Watch — big enough that it might only appeal to a subset of customers. The screen will be about 7 per cent larger,” Mr Gurman wrote.

Meanwhile, Samsung is holding its next Unpacked event on August 10, when it will introduce the next generation of its foldable smartphones.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 aim to cement the South Korean company's hold of the foldable device market.

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Most visually striking Apple stores around the world — in pictures

Apple Store, Brompton Road, London. Courtesy Apple

The Apple Tower Theatre retail store at Broadway Theatre District in downtown Los Angeles, California. AFP

The Apple Opera store in Paris. Courtesy Apple

The exterior space of the new Apple store at Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Apple store at the Sanlitun shopping area in Beijing, China. EPA

The Apple Store in Piazza Liberty in Milan. AFP

The Apple Store at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Photo: Apple

The Norman Foster and Partners designed flagship store at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

An Apple store in Shanghai, China. AFP

The Apple store at Schildergasse in Cologne, Germany. It has room for local artists to be displayed, plus a hanging glass staircase. EPA

The Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City. In its 2019 redesign, the store gained a spiral steel-and-glass staircase, mirror-glass Skylenses and honey locust trees. Getty Images via AFP

The Apple store in downtown Bangkok. AFP