The notch takes an exit for a better approach
Since 2017, the notch has been as much a part of the iPhone's identity as the Apple logo itself — a deliberate imperfection that the world learned to accept. Now, with CAD renderings pointing toward a punch-hole and pill-shaped cutout for the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple appears ready to close that chapter, pairing the visual refinement with titanium construction and a 48MP camera leap that signals the Pro line is being asked to carry more of the brand's ambition than ever before. The shift is less about a hole in a screen and more about where Apple believes the boundary between its tiers should fall.
- Apple's most recognizable design signature — the notch — is being retired after five years, replaced by a smaller punch-hole and pill-shaped cutout that promises cleaner, more symmetrical screen edges.
- The change isn't cosmetic alone: titanium replaces stainless steel in the chassis, and the main camera is rumored to jump from 12MP to 48MP, with potential 8K video recording raising the stakes considerably.
- The most disruptive move may be internal — reserving the new A16 Bionic chip exclusively for Pro models while standard iPhone 14 variants reportedly run the older A15, drawing a sharper performance line than Apple has historically maintained.
- Despite years of portless speculation, a Lightning port remains on the bottom edge, suggesting Apple is pacing its departures carefully — one familiar element surrendered at a time.
- The renderings, sourced from the typically reliable 91mobiles, position the iPhone 14 Pro as a device where the premium is no longer implied but architecturally enforced.
Apple's next Pro iPhone is set to retire one of its most enduring design signatures. CAD renderings from 91mobiles show the iPhone 14 Pro replacing the notch — present on every iPhone since 2017 — with a punch-hole camera opening and an adjacent pill-shaped sensor cluster. The result is a front face with symmetrical bezels on all four sides, a visual tidiness the notch never allowed. The screen holds at 6.1 inches, so the change is one of refinement rather than scale.
The upgrades run deeper than the display. Apple is expected to move the Pro and Pro Max to a titanium chassis, a step up from the stainless steel of recent generations that would meaningfully improve durability and prestige. The rear camera system retains its large square housing with three lenses, LiDAR, and flash, but the main sensor is rumored to climb to 48 megapixels — a dramatic leap from the 12MP standard — potentially enabling 8K video. A Lightning port remains on the bottom edge, confirming that a fully portless iPhone is still a future-tense proposition.
Perhaps the most consequential shift is invisible to the eye. The A16 Bionic chip is expected to be exclusive to Pro models, while the standard iPhone 14 lineup would continue on the A15 — possibly under a new name. This would establish a clearer performance hierarchy than Apple has enforced in recent memory, giving the Pro designation a harder technical edge to justify its premium. Taken together, the changes suggest Apple is less interested in incremental refinement this cycle and more focused on making the Pro line feel like a genuinely separate product.
Apple's next flagship iPhone is shedding one of its most recognizable features. New CAD renderings obtained by 91mobiles offer the clearest look yet at the iPhone 14 Pro, and they show the company abandoning the notch—that distinctive black cutout that has defined the top of iPhones since 2017—in favor of a smaller punch-hole camera opening paired with a pill-shaped sensor cluster beside it.
The front of the device reveals symmetrical bezels across all four edges, a cleaner aesthetic than the notch allowed. The power button sits on the right side, while the volume rocker, SIM tray, and mute slider occupy the left. The screen itself maintains the same 6.1-inch diagonal as the iPhone 13 Pro, so users shouldn't expect a size change, only a visual refinement in how that screen is interrupted.
What's more striking is what Apple plans to do with the materials and internals. The iPhone 14 Pro and its larger sibling, the Pro Max, are expected to use a titanium chassis instead of the stainless steel of previous generations—a move that would increase durability and signal a meaningful step up in build quality. The rear camera module, a large square housing on the back, will contain three lenses, an LED flash, a microphone, and a LiDAR sensor, much like the current generation. But the main camera sensor is rumored to jump to 48 megapixels, a significant increase from the 12MP standard in recent Pro models, and the device may gain 8K video recording capability.
The bottom edge shows speaker grills, a microphone, and a Lightning port—confirming that Apple is not yet ready to abandon wired charging entirely, despite years of speculation about a portless iPhone. The overall silhouette remains familiar, but the design shifts are concentrated where they matter most: the screen, the materials, and the camera system.
The real dividing line between Pro and standard models, however, may be under the hood. Apple is expected to make the new A16 Bionic chip exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max variants. The regular iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max would instead use the older A15 Bionic processor, possibly rebranded as the A15X. This would create a clearer performance tier than Apple has maintained in recent years, giving Pro buyers a tangible reason to pay the premium beyond the camera and design upgrades.
These renderings come from 91mobiles, a source that has proven reliable in the past when it comes to iPhone design leaks. The punch-hole design itself is not new—Samsung and other manufacturers have used it for years—but for Apple, it represents a departure from the notch that became synonymous with the iPhone's identity. Whether users will welcome the change or mourn the loss of a familiar design element remains to be seen, but the move suggests Apple is confident the visual shift, combined with the titanium build and camera improvements, will justify the next generation.
Notable Quotes
Apple is expected to shift away from the notch in favor of a punch-hole plus pill approach— 91mobiles CAD render analysis
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would Apple finally abandon the notch now, after five years of making it iconic?
Because the notch was always a compromise. It was the best Apple could do while fitting Face ID sensors into a narrow space. Now they've figured out how to shrink those sensors, so they can use a smaller punch-hole. It's not innovation—it's refinement.
But doesn't the pill-shaped cutout look awkward? Two separate holes instead of one?
It does at first glance, but it's actually clever. The pill houses the Face ID sensors, and the punch-hole is just the camera. They're separate because they do different things. Once you see it in person, your eye probably adjusts faster than you'd think.
The titanium chassis—is that just marketing, or does it actually matter?
It matters. Titanium is stronger and lighter than stainless steel. It's what luxury watches use. Apple is signaling that the Pro is genuinely a different product, not just a bigger phone with a better camera.
So the real story is the A16 chip being exclusive to Pro models?
That's the story nobody's talking about yet. If Apple locks the newest processor to Pro only, they're creating a performance gap that can't be bridged by buying a bigger standard iPhone. That's a shift in strategy.
Will anyone actually care about the 48MP camera?
Not the megapixel number itself. But 48MP allows for better cropping, better detail in prints, and more flexibility in post-processing. Combined with 8K video, it's a real upgrade for people who use their phone as a serious camera.
And the Lightning port stays?
For now. Everyone expected wireless-only by now, but Apple's not ready. Maybe they're waiting for MagSafe to mature, or maybe they know people still want the option to charge and use headphones at the same time.