iPhone 14 Pro Review: What upgrades did I notice in one month?
Upgrading to an iPhone 14 Pro means I have hardware that's two generations newer and the Pro branding. But what changes and improvements did I notice?
On September 7, 2022, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 Pro, swapping the notch at the top for cutouts and bringing new camera hardware for the first time in eight years. Despite these improvements, the device maintains its starting price of $999, offering an experience you'd expect from a premium device.
I switched to the iPhone 14 Pro from an iPhone 12. The change meant I'm using a device that's not only two generations newer but also has the Pro branding, which brought many firsts for me, like a triple camera system and 120Hz on an iPhone. So through this one-month later review, I will focus on all the changes I've noticed with this device and state whether it's worth buying.
POCKETNOW VIDEO OF THE DAY
Many reviews have stated that upgrading from the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max is unnecessary, and my testing also deems that statement true. But, if you're using any other model, the upgrades here will add tremendous value.
Design: Similar Recipe, Different Feel
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The iPhone 14 Pro features a similar recipe, one made popular by the iPhone 5 and reintroduced with the launch of the iPhone 12 series. Once again, the squared edges and flat display feel robust and evoke a feeling that the device is well-built when held in hand. The weight distribution of this generation is also better, as the device no longer feels top-heavy, an issue immediately noticeable on iPhone 13 Pro.
Coming from an iPhone 12, this is the first time I've used a smartphone with stainless steel and squared edges. And the first impression I had was that the iPhone 14 Pro digs into my hand a little more than the iPhone 12. The feeling might be because the device is heavier, and its frame uses a harder material. The softer aluminum felt nicer.
But overall, this device feels a lot nicer to use, mostly because of the finish on its back glass.
Apple's $1000 iPhone featured glossy back panels until the launch of the iPhone 11 Pro, which introduced a textured glass back—resulting in a matte finish. This paint job, or rather build, makes the back fingerprint resistant, an improvement over my iPhone 12. It'll also make a lot of difference if upgrading from an iPhone X or iPhone XS.
Coming to colors on iPhone 14 Pro, there are four options this year. Two new and two recycled ones. Deep Purple is the headlining shade of the two new, with Space Black replacing Graphite as the default dark option. The other two choices are Silver and Gold. I chose Space Black, and now I don't feel like switching to another phone that isn't this color.
When kept clean, the stainless steel frame has this piano-black look that glistens in the sun, and at night it's as deep as any shade of black. The matte black glass panel is a darker tone than the previously sold Graphite and complements the frame well.
My only sore point with this smartphone's design is its camera bump. The iPhone 12 sat fairly flat on a table, and adding a case to it ensured there was no rocking. With the iPhone 14 Pro, the device is always askew when placed down—even with a case.
As I wrote in the intro to this piece, there's no notch this year, and replacing it is Dynamic Island, which is more of an upgrade, even with its caveats, and we'll explore this in the section to follow.
Takeaways
The stainless steel frame might feel uncomfortable for some.
Its matte glass back is a significant upgrade for those coming from a glossy-backed iPhone.
The device feels robust and handles drops like a champ.
Ceramic Shield on the front does a great job keeping scratches—and even cracks—at bay.
Display: Bright and Dynamic
Hands down, Apple ships some of the best smartphone displays, and this year, the iPhone 14 Pro takes a few steps further with meaningful upgrades. It's still a 6.1-inch panel under Apple's Super Retina XDR branding and features ProMotion and LTPO technology. But this year, its adaptive refresh rate goes down to 1Hz—enabling Apple's take on always-on display—and peak brightness hits 2000 nits when outdoors. There's also the headline-making Dynamic Island—an amalgamation of software and hardware.
I feel the improvement in display brightness is one that's overshadowed by other changes on iPhone 14 Pro. Now, every iPhone until the iPhone 13 Pro only hits a peak brightness of 625 nits (iPhone X, XS, iPhone 11, iPhone 12) or 800 nits (iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 13).
With iPhone 14 Pro, users will have access to a screen that hits 1000 nits in normal use and doubles it when outdoors. It's this generation's most underrated yet the most effective upgrade. Also, unless you're letting your iPhone get battered by sunlight, it'll maintain those brightness levels without a hitch.
The Dynamic Island, what can I say about it? When I began writing this review, my words revolved around how it's a feature that needs work but doesn't need work because while it worked well, it didn't do much apart from working with system functions—calls, timers, music player, and more. Since then, iOS 16.1 has made it into public hands, and so have Live Activities. A component key to Dynamic Island and its use cases.
I touched upon how the island improves my favorite iOS feature in an article, and after using it, my initial impressions were quite accurate. It combines the older instances in Apple's software with the newer ones like Live Activities. You will see phone calls, navigation, screen recording, and others all have new animations that are more interactive and detail-rich.
Apps like FotMob now show live soccer game scores, and Flighty displays essential details about your plane trip, like when it'll depart, the gates it's at, seat number, and more.
It isn't without its cons, as the hardware sits lower on screen, meaning 21:9 content now has a small portion taken out of it, but I'm glad to report the "correct" 16:9 aspect ratio video remains safe.
iOS 16.1 also lets you play around more with Dynamic Island by making activities appear or disappear with swipes, but come on, Apple, let us change the tap and long press interaction. I prefer to tap to expand Dynamic Island and long press to enter an app.
Lastly, when it comes to Always-On Display on iPhone, the feature has seen polarising viewpoints. I feel it's a decent implementation. The all-screen output is great for details. It updates information as things change, and if you're someone who keeps their iPhone on a wireless charging stand, it's a great way to stay on top of notifications. Now, it is a battery hog, but with iOS 16.1, I'm seeing better battery life even with the feature active, so I hope to report, sooner rather than later, that the feature is useful.
Takeaways
Outdoor Mode is highly effective and significantly improves outdoor legibility.
Dynamic Island is better than at launch; hopefully, more improvements are on the horizon.
Always-On Display is great but will impact battery endurance.
If coming from an older generation, the biggest differences you'll notice will be the display brightness and its smoothness due to the implementation of ProMotion technology.
Camera: New Sensors and Image Processing
We are now moving on to the cameras of the iPhone 14 Pro, which brings a revamp with a new primary sensor (the first major megapixel change since the iPhone 6S), a different ultrawide, and a new image processing pipeline called Photonic Engine. There are also improvements to video recording, bringing new capabilities via Action Mode and 4K recording for Cinematic Video.
The primary 48-megapixel wide sensor on this camera performs very similarly to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup but comes with many other improvements that help it move toward becoming a complete performer.
Like the 13 Pro series, it can capture great images in daylight but has improved performance in low light due to its ability to pixel bin images, thus, capturing more light that gets more detail for post-processing. There's also an improved shallow depth field—owing to the large sensor—meaning portrait mode isn't always required. Sensor-shift stabilization is also improved, helping you capture shaky moments without losing detail.
The 12-megapixel ultrawide now has a different aperture and pixel size, too, capturing sharper images and better detail. The presence of Apple's Photonic Engine helps improve low-light performance here too. The 12-megapixel 3x telephoto sees no hardware upgrades but only an improvement via software. To further improve the versatility of the entire camera array, Apple also allows users to capture a 2x optical zoom photo using the central portion of the image captured by the 48MP sensor. On the front is a 12-megapixel sensor that now supports autofocus.
In my testing, the upgrade to an iPhone 14 Pro showed some clear advantages but even a few misses that are common to all iPhones. Speaking of the improvements, the shots captured by the 48-megapixel camera have some great detail. Yes, it doesn't let you get as close to subjects as earlier models, but it's something you can work around. Images taken in dimly lit scenarios tend to retain more detail and brightness.
7 Images iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera 2x Optical Zoom iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera Oversharpening Example iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera 2x Optical Zoom iPhone 14 Pro Main Camera
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Regarding the telephoto camera, the images from the 2x optical zoom crop or the 3x optical lens were par for the course. They maintain enough and are a lot easier to use. I defaulted to the 2x shot almost every time I captured an image. The 3x feels too zoomed in for my taste. But coming from an iPhone without a telephoto lens, the ability to punch in as and when required was a huge plus.
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As mentioned earlier, the iPhone 14 Pro also has an improved ultrawide camera. The sensor showed some vignettes in its shots, but it also maintains color consistency, something the iPhone has done well over the last few years. The macro ability of the iPhone 14 Pro is also a welcome addition.
4 Images iPhone 14 Pro Ultrawide Camera Sample iPhone 14 Pro Ultrawide Camera Sample iPhone 14 Pro Ultrawide Camera Sample iPhone 14 Pro Ultrawide Camera Sample
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Just touching upon ProRAW, you can use this feature to capture high-detail images—where file sizes hit nearly 100MB—to grab as much data as possible, letting you play with aspects like highlights and shadows to create the best rendition of an image. Last year's model did 12-megapixel ProRAW shot; this generation, you can go up to 48 megapixels.
The front camera on iPhone generally does a great job of maintaining skin texture and colors, so adding OIS and autofocus only improves the performance. If you capture images while holding your phone in its portrait orientation, you will see a little crop, and the capture will use 7 megapixels. Switching to landscape will apply a wider view and use the entire 12-megapixels on offer. However, you can choose to switch manually.
Coming to video recording, the iPhone 14 Pro maintains the lead Apple has displayed yearly. The device can now record 4K video from all cameras at 60 frames per second. Also, stability gains more focus this year with Action Mode, which lets you capture content with gimbal-like stabilization without adding the necessary hardware. Your iPhone does this by applying a crop and recording 2.8K resolution footage.
Overall, this entire lens setup with this generation will be an upgrade for those moving up. For those on iPhone 13 Pro, you will not have access to Action Mode and 4K Cinematic Recording, but it's up to you to decide whether those two features are enough of a reason to upgrade. On the whole, if you're buying a new phone and the camera is your top priority, although it has new features, choosing the iPhone 13 Pro over the iPhone 14 Pro might make sense for many.
Takeaways
The iPhone 14 Pro cameras are versatile and highly capable.
Apple needs to tune its image sharpening algorithms.
Video quality on iPhone is still industry-leading.
Night mode captures significantly brighter images and brings out more detail.
Battery: It's Great but Can Be Better
According to teardowns, the iPhone 14 Pro has a slightly smaller battery—29 mAh, to be precise. Does this result in significant harm to endurance? Other reviews have indicated the device didn't perform up to their expectations, but that was at launch. I was in a similar boat, but several updates have occurred since September.
On iOS 16.1, I've had better endurance and can go through my day with Always-On Display active. Yes, I hit the 20% mark when going to bed, but an hour and a half with the charger in the morning has me ready for the upcoming day.
But I've heard praises of the iPhone 13 Pro doing a day and a half of use, and I hoped the iPhone 14 Pro would deliver the same with all of its features active. It is an improvement from an iPhone 12, but I wished to see something more worthwhile.
For those thinking of charging speeds, the iPhone 14 Pro comes with the standard 50% charge in 30 minutes that Apple has had on its website. As mentioned earlier, an hour and a half on the charger will have you up to 100%. For those using wireless charging, 15W MagSafe or 7.5W Qi charging are still available. I hope the iPhone's possible switch to USB-C brings some much-needed improvements to top-up times.
Takeaways
iPhone 14 Pro has decent endurance with Always-On Display turned off.
The device can use slightly faster charging hardware.
Performance and Software
With the iPhone 14 Pro, there's not much to add in terms of performance. Day-to-day iPhone usage has been nearly indistinguishable in recent years. The only real time you'd notice the performance improvement is when you're coming from a device at least two or maybe three years old. Upgrading from an iPhone 12, I didn't feel much difference in app loading times, but the 120Hz display improved how zippy the operating system felt.
As for iOS 16, the platform brings a visual overhaul to the Lock Screen, one that I've fawned over, and other improvements. iOS 16.1, which went live earlier this week, even brings Live Activities into the fray, which are these ever-evolving notifications that aim to put essential information in front of eyes.
Other additions like iCloud Shared Photo Library, Haptic Feedback on the keyboard, and background separation for images are all additions that improve the overall experience, tying up Apple's simple smartphone experience into a bundle that's more you.
Takeaways
A16 Bionic further extends the performance gap between Apple and its competitors.
iOS 16 makes your iPhone more personal with its revamped Lock Screen.
Minor quality of life updates in iOS improve device usability and the overall experience.
Price and Availability
iPhone 14 Pro is available for $999 via all major carriers and retail stores. You can buy it in four colors and four storage options. If you're living in the United States, your device will support mmWave 5G but come with no physical SIM slot. If living elsewhere, your iPhone will support sub-6Ghz 5G and come with a SIM tray.
iPhone 14 Pro: Pros & Cons
Pros Cons Brightest Display on an iPhone
Performance advantage over all competitors
Incredible Build and Resilience Battery Endurance needs work.
Cameras over sharpen images a little too much.
Verdict: A Solid Upgrade (with an asterisk)
So, to round up the review. The iPhone 14 Pro has been a solid upgrade over my iPhone 12. Starting with the display, the implementation of ProMotion and Outdoor Mode for increased brightness makes a world of difference. The modernity and extra functionality brought about by Dynamic Island is a welcome bonus. As for the always-on display, I wrote earlier that I like the feature, but I'm tethered to my iPhone via an Apple Watch, so I'd skip it to save on battery.
The cameras on this device will bring increased versatility to everyone who upgrades to this device from a non-Pro iPhone or one of Apple's older flagships. Smartphone photography has come a long way, and the minor improvements it brings do add up. Battery life and performance are bound to jump by leaps and bounds, leaving you satisfied with your purchase. In my case, there is a forward jump, but it isn't something I'd rave about.
For those of you moving to this iPhone from a model that's at least two years old, look forward to using a significantly brighter and smoother display. Followed by improvements to camera hardware and its various new software features like Action Mode, Photographic Styles, and Cinematic Video. But overall, the iPhone 14 Pro has my seal of approval.
Apple iPhone 14 review: Should you upgrade this year?
The iPhone 14 is a fantastic smartphone in almost every way. It has a great screen, speedy performance, fantastic software and some of the best cameras at this price point. It shines when paired with the Apple Watch or AirPods, and the build quality strikes a nice balance between lightweight and high-end. After testing, we reckon it’s probably the best phone that we recommend you don’t rush to buy.
Expecting a major overhaul compared to last year’s iPhone 13 series quickly leads to disappointment. There are a handful of small updates – including a video mode that increases stabilisation and a crash detection feature we hope you’ll never need – but the list of similarities with the previous flagship is much longer – including the screen size, processor, water resistance rating, megapixel count and design.
Should you upgrade? Anyone with an iPhone 13 (or even an iPhone 12) isn’t missing much by not snapping up the latest model. Anyone who is coming from an older iPhone – or making the switch from Android to iOS for the first time – will find a lot to love, although we reckon the iPhone 14 Pro is a better option if you’re able to stretch the budget due to its better cameras, processor and the cool new “Dynamic Island”. Love big screens? You may want to check out the huge 6.7-inch .
iPhone 14 key specs
• Screen size: 6.1-inch
• Resolution: 2532 x 1170 pixels
• Operating system: iOS 16
• Processor: A15 Bionic
• Cameras: 12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide
• Battery life: Up to 20 hours
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• RAM: 6GB
• Weight: 172g
• Water resistance: Yes, IP68
• Micro SD card slot: No
iPhone 14 design
There’s no argument from us, the iPhone 14 is a lovely-looking smartphone – in the same way as its last two predecessors. Like the spec sheet, little has changed in the looks department and most people will struggle to tell the difference at a glance.
Still, the aluminium/glass build quality feels worthy of the price (although it’s £100 more in the UK this year) and the handset is sturdy yet lightweight, while the buttons have a pleasing clickiness when pressed. The notch remains, and we can’t help but feel that it’s a shame the new Dynamic Island tech that lets iOS apps use this space for alerts and notifications isn’t in the base model. For that, you have to go Pro.
We tested the blue version and have no complaints about the colour – it looks very vibrant and stands out when compared to the Pixel 6 we were previously using as our daily driver.
It also comes in purple, black (midnight), white (starlight) and red, although you’ll want to invest in a quality case to protect the glass against scratches or bumps. While the sizes are almost identical, the new phone is just slightly thicker than the prior model, so be warned that cases for the 13 won’t fit perfectly.
We like the button layout overall – with the volume on the left side and power on the right – and like the other iPhones with the same design, it feels natural to hold and use with the gesture controls. However, it’s way past time that Apple embraces USB-C on its phones instead of Lighting for the charging port at the bottom.
Jason Murdock
iPhone 14 camera
The iPhone 14’s dual-camera setup (12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide) has been slightly enhanced this year with the addition of Apple’s “Photonic Engine” – which is a fancy way of saying it uses software smarts to make your photos look better, especially in lower light. It’s not a massive overhaul, but this is still one of the best options you have for getting quality images from a smartphone. Just point and shoot.
We tested the cameras alongside an iPhone 14 Pro and last year’s iPhone 13 Mini (there’s sadly no new mini model this year) at London’s Trafalgar Square and found the results to be surprisingly similar – although the 14 Pro easily wins as an overall package for any keen photographers due to its larger 48MP sensor that lets you shoot in raw format (ideal for photo editing), plus a significantly better zoom (not to mention better processing due to the A16 Bionic chip).
Still, we found the iPhone 14 to be more than capable. In slightly overcast conditions, shadows looked great cast across the grey construction of The National Gallery, and turning to Nelson's Column we captured the afternoon sun reflecting off puddles on the ground with storm clouds in the distance. A morning shot at a train station caught the bright sky and piercing sun without being overexposed, and colours remained accurate in lower lighting in one shot taken just as the sun was going down.
Here are examples of the types of photos you can expect from the iPhone 14 lenses. These are taken straight from the camera, with no re-touching or editing.
While anyone with an iPhone 13 won’t be shocked by the camera performance (it’s effectively the same) we appreciate that when using portrait mode, the iPhone 14 cameras can now blur objects in the foreground as well as the background in pictures. While the front lens is still 12 MP, it’s nice to see that it now has autofocus and a wider aperture (f/1.9 instead of f/2.2) that lets in more light in, too.
Unlike the previous iPhone, Apple has brought “action mode” to the video settings – and we found this effectively smoothes motion when walking. It will be a big deal for anyone who uses the phone for filming videos for YouTube or social media and the ultra-silky footage is one sure-fire way to make your Instagram followers jealous, but we admit that it’s not a feature we would use too much during our typical day.
Jason Murdock
iPhone 14 software
The iPhone 14 comes with the latest iOS 16, and this does more to make the phone feel new than any hardware specs. It’s a joy to use. Lock screens have more customisation than ever, letting you add widgets such as weather, news, a calendar, fitness or reminders – plus change the font and colour of the clock face.
We enjoy being able to prominently show the real-time battery life of other connected devices, such as the new AirPods Pro, with a large widget, and the enhanced focus modes let you silence notifications from specific apps or individual contacts.
Of course, iOS 16 isn’t unique to the iPhone 14. It’s also coming to earlier iPhones, and because this base model is running the same A15 chip you’re unlikely to get any performance boost by having the latest model. What is new for the 14 line-up is the Crash Detection that instantly calls for help if you get into a car accident. For obvious reasons, we haven't put this to the test and we hope you never have to use it.
iPhone 14 battery
Unlike some Android handsets these days, the iPhone 14’s battery life won’t last for multiple days from a single charge. Using the handset moderately during the day – watching videos from YouTube and listening to music via Spotify during a commute of around two hours total, as well as checking social media and emails – we were usually able to get a little over one full day before needing to power up.
Like the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 supports MagSafe (up to 15W) and Qi wireless via portable chargers (up to 7.5W). You’ll get around 50% of charge in roughly half an hour using a 20W wall adapter, and while that isn’t in the box you can buy one of the best iPhone chargers for under £20. The use of a Lightning Connector to charge the handset feels outdated, and we wish Apple would embrace the USB-C life like it has done on its MacBooks and iPads. Maybe next year.
Jason Murdock
iPhone 14 display
Colours and contrast pop on the iPhone 14’s 6.1-inch OLED panel. However, the display hasn’t changed from last year’s model, with the same resolution, adaptive brightness and nice haptic feedback.
It’s all still brilliant, of course, but it’s not new. As has been the case for the previous few iPhones, Apple is sticking to a 60Hz refresh rate on this model and it’s a little awkward when so many competitors offer up to 90Hz – which allows for much smoother scrolling and performance – as a minimum.
Luckily, you’re unlikely to notice much of a difference unless you directly compare the iPhone 14 with the iPhone Pro side-by-side, and we quickly got used to downgrading from the higher refresh rate of the Pixel 6, so it’s not a dealbreaker.
The borders around the display are small and inoffensive, although the notch on the screen is still a bit too large for our liking – especially when it’s effectively wasted space. In our head, we know Pro users are relaxing on their Dynamic Island and enjoying an always-on display, making the base 14 feel instantly outdated.
iPhone 14 performance
Unlike the last few iterations of the iPhone, the 14 doesn’t have the same chip as the Pro models. The base model has the same A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 13, while the Pro models have jumped to A16. Honestly, for day-to-day use it’s fine – and we had no issues with performance when downloading and running apps, browsing the internet, listening to music, watching videos or swiping through menus.
On a home WiFi connection, Mario Kart Tour and Angry Birds 2 downloaded in around 30 seconds (the larger-sized Call of Duty: Mobile took a few minutes) and they ran smoothly and lag-free when playing. We didn’t have issues with overheating either, which we encountered when trying out the Google Pixel 6a. If you have the right data plan, the iPhone 14 has 5G connectivity for ultra-fast downloads.
Face ID is fast and responsive, and while we don’t plan on taking the handset into the shower it has an IP68 water resistance rating, which means it can theoretically survive submersion up to 1.5m for up to 30 minutes. We tested the 512GB model, but like the iPhone 13 there are also options to get 128GB or 256GB of built-in storage.
Digital Spy
iPhone 14 drawbacks
While the standard iPhone 14 feels like a feature-rich and high-end smartphone, we don’t love that the UK entry-level pricing has increased by £100 in the UK this year, going from £749 to £849 for the 128GB model.
We are not sure that it does enough to justify that increase, especially as it has the same chip as the 2021 phone. The specs remain impressive, but we also think it’s time this model got a higher refresh rate and USB-C charging. There’s no escaping that Lightning cable just yet.
iPhone 14 verdict
The iPhone 14 is the best smartphone you don’t need. It’s brilliant in almost every way, but it’s the definition of incremental update.
Anyone with an iPhone 13 is likely to be happy getting iOS 16 and waiting until next year when we could see a bigger overhaul of the design or processor. And due to the similarities with last year’s phone ( ) will anyone really want to spend the extra £100 for the latest one?
Users of the older iPhone XR or iPhone 11 may be looking to upgrade, but they can also save some money by going for the iPhone 13 or the new . If you can get a great iPhone 14 contract deal and want a model from the latest line-up you won’t be disappointed, but if you can afford the extra £250 we recommend checking out the iPhone 14 Pro as it gives you better features, cameras and battery life.
Apple iPhone 14 Review: The Safe Choice That’s Worth Buying
8/10 ? 1 - Does not work
2 - Barely functional
3 - Severely lacking in most areas
4 - Functions, but has numerous issues
5 - Fine yet leaves a lot to be desired
6 - Good enough to buy on sale
7 - Great and worth purchasing
8 - Fantastic, approaching best-in-class
9 - Best-in-class
10 - Borderline perfection Rating: Price:
Starting At $799
The Apple iPhone 14 is a bit of an oddity. It’s running last year’s CPU found in the iPhone 13 Pro, and it doesn’t have the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48MP rear camera or the Dynamic Island. Altogether, though, it’s a great “default” iPhone for anyone new to the Apple ecosystem or who just needs the basics.
Here's What We Like Improved selfie camera
Everything runs smoothly
All-day battery life And What We Don't No telephoto or 48MP camera
Same processor as the iPhone 13 Pro series
Not much different than last year's iPhones
How-To Geek's expert reviewers go hands-on with each product we review. We put every piece of hardware through hours of testing in the real world and run them through benchmarks in our lab. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product and never aggregate other people’s reviews. Read more >>
Design: It Looks Like an iPhone
Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.3in (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm)
5.78 x 2.82 x 0.3in (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm) Weight: 6.07oz (172g)
6.07oz (172g) Display: 6.1in OLED, 2,532 x 1,170px, 460ppi, 60Hz refresh rate
6.1in OLED, 2,532 x 1,170px, 460ppi, 60Hz refresh rate CPU: A15 Bionic (6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
A15 Bionic (6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) RAM: 6GB
6GB Water and dust resistance: IP68
It’s no secret that if you’ve seen one iPhone, you’ve basically seen them all. The overall design of the handset hasn’t changed much since the iPhone X’s redesign in 2018. You get a glass back with a camera bump protruding out from the top-left corner, a metal frame painted to match the color of the phone, and another glass slab around front to cover the display and Face ID notch.
Holding the phone, I’m surprised by how light the device is. Compared to the Pro lineup that uses stainless steel (and weighs in at 206-240g), the iPhone 14’s aluminum frame is a joy to hold and throw in your pocket. The glass front and back make the phone feel premium, but I also worry about dropping and cracking the device. I definitely recommend considering a case.
Looking around the phone, you’ll notice that there is no SIM card slot (at least there isn’t one on U.S. models). Apple is going all-in on eSIM, which has its own pros and cons. As a reviewer, I like being able to quickly swap SIMs between units as I’m testing each device. But as a consumer, I found the process of activating the eSIM (in my case, on AT&T) basically effortless. Of course, I’ve heard others complain about eSIM problems, so your mileage may vary.
The Best Cases for Your iPhone 14 Apple Official Apple Clear MagSafe Case for iPhone 14 Apple Official Apple Silicone MagSafe Case for iPhone 14 Budget Option Best Buy Essentials Case for iPhone 14 Extra Durability Otterbox Defender Series XT for iPhone 14 Crystal Clear Totallee Transparent Case Super Thin Protection Spigen Thin Fit Case for iPhone 14 Peak Design Everyday Case for iPhone 14 Leather Everything Mujjo Leather Case for iPhone 14
iOS 16: More Customization
The launch of the iPhone 14 came alongside the official release of iOS 16. This firmware update is available on every Apple smartphone since the iPhone 8, but it runs especially smooth on the company’s 2022 handsets (as one would hope).
None of iOS 16’s new features are exclusive to the iPhone 14, but if you’ve used iOS in the past, the new lock screen customization refreshes one aspect of the iPhone experience. The addition of widgets and Focus mode wallpapers allows you to make the phone uniquely yours.
Almost everything else about iOS 16 is status quo coming from iOS 15. There are some small additions such as medication tracking, the ability to edit iMessages, and more, but again, none of those are locked to the iPhone 14. If the iOS experience is something you enjoy, you’ll continue to enjoy it on Apple’s latest phone.
Cameras: It’s Hard to Take a Bad Photo
It’s hard to find a premium smartphone in 2022 with a bad camera. The iPhone 14 is no different. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from the rear-facing and selfie cameras.
Rear Cameras
Main: 12MP, 26mm, ƒ/1.5 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization
12MP, 26mm, ƒ/1.5 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization Ultra-wide angle: 12MP, 13 mm, ƒ/2.4 aperture, and 120-degree field of view
12MP, 13 mm, ƒ/2.4 aperture, and 120-degree field of view Video recording: Up to 4K at 60fps, slo-mo up to 1080p at 240fps
Just like with previous generations, the iPhone 14 (non-pro) only comes with two rear-facing cameras. You get dual 12MP sensors, one with a standard wide-angle lens and a second with an ultra-wide angle lens that has a 120-degree field of view. Unfortunately, you’ll need to jump up to the Pro series to get a telephoto.
As this section’s title suggests, it’s hard to take a bad photo with the iPhone 14. Assisted by Apple’s latest computational photography technology called the “Photonic Engine,” you get true-to-life color reproduction, better low-light performance, and a solid picture all around.
Looking at the above photos, I would have preferred a telephoto over the ultra-wide lens. The ultra-wide camera introduces a slight fisheye effect that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I really hate having to rely on digital zoom. Night-time shots are also decent, though you won’t find an astrophotography mode on the iPhone 14.
Action Mode Video Isn’t a Gimmick
One new feature that I was surprised worked so well is Action Mode. Without the need to attach your phone to a gimbal, the iPhone 14 stabilizes your video footage by cropping in on the entire sensor. So instead of a shaky 4K video, you get 1080p footage with zero wobble.
As you can see from the video, I was chasing my dog on unstable ground at a park and the video looks incredibly smooth. There are still some bumps, but the horizon is mostly locked in place.
Front-Facing Camera
Selfie: 12MP camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture
12MP camera, ƒ/1.9 aperture Video recording: Up to 4K at 60fps
The biggest change year-over-year comes to the front-facing TrueDepth camera. With the iPhone 14, Apple opened up the aperture a bit more, but more importantly, it added autofocus. The sharper focus alone helps improve the looks of your selfies.
As you can see from the above photos, color reproduction is quite solid, even with Portrait mode enabled. There is a bit of haloing around my head when using the faux bokeh mode, but it’s not nearly as bad as older handsets.
Battery Life: You’re Good for the Day
Battery size: 3,279mAh
3,279mAh Advertised battery life: 20 hours of video playback
20 hours of video playback Charging speeds: Wired (20W), MagSafe (15W), Qi wireless (7.5W)
No matter the phone, it’s almost guaranteed that the company making it will claim all-day battery life. With the iPhone 14, I’m happy to say that Apple succeeded.
My usual day included taking the iPhone off my Nomad Base One Max charger around 7 am and putting it back on charge at 11-12 pm when heading to bed. Even after spending the day checking Twitter, sending messages in Slack, listening to music while walking my dog, and scrolling through TikTok, I typically ended the day with 20-35% battery left and an average of 5.5 hours of screen-on time.
If I ever did deplete the battery too fast by streaming YouTube or Netflix, charging the iPhone 14 was quick and simple thanks to Apple’s built-in MagSafe technology. I could easily drop the phone onto any of my MagSafe-certified wireless chargers and have the phone juiced back up in just under two hours.
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iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro
Stuck between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro? There are really two things to consider: cameras and the display. Starting with the cameras, around back, you’ll notice that the regular model only has two while the Pro has three. This is because, as mentioned above, the iPhone 14 only has a standard wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide lens. The Pro includes a 3x zoom telephoto.
If you’re fine with digitally zooming into your subject, something else to consider is the main camera’s sensor. For the first time since the launch of the iPhone 6s in 2015, Apple has upped the primary sensor from 12MP to 48MP. The company is then pixel-binning that back down to 12MP, but the increased sensor size and resolution leads to sharper photos and better low-light performance.
So if that bigger and better 48MP sensor is something you want, go with the iPhone 14 Pro. The standard iPhone 14 uses the 12MP camera found in previous generations. It still captures a great photo, but there is a noticeable difference.
The last thing to consider is the display. Beyond the Pro having the “Dynamic Island” and the iPhone 14 sticking to the notch, the two phones have different refresh rates. The A16-powered iPhone 14 Pro has a “ProMotion” screen that can clock up to 120Hz for silky smooth scrolling and video playback and then drop down to as low as 1Hz to save battery life (which also allows the phone to have an always-on lock screen). The iPhone 14, with its A15 CPU, is locked to 60Hz.
Personally, I don’t think the 120Hz refresh rate is worth the extra price of the iPhone 14 Pro. If the camera improvements aren’t enough to sway you to go for the more premium handset, I don’t think the display is worth the upgrade.
Should You Buy the Apple iPhone 14?
Color options: Midnight, Purple, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, Blue
Midnight, Purple, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, Blue Pricing: 128GB ($799), 256GB ($899), 512GB ($1,099)
At the end of the day, the iPhone 14 is Apple’s “safe choice” option. It doesn’t have the company’s new Dynamic Island and it doesn’t feature a fancy 48MP rear camera, but it does fit Apple’s unofficial motto of “it just works.” Unlike the iPhone SE (2022), which is the budget option in Apple’s lineup, you get a modern design and improved performance across the board.
You can purchase the iPhone 14 directly from Apple, your carrier, and third-party stores such as Best Buy. It’s available in Midnight (black-ish blue), Purple, Starlight (light gold), (Product)Red, and Blue (pictured above) starting at $799 for the 128GB model.
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