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Apple iPhone 14 review

iPhone 14 review: More of a good thing
The iPhone 14 is officially here, and the story is more of the same. Apple’s latest smartphone is both the best new iPhone for most people ready to upgrade, and a pretty iterative improvement that owners of last year’s model can skip. But if you fall into the former camp, you’ll find a lot to love here.
The iPhone 14’s big changes include an improved camera system with some especially great video tricks as well as a range of handy safety features that could someday save your life. When you couple that with the beautiful design, great display and long battery life that we’ve come to expect from the entry-level iPhone, you’ve got a great $799 device for first-time iPhone buyers — or those who haven’t upgraded in a few years.
But is the iPhone 14 the right fit for you? I spent a week using it as my main handset — playing games, hopping on calls and taking tons of pictures in the process — to help figure that out.
Apple iPhone 14 The best iPhone for most people Apple The iPhone 14 is the best new iPhone for most people, particularly if you're coming from an iPhone 12 or older. Those willing to invest in a more significant upgrade should go with the iPhone 14 Pro. From $799 at Apple From $799 at Best Buy
What we liked about it
Same great look and feel
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 looks and feels a whole lot like last year’s model, and that’s not entirely a bad thing. As someone who typically uses the chunkier Pro models, I love how much lighter the 6-ounce iPhone 14 is — it’s the kind of device that feels great to pick up and hold. And while its aluminum design isn’t quite as strong and sturdy as the stainless steel iPhone 14 Pro, it certainly doesn’t feel cheap. The iPhone 14’s 6.1-inch frame was the perfect size for my hands and kept me comfortable throughout long hours of social media scrolling, though folks who want something bigger can hold out for the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus coming on Oct. 7.
The standard iPhone also remains beautiful, with aluminum edges and a glass rear panel that create a stylish two-tone aesthetic. I especially appreciate the blue model I’ve been testing out, though you can also pick the phone up in purple, Midnight, Starlight and the usual extra-bold Product Red variation if those are more your thing. Just be sure to grab an iPhone 14 case for this phone — that shiny glass panel is a major fingerprint magnet.
Great cameras that shine in low light — and on video
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 has an upgraded dual-lens camera system that’s enhanced by some fancy new software magic called the Photonic Engine. Instead of bogging you down with every single spec, I’ll make it simple: The new iPhone is designed to capture wider, more detailed photos (particularly for moving subjects), offers improved flash, promises far better low-light photography and can even auto-stabilize your shaky videos. In real-world use, this all translated to a camera that was a joy to use during my daily adventures — even if it didn’t always feel like a massive leap over the iPhone 13.
Apple’s latest iPhone was predictably great in well-lit outdoor settings, taking vibrant and color-accurate shots of New York’s East River that captured the sun’s reflection on the water without making things look blown out. The copious portrait mode shots I captured of my dog looked professional and packed with detail, effortlessly blurring the background out while keeping the focus on her unamused face. From a distant shot of a large orange sculpture to a close-up of green leaves that let me see every single vein, the iPhone 14 excelled at both distant and intimate shots of outdoor scenery.
But that’s the easy stuff. I was far more impressed by the iPhone 14’s stellar low-light performance, which captured more detail than a phone has any right to — all in minimal to no light. The photos I took of a plate of Mexican food under dim restaurant lighting looked good enough to eat, and the colors of a red, white and blue-painted boat popped gorgeously against the black night sky. When I shot into what looked like complete darkness while walking along a river, I was blown away to see a photo with a highly visible sky, water and distant land that looked like it was captured in the early evening. I didn’t immediately notice a huge difference when comparing this shot across my iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 Mini, but the newer iPhone did create a slightly clearer, wider picture — likely thanks to that new ultrawide lens. Apple’s new iPhone also fared well against the Samsung Galaxy S22+ in low light, capturing outdoor signage and greenery more clearly and prominently during an evening stroll around a busy street.
Mike Andronico/CNN
Since we’re not going to stop FaceTiming and creating TikTok videos anytime soon, Apple upgraded the front-facing TrueDepth camera with autofocus for keeping your face sharp from any distance and a faster aperture for better low-light shots. Even with those upgrades, the selfies I took on the iPhone 14 and 13 looked practically identical, with both phones capturing my slightly sunburned skin and every tiny strand of my scraggly beard. The Galaxy S22+ beat out both phones in terms of sheer detail, but also had a colder color temperature that looked less true to life. Low-light and portrait selfies on the iPhone 14 were likewise great, though you’re likely going to benefit most from the new front camera if you take lots of group shots.
One of the iPhone 14’s biggest camera upgrades can be found in the video department, thanks to a new Action mode that’s designed to keep your videos stable even as you’re capturing some fast-moving action (such as sports) — or are in the middle of some yourself. I tested this feature while taking a brisk walk around my neighborhood — intentionally letting my phone bounce around in my hand — and was shocked to see the completely smooth POV video that was the end result. If you typically use a gimbal or grip while out capturing busy scenes, you just might be able to leave that extra stuff at home.
iPhone 14 Pro w o Action Mode
iPhone 14 Pro Max with Action mode on
The iPhone 14 also offers smoother zoom during video capture, which is another great upgrade for those who take lots of active clips. When reviewing videos I took while zooming in and out of a distant building, the iPhone 14 provided drastically smoother motion than the 13 when going back and forth, with the Galaxy S22 sitting somewhere in the middle. As someone who takes lots of clips at concerts — sometimes zooming halfway through to get a better view — I personally love this feature.
These smart camera upgrades are joined by all of the same extras we loved on the iPhone 13, including Photographic Styles (which are basically fancy filters) and Cinematic mode, which allows you to play with depth of field for TV- and movie-like footage. The latter has even been upgraded to let you use the Cinematic effect in 4K. Overall, the iPhone 14 is a fantastic camera phone, and while the upgrades over the iPhone 13 aren’t always obvious, those who shoot lots of video — and especially those coming from an iPhone 12 or older — will enjoy a nice bump in overall quality.
Superb battery life
Mike Andronico/CNN
Apple touts the iPhone 14 as having “all-day” battery life, and based on my testing so far, that’s not hyperbole. After a full day where I traveled across states, took tons of photos and did plenty of social media posting, I came home at close to 1 in the morning still with 26% battery left to go. All in all, Apple’s latest phone got me through 28 total hours of standard use before I had to plug a charger in, so you can confidently leave your wires at home when you head out for the day.
Very good performance and display, but not the best on an iPhone
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 is more of the same on the display and performance front, which is to say that it still has a beautiful screen and is still ridiculously fast. Movies and shows looked great on the phone’s 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, particularly while taking in the crackling neon blues, reds and yellows that filled the screen during the epic final battle of “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” The iPhone 14’s display isn’t quite as exciting as that of its Pro counterpart (more on that later), but it remains a fantastic canvas for bingeing TV and catching up on your TikTok feed.
Playing games on the iPhone 14 was likewise a blast, thanks to a combination of that great screen and a speedy A15 Bionic processor that allowed demanding, console-like titles like Asphalt 9 and NBA 2K22 to run without a hitch. Speaking of performance, I never ran into any slowdown or major issues when taking tons of hi-res pictures or rapidly bouncing between my usual apps like Instagram, Twitter, Discord and Slack.
There’s just one catch: The iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip is virtually the same one that debuted in last year’s iPhone 13 series, and not the faster A16 Bionic found in the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. That likely won’t matter for most people — the new base iPhone zips through everyday tasks with ease — but if you’re a yearly upgrader hoping for a meaningful performance increase, you may be disappointed.
The A15 Bionic did get a slight graphics bump for the iPhone 14 that allows for Cinematic mode videos at 4K and 24 frames per second as well as better sustained performance for heavy tasks like gaming. But when looking at our benchmark scores, this is more or less the same iPhone from last year on the speed front.
On Geekbench 5 — which gauges overall performance — the iPhone 14 scored nearly identically to the iPhone 13, offering slightly better single-core scores (for simpler tasks) than its predecessor but falling back a bit on multi-core speeds. However, we saw a fairly significant gap between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro on our tests, with the latter phone beating its lower-end sibling by upward of 100 points. The iPhone 14 is still one of the fastest phones you can buy — and beat out recent flagships like the Galaxy S22 Ultra and OnePlus 10 Pro across the board — but those who want to be as future-proofed as possible for heavy multitasking may want to look toward the Pro.
Promising safety features
New iPhone 14 satellite connectivity feature. Apple
Two of the most significant upgrades to the entire iPhone 14 line are Crash Detection and Emergency SOS, both of which have the potential to save lives in a dire situation.
Available now, Crash Detection uses your phone’s various sensors to detect when you may have been in a car crash, and can automatically contact emergency services as well as your emergency contacts if you’re unresponsive. Emergency SOS via satellite, which is coming in November, allows you to text emergency services via satellite when you’re somewhere without cellular service (we’ve all had that dreaded no signal moment in the countryside, after all). And even if you’re not in a bind, this technology also lets you share your location with family members and friends via Find My for peace of mind while you’re somewhere with spotty signal, such as out on a hike.
I hope I never have to use Crash Detection or Emergency SOS via satellite, but I like knowing my phone is equipped with more tools for keeping me safe. And as someone who’s dealt with frustrating loss of signal at concert venues and in small towns, it can’t hurt to have a new way to let my close contacts know where I’m at.
What we didn’t like about it
It’s more of the same
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Mike Andronico/CNN
While the iPhone 14 has some great new features — particularly Action mode and the new safety options — it’s easy to imagine the average shopper picking up this device and not being able to tell what’s new over last year’s model. Other than a different range of color options, it looks nearly identical to the iPhone 13, and packs the same processor and display as its predecessor.
The iPhone 14 looks especially iterative when put next to the iPhone 14 Pro, which is one of the biggest leaps forward for the iPhone in quite a while. Apple’s premium iPhone brings some significant upgrades to the mix, including an always-on display for seeing important info at a glance, a massively improved 48-megapixel camera and the awesome Dynamic Island, which is a sleeker front camera module that can morph itself to show you important info. I’ve been testing both phones, and while I’m really enjoying the iPhone 14 (and its lighter weight), I’m reminded of all the cool new stuff I’m missing out on every time I pick up the 14 Pro.
eSIM may be a pain for some
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 is the first iPhone to completely ditch the physical SIM card in favor of eSIM, which is essentially a virtual token that carries your phone number and carrier information. Using eSIM is a breeze, and if you buy your phone through a carrier, it’ll be ready for you right out of the box. Transferring eSIMs between phones is as simple as heading to the settings menu and performing a few taps, and I’ve had no problem bouncing mine between various iPhone 14 models during this review period.
However, the lack of a physical SIM card could prove to be a major pain point for frequent international travelers, as not all international carriers support this new format. That could change quickly — the industry often adapts around Apple’s products — but it might pose an issue overseas right now.
“People using prepaid SIMs and MVNOs that don’t support eSIM will have to wait — likely only a few months, because this is a forcing issue that will have to be addressed quickly,” said Techsponential president and lead analyst Avi Greengart when we asked him about the issue a few weeks back. “Frequent international travelers will need to adopt new habits; instead of buying a prepaid SIM from a kiosk, they’ll buy an eSIM from an app.”
If you’re wondering if your iPhone 14 will support your international plan, you can check out a full list of wireless carriers that currently support eSIM activation here.
How it compares
iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Pro Galaxy S22 Display 6.1-inch 2532 x 1170 Super Retina XDR display 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 Super Retina XDR display with always-on 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with always-on Refresh rate 60Hz 120Hz 120Hz Processor Apple A15 Bionic Apple A16 Bionic Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Storage 128GB / 256GB 512GB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB 128GB / 256GB Rear camera 48-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 12-megapixel telephoto 12-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide 12-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel wide and 10-megapixel telephoto Front camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 10-megapixel Size and weight 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches, 6.07 ounces 5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches, 7.27 ounces 2.7 x 5.7 x 0.29 inches; 0.37 pounds Colors Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Product Red, Blue Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold, Bora Purple Price $799 $799 $799
Bottom line
The iPhone 14 is more evolution than revolution, and for some buyers, that’ll be perfectly good enough. Apple’s latest entry-level phone takes fantastic pictures, can last all day on a charge and packs a great display, all within a beautiful and lightweight design that feels good to use for hours at a time, and it’s still faster than the vast majority of phones you can buy, despite not packing Apple’s latest and greatest processor.
Unless you’re really keen on having things like Action mode for video or some promising safety features, most people with an iPhone 13 can skip this year’s iteration. And if you’re willing to invest in something truly new and exciting, the $999 iPhone 14 Pro is a far bigger leap forward, particularly in the display and camera department. Those who want a larger 6.7-inch screen — but not the larger $1,099 price tag of the iPhone 14 Pro Max — can hold out for the $899 iPhone 14 Plus, which has the same features as the standard 14 but on a bigger canvas.
But for everyone else in the “ready to upgrade and looking to spend less than $1,000” camp, and especially those with an iPhone 11 or older, the iPhone 14 is just about the best smartphone that $799 can buy.
iPhone 14 Pro reviews: Dynamic Island in real-life, Always-On display tidbits, camera reactions
The first reviews of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are here. Ahead of pre-orders arriving to buyers on Friday, these early reviews provide our first in-depth look at the iPhone 14 Pro camera upgrades, the new Dynamic Island design, the Always-On Display, and much more.
The consensus among early reviews is that the Dynamic Island proves impressive despite still being in its early days. The camera upgrades also appear to live up to Apple’s hype, but some people have issue with the Always-On display.
Reviews: iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Display
The Verge has some interesting thoughts on the iPhone 14 Pro’s new Always-On display. Interestingly, Nilay Patel says that the Always-On display is … “a little too on,” and it looks like his phone is “awake all the time.”
At long last, Apple added an always-on display mode to the iPhone 14 Pro, which, well, Android phones have had always-on displays for a long time now. It’s fine! The display refresh rate drops to just one hertz, and the brightness goes extremely low to save battery life. Apple’s done some nice work to keep wallpaper colors accurate in the low-power always-on mode, but honestly, I would prefer a Pixel-style black and white clock to something that sort of looks like my phone is awake all the time. I hope we see some customization options here in the future.
CNBC also points out that the Apple TV Remote within iOS when the iPhone 14 Pro is idle, thanks to the the Always-On display.
Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal says that she didn’t notice any impact on battery life with the Always-On display, particularly on the iPhone 14 Pro Max:
For those of us who use our phones as a watch, I predict thousands of phone taps a year saved. Plus, it didn’t impact battery life in a noticeable way. After a long, harsh day shooting my review video on an actual island—nonstop camera and video use—the Pro conked out around 7:30 The Pro Max was still kicking when I went to bed. You can turn off the always-on display to eke out even more battery.
Image Credit: Gizmodo
Dynamic Island
Gizmodo has high praise for the iPhone 14 Pro and its new Dynamic Island, saying it makes “ditching Android mode tempting than ever.” The review also confirms that while most third-party apps don’t yet integrate with the Dynamic Island, media apps like Spotify can because it’s based on the existing Now Playing feature. More support will come from third-party apps later this year when Live Activities launch.
You can concurrently access two apps at a time from the Dynamic Island. Simply tap to expand it. The process is quite fluid, and it’s nice not to worry about swiping down when trying to access something, as I would on an Android device with its notification shade. You can also use it to determine if something is playing in the background or through your headphones. Would I like Apple to figure out how to shrink that part of the screen so there’s nothing there? Absolutely. Remember, I come from the land of hole-punch cameras, so I’m used to seeing most of the screen when I’m scrolling vertically. When used in landscape mode, apps like YouTube will letterbox the video so that the Dynamic Island doesn’t block out part of the view. But in portrait mode, the pill-shaped island is extremely obvious.
In his video review, Marques Brownlee also has a cool breakdown of everything the Dynamic Island is capable of today:
Image credit: MKBHD
System alerts and notifications:
Incoming call
AirPods connected
Face ID
Apple Pay
CarKey
AirDrop
Watch unlock
Low battery
Charging
Silent switch ON/OFF
NFC interactions
AirPlay
Focus changes
Shortcuts
Airplane mode/no data alert
SIM card alerts
Accessories connect
Find My
Live Activities:
Ongoing call
SharePlay
Music/Now playing apps
Timer
Maps directions
Voice memos
Screen Recording
Personal Hotspot
Indicators:
Microphone
Camera
Now Playing:
Spotify
Stitcher
Audible
Amazon Music
NPR One
Overcast
Pandora
YouTube Music
SoundCloud
CallKit:
WhatsApp
Google Voice
Instagram
Skype
Writing for The Street, Jake Krol likens the new Dynamic Island to “a command center” for quick access to key information:
It feels like a command central of sorts that gives you access to key information, while within other apps or just navigating around the interface. Say you start a timer to know when your covid antigen test is ready, you can start the timer, and see it at the top with the time going down at the top while you’ve moving between apps. Same goes for playing music within Apple Music, but also within Spotify or Apple Music. iOS 16 and the Dynamic Island will even place multiple apps together at the top. And when Live Activities launch in a later version of iOS 16, you can expect some more third-party applications to take advantage and make use of the dynamic island. Think sport scores up-top, monitoring a flight’s path, or even tracking a driver coming to pick you up. The opticians are literally endless.
Deep purple and space black
Gizmodo also praises the new Deep Purple color of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Apple sent me the Pro Max in Deep Purple, and I am in love. Several times, I’ve commented that this is the smartphone color for goth girls worldwide. It’s not as purple as the photos I’ve included here depict it being. It’s more of a subdued violet compared to, for example, the lavender-purple casing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
As for the new space black color, here’s what Raymond Wong at Input has to say:
My iPhone 14 Pro review unit is Space Black. I love it. The glass back and the stainless steel frame are noticeably darker than the gray Graphite iPhone 13 Pro; like a mix between the black and Jet Black iPhone 7. My iPhone 14 Pro Max review unit is Deep Purple; it’s a dark purple that sometimes looks gray or black. Both look sleek in person; both are still fingerprint magnets. You can also get them in silver and gold.
Performance
Tom’s Guide has some in-depth benchmark results from the new A16 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, starting with Geekbench numbers:
Single-core Multi-core iPhone 14 Pro Max A16 Bionic 1,882 5,333 iPhone 13 Pro Max A15 Bionic 1,720 4,549
Here are results from 3D Mark:
Single-core Multi-core iPhone 14 Pro Max A16 Bionic 12,363 74 iPhone 13 Pro Max A15 Bionic 11,418 68.3
Camera upgrades
Image samples courtesy of Engadget
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature major upgrades to the camera, including a new Main camera with a 48MP sensor. Apple then uses pixel binning to combine these pixels into groups of four. Engadget isn’t quite sold on the camera upgrades, though:
In fact, most of the photos I took from the iPhone 14 Pro and 13 Pro are basically indistinguishable. Sometimes images from the newer phone were brighter, sometimes they weren’t. The 13 Pro delivers pictures that are slightly cooler with more saturated colors, and I frequently preferred its results. All three phones were adept at keeping details crisp even in shadows. The lines inside the roof of a shelter were sharp when I magnified the pictures. When I used the telephoto lens to zoom in to 3x, though, the iPhone 14 Pro produced the brightest image. It also delivered the punchiest colors on some graffiti under an overpass. However, sometimes the iPhone 14 Pro actually does worse than the 13 Pro and Pixel. In my shots of a park, the 14 Pro had the least saturated greens. In general, the quad-binning of the 48-MP sensor doesn’t seem to drastically improve image quality, at least in daylight. A similar story can be told of the cameras in low light. In one example, the iPhone 14 Pro’s shots had the most accurate color and cleanest details, beating the Pixel 6 Pro at capturing the individual lines on a leaf. But Google’s flagship did a better job with a picture of a bright bar in a dim restaurant. It clearly captured individual leaves on a potted plant on a shelf, while the same part of the picture was shrouded in shadow when shot with the iPhone 14 Pro.
CNET says this results in a “12-megapixel photo that’s brighter, has less image noise and better detail.”
The main camera takes excellent photos: The image quality and details are great for a phone. I noticed the most improvement is in medium and low-light situations: Colors look good and textures are great. Check out the photo below, which I took on a foggy morning in San Francisco. Notice the textures in the buildings’ bricks and the gradual way the 14 Pro captured the fog engulfing the top of Salesforce Tower.
If you enable ProRaw to capture full 48MP images, CNET says there’s an incredible amount of detail in the images, but the file sizes clock in at around 48MB.
eSIM-only in the United States
TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino has some details on the process of setting up an eSIM-only iPhone 14 in the United States:
This year, Apple shipped test iPhones to reviewers with a line of service attached. This meant that when I booted up the devices for the first time I was presented with the option of activating that line or adding my own. I added both to get the full dual-line experience and it went smoothly. Apple has had eSIM in iPhones since 2018 so they’ve had some practice at this but it was overall aggressively pleasant. Adding my line even though I was ‘converting’ from a physical SIM was painless. Once I added it I was taken through a nicely designed flow to choose which number I would use as primary, which data plan I would use and whether I wanted to blend the plans to use whatever data was faster at the moment. The new signal indicator which shows both services on it takes some getting used to but otherwise nicely done.
iPhone 14 Pro video reviews
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Apple iPhone 14 review
Apple iPhone 14 intro
Unlike the last few iPhone series editions, the iPhone 14 is the most basic and affordable of Apple's 2022 iPhones, starting at $799. Thus, you should not expect any drastic changes in design or hardware as Apple would like to keep its profit margins intact by introducing something very similar to the iPhone 13 . By very similar we mean exactly the same, as most changes are tucked under the hood, with only a new chameleonic color left for the exterior.
Would an Apple iPhone 14 at a $799-$999 price range with new selfie and main cameras, satellite connectivity, faster modem, and bigger battery be worthy of an upgrade from an iPhone 13 or an iPhone 12 then? Hardly, but let's entertain the thought...
AT&T has a free iPhone 14 offer with any iPhone 8 and up trade Get a free iPhone 14 on AT&T when trading in an eligible smartphone, even cracked-screen ones on installments, and with a qualifying Unlimited plan (basically every unlimited plan other than the Unlimited Value Plus plan). $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 $799 Buy at AT&T Free iPhone 14 on Verizon with any old iPhone trade, even damaged ones Verizon's new One Unlimited for iPhone plan can be bundled with a free 14 offer as it will give you $800 towards its purchase for any iPhone 6 and up, even with cracked screen damage. Get Apple One (Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+) in one plan, with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband to boot. Switchers get $200 extra in the form of a gift card. $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 /mo $799 Buy at Verizon T-Mobile has the iPhone 14 on the carrier T-Mobile will let you grab a free iPhone 14 with 24 monthly bill credits when trading in an eligible device on Magenta MAX; Business Unlimited Advanced, Ultimate or Ultimate+ for iPhone; or the equivalent Sprint plan. $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 $799 Buy at T-Mobile The iPhone 14 is $720 off at Apple with a trade Apple will trade you the iPhone 14 price down with up to a $720 offer that puts the carrier trades in rosy perspective. $720 off (90%) Trade-in $79 $799 Buy at Apple
New iPhone 14 features
New 12MP ƒ/1.9 front-facing camera with autofocus
New 12MP ultrawide camera
New main camera with larger, 1/1.65" sensor, and 1.9 micron pixels
4K Cinematic mode at 30fps
Better low-light photos with Photonic engine
Faster, more energy-efficient 6nm Qualcomm 5G modem made by TSMC
Bluetooth 5.3
6GB RAM
Satellite connectivity for SOS messages
Penta-core GPU
New blue color
Larger battery
HDR gyro and high-g accelerometer for the new Crash Detection service
Much easier and cheaper to repair than the iPhone 13 or the 14 Pro
Table of Contents:
iPhone 14 Specs
Apple has improved the iPhone 14 in a few key areas, such as the main and front camera, battery life, and wireless connectivity (both cellular and satellite), while at the same time slapping the faster A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro models on the iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 Models
The iPhone 14 is the cheapest in Apple's 2022 iPhone series of four new phones (sorry, no mini iPhone this year, the 14 will have to do):
6.7" iPhone 14 Plus - large 60Hz screen, A15 chip, big battery
6.1" iPhone 14 Pro - 120Hz display, telephoto camera, A16 chipset
6.7" iPhone 14 Pro Max - 120Hz screen, triple camera, A16 chip, big battery
iPhone 14 Design & Colors
Apple is keeping the same tired iPhone 14 design it has used for the past couple of years. It inherits the narrower notch from its predecessor, though, plus it would sport a slightly more refined screen bezel and a bit taller aspect ratio. Don't expect anything but aluminum frame sandwiching a Ceramic Shield glass front and back.
Same old buttons setup and an aging Lightning connector that doesn't allow very fast charging, too, so you'd have to wait for the iPhone 15 to upgrade on that front. The two rear cameras sitting on an oversized "stove top" are a go, too, but at least a new color is in store. The iPhone 14 colors include a new blue shade-shifting hue:
Midnight
Starlight
Blue
Project (RED)
Purple
Repairs
Easiest, cheapest to repair modern iPhone
The first iPhone 14 teardowns showed that what it lacks in exterior redesign has translated into a case of the "beauty is on the inside" axiom. The folks from iFixit gave it their highest repairability score of 7/10 since the iPhone 7 . The culprit? Apple's complete internal redesign to make the iPhone 14 assembly more modular in nature and with much easier access to the separate components.
Above all, however, is the fact that you can now remove the glass backplate as easy as replacing the screen panel and Apple will no longer charge you for nearly a whole iPhone when you crack its glass back. The new "Back glass replacement" category brings with it a $169 rear panel replacement, rather than the $449 that the same operation commands on the iPhone 13 out of pocket. Above all, however, is the fact that you can now remove the glass backplate as easy as replacing the screen panel and Apple will no longer charge you for nearly a whole iPhone when you crack its glass back. The new "Back glass replacement" category brings with it a $169 rear panel replacement, rather than the $449 that the same operation commands on the iPhone 13 out of pocket.
iPhone 14 Display No Always-on display mode, color mishaps
The iPhone 14 sports the same 6.1-inch 1170p OLED display and Apple won't introduce the new playground for iPhone enthusiast on it, an Always-on Display mode that is reserved for the Pro models. It's been a staple on Android phones for a good while, particularly Samsung ones, but Apple is just getting around to it.
At the fixed 60Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 14, however, it could be a battery hog, so Apple isn't taking any chances, though a larger battery pack and more frugal connectivity chips could offset the power draw of the Always-on display feature.
Тhe rumors for a new, taller 20:9 aspect ratio didn't materialize, so Apple's notch at the top of the iPhone 14's display doesn't lose the visible gains from narrowing it in the previous iPhone 13 generation.
While we expected stellar display benchmarks from the iPhone 14, as usual, this time around Apple didn't excel with the factory calibration and the phone offers worse color gamut accuracy than the iPhone 13 as you can see from our benchmark chart below. It still offers 800 nits of typical brightness and 1200 nits of peak, but the lack of a higher refresh rate on an $800 phone, and the color credibility misses, make the iPhone 14 display an actual downgrade from its predecessor's. Display Measurements:
iPhone 14 Camera Same old, same iPhone 13 Pro gold
The iPhone 13 has a pretty good all-rounder for a camera, but, even though some Android phones at its price level sport telephoto zoom lenses, Apple keeps issuing $800 phones without one, and the iPhone 14 camera is no exception.
That last component should be music to the ears of anybody considering an iPhone 14 purchase, as it is in fact the only meaningful hardware upgrade on the phone, considering how important it is to TikTok or be Reel-ing it in style is these days.
The ultrawide and the main camera seem to be directly borrowed from the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning larger sensors and wider apertures letting more light in, so, all in all, the iPhone 14 is a decent photography upgrade. The ultrawide and the main camera seem to be directly borrowed from the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning larger sensors and wider apertures letting more light in, so, all in all, the iPhone 14 is a decent photography upgrade.
In fact, with the iPhone 14 Apple introduces a new Photonic Engine for enhanced performance of all cameras when the light starts to go down. It says that low-light photography is better by " up to 2x on the Ultra Wide camera, 2x on the TrueDepth camera, and an impressive 2.5x on the new Main camera ," though it isn't clear what are these numbers benchmarked again, and how. Photonic Engine works " by applying the computational benefits of Deep Fusion earlier in the imaging process to deliver extraordinary detail, and preserve subtle textures, provide better color, and maintain more information in a photo ." Does the iPhone 14 deliver?
Actually, yes, as you can see from our sample shots below. The images from the iPhone 14 are low-key better than those from the iPhone 13. There is a slightly wider dynamic range, especially pronounced in the night shots as exemplified by the decreased halo around bright lamps in the entertainment park below, and the brighter shadows. The iPhone 14 captures more details, too, visible from the very first photo here, but, above all, its white balance is, well, more balanced now, with warm, but not to the point of yellow overcast in photos.
The higher-res selfie camera with autofocus delivers better results in terms of detail and color credibility as well. All in all, the iPhone 14's camera set is slightly better in all aspects than what's on the iPhone 13.
Other than that, you have the same amazing 4K video capture that has become Apple's trademark with iPhones lately, as well as the photography staples like Cinematic Mode and Styles that got introduced with the iPhone 14's predecessor. Videos are with warm colors, full of detail, fast continuous autofocus and, above all, excellent stabilization.
iPhone 14 Performance & Benchmarks Old A15 chip, but new for the non-Pro series
Unfortunately, one of the biggest added values of new iPhones - a faster chipset every time - isn't be available on the new iPhone 14. Apple has assumed that the A15 is fast enough for its iOS 16 -powering, 4K video recording, or 3D-gaming duties on the lower refresh rate of the iPhone 14's display, so it stayed last year's course for the first time.
As if to offset the pain of the old chipset, the Apple A15 Bionic for the iPhone 14 family is taken directly from the iPhone 13 Pro, with an extra graphics processing core unleashed when compared to the iPhone 13 and this really shows in our graphics benchmarks below that are significantly higher than those on the iPhone 13.
iPhone 14 Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 Single Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 1733 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 1860 Apple iPhone 13 1728 Samsung Galaxy S22 1152 Geekbench 5 Multi Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 4648 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 5486 Apple iPhone 13 4695 Samsung Galaxy S22 3352 3DMark Extreme (High) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 3018 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 3375 Apple iPhone 13 2357 Samsung Galaxy S22 2009 3DMark Extreme (Low) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 2115 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 2117 Apple iPhone 13 1712 Samsung Galaxy S22 1351 View all
Moreover, Apple has bumped the operating memory paired with the A15 chipset to 6GB of RAM, a third more than the iPhone 13, and the same as on last year's Pro models. Just don't expect it to be of the faster LPDDR5 generation, yet you'd be able to keep more apps and services open in the background at the same time. There is again 128GB of base storage, followed by a mid 256GB tier, and a big 512GB upgrade for $1099.
iPhone 14 Connectivity Some real upgrade from the iPhone 13
The only big hardware upgrade area on the iPhone 14, besides the front-facing camera, would be its connectivity chippery that now includes satellite support, the latest Bluetooth 5.3, and a new 5G modem. The iPhone 14 series is using a custom low-power 5G modem with up to 10Gbps download speeds, based on Qualcomm's current Snapdragon X65 model, as the 4nm X70 isn't coming before far into Q4.
Apple ran into trouble with the development of its own 5G modem, as Qualcomm's expertise in band filtering and power draw is unsurpassed. That is why Qualcomm reportedly raked in a 100% of the iPhone 14 5G modem orders and will be supplying it with a smaller, more energy-efficient cellular connectivity chip that will help increase the iPhone 14 battery life and free up some space for a larger pack.
In addition, the iPhone 14 ships with the newest Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity standard as well as support for the n53 satellite connectivity band of Globalstar - Apple's partner for the Emergency SOS service that now works without cellular coverage.
Last but not least, in the US the iPhone 14 models ship without a SIM card tray as Apple moves to e-SIM completely, a watershed moment in its carrier relationships. "Not compatible with physical SIM cards" seems to be Apple's official name for the feature and it is a good one. Last but not least, in the US the iPhone 14 models ship without a SIM card tray as Apple moves to e-SIM completely, a watershed moment in its carrier relationships. "Not compatible with physical SIM cards" seems to be Apple's official name for the feature and it is a good one.
SOS emergency satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14
The big surprise, however, is the presence of satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14. It can be used for emergency SOS messages which can be sent in less than 15 seconds if you have clear skies when you are out in the boondocks and completely off the grid and cellular connectivity.
Staring in November, the satellite connectivity of the iPhone 14 series will hit the US and Canada and it will be free for two years. Apple uses Globalstar and the X65 modem support for its n53 frequency band for the satellite SOS services. It will be fronting Globalstar millions for new satellites and is hogging 85% of its current network with eyes on the future expansion of its extraterrestrial connectivity.
iPhone 14 and iOS 16: new features
The iPhone 14 series powers the latest iOS 16 update that offers an Always-on Display functionality, a new media player, and a plethora of new features that will then trickle down to previous iPhones.
The Always-on Display option, however, is reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro series to set it apart from the iPhone 14. Thus, in the case of the more affordable models, the specs differences are rather minor so Apple improvised to set them apart from their predecessors in its marketing push with things like satellite connectivity or new camera algorithms.
iPhone 14 battery life and charging speeds
The shrunk modem chip and a new cooling design for the internals have allowed Apple to place a larger, 3279 mAh battery in the iPhone 14, compared to the 3227 mAh piece in the iPhone 13.
Its predecessor already has great endurance and the iPhone 14 battery life is no exception thanks to the frugal connectivity chips and the efficient iOS 16 task distributor. According to Apple it can last an hour more of local video playback or streaming video, or five hours longer during audio playback sessions.
In our YouTube video streaming run we didn't find as much of a difference between the 2021 and 2022 iPhones, but the browser test showed more significant gains. The more powerful and more energy-consuming graphics subsystem, however, didn't fare well in terms of battery life while gaming compared to the iPhone 13.
Video Streaming (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 8h 35 min Apple iPhone 13 8h 15 min Samsung Galaxy S22 7h 26 min Web Browsing (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 15h 23 min Apple iPhone 13 13h 43 min Samsung Galaxy S22 12h 23 min 3D Gaming (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 6h 44 min Apple iPhone 13 7h 28 min Samsung Galaxy S22 4h 29 min View all
As for the iPhone 14 charging speeds, you get the same slow two-hour pumping of electrons through the aging Lightning port and the puny 20W charger that Apple asks you to buy separately if you don't have one lying around.
iPhone 14 Competitors
The only real iPhone 14 competitor is the... iPhone 14 Pro. The display, camera, and performance gap is even bigger this year, and definitely worth the two Benjamins or so extra for the Pro model.
At the $799 iPhone 14 price point, there are a lot more phones with better specs to consider if you venture outside Apple's iOS ecosphere. You can, for instance, get a Galaxy S22 deal for less than $700, with faster 120Hz display and telephoto zoom lens. Alternatively, you might want to wait for the Pixel 7 , as it will sport better camera hardware and a cooler design.
If Apple has locked you into its walled garden, however, simply keep your iPhone 13 as there is barely an upgrade worth switching to in the iPhone 14 in case you are coming from its predecessor, or even from the iPhone 12.
iPhone 14 Summary
The iPhone 14 has a package virtue going for it - a compact 6.1" design coupled with the fastest mobile processor this side of the iPhone 14 Pro models. You can, however, use any Apple A15 or even A14-powered vessel to carry all your new iOS 16 features.
In fact, a switch to the iPhone 14 would be worth it only if you are coming from something like the 5G-deprived iPhone 11 , otherwise you'd better score a pretty good iPhone 14 deal if you are mulling over an upgrade. Slightly faster chipset and connectivity options, a tad better low-light camera performance, autofocus in the selfie snapper, and a bit longer battery life in some scenarios... really, Apple?
All in all, for newcomers to the iOS universe the iPhone 14 would be enticing as the cheapest 2022 iPhone model with the new Crash Detection feature that may be helpful during accidents, but that's about it. For all other intents, better get the iPhone 14 Pro as Apple made a deliberate effort to offer way more value than the $200 price difference commands. All in all, for newcomers to the iOS universe the iPhone 14 would be enticing as the cheapest 2022 iPhone model with the new Crash Detection feature that may be helpful during accidents, but that's about it. For all other intents, better get the iPhone 14 Pro as Apple made a deliberate effort to offer way more value than the $200 price difference commands.

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iPhone 14 review: More of a good thing
The iPhone 14 is officially here, and the story is more of the same. Apple’s latest smartphone is both the best new iPhone for most people ready to upgrade, and a pretty iterative improvement that owners of last year’s model can skip. But if you fall into the former camp, you’ll find a lot to love here.
The iPhone 14’s big changes include an improved camera system with some especially great video tricks as well as a range of handy safety features that could someday save your life. When you couple that with the beautiful design, great display and long battery life that we’ve come to expect from the entry-level iPhone, you’ve got a great $799 device for first-time iPhone buyers — or those who haven’t upgraded in a few years.
But is the iPhone 14 the right fit for you? I spent a week using it as my main handset — playing games, hopping on calls and taking tons of pictures in the process — to help figure that out.
Apple iPhone 14 The best iPhone for most people Apple The iPhone 14 is the best new iPhone for most people, particularly if you're coming from an iPhone 12 or older. Those willing to invest in a more significant upgrade should go with the iPhone 14 Pro. From $799 at Apple From $799 at Best Buy
What we liked about it
Same great look and feel
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 looks and feels a whole lot like last year’s model, and that’s not entirely a bad thing. As someone who typically uses the chunkier Pro models, I love how much lighter the 6-ounce iPhone 14 is — it’s the kind of device that feels great to pick up and hold. And while its aluminum design isn’t quite as strong and sturdy as the stainless steel iPhone 14 Pro, it certainly doesn’t feel cheap. The iPhone 14’s 6.1-inch frame was the perfect size for my hands and kept me comfortable throughout long hours of social media scrolling, though folks who want something bigger can hold out for the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus coming on Oct. 7.
The standard iPhone also remains beautiful, with aluminum edges and a glass rear panel that create a stylish two-tone aesthetic. I especially appreciate the blue model I’ve been testing out, though you can also pick the phone up in purple, Midnight, Starlight and the usual extra-bold Product Red variation if those are more your thing. Just be sure to grab an iPhone 14 case for this phone — that shiny glass panel is a major fingerprint magnet.
Great cameras that shine in low light — and on video
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 has an upgraded dual-lens camera system that’s enhanced by some fancy new software magic called the Photonic Engine. Instead of bogging you down with every single spec, I’ll make it simple: The new iPhone is designed to capture wider, more detailed photos (particularly for moving subjects), offers improved flash, promises far better low-light photography and can even auto-stabilize your shaky videos. In real-world use, this all translated to a camera that was a joy to use during my daily adventures — even if it didn’t always feel like a massive leap over the iPhone 13.
Apple’s latest iPhone was predictably great in well-lit outdoor settings, taking vibrant and color-accurate shots of New York’s East River that captured the sun’s reflection on the water without making things look blown out. The copious portrait mode shots I captured of my dog looked professional and packed with detail, effortlessly blurring the background out while keeping the focus on her unamused face. From a distant shot of a large orange sculpture to a close-up of green leaves that let me see every single vein, the iPhone 14 excelled at both distant and intimate shots of outdoor scenery.
But that’s the easy stuff. I was far more impressed by the iPhone 14’s stellar low-light performance, which captured more detail than a phone has any right to — all in minimal to no light. The photos I took of a plate of Mexican food under dim restaurant lighting looked good enough to eat, and the colors of a red, white and blue-painted boat popped gorgeously against the black night sky. When I shot into what looked like complete darkness while walking along a river, I was blown away to see a photo with a highly visible sky, water and distant land that looked like it was captured in the early evening. I didn’t immediately notice a huge difference when comparing this shot across my iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 Mini, but the newer iPhone did create a slightly clearer, wider picture — likely thanks to that new ultrawide lens. Apple’s new iPhone also fared well against the Samsung Galaxy S22+ in low light, capturing outdoor signage and greenery more clearly and prominently during an evening stroll around a busy street.
Mike Andronico/CNN
Since we’re not going to stop FaceTiming and creating TikTok videos anytime soon, Apple upgraded the front-facing TrueDepth camera with autofocus for keeping your face sharp from any distance and a faster aperture for better low-light shots. Even with those upgrades, the selfies I took on the iPhone 14 and 13 looked practically identical, with both phones capturing my slightly sunburned skin and every tiny strand of my scraggly beard. The Galaxy S22+ beat out both phones in terms of sheer detail, but also had a colder color temperature that looked less true to life. Low-light and portrait selfies on the iPhone 14 were likewise great, though you’re likely going to benefit most from the new front camera if you take lots of group shots.
One of the iPhone 14’s biggest camera upgrades can be found in the video department, thanks to a new Action mode that’s designed to keep your videos stable even as you’re capturing some fast-moving action (such as sports) — or are in the middle of some yourself. I tested this feature while taking a brisk walk around my neighborhood — intentionally letting my phone bounce around in my hand — and was shocked to see the completely smooth POV video that was the end result. If you typically use a gimbal or grip while out capturing busy scenes, you just might be able to leave that extra stuff at home.
iPhone 14 Pro w o Action Mode
iPhone 14 Pro Max with Action mode on
The iPhone 14 also offers smoother zoom during video capture, which is another great upgrade for those who take lots of active clips. When reviewing videos I took while zooming in and out of a distant building, the iPhone 14 provided drastically smoother motion than the 13 when going back and forth, with the Galaxy S22 sitting somewhere in the middle. As someone who takes lots of clips at concerts — sometimes zooming halfway through to get a better view — I personally love this feature.
These smart camera upgrades are joined by all of the same extras we loved on the iPhone 13, including Photographic Styles (which are basically fancy filters) and Cinematic mode, which allows you to play with depth of field for TV- and movie-like footage. The latter has even been upgraded to let you use the Cinematic effect in 4K. Overall, the iPhone 14 is a fantastic camera phone, and while the upgrades over the iPhone 13 aren’t always obvious, those who shoot lots of video — and especially those coming from an iPhone 12 or older — will enjoy a nice bump in overall quality.
Superb battery life
Mike Andronico/CNN
Apple touts the iPhone 14 as having “all-day” battery life, and based on my testing so far, that’s not hyperbole. After a full day where I traveled across states, took tons of photos and did plenty of social media posting, I came home at close to 1 in the morning still with 26% battery left to go. All in all, Apple’s latest phone got me through 28 total hours of standard use before I had to plug a charger in, so you can confidently leave your wires at home when you head out for the day.
Very good performance and display, but not the best on an iPhone
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 is more of the same on the display and performance front, which is to say that it still has a beautiful screen and is still ridiculously fast. Movies and shows looked great on the phone’s 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, particularly while taking in the crackling neon blues, reds and yellows that filled the screen during the epic final battle of “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” The iPhone 14’s display isn’t quite as exciting as that of its Pro counterpart (more on that later), but it remains a fantastic canvas for bingeing TV and catching up on your TikTok feed.
Playing games on the iPhone 14 was likewise a blast, thanks to a combination of that great screen and a speedy A15 Bionic processor that allowed demanding, console-like titles like Asphalt 9 and NBA 2K22 to run without a hitch. Speaking of performance, I never ran into any slowdown or major issues when taking tons of hi-res pictures or rapidly bouncing between my usual apps like Instagram, Twitter, Discord and Slack.
There’s just one catch: The iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip is virtually the same one that debuted in last year’s iPhone 13 series, and not the faster A16 Bionic found in the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. That likely won’t matter for most people — the new base iPhone zips through everyday tasks with ease — but if you’re a yearly upgrader hoping for a meaningful performance increase, you may be disappointed.
The A15 Bionic did get a slight graphics bump for the iPhone 14 that allows for Cinematic mode videos at 4K and 24 frames per second as well as better sustained performance for heavy tasks like gaming. But when looking at our benchmark scores, this is more or less the same iPhone from last year on the speed front.
On Geekbench 5 — which gauges overall performance — the iPhone 14 scored nearly identically to the iPhone 13, offering slightly better single-core scores (for simpler tasks) than its predecessor but falling back a bit on multi-core speeds. However, we saw a fairly significant gap between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro on our tests, with the latter phone beating its lower-end sibling by upward of 100 points. The iPhone 14 is still one of the fastest phones you can buy — and beat out recent flagships like the Galaxy S22 Ultra and OnePlus 10 Pro across the board — but those who want to be as future-proofed as possible for heavy multitasking may want to look toward the Pro.
Promising safety features
New iPhone 14 satellite connectivity feature. Apple
Two of the most significant upgrades to the entire iPhone 14 line are Crash Detection and Emergency SOS, both of which have the potential to save lives in a dire situation.
Available now, Crash Detection uses your phone’s various sensors to detect when you may have been in a car crash, and can automatically contact emergency services as well as your emergency contacts if you’re unresponsive. Emergency SOS via satellite, which is coming in November, allows you to text emergency services via satellite when you’re somewhere without cellular service (we’ve all had that dreaded no signal moment in the countryside, after all). And even if you’re not in a bind, this technology also lets you share your location with family members and friends via Find My for peace of mind while you’re somewhere with spotty signal, such as out on a hike.
I hope I never have to use Crash Detection or Emergency SOS via satellite, but I like knowing my phone is equipped with more tools for keeping me safe. And as someone who’s dealt with frustrating loss of signal at concert venues and in small towns, it can’t hurt to have a new way to let my close contacts know where I’m at.
What we didn’t like about it
It’s more of the same
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Mike Andronico/CNN
While the iPhone 14 has some great new features — particularly Action mode and the new safety options — it’s easy to imagine the average shopper picking up this device and not being able to tell what’s new over last year’s model. Other than a different range of color options, it looks nearly identical to the iPhone 13, and packs the same processor and display as its predecessor.
The iPhone 14 looks especially iterative when put next to the iPhone 14 Pro, which is one of the biggest leaps forward for the iPhone in quite a while. Apple’s premium iPhone brings some significant upgrades to the mix, including an always-on display for seeing important info at a glance, a massively improved 48-megapixel camera and the awesome Dynamic Island, which is a sleeker front camera module that can morph itself to show you important info. I’ve been testing both phones, and while I’m really enjoying the iPhone 14 (and its lighter weight), I’m reminded of all the cool new stuff I’m missing out on every time I pick up the 14 Pro.
eSIM may be a pain for some
Mike Andronico/CNN
The iPhone 14 is the first iPhone to completely ditch the physical SIM card in favor of eSIM, which is essentially a virtual token that carries your phone number and carrier information. Using eSIM is a breeze, and if you buy your phone through a carrier, it’ll be ready for you right out of the box. Transferring eSIMs between phones is as simple as heading to the settings menu and performing a few taps, and I’ve had no problem bouncing mine between various iPhone 14 models during this review period.
However, the lack of a physical SIM card could prove to be a major pain point for frequent international travelers, as not all international carriers support this new format. That could change quickly — the industry often adapts around Apple’s products — but it might pose an issue overseas right now.
“People using prepaid SIMs and MVNOs that don’t support eSIM will have to wait — likely only a few months, because this is a forcing issue that will have to be addressed quickly,” said Techsponential president and lead analyst Avi Greengart when we asked him about the issue a few weeks back. “Frequent international travelers will need to adopt new habits; instead of buying a prepaid SIM from a kiosk, they’ll buy an eSIM from an app.”
If you’re wondering if your iPhone 14 will support your international plan, you can check out a full list of wireless carriers that currently support eSIM activation here.
How it compares
iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Pro Galaxy S22 Display 6.1-inch 2532 x 1170 Super Retina XDR display 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 Super Retina XDR display with always-on 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with always-on Refresh rate 60Hz 120Hz 120Hz Processor Apple A15 Bionic Apple A16 Bionic Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Storage 128GB / 256GB 512GB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB 128GB / 256GB Rear camera 48-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 12-megapixel telephoto 12-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide 12-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel wide and 10-megapixel telephoto Front camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 10-megapixel Size and weight 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches, 6.07 ounces 5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches, 7.27 ounces 2.7 x 5.7 x 0.29 inches; 0.37 pounds Colors Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Product Red, Blue Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold, Bora Purple Price $799 $799 $799
Bottom line
The iPhone 14 is more evolution than revolution, and for some buyers, that’ll be perfectly good enough. Apple’s latest entry-level phone takes fantastic pictures, can last all day on a charge and packs a great display, all within a beautiful and lightweight design that feels good to use for hours at a time, and it’s still faster than the vast majority of phones you can buy, despite not packing Apple’s latest and greatest processor.
Unless you’re really keen on having things like Action mode for video or some promising safety features, most people with an iPhone 13 can skip this year’s iteration. And if you’re willing to invest in something truly new and exciting, the $999 iPhone 14 Pro is a far bigger leap forward, particularly in the display and camera department. Those who want a larger 6.7-inch screen — but not the larger $1,099 price tag of the iPhone 14 Pro Max — can hold out for the $899 iPhone 14 Plus, which has the same features as the standard 14 but on a bigger canvas.
But for everyone else in the “ready to upgrade and looking to spend less than $1,000” camp, and especially those with an iPhone 11 or older, the iPhone 14 is just about the best smartphone that $799 can buy.
iPhone 14 Pro reviews: Dynamic Island in real-life, Always-On display tidbits, camera reactions
The first reviews of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are here. Ahead of pre-orders arriving to buyers on Friday, these early reviews provide our first in-depth look at the iPhone 14 Pro camera upgrades, the new Dynamic Island design, the Always-On Display, and much more.
The consensus among early reviews is that the Dynamic Island proves impressive despite still being in its early days. The camera upgrades also appear to live up to Apple’s hype, but some people have issue with the Always-On display.
Reviews: iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Display
The Verge has some interesting thoughts on the iPhone 14 Pro’s new Always-On display. Interestingly, Nilay Patel says that the Always-On display is … “a little too on,” and it looks like his phone is “awake all the time.”
At long last, Apple added an always-on display mode to the iPhone 14 Pro, which, well, Android phones have had always-on displays for a long time now. It’s fine! The display refresh rate drops to just one hertz, and the brightness goes extremely low to save battery life. Apple’s done some nice work to keep wallpaper colors accurate in the low-power always-on mode, but honestly, I would prefer a Pixel-style black and white clock to something that sort of looks like my phone is awake all the time. I hope we see some customization options here in the future.
CNBC also points out that the Apple TV Remote within iOS when the iPhone 14 Pro is idle, thanks to the the Always-On display.
Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal says that she didn’t notice any impact on battery life with the Always-On display, particularly on the iPhone 14 Pro Max:
For those of us who use our phones as a watch, I predict thousands of phone taps a year saved. Plus, it didn’t impact battery life in a noticeable way. After a long, harsh day shooting my review video on an actual island—nonstop camera and video use—the Pro conked out around 7:30 The Pro Max was still kicking when I went to bed. You can turn off the always-on display to eke out even more battery.
Image Credit: Gizmodo
Dynamic Island
Gizmodo has high praise for the iPhone 14 Pro and its new Dynamic Island, saying it makes “ditching Android mode tempting than ever.” The review also confirms that while most third-party apps don’t yet integrate with the Dynamic Island, media apps like Spotify can because it’s based on the existing Now Playing feature. More support will come from third-party apps later this year when Live Activities launch.
You can concurrently access two apps at a time from the Dynamic Island. Simply tap to expand it. The process is quite fluid, and it’s nice not to worry about swiping down when trying to access something, as I would on an Android device with its notification shade. You can also use it to determine if something is playing in the background or through your headphones. Would I like Apple to figure out how to shrink that part of the screen so there’s nothing there? Absolutely. Remember, I come from the land of hole-punch cameras, so I’m used to seeing most of the screen when I’m scrolling vertically. When used in landscape mode, apps like YouTube will letterbox the video so that the Dynamic Island doesn’t block out part of the view. But in portrait mode, the pill-shaped island is extremely obvious.
In his video review, Marques Brownlee also has a cool breakdown of everything the Dynamic Island is capable of today:
Image credit: MKBHD
System alerts and notifications:
Incoming call
AirPods connected
Face ID
Apple Pay
CarKey
AirDrop
Watch unlock
Low battery
Charging
Silent switch ON/OFF
NFC interactions
AirPlay
Focus changes
Shortcuts
Airplane mode/no data alert
SIM card alerts
Accessories connect
Find My
Live Activities:
Ongoing call
SharePlay
Music/Now playing apps
Timer
Maps directions
Voice memos
Screen Recording
Personal Hotspot
Indicators:
Microphone
Camera
Now Playing:
Spotify
Stitcher
Audible
Amazon Music
NPR One
Overcast
Pandora
YouTube Music
SoundCloud
CallKit:
WhatsApp
Google Voice
Instagram
Skype
Writing for The Street, Jake Krol likens the new Dynamic Island to “a command center” for quick access to key information:
It feels like a command central of sorts that gives you access to key information, while within other apps or just navigating around the interface. Say you start a timer to know when your covid antigen test is ready, you can start the timer, and see it at the top with the time going down at the top while you’ve moving between apps. Same goes for playing music within Apple Music, but also within Spotify or Apple Music. iOS 16 and the Dynamic Island will even place multiple apps together at the top. And when Live Activities launch in a later version of iOS 16, you can expect some more third-party applications to take advantage and make use of the dynamic island. Think sport scores up-top, monitoring a flight’s path, or even tracking a driver coming to pick you up. The opticians are literally endless.
Deep purple and space black
Gizmodo also praises the new Deep Purple color of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Apple sent me the Pro Max in Deep Purple, and I am in love. Several times, I’ve commented that this is the smartphone color for goth girls worldwide. It’s not as purple as the photos I’ve included here depict it being. It’s more of a subdued violet compared to, for example, the lavender-purple casing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
As for the new space black color, here’s what Raymond Wong at Input has to say:
My iPhone 14 Pro review unit is Space Black. I love it. The glass back and the stainless steel frame are noticeably darker than the gray Graphite iPhone 13 Pro; like a mix between the black and Jet Black iPhone 7. My iPhone 14 Pro Max review unit is Deep Purple; it’s a dark purple that sometimes looks gray or black. Both look sleek in person; both are still fingerprint magnets. You can also get them in silver and gold.
Performance
Tom’s Guide has some in-depth benchmark results from the new A16 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, starting with Geekbench numbers:
Single-core Multi-core iPhone 14 Pro Max A16 Bionic 1,882 5,333 iPhone 13 Pro Max A15 Bionic 1,720 4,549
Here are results from 3D Mark:
Single-core Multi-core iPhone 14 Pro Max A16 Bionic 12,363 74 iPhone 13 Pro Max A15 Bionic 11,418 68.3
Camera upgrades
Image samples courtesy of Engadget
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature major upgrades to the camera, including a new Main camera with a 48MP sensor. Apple then uses pixel binning to combine these pixels into groups of four. Engadget isn’t quite sold on the camera upgrades, though:
In fact, most of the photos I took from the iPhone 14 Pro and 13 Pro are basically indistinguishable. Sometimes images from the newer phone were brighter, sometimes they weren’t. The 13 Pro delivers pictures that are slightly cooler with more saturated colors, and I frequently preferred its results. All three phones were adept at keeping details crisp even in shadows. The lines inside the roof of a shelter were sharp when I magnified the pictures. When I used the telephoto lens to zoom in to 3x, though, the iPhone 14 Pro produced the brightest image. It also delivered the punchiest colors on some graffiti under an overpass. However, sometimes the iPhone 14 Pro actually does worse than the 13 Pro and Pixel. In my shots of a park, the 14 Pro had the least saturated greens. In general, the quad-binning of the 48-MP sensor doesn’t seem to drastically improve image quality, at least in daylight. A similar story can be told of the cameras in low light. In one example, the iPhone 14 Pro’s shots had the most accurate color and cleanest details, beating the Pixel 6 Pro at capturing the individual lines on a leaf. But Google’s flagship did a better job with a picture of a bright bar in a dim restaurant. It clearly captured individual leaves on a potted plant on a shelf, while the same part of the picture was shrouded in shadow when shot with the iPhone 14 Pro.
CNET says this results in a “12-megapixel photo that’s brighter, has less image noise and better detail.”
The main camera takes excellent photos: The image quality and details are great for a phone. I noticed the most improvement is in medium and low-light situations: Colors look good and textures are great. Check out the photo below, which I took on a foggy morning in San Francisco. Notice the textures in the buildings’ bricks and the gradual way the 14 Pro captured the fog engulfing the top of Salesforce Tower.
If you enable ProRaw to capture full 48MP images, CNET says there’s an incredible amount of detail in the images, but the file sizes clock in at around 48MB.
eSIM-only in the United States
TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino has some details on the process of setting up an eSIM-only iPhone 14 in the United States:
This year, Apple shipped test iPhones to reviewers with a line of service attached. This meant that when I booted up the devices for the first time I was presented with the option of activating that line or adding my own. I added both to get the full dual-line experience and it went smoothly. Apple has had eSIM in iPhones since 2018 so they’ve had some practice at this but it was overall aggressively pleasant. Adding my line even though I was ‘converting’ from a physical SIM was painless. Once I added it I was taken through a nicely designed flow to choose which number I would use as primary, which data plan I would use and whether I wanted to blend the plans to use whatever data was faster at the moment. The new signal indicator which shows both services on it takes some getting used to but otherwise nicely done.
iPhone 14 Pro video reviews
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Apple iPhone 14 review
Apple iPhone 14 intro
Unlike the last few iPhone series editions, the iPhone 14 is the most basic and affordable of Apple's 2022 iPhones, starting at $799. Thus, you should not expect any drastic changes in design or hardware as Apple would like to keep its profit margins intact by introducing something very similar to the iPhone 13 . By very similar we mean exactly the same, as most changes are tucked under the hood, with only a new chameleonic color left for the exterior.
Would an Apple iPhone 14 at a $799-$999 price range with new selfie and main cameras, satellite connectivity, faster modem, and bigger battery be worthy of an upgrade from an iPhone 13 or an iPhone 12 then? Hardly, but let's entertain the thought...
AT&T has a free iPhone 14 offer with any iPhone 8 and up trade Get a free iPhone 14 on AT&T when trading in an eligible smartphone, even cracked-screen ones on installments, and with a qualifying Unlimited plan (basically every unlimited plan other than the Unlimited Value Plus plan). $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 $799 Buy at AT&T Free iPhone 14 on Verizon with any old iPhone trade, even damaged ones Verizon's new One Unlimited for iPhone plan can be bundled with a free 14 offer as it will give you $800 towards its purchase for any iPhone 6 and up, even with cracked screen damage. Get Apple One (Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+) in one plan, with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband to boot. Switchers get $200 extra in the form of a gift card. $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 /mo $799 Buy at Verizon T-Mobile has the iPhone 14 on the carrier T-Mobile will let you grab a free iPhone 14 with 24 monthly bill credits when trading in an eligible device on Magenta MAX; Business Unlimited Advanced, Ultimate or Ultimate+ for iPhone; or the equivalent Sprint plan. $799 off (100%) Trade-in $0 $799 Buy at T-Mobile The iPhone 14 is $720 off at Apple with a trade Apple will trade you the iPhone 14 price down with up to a $720 offer that puts the carrier trades in rosy perspective. $720 off (90%) Trade-in $79 $799 Buy at Apple
New iPhone 14 features
New 12MP ƒ/1.9 front-facing camera with autofocus
New 12MP ultrawide camera
New main camera with larger, 1/1.65" sensor, and 1.9 micron pixels
4K Cinematic mode at 30fps
Better low-light photos with Photonic engine
Faster, more energy-efficient 6nm Qualcomm 5G modem made by TSMC
Bluetooth 5.3
6GB RAM
Satellite connectivity for SOS messages
Penta-core GPU
New blue color
Larger battery
HDR gyro and high-g accelerometer for the new Crash Detection service
Much easier and cheaper to repair than the iPhone 13 or the 14 Pro
Table of Contents:
iPhone 14 Specs
Apple has improved the iPhone 14 in a few key areas, such as the main and front camera, battery life, and wireless connectivity (both cellular and satellite), while at the same time slapping the faster A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro models on the iPhone 14.
iPhone 14 Models
The iPhone 14 is the cheapest in Apple's 2022 iPhone series of four new phones (sorry, no mini iPhone this year, the 14 will have to do):
6.7" iPhone 14 Plus - large 60Hz screen, A15 chip, big battery
6.1" iPhone 14 Pro - 120Hz display, telephoto camera, A16 chipset
6.7" iPhone 14 Pro Max - 120Hz screen, triple camera, A16 chip, big battery
iPhone 14 Design & Colors
Apple is keeping the same tired iPhone 14 design it has used for the past couple of years. It inherits the narrower notch from its predecessor, though, plus it would sport a slightly more refined screen bezel and a bit taller aspect ratio. Don't expect anything but aluminum frame sandwiching a Ceramic Shield glass front and back.
Same old buttons setup and an aging Lightning connector that doesn't allow very fast charging, too, so you'd have to wait for the iPhone 15 to upgrade on that front. The two rear cameras sitting on an oversized "stove top" are a go, too, but at least a new color is in store. The iPhone 14 colors include a new blue shade-shifting hue:
Midnight
Starlight
Blue
Project (RED)
Purple
Repairs
Easiest, cheapest to repair modern iPhone
The first iPhone 14 teardowns showed that what it lacks in exterior redesign has translated into a case of the "beauty is on the inside" axiom. The folks from iFixit gave it their highest repairability score of 7/10 since the iPhone 7 . The culprit? Apple's complete internal redesign to make the iPhone 14 assembly more modular in nature and with much easier access to the separate components.
Above all, however, is the fact that you can now remove the glass backplate as easy as replacing the screen panel and Apple will no longer charge you for nearly a whole iPhone when you crack its glass back. The new "Back glass replacement" category brings with it a $169 rear panel replacement, rather than the $449 that the same operation commands on the iPhone 13 out of pocket. Above all, however, is the fact that you can now remove the glass backplate as easy as replacing the screen panel and Apple will no longer charge you for nearly a whole iPhone when you crack its glass back. The new "Back glass replacement" category brings with it a $169 rear panel replacement, rather than the $449 that the same operation commands on the iPhone 13 out of pocket.
iPhone 14 Display No Always-on display mode, color mishaps
The iPhone 14 sports the same 6.1-inch 1170p OLED display and Apple won't introduce the new playground for iPhone enthusiast on it, an Always-on Display mode that is reserved for the Pro models. It's been a staple on Android phones for a good while, particularly Samsung ones, but Apple is just getting around to it.
At the fixed 60Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 14, however, it could be a battery hog, so Apple isn't taking any chances, though a larger battery pack and more frugal connectivity chips could offset the power draw of the Always-on display feature.
Тhe rumors for a new, taller 20:9 aspect ratio didn't materialize, so Apple's notch at the top of the iPhone 14's display doesn't lose the visible gains from narrowing it in the previous iPhone 13 generation.
While we expected stellar display benchmarks from the iPhone 14, as usual, this time around Apple didn't excel with the factory calibration and the phone offers worse color gamut accuracy than the iPhone 13 as you can see from our benchmark chart below. It still offers 800 nits of typical brightness and 1200 nits of peak, but the lack of a higher refresh rate on an $800 phone, and the color credibility misses, make the iPhone 14 display an actual downgrade from its predecessor's. Display Measurements:
iPhone 14 Camera Same old, same iPhone 13 Pro gold
The iPhone 13 has a pretty good all-rounder for a camera, but, even though some Android phones at its price level sport telephoto zoom lenses, Apple keeps issuing $800 phones without one, and the iPhone 14 camera is no exception.
That last component should be music to the ears of anybody considering an iPhone 14 purchase, as it is in fact the only meaningful hardware upgrade on the phone, considering how important it is to TikTok or be Reel-ing it in style is these days.
The ultrawide and the main camera seem to be directly borrowed from the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning larger sensors and wider apertures letting more light in, so, all in all, the iPhone 14 is a decent photography upgrade. The ultrawide and the main camera seem to be directly borrowed from the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning larger sensors and wider apertures letting more light in, so, all in all, the iPhone 14 is a decent photography upgrade.
In fact, with the iPhone 14 Apple introduces a new Photonic Engine for enhanced performance of all cameras when the light starts to go down. It says that low-light photography is better by " up to 2x on the Ultra Wide camera, 2x on the TrueDepth camera, and an impressive 2.5x on the new Main camera ," though it isn't clear what are these numbers benchmarked again, and how. Photonic Engine works " by applying the computational benefits of Deep Fusion earlier in the imaging process to deliver extraordinary detail, and preserve subtle textures, provide better color, and maintain more information in a photo ." Does the iPhone 14 deliver?
Actually, yes, as you can see from our sample shots below. The images from the iPhone 14 are low-key better than those from the iPhone 13. There is a slightly wider dynamic range, especially pronounced in the night shots as exemplified by the decreased halo around bright lamps in the entertainment park below, and the brighter shadows. The iPhone 14 captures more details, too, visible from the very first photo here, but, above all, its white balance is, well, more balanced now, with warm, but not to the point of yellow overcast in photos.
The higher-res selfie camera with autofocus delivers better results in terms of detail and color credibility as well. All in all, the iPhone 14's camera set is slightly better in all aspects than what's on the iPhone 13.
Other than that, you have the same amazing 4K video capture that has become Apple's trademark with iPhones lately, as well as the photography staples like Cinematic Mode and Styles that got introduced with the iPhone 14's predecessor. Videos are with warm colors, full of detail, fast continuous autofocus and, above all, excellent stabilization.
iPhone 14 Performance & Benchmarks Old A15 chip, but new for the non-Pro series
Unfortunately, one of the biggest added values of new iPhones - a faster chipset every time - isn't be available on the new iPhone 14. Apple has assumed that the A15 is fast enough for its iOS 16 -powering, 4K video recording, or 3D-gaming duties on the lower refresh rate of the iPhone 14's display, so it stayed last year's course for the first time.
As if to offset the pain of the old chipset, the Apple A15 Bionic for the iPhone 14 family is taken directly from the iPhone 13 Pro, with an extra graphics processing core unleashed when compared to the iPhone 13 and this really shows in our graphics benchmarks below that are significantly higher than those on the iPhone 13.
iPhone 14 Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 Single Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 1733 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 1860 Apple iPhone 13 1728 Samsung Galaxy S22 1152 Geekbench 5 Multi Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 4648 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 5486 Apple iPhone 13 4695 Samsung Galaxy S22 3352 3DMark Extreme (High) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 3018 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 3375 Apple iPhone 13 2357 Samsung Galaxy S22 2009 3DMark Extreme (Low) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 2115 Apple iPhone 14 Pro 2117 Apple iPhone 13 1712 Samsung Galaxy S22 1351 View all
Moreover, Apple has bumped the operating memory paired with the A15 chipset to 6GB of RAM, a third more than the iPhone 13, and the same as on last year's Pro models. Just don't expect it to be of the faster LPDDR5 generation, yet you'd be able to keep more apps and services open in the background at the same time. There is again 128GB of base storage, followed by a mid 256GB tier, and a big 512GB upgrade for $1099.
iPhone 14 Connectivity Some real upgrade from the iPhone 13
The only big hardware upgrade area on the iPhone 14, besides the front-facing camera, would be its connectivity chippery that now includes satellite support, the latest Bluetooth 5.3, and a new 5G modem. The iPhone 14 series is using a custom low-power 5G modem with up to 10Gbps download speeds, based on Qualcomm's current Snapdragon X65 model, as the 4nm X70 isn't coming before far into Q4.
Apple ran into trouble with the development of its own 5G modem, as Qualcomm's expertise in band filtering and power draw is unsurpassed. That is why Qualcomm reportedly raked in a 100% of the iPhone 14 5G modem orders and will be supplying it with a smaller, more energy-efficient cellular connectivity chip that will help increase the iPhone 14 battery life and free up some space for a larger pack.
In addition, the iPhone 14 ships with the newest Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity standard as well as support for the n53 satellite connectivity band of Globalstar - Apple's partner for the Emergency SOS service that now works without cellular coverage.
Last but not least, in the US the iPhone 14 models ship without a SIM card tray as Apple moves to e-SIM completely, a watershed moment in its carrier relationships. "Not compatible with physical SIM cards" seems to be Apple's official name for the feature and it is a good one. Last but not least, in the US the iPhone 14 models ship without a SIM card tray as Apple moves to e-SIM completely, a watershed moment in its carrier relationships. "Not compatible with physical SIM cards" seems to be Apple's official name for the feature and it is a good one.
SOS emergency satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14
The big surprise, however, is the presence of satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14. It can be used for emergency SOS messages which can be sent in less than 15 seconds if you have clear skies when you are out in the boondocks and completely off the grid and cellular connectivity.
Staring in November, the satellite connectivity of the iPhone 14 series will hit the US and Canada and it will be free for two years. Apple uses Globalstar and the X65 modem support for its n53 frequency band for the satellite SOS services. It will be fronting Globalstar millions for new satellites and is hogging 85% of its current network with eyes on the future expansion of its extraterrestrial connectivity.
iPhone 14 and iOS 16: new features
The iPhone 14 series powers the latest iOS 16 update that offers an Always-on Display functionality, a new media player, and a plethora of new features that will then trickle down to previous iPhones.
The Always-on Display option, however, is reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro series to set it apart from the iPhone 14. Thus, in the case of the more affordable models, the specs differences are rather minor so Apple improvised to set them apart from their predecessors in its marketing push with things like satellite connectivity or new camera algorithms.
iPhone 14 battery life and charging speeds
The shrunk modem chip and a new cooling design for the internals have allowed Apple to place a larger, 3279 mAh battery in the iPhone 14, compared to the 3227 mAh piece in the iPhone 13.
Its predecessor already has great endurance and the iPhone 14 battery life is no exception thanks to the frugal connectivity chips and the efficient iOS 16 task distributor. According to Apple it can last an hour more of local video playback or streaming video, or five hours longer during audio playback sessions.
In our YouTube video streaming run we didn't find as much of a difference between the 2021 and 2022 iPhones, but the browser test showed more significant gains. The more powerful and more energy-consuming graphics subsystem, however, didn't fare well in terms of battery life while gaming compared to the iPhone 13.
Video Streaming (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 8h 35 min Apple iPhone 13 8h 15 min Samsung Galaxy S22 7h 26 min Web Browsing (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 15h 23 min Apple iPhone 13 13h 43 min Samsung Galaxy S22 12h 23 min 3D Gaming (hours) Higher is better Apple iPhone 14 6h 44 min Apple iPhone 13 7h 28 min Samsung Galaxy S22 4h 29 min View all
As for the iPhone 14 charging speeds, you get the same slow two-hour pumping of electrons through the aging Lightning port and the puny 20W charger that Apple asks you to buy separately if you don't have one lying around.
iPhone 14 Competitors
The only real iPhone 14 competitor is the... iPhone 14 Pro. The display, camera, and performance gap is even bigger this year, and definitely worth the two Benjamins or so extra for the Pro model.
At the $799 iPhone 14 price point, there are a lot more phones with better specs to consider if you venture outside Apple's iOS ecosphere. You can, for instance, get a Galaxy S22 deal for less than $700, with faster 120Hz display and telephoto zoom lens. Alternatively, you might want to wait for the Pixel 7 , as it will sport better camera hardware and a cooler design.
If Apple has locked you into its walled garden, however, simply keep your iPhone 13 as there is barely an upgrade worth switching to in the iPhone 14 in case you are coming from its predecessor, or even from the iPhone 12.
iPhone 14 Summary
The iPhone 14 has a package virtue going for it - a compact 6.1" design coupled with the fastest mobile processor this side of the iPhone 14 Pro models. You can, however, use any Apple A15 or even A14-powered vessel to carry all your new iOS 16 features.
In fact, a switch to the iPhone 14 would be worth it only if you are coming from something like the 5G-deprived iPhone 11 , otherwise you'd better score a pretty good iPhone 14 deal if you are mulling over an upgrade. Slightly faster chipset and connectivity options, a tad better low-light camera performance, autofocus in the selfie snapper, and a bit longer battery life in some scenarios... really, Apple?
All in all, for newcomers to the iOS universe the iPhone 14 would be enticing as the cheapest 2022 iPhone model with the new Crash Detection feature that may be helpful during accidents, but that's about it. For all other intents, better get the iPhone 14 Pro as Apple made a deliberate effort to offer way more value than the $200 price difference commands. All in all, for newcomers to the iOS universe the iPhone 14 would be enticing as the cheapest 2022 iPhone model with the new Crash Detection feature that may be helpful during accidents, but that's about it. For all other intents, better get the iPhone 14 Pro as Apple made a deliberate effort to offer way more value than the $200 price difference commands.

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