New Apple Leak announce iPhone 14 Battery Surprise

Apple’s iPhone 14 design changes were leaked months ago, but speculation about their performance has been far more contentious. And now, a new leak has sparked speculation about their battery life.

Shared by credible industry insider ShrimpApplePro, a new Baidu post has published what it claims are the battery capacities for all iPhone 14 models. This is the first time capacities have been reported for the new range and while three models have received minor battery increases, a drop for the iPhone 14 Pro may mean your money is better spent elsewhere.

Read more: iPhone 14 launch date, specifications, camera leaks

The leak categorises battery capacities as follows:

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• iPhone 14 – 3279 mAh (iPhone 13 – 3,227 mAh)
• iPhone 14 Max – 4325 mAh (N/A)
• iPhone 14 Pro – 3200 mAh (iPhone 13 Pro – 3,095 mAh)
• iPhone 14 Pro Max – 4323 mAh (iPhone 3 Pro Max – 4,352 mAh)

The big news comes from the big phones and, if these numbers are correct, there is every chance that the new iPhone 14 Max will outlast the flagship iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The reason for this is not the fractional difference in their battery capacities but what they will be asked to do. iPhone 14 Pro models will have 48-megapixel sensors meaning they will process file sizes 4x larger than the 12MP sensor retained by standard models. They are also expected to have more RAM which means greater performance but increased battery drain.

Whether new efficiencies from the Pro-exclusive A16 chipset and new DDR5 RAM can offset this remains to be seen, but with iPhone 14 Max expected to cost $300 less it could be a tempting downgrade for those concerned by reported iPhone 14 Pro price rises. The iPhone 14 Max is also a dramatic improvement on its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Mini (2,406 mAh) for which battery life was its biggest drawback.

Apple iPhone 14 range based on multiple leaks

When viewed in a broader context, the minor battery increases to the rest of the range are also eye-opening. After being overshadowed by large Android phones for several generations, the iPhone 13 lineup was a big step forward, and there was hope Apple would look to extend its lead over the competition, having seen success with its M1-based MacBooks streaking ahead of Intel and AMD-based rivals’ battery life.

It’s worth noting that ShrimpApplePro has some reservations about the figures, writing “Hmmm” after them, but the leaker has a track record of only sharing accurate information. As a result, the reaction may be directed more at Apple’s strategy than at the leak itself.

That strategy would almost certainly be a risk. Since the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014, Apple’s largest and most expensive model has always had the best battery life. That appears to be under serious threat now, making the iPhone 14 Max much more appealing. Furthermore, with Pro models ditching Lightning in favour of USB-C in 2023, skipping the iPhone 14 Pro models entirely in 2022 may be the best option.