Design language that reinforces which tier you belong to
In the quiet evolution of objects we carry daily, Apple appears poised to draw a sharper line between aspiration and accessibility. Leaked design renders suggest the standard iPhone 14 will mirror its predecessor so closely as to be nearly indistinguishable, while the Pro models shed a five-year-old design hallmark — the notch — for something new. This is less a story about phones than about how a company chooses to distribute innovation, and what that choice reveals about who it believes deserves the future first.
- Leaked CAD renders reveal the base iPhone 14 is essentially the iPhone 13 in a new box — same notch, same camera layout, only a slightly thicker glass frame to tell them apart.
- For the first time since the iPhone X arrived in 2017, Apple's Pro line is breaking free of the notch, replacing it with a compact pill-and-circle cutout that reclaims meaningful screen space.
- The divergence is deliberate: Apple appears to be engineering a visible gap between its standard and Pro tiers, using design itself as the price justification.
- Base model owners upgrading from an iPhone 12 or older will notice the difference — but iPhone 13 owners face a lineup where the case for upgrading rests almost entirely on internals, not appearance.
- With the A15 Bionic chip potentially carried over into the standard iPhone 14, the premium tier isn't just getting a new look — it may be the only tier getting a new generation of power.
Design leaks for Apple's iPhone 14 lineup are revealing two very different product philosophies living side by side. CAD renderings sourced by MySmartPrice show the base iPhone 14 carrying forward the iPhone 13's notch and diagonal rear camera layout without meaningful change — only the glass frame around the camera housing appears slightly thickened. For a product line where visual identity often drives upgrade decisions, the continuity is striking.
The divergence becomes clear at the premium tier. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are expected to retire the notch entirely — a design element Apple has carried since the iPhone X launched in 2017 — replacing it with a pill-shaped and circular cutout that occupies far less of the display. It marks the most significant visual redesign of Apple's flagship phones in five years.
Apple is planning four models in total, split across 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes, with the standard and Pro lines growing increasingly distinct. Reports suggest the base models may even retain the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, leaving newer silicon and display innovation as exclusive territory for Pro buyers.
The strategy is a familiar one in the industry: use design language to make the price ladder legible. For anyone upgrading from an iPhone 12 or earlier, the standard 14 will feel like a step forward. For iPhone 13 owners, the visual sameness removes one of the most instinctive reasons to upgrade — leaving internal refinements and camera improvements to carry the argument alone.
Design leaks for Apple's upcoming iPhone 14 lineup are painting a picture of two distinct product strategies: the standard models will look almost identical to what customers already own, while the Pro variants get the first meaningful display redesign in years.
CAD renderings obtained by MySmartPrice and attributed to industry insiders show the base iPhone 14 models carrying forward the notch design from the iPhone 13 without modification. The notch itself—which Apple had already refined on the 13 by making it taller while narrowing its width—will remain unchanged on the standard 14. The camera system on the back tells a similar story: the diagonal layout introduced with the iPhone 13 stays put, though the glass frame surrounding the camera housing appears to have been slightly thickened.
This represents a deliberate choice by Apple to minimize visual changes on its entry-level phones. The iPhone 13 itself had introduced only modest refinements over the iPhone 12, primarily reshuffling how the rear cameras were arranged. Now, with the iPhone 14, those same cameras will sit in the same positions, creating a visual continuity that spans three generations of phones.
The real divergence comes at the premium end. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to abandon the notch entirely—a significant moment for Apple's flagship line, which has carried that distinctive cutout since the iPhone X debuted in 2017. In its place, the Pro models will feature a pill-shaped and circular cutout at the top of the display, taking up considerably less screen real estate than the traditional notch. This move marks Apple's first major display redesign for its Pro phones in five years.
Apple is reportedly planning to release four iPhone 14 models total: two at 6.1 inches and two at 6.7 inches. The strategy appears designed to create clear visual and feature separation between the standard and Pro tiers. While the base models may even retain the A15 Bionic processor from the iPhone 13, the Pro variants will presumably get newer silicon and the display innovation. Camera improvements are expected across the lineup, though specifics remain unclear.
This tiered approach reflects a broader industry trend of using design language to justify price differences. By keeping the standard iPhone 14 visually similar to the 13, Apple signals that meaningful upgrades are reserved for customers willing to pay more. For those upgrading from an iPhone 12 or earlier, the changes will be noticeable enough. For iPhone 13 owners, the incentive to upgrade to a standard 14 will rest almost entirely on internal improvements and camera refinements rather than the visual transformation that typically drives upgrade cycles.
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would Apple keep the notch on the base models but remove it from the Pro phones? That seems like an odd choice.
It's actually a very deliberate strategy. By making the Pro models visually distinct, Apple creates a reason for people to pay more. The notch is iconic now—people recognize it—but it's also become a symbol of older iPhones. Removing it from Pro signals premium status.
But doesn't that frustrate people who buy the standard iPhone 14 and see their phone looks identical to the 13?
Probably. But Apple is betting that most people upgrading are coming from older phones, not the 13. And for those who do have a 13, the internal improvements—processor, camera—are the real story. The design language just reinforces the tier.
So the notch stays because it's cheaper to manufacture?
Partly that. But also because changing it on the base model would require redesigning the entire display assembly. Apple is essentially saying: if you want the new display tech, you buy Pro. It's a clean way to segment the market.
What about people who just want a smaller phone with the new design?
That's the tension. Apple isn't offering that combination. You get the new display cutout only in the larger Pro sizes. It's a trade-off built into the product lineup itself.