iPhone 14

World’s top 7 bestselling smartphones are iPhones

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iPhone 14 in a MagSafe case
iPhone 14 is the world's top-selling smartphone.
Photo: MagEasy

For the first time, iPhones captured the top seven out of 10 spots on a list of bestselling smartphones worldwide, according to Counterpoint Research.

And guess what? iPhone 15 series handsets enter the list not at the top, but at No. 5. Many markets place a greater value on less expensive handsets.

iPhone becomes China’s top-selling smartphone for first time

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iPhone took the top spot for smartphones sales in China for the first time.
iPhone took the top spot for smartphones sales in China for the first time.
Photo: Apple

Just as Apple overtook Samsung as the worldwide smartphone leader in 2023, iPhone also became China’s favorite smartphone during that timeframe, according to a new report Thursday from International Data Tracker (IDC).

Apple captured 17.3% of China’s smartphone market in 2023, up from 16.8% in 2022 — albeit in a shrinking marketplace where smartphone shipments declined 5% overall, but with signs of recovery showing up late in the year.

How to contact emergency services via satellite with iPhone 14 and iPhone 15

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Apple launches free Emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models
Your iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 can save your neck by sending out an SOS for help over a satellite connection.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

If you recently got a new iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 as a gift, it’s time to test one of its best abilities: Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service. This allows users of these iOS handsets to exchange messages with emergency services while outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

Getting a 2022 or 2023 iPhone in contact with a satellite isn’t complicated. But it’s something users should know before they need it.

Here’s how the process goes.

Nab killer holiday deals on iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and Beats

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Best Buy sale Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best Buy offers $50 off Apple Watch Ultra 2, among many other bargains.
Photo: Apple

While Best Buy offers great deals on MacBooks, iMacs, Macs mini and iPads in its Apple Sales Event for the holidays, you can also score good deals on iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. See the selection below, or check out the whole sale here.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

MagEasy iPhone 14 cases go for glamour and toughness

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MagEasy glams it up a bit with one of its new iPhone 14 cases.
MagEasy glams it up a bit with one of its new iPhone 14 cases.
Photo: MagEasy

If you have an iPhone 14, you may want to protect it with a new case. MagEasy offers an interesting selection of options, from glamorous to rugged (but without the bulk). You’ll also find four screen protectors and a portable stand in the mix.

You can see the whole MagEasy iPhone 14 collection in the Cult of Mac Store. And they’re on sale now!

Nab any SwitchEasy iPhone 14 case for 20% off

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What's classier than marble?
What's classier than marble?
Photo: SwitchEasy

Attention iPhone 14 owners: Don’t miss the SwitchEasy sale on all iPhone 14 cases and accessories in the Cult of Mac Store. You can save 20% on any of 10 different cases to protect and dress up your fabulous Apple handset.

The cases cover the bases from tough and functional to highly decorative. There are regular cases as well as MagSafe options. Check out some highlights below. And 20% off saves you about $6 on many of the cases.

Last call for 30% off great Laut accessories for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and more

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It comes in a nice array of colors.
It comes in a nice array of colors.
Photo: Laut

It’s that time of year when Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem to stretch for days and days. The Cult of Mac Store is offering 30% off a range of wonderful Laut accessories for Apple products through the end of the day Monday.

You can pick up a protective and colorful folio for your iPad, a luxurious steel mesh Apple Watch band, an iPhone 14 camera lens protector or a bike saddle mount for AirTag at great prices. See the whole Laut collection and some highlights below.

iPhone 15 handily beats iPhone 14 in 5G download speed tests

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The iPhone 15 Series modem chip upgrade resulted in appropriately faster 5G downloads.
The iPhone 15 Series modem chip upgrade resulted in appropriately faster 5G downloads.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iPhone 15 Series handsets released in September smoke iPhone 14 handsets by up to 54% in 5G download speeds, new tests released Wednesday showed.

Given the modem chipset upgrade in the newer models, the results aren’t surprising. But it’s always reassuring when the new gear performs as advertised.

iPhone 14 gets another year of free Emergency SOS via satellite

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iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
Photo: Apple

Apple is extending free Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 Pro series for another year. The company initially promised two years of free access for the phones when they launched in 2022.

Emergency SOS via satellite allows the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series to connect to emergency services without mobile network or Wi-Fi access.

iPhone SE 4 could look a lot like iPhone 14

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iPhone 14
The iPhone SE 4 might look very much like the iPhone 14.
Photo: Apple

A new report sheds light on the iPhone SE 4’s design and camera setup. Apple’s next budget iPhone will use a modified iPhone 14 chassis that’s slightly lighter.

Based on the current development status, Apple’s next budget iPhone is unlikely to launch before 2025.

Get up to 35% off big selection of eye-catching iPhone cases

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SwitchEasy's MagEasy lineup of iPhone cases is on sale.
SwitchEasy's MagEasy lineup of iPhone cases is on sale.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If you have an iPhone, you should probably protect that expensive gadget from drops and scrapes with a case. And it’ll change up your handset’s look, too. Good thing SwitchEasy is having a big sale on its MagEasy lineup — one case for 20% off and an additional 15% off when you buy two cases.

The collection on sale includes a variety of cases for iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11 and SE. Just remember to use coupon code cultofmac on the product page when you buy.

iPhone 14 Pro Max tops worldwide smartphone sales in first half of 2023

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iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max brought big-time camera-system upgrades.
Apple's Pro iPhones are seling really well!
Photo: Leander

The iPhone 14 Pro Max emerged as the most-shipped smartphone worldwide in the first half of 2023, according to the latest estimates. Apple reportedly shipped 26.5 million units of its most expensive phone.

The company’s smaller iPhone 14 Pro came in as the second-most-shipped smartphone globally, followed by the regular iPhone 14.

New ArcField MagSafe charger powers up iPhone fast

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It's a potent little charger with a built-in kickstand.
It's a potent little charger with a built-in kickstand.
Photo: Spigen

Using older magnetic chargers, lots of folks still charge their iPhones at a pokey rate of 7.5 watts. So it’s good news Spigen just rolled out its first 15W MagSafe device, the ArcField Wireless Charger.

You can use it to quick-charge any MagSafe iPhone 12, 13 or 14 handset, and it’ll juice up an AirPods Pro charging case at 5W.

iPhone 15 might be freaky fast in sneaky ways [The CultCast]

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The CultCast episode 608: iPhone 15 - Freaky Fast?!?
The iPhone 15 might slay when it comes to data transfers and charging times.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We always expect Apple silicon to make our smartphones faster, but iPhone 15 could be a speed demon in unsuspected ways. Like, it might deliver 80 times faster data transfers through the port that replaces Lightning. Anyone who moves large files around should be thrilled with the latest iPhone 15 rumor. And that’s not all …

Also on The CultCast:

  • iPhone 15 might charge at extreme speeds, too.
  • Why is iPhone 14 taking a beating over its battery life?
  • Next year’s Apple Watch X could bring the major redesign we’ve all been waiting for.
  • Erfon does a surprise live unboxing of a great gift sent in by a CultCast listener.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Moment beefs up whole lens lineup for growing iPhone cameras

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Got an iPhone 13 or newer? The bigger T-Series lenses should suit you.
Got an iPhone 13 or newer? The bigger T-Series lenses should suit you.
Photo: Moment

Moment said Wednesday its whole lineup of popular smartphone cameras lenses is getting bigger and bolder to suit growing handset cameras like iPhone’s, including the upcoming iPhone 15 series.

The new T-Series comprises eight lenses that are new versions of the company’s M-Series, which came out to widespread acclaim in 2017.

Emergency SOS via Satellite saves family from Maui wildfires

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iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
Photo: Apple

iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite got credit for saving lives Wednesday when it was the only way a family trapped in a van amid raging wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii, could call for help.

The service has brought aid to plenty of people in need so far in its short life, since launch in 2022. This emergency seemed even more fraught than many, as you can see from the frantic texts shown in a post on X below.

iPhone 14 Crash Detection saves man after car plummets 400 feet

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iPhone 14 Crash Detection saves man after car plummets 400 feet
iPhone 14 Crash Detection couldn’t have the car, but it could save the driver.
Composite Photo: Mike Leum

The iPhone 14’s ability to tell when it’s been a car crash saved the life of a California man after he drove off a cliff and fell 400 feet. The Crash Detection feature automatically called for emergency assistance.

One of the rescuers says the man probably would have died without the quick aid made possible by the iPhone.

Funny new Apple ad highlights long, long battery life of iPhone 14 Plus

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Funny new Apple ad highlights long, long battery life of iPhone 14 Plus
This guy has all day to listen to his favorite rappers on his iPhone 14 Plus.
Screenshot: Apple

Battery for Miles, a just-released advert for Apple, stars an elderly farmer driving a tractor and listening to Ludacris on his iPhone … as one does. He’s many hours from his destination but he doesn’t care — his iPhone 14 Plus has all the battery life he needs.

Apple also premiered Crash Test to advertise the iPhone’s Crash Detection feature.

Safeguard iPhone with this ultra-thin new screen protector

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BodyGuardz Apex screen protector
The company said the durable screen protector is 15% thinner than many others.
Photo: BodyGuardz

BodyGuardz unveiled a new smartphone screen protector called Apex recently, calling it “the industry’s only screen protector solution engineered with CrystalCore technology.” It described a process that makes the protector exceptionally thin and strong.

“Apex glass undergoes a rigorous mixing and baking process that reinforces the density of its crystalline structure, offering unrivaled protection for the latest smartphone models,” the company said.

iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature expands to Australia and New Zealand

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Apple launches free Emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models
Starting Tuesday, an iPhone 14 can now communicate with satellites.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is expanding Emergency SOS via satellite to two new countries: Australia and New Zealand. If you use an iPhone 14, you can enjoy this life-saving feature for free for the next two years.

The feature allows your iPhone to contact emergency services through text messages when you are out of mobile network range.