The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus launched last year alongside the company’s iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple is expected to unveil the successors to these two phones, the iPhone 15 series, in the coming weeks. Now sources suggest that Apple will reintroduce the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus this year with a notable hardware modification — a USB Type-C port — replacing the existing Lightning port. Apple is expected to update its smartphone lineup with modern ports in line with EU and California regulations.
According to details shared by X (ex-Twitter) user Aaron (@aaronp613), Apple recently rolled out the tvOS 17 beta to testers ahead of the stable release, which is expected in the next few weeks, mentioning two iPhone models — “iPhone 14,4” and “iPhone 14,5” – currently does not exist.
tvOS 17.0 Beta 5 references two iPhone models that don’t currently exist:
iPhone14,1
iPhone14,9— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 9, 2023
Whistleblower also claim Four other model numbers included in the first tvOS 17 beta were dropped in the previous build — and these are said to be related to the upcoming iPhone 15 series of smartphones. Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 series will be the company’s first phones to feature a USB Type-C port, according to multiple reports.
Last year, Apple’s Greg Joswiak confirmed that its iPhone models would be equipped with USB Type-C ports to comply with EU regulations. At the time, however, the company did not provide details or confirm whether there would be an upcoming model with modern ports, or whether recent models would get the same treatment. Meanwhile, images of an alleged new USB connector for the upcoming iPhone 15 series recently surfaced online.
Apple typically discontinues existing iPhone Pro and Pro Max models shortly after announcing their successors, while regular models continue to sell for a few years.The company still hopes to sell the iPhone 14 in the EU when the Universal Charger Regulation goes into effect in 2024, and California’s recent law mandating USB Type-C ports for electronics will also go into effect 2026.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus aren’t the first devices Apple has relaunched with revised specs. Back in 2021, the company launched the original AirPods Pro with a MagSafe-compatible charging case alongside the AirPods Pro (third generation). TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicts that Apple will launch AirPods Pro (second generation) with a USB Type-C port in 2024.
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