Category: <span>News and updates</span>

Here’s how the iPhone 13 compares to the iPhone 12 in price, battery life, camera specs and more

Apple’s iPhone 13 lineup, consisting of the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, offers a brand-new camera system, a tweaked design with a smaller notch, longer battery life and storage upgrades. (You can now get an iPhone 13 Pro with as much as 1TB of storage.) For the price of $729 (£679, AU$1,199) for the Mini and $829 (£779, AU$1,349) for the base iPhone 13, is it worth it to upgrade from the iPhone 12? 

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini aren’t going anywhere. Both phones’ prices dropped, so they now start at $599 for the 64GB iPhone 12 Mini and $699 for the 64GB iPhone 12. If you can make do with less storage space, the iPhone 12 models are still great phones that run plenty fast, support 5G and are powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chip. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, however, have been discontinued to make room for the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max.

Let’s go over a few key differences between the 13 line and the 12 line, to help determine whether you might want to spring for a 2021 iPhone or stick to a 2020 iPhone.

Price

At first look, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini’s starting prices are a full $100 cheaper than the corresponding iPhone 13 models, but that’s before you take storage space into consideration. Both iPhone 12 models start at 64GB, which several years ago used to be plenty of room. Now with apps getting larger and cameras taking even more detailed photos along with video, you could run up against that storage limit over the course of your time with the phone. The iPhone 13 starts at 128GB, so if you compare that with a 128GB iPhone 12, now you’re looking at only a $50 price difference.

For that $50 difference, you do get a lot for your money by going with the iPhone 13, which we will go over in later sections. But if all you want is a 5G iPhone and you’re unlikely to install a ton of apps on it, the iPhone 12 is indeed cheaper while still having most of same features as the iPhone 13.

Battery life

The iPhone 13 is estimated to run for 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 13 Mini is estimated to run 1.5 hours longer than the 12 Mini. In CNET editor Patrick Holland’s iPhone 13 and 13 Mini review, he notes that both phones easily make it through a day on a single charge. This was particularly notable since his personal iPhone 12 Mini usually requires a 3 p.m. recharge to make it through the day.

A15 Bionic vs. A14 Bionic

For most tasks, the A14 Bionic and A15 Bionic chips will both likely breezily handle your FaceTime calls, texts, apps, games and streaming videos with little discernible difference. However, the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic may already be designed to be compatible with new devices and software in the works by Apple. Reports suggest that Apple could be working on an augmented reality and VR headset that could use the iPhone 13 and future iPhone models as a host device.

Currently, the iPhone 13’s chip does power the Cinematic video recording mode on the 2021 phones. In this mode the phone can automatically focus on subjects as they enter the frame while unfocusing on others, giving your videos a movielike look. These videos can also be edited after the fact should you want more control over who is in focus.

Cameras

The camera specs of the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 12 are identical. Both phones include 12-megapixel sensors on the front and the back cameras. But that doesn’t tell the whole story about the photo processing differences between the phones. 

On the iPhone 13, the new camera layout gives the wide-angle camera a larger sensor with sensor-based stabilization. The new diagonal layout of the iPhone 13’s cameras allows for that larger sensor, while the ultrawide camera’s new sensor helps it gather more light. On the software side, the iPhone 13 also includes Photographic Styles, which allow you to customize the way your camera develops your photos. These styles are not like Instagram filters, as they analyze the subject of your photo and apply the selected style as needed.

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini camera testing: See how Apple’s new phones take photos

That said, the iPhone 12’s cameras are still no slouch, including many of the same enhancements offered by iOS 15. In our review, Holland notes that the iPhone 13’s camera upgrades do not make drastic differences, but improvements between the models year over year were noticeable.

Spec vs. spec

Check the chart below comparing the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Mini, the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Mini to see a spec-by-spec comparison among the non-Pro iPhones that are currently available. Let us know in the comments if you’d rather save money with the iPhone 12, jump in with a new iPhone 13 or if your current iPhone is still the best for all of your daily needs.

IPHONE 13 MINI & 13 VS. IPHONE 12 MINI & 12

Apple’s iPhone 13, new iPad Mini and more: Everything we saw at Apple’s September event

We don’t expect to see the iPhone 14 until September 2022, but we’ve already started rounding up rumors.

Believe it or not, the iPhone 13 was released over two months ago, and the consumer tech community is already buzzing with gossip about its successor. In fact, the iPhone 14 was trending on Twitter even before the iPhone 13 was announced. There’s still much about the rumored iPhone 14 we’ve yet to hear, but the rumor mill for Apple’s 2022 smartphone is just heating up. We’re collecting all the buzz about the new iPhone’s release date, price, design changes and new features, so stay tuned. 

The biggest rumors so far include a new design with a notchless display (yeah, we’ve heard that one before), a hole-punch front camera, under-display Touch ID, a more durable titanium alloy body, the elimination of the chunky rear camera bump, a shakeup of the four-phone lineup with new screen sizes and the death of the iPhone Mini. More recent buzz adds that the iPhone 14 could be equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, too.   

Meanwhile, Apple’s latest flagship phone lineup, which includes the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini and iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, is on sale now. While we wait for more intel on the iPhone 14, here’s our comparison of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, and the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11. Plus, here’s how the iPhone 13 stacks up to Apple’s last five years’ worth of iPhones. We’ll update this story as new information becomes available.

Read more: iPhone 13 vs. 13 Mini vs. Pro vs. Pro Max

iPhone 14 lineup rumors: Will there still be 4 phones?

We don’t know much about the iPhone 14 yet, but we’ve heard that Apple’s next lineup will nix the Mini and focus on larger phones instead. A July report from Nikkei Asian Review predicted the death of the iPhone 14 Mini, and an April research note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by MacRumors also suggested that the Mini was not long for this world. However, Kuo reported, the iPhone 14 lineup will still comprise four models, a “high-end” and a “lower-end,” with two size options for each. 

While name speculation isn’t as germane to the discussion of Apple’s 2022 lineup as it was for unlucky 13, rumors suggest a small shift in naming conventions, with an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max, with “Pro” designating higher-end specs and “Max” referring to the larger screen size.

iPhone 14 size rumors: Bigger screens for all

Apple’s last two iPhone lineups have featured the same 6.1-inch size for the base model, going up to 6.7 inches for the Pro Max. According to the same July Nikkei Asian Review report, Apple will stick with these screen sizes for the iPhone 14, nixing the 5.4-inch Mini. Reports showed sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, so it’s no surprise that Apple is retiring the small phone in 2022.

Read more: iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12

RUMORED IPHONE 14 SCREEN SIZES

Release date: iPhone 14 will likely arrive fall 2022

It’s too soon for any reputable release date rumors for the iPhone 14, but we expect Apple to hold its annual fall iPhone event in September 2022, as it does almost every year, with the phones being released shortly thereafter, usually the following Friday. Sometimes Apple will stagger release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. So it’s possible that the iPhone 14 lineup will have more than one release date.

Here’s what we know: 

• Apple likes to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
• iPhone release dates are typically a week and a half after Apple’s announcements. 
• In general, new iPhones are released on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.

A few years ago, we took a deep dive into the Apple event timeline and emerged with a compelling Labor Day hypothesis, which you can read about here. Based on the 2022 calendar, the Labor Day rule would put the September Apple event (and unveiling of the iPhone 14) on Sept. 7, with a Sept. 16 release date. However, our Labor Day hypothesis was a week off for 2021 — and, because of coronavirus delays, about a month off in 2020. 

iPhone 14 price: Will Apple lower the cost in 2022?

There’s no word either way on iPhone 14 pricing, but Apple didn’t make any big price changes between 2020’s iPhone 12 and 2021’s iPhone 13, so the existing price structure is at least a good place to start our speculation. However, Kuo predicts the high-end 6.7-inch phone (the alleged iPhone 14 Pro Max) will launch at a record-low price, under $900. Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which ranges from $1,099 all the way up to a staggering $1,599, that’s quite a steal.

For reference, here’s how much each version of the iPhone 13 lineup cost at launch.

IPHONE 13 PRICING

Camera rumors: What Apple might improve for the iPhone 14

Two of the big rumors we’ve heard about the iPhone 14’s camera setup are actually more about the phone’s design: first, that the chunky camera bump could disappear; and second, that a hole-punch front camera could replace the dreaded notch. 

Kuo shared insights about the iPhone 14’s potential camera upgrades in an investors note reported on by 9to5Mac just after the iPhone 13 launch. In the note, Kuo predicts a hole-punch front camera, making the iPhone 14 (finally) notchless, as well as a 48-megapixel wide rear camera for the Pro and Pro Max models, up from 12 megapixels on previous iPhones.

iPhone 13 camera upgrades include a new Cinematic mode, ProRes video and some improvements in zoom capabilities. We had previously reported on rumors that the entire lineup would feature lidar, the iPhone 12 Pro’s standout depth-sensing feature, but lidar ended up making an appearance only on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max after all. It’s possible Apple might expand the feature to its full lineup in 2022 instead, but we haven’t heard anything yet. 

Another of the camera features we’re still waiting on is an improved telephoto lens. While the iPhone 13 Pro’s zoom capabilities were given a 3x optical zoom, it still pales in comparison to a lot of competitor flagships, including Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra, which boasts a 10x optical zoom.

Will iPhone 14 get under-display Touch ID?

The feature that seems to get kicked down the road the most in Apple rumor world is the return of Touch ID. Early rumors supported the Touch ID’s return coming in the iPhone 12, and when that didn’t happen, speculation turned to the iPhone 13. But even before the iPhone 13 launched (sans Touch ID), word on the street had shifted again: iPhone 14 would surely be it. Now, that’s looking less likely, too. In late September, Kuo predicted that it won’t be until 2023 that the iPhone regains Touch ID technology. That would be… the iPhone 15?

Design rumors: iPhone 14 might be notchless, at last

YouTuber and iPhone leaker Jon Prosser (whose track record is admittedly spotty) made waves the week before the iPhone 13 announcement by releasing renders he commissioned of the iPhone 14 Pro Max based on “real images and schematics” leaked to him from purported sources at Apple. 

Prosser’s renders corroborate a number of previously reported rumors, including the notchless display and hole-punch camera previously reported by Kuo, and the iPhone 14 Pro’s titanium alloy chassis, which was first referenced in a July report from JPMorgan Chase. We’d been expecting to see the iPhone 13 go notchless, but instead we got a slimmed-down, but still very notchy, notch. Apple introduced the world to the notched display in 2017 with the release of the iPhone X, and as rivals solved the selfie conundrum with hole-punch and under-display cameras, Apple still hasn’t, er, taken it down a notch. 

But Prosser’s renders seem to corroborate these earlier reports that Apple would finally excise the iPhone’s notch in 2022. And Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also hinted at its removal in a September edition of his Power On newsletter, wherein he predicted a “complete redesign” for the iPhone 14. Those who’ve been crossing their fingers for a notchless iPhone since the iPhone 12 and had their hopes dashed once again by the iPhone 13 can now look forward to a potential realization of their all-screen dreams in 2022’s iPhone 14.

iPhone 14 says buh-bye to the camera bump but keeps the Lightning port

The other big design change Prosser’s renders show is a flattened camera bump. According to Prosser, the iPhone 14’s body is going to be a “thick boy,” thick enough, it seems, to encompass all the camera hardware without an annoying, protruding camera setup on the back. Why is the iPhone 14 supposed to be so thick? Perhaps to house a bigger battery, or even the previously rumored periscope camera, which Kuo projected in 2020. 

Two prior rumors that won’t pan out, according to Prosser at least, are the death of the Lightning port and the addition of USB-C (the EU may force Apple to add USB-C ports to iPhones, however). Rumors of a completely port less iPhone have been circulating for a while, but it appears those won’t come true in 2022.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini: Check out the redesigned camera module and smaller notch

iPhone 14 color rumors: Pale gold, perhaps?

As far as colors go, Prosser’s render colors were not based on any actual information from his sources, except for a pale gold color, which he claims to have seen evidence of himself. However, it’s still early days, and Apple surely has not finalized its color lineup yet for the iPhone 14.

Rumored iPhone 14 features and specs

Here’s everything else we know (and think we know) so far about the iPhone 14 lineup’s specifications and potential new features.

Wi-Fi 6E adoption

The iPhone 14 could be equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, according to a November note from Kuo, reported on by 9to5Mac. However, the analyst says the components needed for Wi-Fi 6E may be in short supply. Apple’s rumored VR headset is also said to have Wi-Fi 6E. 

A16 chip

The iPhone 14 is expected to have an A16 chip, which would improve upon the iPhone 13’s A15 chip, in keeping with Apple’s previous pattern.

120Hz ProMotion display

All iPhone 14 models could include Apple’s ProMotion display, which only the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max variants currently have. ProMotion boosts the screen’s refresh rate for smoother performance, up to 120Hz. This is more speculation than actual rumor, based on changes in Apple’s supply chain that would make it easier for the company to offer the feature across its next lineup.

5G connectivity 

Apple introduced 5G connectivity to its iPhone 12 lineup and, unsurprisingly, included it in the iPhone 13 as well. There’s no reason to believe we won’t see 5G-compatible iPhone 14s, too. A July report from Nikkei Asian Review also predicts Apple will “go all in on 5G” in 2022.

MagSafe accessories

Like 5G, MagSafe was introduced to the iPhone in 2020’s iPhone 12 lineup. The Snap-on, magnetic accessories include wallets, battery packs and chargers, and it was one of our favorite iPhone 12 features. The iPhone 13 is also compatible with MagSafe, and we expect the same for Apple’s next generation of phones.

Satellite connectivity

An 11th-hour iPhone 13 rumor via Kuo that didn’t come to fruition was the addition of satellite connectivity, which would allow users to send text messages via satellite in areas without cellular coverage, at least in emergency situations, as reported by Bloomberg. Alas, satellite connectivity is nowhere to be found in the iPhone 13 lineup, but perhaps that means it’s coming in the iPhone 14 instead.

We’ll explain how each of Apple’s new iPhones compares spec by spec.

It’s getting quite complicated to pick an iPhone. This year, Apple’s lineup includes four models, the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, and the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. There are also a number of color options, storage capacities and other differences that make the choice of which iPhone to buy just a little more confusing. (Want to be more confused? The iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14 are rumored, too.)

Apple announced its new iPhone lineup at its September event alongside the Apple Watch 7, iPad Mini 6 and updated entry-level iPad. The updated iPhone runs on iOS 15, which is now publicly available to install, and features a few camera upgrades, upped storage, a new A15 Bionic processor and more. (Here’s how the iPhone 13 compares to the iPhone 12 lineup, and how how the iPhone 13 compares to the iPhone 13 Mini.) Although the iPhone 13 lineup mirrors the iPhone 12, Apple’s 2021 iPhones offer a new design, updated cameras and feature upgrades for a similar price as 2020’s iPhone 12 models. Here’s everything to know.  

Price: iPhone 13 line (mostly) matches the cost of its predecessor

The iPhone 13 lineup mostly mimics the pricing for the iPhone 12. Although Apple has since done away with the 64GB storage option for its standard and Mini options, the pricing of the iPhone 13 have stayed the same. The iPhone 13 Mini starts at $699 for 128GB of storage. The standard iPhone 13 starts at $799, the Pro starts at $999 and Pro Max at $1,099. 

The prices for the Pro versions are similar to other high-end smartphone models like the Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra, which cost $1,000 and $1,200, respectively. 

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini: Check out the redesigned camera module and smaller notch

The prices for the new iPhone increase as you go up in storage, especially since the iPhone features a 1TB storage option for the first time. The extra storage is only available on the Pro models and ups the price of an iPhone 13 Pro Max to $1,599. 

Here are US prices for each of the iPhone 13 models:

IPHONE 13 SERIES US PRICES AND STORAGE

Storage: iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have 1TB options

Apple has ditched its 64GB storage option for its new iPhone. The standard iPhone 13 and Mini now come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options, while the Pro and Pro Max also come in a 1TB storage option. This is the first time you have the option to get 1TB of storage on an iPhone.https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hehk8eFIjxw

Size and design: All iPhone 13 models have a 20% smaller notch

All four versions of the iPhone 13 are thicker and heavier than their counterpart in last year’s lineup, but with a smaller notch. Apple has included a notched display on every iPhone since the 2017 iPhone X, as a place for the selfie camera. The iPhone 13’s notch is 20% smaller than it was on the iPhone 12. 

The design of the camera setup shifted for the iPhone 13 Mini. The camera lenses are now situated diagonally from each other, rather than one atop the other like on the iPhone 12 Mini. 

The iPhone 13 lineup ranges in screen size from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The iPhone 13 Mini is 5.4 inches, the standard iPhone 13 and Pro models are both 6.1 inches and the Pro Max is 6.7 inches.

IPHONE 13 SIZES

iPhone 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max camera testing: Photos from Apple’s highest end 2021 phones

Display: Only iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have 120Hz refresh rate

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models both feature a 120Hz display. The number of hertz a phone screen is rated for refers to the number of frames per second it can display, which determines how fast and smooth the screen feels when you’re scrolling through apps and web pages. The standard and Mini models, however, don’t feature the 120Hz display. 

Apple seems late to the game, since other high-end smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 Pro, already have a 120Hz refresh rate. 

Camera: All the upgrades for each iPhone 13 model

The iPhone 13 lineup features a few new camera upgrades, including the addition of cinematic mode and macro photography.

But, similar to the iPhone 12 lineup, the lidar scanner is still only available on the Pro and Pro Max. This is the second generation of iPhones to only feature a lidar scanner on its higher-end models. 

The scanner, which made its debut in the 2020 iPad Pro, can be seen on both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The scanner is used to help with autofocus and taking pictures in low lighting. (You can also use lidar to measure your friends’ heights at parties, which is kind of cool.) 

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini camera testing: See how Apple’s new phones take photos

 See all photos

Apple’s iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini have two improved cameras, with 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide lenses. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have three new rear cameras, with 12-megapixel wide, ultrawide and telephoto lenses. All of the iPhones in Apple’s 2021 lineup can also take night mode shots for the first time. Apple also gave the Pro models a more advanced version of ProRes video. 

Battery: The iPhone 13 is said to have more battery life than before

Apple says the new iPhones sport longer battery life than the iPhone 12 lineup. The extended battery life results from a combination of a bigger battery, iOS 15 and the A15 Bionic chip, according to Apple.

It says the iPhone 13 and iPhone Mini hold a charge for 17 and 19 hours of video playback, respectively. The iPhone 13 Pro is said to live for 22 hours, and the iPhone Pro Max for 28 hours.

Apple doesn’t disclose exact battery specs for its iPhones, but a teardown by iFixit reveals significantly more capacious cells than in last year’s models. Notably, the iPhone 13 Pro has a smaller battery than the iPhone 13, apparently because the Pro’s screen uses less energy.

If you’re itching for more about the iPhone 13, take a look at which color you should buy and which settings to change right away. You can also check out everything that was announced at Apple’s September event, including the Apple Watch 7, iPad Mini 6 and updated entry-level iPad. And, here’s how to download and install iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

IPHONE 13, 13 MINI, 13 PRO AND 13 PRO MAX SPECS

iPhone 13 MiniStarts at $699

The iPhone Mini 13 is the entry-level model in Apple’s new 2021 iPhone line. It’s the most affordable model, and offers the smallest screen size of the four — 5.4 inches

.$699 AT APPLEiPhone 13Starts at $799

The standard iPhone sports a 6.1-inch screen and two rear cameras. For 2021, Apple is pledging longer battery life, improved cameras and better durability versus the iPhone 12

.$799 AT APPLEiPhone 13 ProStarts at $999

The Pro version of the iPhone 13 adds a third rear camera with 3x optical zoom (up from 2x on the iPhone 12), a stainless steel body and a ProMotion screen with refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling.

$999 AT APPLEiPhone 13 Pro MaxStarts at $1,099

The Pro Max is Apple’s largest iPhone, with a 6.7-inch screen. It’s basically an upscaled version of the iPhone 13 Pro. Like that model, storage options for the Pro Max extend to a whopping 1TB for the first time.

$1,099 AT APPLE

Major features like SharePlay, Safari updates, Photos changes, and more have received most of the attention when it comes to iOS 15 coverage, but there are some notable new translation-related features that are being introduced in the update.

System-wide translation, Live Text translation, and other new options add useful new functionality to the iPhone. This guide highlights everything that’s new with the Translate app and the translation features in ‌iOS 15‌.

System-Wide Translation

Apple in iOS 14 introduced a new Translate app that can be used to translate conversations from one language to another, and also added translation features to Safari.

In ‌iOS 15‌, translation capabilities are expanding further and can be used system-wide. You can select any text anywhere in ‌iOS 15‌ and choose the new “Translate” option to translate it into your preferred language.

Live Text

‌iOS 15‌ adds a Live Text feature that lets your ‌iPhone‌ detect text in any image or photo on your device. You can select text in images and it works like any other text on your ‌iPhone‌.

You can copy text, paste text, and use the built-in system-wide translation feature to translate text. So if you’re in another country and need to read a sign or a menu in a foreign language, you can snap a quick picture, highlight the text, and choose the translate option to see just what it says.

Live Text can be selected and translated in ‌Photos‌, screenshots, Quick Look, Safari, and even live previews with the Camera app.

Translate App

In addition to the system-wide translation feature, Apple has made several improvements to the dedicated Translate app, which is designed for communicating with someone who speaks another language.

Conversation Updates

The Translate app’s conversation feature has been updated to make it easier to get into conversation mode. Just tap on the Conversation tab in landscape or portrait view, which is located at the bottom of the Translate app.

Chat bubbles have been added to the conversation mode so that it’s easier to follow along with the chat.

Auto Translate

The Translate app is now able to auto translate speech without the need to tap on the microphone button when in conversation mode.

It automatically detects when you start speaking and when you stop, so the other person can just respond without the need for interacting with the ‌iPhone‌.

Face to Face View

The conversation view has a face to face option so that each person participating in the conversation through the Translate app can see their own side of the chat.

Language Selection Improvements

Apple has made it easier to select languages through drop-down menus.

Fix flickering widgets in iOS 14

Home Screen widgets have become increasingly popular since the release of iOS 14. However, because this is an entirely new feature, the new iPhone glances come with a fair share of bugs and glitches. Sometimes the widgets turn grey, display a black screen or don’t load any data at all.

Widgets can also start flickering in a continuous loop! The flashing doesn’t stop until you delete the widget. Intermittent blinking can occur both on the Home Screen, as well as as in the Add Widget panel. This bug generates a system-wide reaction, causing all your widgets to flicker, making it difficult for you to determine which one causes the problem.

What Causes Widgets To Flicker?

According to Jamie, on Stackoverflow.com, the intermittent widget flashing is caused by apps that use custom fonts.

Some of the most popular third-party apps that use this option are Widgetsmith and Color Widgets.
The flickering is often triggered after installing app updates or when the user re-configures a widget in its main app.

According to user mpmontanez (from Apple’s Developer forums) the flashing widgets issue occurs when iOS 14 tries to serve a cached version of a widget while initializing the updated one.

3 Ways To Fix Flickering Widgets

1. Reboot iPhone

Users have managed to stop the intermittent flickering of the widgets by force restarting iPhone. Quickly press and release Volume Up button, do the same with Volume Down and press & hold the Side button until the Apple logo is displayed on the screen. Release Side button and wait for the iPhone to boot up.

2. Re-Install Faulty Widget App

Flashing usually starts when you update, add or edit a widget. Long-press on the widget in question and remove it from the Home Screen, to stop all other widgets from blinking. Next, delete the app the causes the flashing problem and re-install it to prevent the flickering bug from re-occurring.

3. Remove Color Widget

We found that in most cases Color Widgets is the app to blame for causing the flickering widgets bug. Perhaps because it heavily relies on custom widget.
In our case, we recently updated to version 1.4.9 and all the widgets on the Home Screen started blinking after adding a new color widget.
Fix: The solution was to remove the widget in question. Re-configuring it from the Color Widgets app did not solve the problem and we ended up deleting the app and re-installing it.

Do you also have problems with flickering widgets in iOS 14? Have you found other troubleshooting solutions? Let us know, with the help of the comments section available below.

Third-party home screen widgets in iOS 14

One of the most important changes coming in iOS 14 are the Home Screen widgets. Apple as updated most of the stock iPhone apps with widgets, but also allows developers to add widget functionality to third-party iOS apps. To get them you have to update all your downloaded apps, in the App Store, and check if you get new widgets options in the Add Widgets menu.

In this article we’ve created a collection with the first iOS and iPadOS apps that have update with support for the iOS 14 Home Screen widgets. This is an open list. Feel free to use the comments section at the end of the article to add an app to the collection.

100 Third-Part Apps That Provide Home Screen Widgets For iPhone & iPad

1. Pedometer++ (FREE) – Step Counter
2. DuckDuckGo (FREE) – Privacy, simplified.
3. Card Pointers (FREE) – Maximize rewards & cash back
4. Spend Stack ($3.99) – Lists for expenses & bills
5. Copilot: The Smart Money App (FREE) – Net worth and expense tracker
6. Nudget: Budgeting Made Simple ($2.99) – Quick entry, powerful insights
7. Pillow Automatic Sleep Tracker (FREE) – Alarm clock & sleep analysis
8. Personal Best Workouts (FREE) – Your workouts, ranked
9. HabitMinder (FREE) – Good Habit Tracker & Motivator
10. FoodNoms (FREE) – Count Calories & Track Macros
11. Slopes: Ski and Snowboard (FREE) – GPS Tracker for Snow Sports
12. WaterMinder ($4.99) – Daily Water Tracker & Reminder
13. Calory (FREE) – Calorie Counter & Food Tracker
14. Streaks ($4.99) – The habit-forming to-do list
15. HealthView (FREE) – Health & Fitness Dashboard
16. Unwind (FREE) – Wake Up, Focus, Sleep Better
17. SmartGym (FREE) – HIIT, Home, Gym Weight Lifting
18. Next: Magic DJ & Playlists ($4.99) – Rediscover your music library
19. Soor Music Player ($4.99) – A Beautiful Music Player
20. Apollo for Reddit (FREE) – The award-winning Reddit app
21. Aviary for Twitter ($4.99) – Beautiful micro-blogging
22. TripIt (FREE) – Trip & Vacation Organizer
23. Book Track — Library Manager ($4.99) – Keep track of your books
24. GameTrack (FREE) – Share your gaming life
25. Pocketdex (FREE) IV, Calc, Pokédex, PvP & Raids
26. Pennant (FREE) – Sports standings at a glance
27. LookUp: English dictionary ($5.99) – Learn a new word every day
28. Documents by Readdle (FREE) – File manager, media player
29. Day One Journal (FREE) – Your journal for life
30. PDF Expert: PDF Reader, Editor (FREE) – PDF viewer, converter, notes
31. GoodTask – To Do List Manager (FREE) – Reminders as To-do & Task app
32. Spark email (FREE) – Love your email again
33. Scanner Pro: PDF Scanner App ($3.99) – PDF Scanner, Fac and OCR
34. Drafts (FREE) – where text starts.
35. Calendars: Planner & Reminders (FREE) – Agenda, Organizer. To Do list.
36. Dice ($1.99) – The best random numbers
37. Carrot Weather ($3.99) – The crazy-powerful weather app
38. Weather Line (Free) – Super Forecast & Live Radar

Update 1: September 18
39. Robinhood: Invest. Save. Earn. (FREE) – Stocks, funds & trading tools
40. Coinbase – Buy & sell Bitcoin (FREE) – Secure cryptocurrency wallet.
41. Acorns: Invest Spare Change (FREE) – Investing. Earning. Growing.
42. Bazaart Photo Editor & Design (FREE) – Collage, Edit, Cut, Paste Pics
43. KAYAK Flights, Hotels & Cars (FREE) – Find the best travel prices
44. TripIt: Travel Planner (FREE) – Trip & Vacation Organizer
45. VectorVest Stock Advisory (FREE) – Win Trades. Make More Money.
46. World Clock Time Widget (FREE) – Global Timezone Calculator
47. Mooncast ($2.99) – Moon predictions.
48. Things 3 ($9.99) – Organize your life.
49. Blinkist: 15min Book Insights (FREE) – Business, Motivation, Politics.
50. Bring! Shopping List & Recipes (FREE) – Simple Grocery List and Wallet.

Update 2: September 19
51. Motivation – Daily quotes (FREE) – Positive reminders of the day
52. Parcel – Delivery Tracking (FREE) – Package Tracker
53. Translate Now – Translator (FREE) – Photo, Text, Voice Translator
54. Weather – The Weather Channel (FREE) – Widget with radar forecast
55. IMDb: Movies & TV Shows (FREE) – Tickets, trailers, and ratings
56. Countdown (FREE) – Day Counter: Timer & Widget
57. FotMob – Soccer Scores (FREE) – Scores, video highlights, news
58. Sweatcoin Walking Step Counter (FREE) – Pedometer app to reward health
59. Fitbod Workout & Fitness Plans (FREE) – Home & Gym Personal Trainer
60. Zero – Simple Fasting Tracker (FREE) – Fast for Whole Body Health
61. YAZIO Fasting & Food Tracker (FREE) – Calorie Counter and Diet Diary
62. Lifesum: Diet & Macro Tracker (FREE) – Weight, fitness & sports
63. NBC News: Breaking & US News (FREE) – Breaking News, Live News Video
64. Daylio Journal (FREE) – Super Easy Journal with Stats
65. Night Sky (FREE) – Guide to the Sky Above
66. Microsoft OneDrive (FREE) – File & photo cloud storage
67. Kitchen Stories Recipes (FREE) – Thousands of dishes to enjoy
68. Menstrual Period Tracker (FREE) – Ovulation and Period Calendar

Update 3: September 19
69. Zones for Training (FREE) – Heart Rate Zone Training
70. Debit & Credit (FREE) – Personal Finance Manager
71. Agenda (FREE) – Date-focused note taking
72. App in the Air (FREE) – Fly smarter
73. Twitch: Live Game Streaming (FREE) – Watch Fortnite, PUBG & IRL TV
74. Forecast Bar – Weather + Radar (FREE) – Accurate and Customizable
75. Habitify: Habit Tracker (FREE) – Daily Routine and Goal Tracker
76. Rise: Track Sleep & Circadian (FREE) – Wake up & fall asleep better
77. Period Plus Fertility Tracker (FREE) – Period Calendar Diary
78. Flow by Moleskine Studio (FREE) – Sketch. Think. Create.
79. ETA – Arrive on time ($2.99) – Driving & transit assistant
80. Citymapper: All Your Transit (FREE) – Bus, Subway, Train & MTA times
81. Class Timetable – Schedule App (FREE) – School and college organizer
82. Stepwise Pedometer (FREE) – Step Counter
83. Focus – Time Management (FREE) – Pomodoro for Professionals
84. Calory (FREE) – Calorie Counter & Food Tracker

Update 4: September 20
85. Widgetsmith (FREE) – Custom widgets with a high customization grade for iPHone Home Screen! Hot Widget!
86. Photobox Widget (FREE) – Home Screen Widget!
87. Photo Widget : Simple (FREE) – Add photo widget to iPhone Home screen.
88. Color Widgets (FREE) – Custom Widgets For iPhone. Very popular too!
89. Streaks Workout ($3.99) – For all fitness levels
90. Things 3 for iPad ($19.99) – Organize your life
91. The Weather Network (FREE) – Detailed Weather Forecast
92. Weather Widget & Radar (FREE) – Unique styles weather forecast
93. Zen: Guided Meditation & Sleep (FREE) – Anxiety Relief and Relaxation
94. Ate Food Journal – Photo Diary (FREE) – Mindful, Intuitive & Simple
95. HabitMinder (FREE) – Good Habit Tracker & Motivator
96. TickTick: To Do List & Remind (FREE) – Calendar, Reminders & Habit
97. Due – Reminders & Timers ($6.99) – Never Forget Anything Again
98. Pocket Lists (FREE) – Checklists, Tasks, Reminders
99. Timepage by Moleskine Studio (FREE) – The essential planner app
100. TuneTrack (FREE) – Music Statistics On Demand.
101. Musixmatch Lyrics Finder (FREE) – Lyrics for your music
102. News Break – Local Headlines (FREE) – Breaking & relevant stories

Update 5: September 23
103. TunnelBear: Secure VPN & Wifi (FREE) – Private Network Hotspot Proxy
104. Merriam-Webster Dictionary (FREE) – Dictionary.
105. Usage: Activity & Data Monitor (FREE) – Deep, insightsful, all-in-one
106. Stats: For Model S/X/3/Y ($34.99) –
107. Replica: Mirror Fire Stick TV (FREE) – Mirroring Android & Chromecast
108. Launcher with Multiple Widgets (FREE) – Customize your home screen
109. VinylBox – Scan Records (FREE) – Track your vinyl with Discogs
110. OpenTable (FREE) – Find Restaurant Reservations
111. MyWeather – 10-Day Forecast (FREE) – Widget, Notification & Themes
112. Quit Anger: Anger Management (FREE) – Mental Health & Selfcare Tools
113. Pocket Yoga ($2.99) – Practice yoga anywhere
114. Google (FREE) – Search news, images and videos
115. Yandex (FREE) – Fast and secure browser
116. Eventime – Event Countdown (FREE) – Countdown widget for iPhone and iPad.

iOS 14 new features

Apple has previewed the 14th iOS generation at WWDC 2020. The splash screen during the keynote highlighted fifteen iOS 14 new features for the iPhone.
The enhancements include the highly useful App Library, rich data widgets, picture-in-picture video playback and much more. All of them are showcased and detailed below.

Besides that, we’re currently testing out the Developer Beta and are looking for hidden iOS 14 features that haven’t been mentioned during the keynote and neither been published on Apple’s website.
This article is an open document and aims to contain a complete collection and include all iOS 14 new features, that will become available for your iPhone this fall!

The 15 Most Important iOS 14 New Features

iOS 14 App Library on iPhone

1. App Library

The iOS 14 App Library is an all new section available on your iPhone’s home screen. It represents the last card of the home page and has the role to provide a single, easy-to-navigate view of all apps installed on your iOS device.
The App Library is automatically curated and knows how to intelligently organize apps to provide easy access to the apps you need at a given time.
Tip: Hide iPhone home screen pages to enhance quicker access to the App Library!

iPhone Home Screen widgets in iOS 14.

2. Home Screen Widgets

In iOS 14 you can drag & drop widgets from the Today view to the iPhone’s Home screen. The widgets are data rich and come in different sizes to provide useful info at a glance. There’s a new widget gallery that allows you to browse between new widgets and sizes.
You can also create a Smart Stack of widgets. This new iOS 14 feature uses machine learning to display the most needed widget based on time of day, location and activity.
Widgets can be customized for various areas of interest like work, sports, travel, entertainment and more. For more info check out our extended tutorial!

iOS 14 Picture-in-Picture feature.

3. Picture in Picture

iOS 14 imports this new feature from iPadOS. Now you can start watching a video on your iPhone and continue watching in thumbnail-mode even when you switch for another application or screen.
You can drag the video player in any corner of the screen. Resizing is also very easy.
The picture in picture new feature even supports the pinch to zoom gesture.
Tip: Swipe video player to the side of the screen to hide it, while audio continues to be played in the background. This way you can continue to enjoy the video while tapping into your apps. A detailed look at the iOS 14 PIP feature is available here.

Compact Siri UI in iOS 14

4. Compact Siri UI

Siri gets a complete design revamp in iOS 14. Whenever you speak out something a smaller compact UI is displayed in the lower part of the screen to let you know that the command is being executed.
Siri results appear in the same format as the notifications.
In iOS 14 you can ask Siri to send an audio message. Your virtual assistant knows 3x more facts.

5. On-device dictation

In iOS 14 voice dictation is executed on device, enhancing your privacy and becoming more efficient.

iOS 14 Translate app conversation mode

6. Translate app

iOS 14 also brings a new stock app to your iPhone. Translate uses powerful neuro-language technology to instantly translate conversations between 11 languages including: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian.
What’s great is that the app works offline which ensures that your conversations are kept private.
Tip: Turn iPhone into landscape orientation to activate the handy Conversation mode. Check our Translate app how to article to get more detailed info about how to use this new addition.

7. Messages Inline Replies

The iOS 14 new features list continues with the inline reply option that’s added to the stock Messages app. You can now reply directly to a message in a group conversation. View replies in the full conversation or open their own thread for a focused view.
Tip: Mentions are now also available. Tap the name of a group member at the start of your message to make clear that you’re expecting a reply from him / her.

8. Pinned Conversations in Messages

It’s hard to manage conversations when you have many threads in Messages. iOS 14 helps out by allowing you to pin conversations.
Fact: You can pin up to 9 chats to the top of the conversation list.

9. New Memoji

iOS 14 brings new Memoji customizing options. More age groups have been added. You can also choose from over 20 new hair and headwear styles.
Fact: Face covering options to trend with the COVID-19 pandemic have also been added!

10. Messages Group Photo

iOS 14 also allows you to add a visual identity to a group conversation in Messages. You can add a Memoji or an emoji.
Fact: The unique visual identity of a group is interactive as it changes based on the participants that reply.

11. Maps Cycling directions

iOS 14 brings dedicated cycling directions to the native Maps app. Use your iPhone to find new ways to get to your destination.
Fact: Cycling directions take in account elevation, the amount of traffic on the roads. It informs you about stairs and steep passages on your route.
The Cycling directions feature a limited number of cities in the early stages.
Supported cities are: New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Shanghai and Beijing in China.

12. Maps EV routing

iOS 14 also brings EV routing to Maps. This way you can eliminate range anxiety and enjoy a stress free zero carbon emission drive.
Fact: EV routing takes in account route elevation as well as weather to provide accurate autonomy based on the electric car that you’re driving.

13. Maps Guides

iOS 14 adds the new guides feature to Maps allowing you find great places in a new location.

14. Car keys

Our iOS 14 new features list continues with the CarKey option for your iPhone. It allows you to use your Apple smartphone to lock / unlock your car, start the engine and drive off. Apple is currently working with BMW and Ford and plans to expand the digital car key option to many other brands.
Fact: The first car to support the new CarKey feature is the 2021 BMW 5 Series.

15. App Clips

Last but not least in the iOS 14 new features list we have the App Clips. Now you can download just a small part of an app. Save storage space and discover new apps light and fast. A card pops-up on your iPhone screen mentioning the app clip.
App Clips can integrate Apple Pay and you can use the Sign in with Apple feature.
App Clips can be launched from the web, Messages, NFC cards, qr code and a dedicated App Clip code that contains both visual and NFC info.
Fact: App Clips are less than 10 Mb in size. You can download full app from the App Store if you plan to use it often.

16. Redesigned Call UI

This is a bonus addition to the iOS 14 new features that have been highlighted by Apple during the WWDC 2020 keynote. Although not present on the splash screen provided above, it’s one of the most welcomed changes.
The incoming call alert notification doesn’t take up the entire screen anymore, but slides-in nicely from the top of the screen, similar to a banner notification. This way you won’t miss anything until you decide to take or decline the call.
Fact: The new iOS 14 call UI works both for cellular calls as well as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and other VoIP calls!

iOS 14 Hidden Features

This is an open list. iOS 14 beta testing is ongoing and new features are discovered daily and added to the following list. You can also use the comments section available at the end of this article and share a new feature.

1. Name Bluetooth Devices

In iOS 14 you can rename the Bluetooth devices that are paired to your iPhone in order to avoid confusion.
Third party devices can have awkwardly similar names.
Now, you can easily get rid of confusions as soon as you connect your iPhone or iPad to the specific Bluetooth loudspeaker, keyboard or any other similar device.
A tutorial that explains step-by-step how to use this hidden feature is available here.

2. Emoji Search

In iOS 14 you’re finally able to search for an emoji, instead of swiping through numerous colums and straining your eyes in the process.
Apple has imported the emoji search bar from macOS and you can now used it on any compatible iPhone. The feature is enabled by default, as long as the emoji keyboard is active on your iOS device. The emoji search bar is displayed right below the Messages app scrubber. All that you have to do is tap the search field and type the name or action of the emoji that you’re looking for.
Emoji search suggestions are also provided to help you out. All the details of this iOS 14 new feature are available here.

3. New Notifications

iOS 14 brings a series of handy notifications for the accessories that are paired with your iPhone. One of them is the alert for a fully charged Apple Watch. This way you know right away when you can get your watchOS device from the charger.
The Low Power notification for AirPods is also helpful. It let’s you know when it’s time to charger your wireless earphones. These notifications slide in as banners from the top of the screen when the iPhone is unlocked, or display on the Lock Screen if they’re generated when your iOS 14 isn’t active.

3. Sound Recognition Accessibility Feature

Our iOS 14 new features roundup continues with a very important addition. Sound Recognition allows your device to listens for specific sounds and issue alerts whenever they occur.
This is a great aid for people with hearing problems but not only. There are 14 predefined sounds to choose from, including: doorbell, siren, baby crying, water running and more.
Setup the feature by selecting which sounds your iPhone should listen for. A Sound Recognition on/off switch can also be added to the Control Center.
This and much more can be read in our complete tutorial.

4. Captions To Photos

In iOS 14 you can finally add captions to images available in the Photos app.
The new labels will sync across all your devices, as long as the iCloud Photo Library, is enabled on your other Apple devices.
Captions allow you to find a picture easier, because it integrates with the Photos search option.
How To: add a caption to a photo you only have to open Photos, browse to the image in question and swipe-up to unveil the ‘Add a Caption’ feature.

5. New Status Bar Indicators

iOS 14 hints you whenever an app is using your iPhone’s microphone or camera.
A new dot-indicator is displayed in the status bar (on the right side of the notch), just above the carrier signal. If the indicator is orange it means that the microphone is used. A green color dot signals the the iPhone camera is active.
You can check which app is using them by swiping for the Control Center. The name of the app is displayed at the top of the Control Center card.

6. AirPods Optimized Battery Charging

One of the iOS 14 new features that could pass by unnoticed is its ability to smart charge the AirPods.
Optimized Battery Charging was introduced to the iPhone in iOS 13, and more recently to macOS Catalina. The feature extends to Apple’s wireless EarPhones.
iOS 14 is able to learn your AirPods charging routine and start to reduce battery ageing, by charging the earphones to 80% and completing the full charge only when it anticipates that you will need them.

7. Return To Home In Settings

In iOS 14 you can long-press the Back button in the Settings app to return straight back to the home screen, instead of browsing back through each sub-menu branch.

8. Local Network Privacy

In iOS 14, apps need to ask and get your permission to be able to access devices from your local network.

9. Select Photos Privacy Feature

Now you can allow apps access only to a few photos from your library instead of granting access to your entire collection. The setting is called Select Photos

10. Approximate Location for Apps

Another privacy related feature allows you to share only your approximate location with apps that require your location. The feature is called Precise Location.

11. Back Tap iPhone For Quick Actions

One of the most popular hidden iOS 14 feature is called Back Tap. You can find it in the Accessibility section of the Settings menu. Asign predefined quick actions for your iPhone in case you back tap your device twice or three times. 12. Mirror Front Camera

13. Quick Take Video Feature

iOS 14 extends the Quick Take video feature to the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.

Which are your favorite iOS 14 new features? Let us know in the comments section available below.