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Although the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have many similarities, there are still significant distinctions. With the release of the new iPhone just a few days back, Apple product lovers are literally doing their best to get their hands on these new smartphones. But still, there are people like me who would like to get a look at the features first before going ahead and buying one.
So, if you are also like me or you are just another die-hard Apple fan and just want to know about the specs of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, this review is for you.
The standard iPhone 14 is the same middle-sized iPhone with which you are undoubtedly already familiar.
The iPhone 14 Plus, on the other hand, will provide a more affordable way to achieve the size of the iPhone 14 Pro Max without having to pay extra for its high-tech features, including an upgraded display or camera array.
If you want an affordable one with features, then iPhone 14 Plus may be the best option. Here’s our review of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 plus.
iPhone 14 Review
The new iPhone 14 from Apple looks like a decent smartphone when viewed separately and removed from the significant shadow cast by the new iPhone 14 Pro. However, it is a little challenging to get excited about an iPhone that retains last year’s design, screen, and CPU.
Despite having a similar exterior to the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 has several internal changes that aim to give a better user experience overall.
iPhone 14: Price
128GB: $799
256GB: $899
512GB: $999
On September 9, preorders for the iPhone 14 opened, and on September 16, it was available. The 128GB model costs $799, although you can upgrade to 512GB storage.
iPhone 14: Design
The iPhone 14, which is 6.1 inches, is the same as the iPhone 13, except that it comes in new colors. It still has its screen, stereo speaker grilles, aluminum frame, and Lightning port. But there are some small structural differences.
Its dimensions are 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm, slightly thicker than the iPhone 13’s.
Additionally, it is two grams lighter than the previous phone, which we attribute to the new thermal architecture of the gadget. Despite the comparable chassis, the iPhone 14 goes right into an official iPhone 13 MagSafe cover, but it does not quite fit. But the two-lens camera of iPhone 14 and the lenses themselves are a little bit bigger.
The dust and water resistance from the iPhone 13 is retained, and all material types, even the Ceramic Shield, which covers the display, are the same. Naturally, we tested our iPhone 14’s resistance to water by running it under a sprinkler.
Read More: Reports Say Apple Might Scale Back To iPhone 14 Production!
iPhone 14: Display
The Super Retina XDR display in the iPhone 14 has a 2532 x 1170, 460 PPI. This now somewhat dated design retains the notch removed on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
It includes an IR sensor, a modernized TrueDepth camera (still 12MP but with a more robust light-gathering sensor and focusing), a flood illuminator, and, above all, the top speaker (the other speaker is on the bottom of the phone). As it appears difficult to assume it will remain in the predicted iPhone 15 next year, this is likely the notch’s final appearance.
This display is vibrant (up to 1,200 nits), vivid (Wide Color), and boasts deep blacks (2,000,000:1 contrast ratio) thanks to OLED. Yet, it immediately feels dated compared to the most recent Apple display innovations. Both the adaptive refresh rate and the 120Hz ProMotion we initially encountered on 2021’s Pro models are absent.
This may not be easy to accept, given that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max provide adjustable refresh rates ranging from 10 Hz to 120Hz. For even more power efficiency, those phones also feature a new always-on display mode that can slow down to only 1Hz. You pay more for this, to reiterate.
iPhone 14: Camera
There are only two rear cameras on the iPhone 14:
- A primary 12MP sensor (26mm, f/1.5)
- A 13mm, f/2.4, 12MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view
The sensors and overall low-light performance of this iPhone 14 camera are better than those of their predecessors. Given that the iPhone 14’s 12MP front camera can autofocus, it should be easier to take group selfies.
An advanced imaging pipeline is beneficial for all cameras. In the case of uncompressed images, Deep Fusion neural image processing is highly prioritized by the Photonic Engine earlier than in the previous.
The iPhone 14 takes excellent photos, but after using the iPhone 14 Pro as well, we miss having optical zoom and macro capabilities at our disposal. Nevertheless, most users should be satisfied with this degree of photographing aptitude and high-quality output.
This model can record videos in up to 4K resolution, just like the rest of the iPhone 14 series, and Cinematic Mode has been upgraded to accommodate 4K at 30 frames per second.
The running person icon is located in the top right corner of the camera app’s viewfinder, and tapping it enables the brand-new Active Mode. Action footage can surprise shake-free by using this technique. No, there is not a new gimbal in the iPhone 14; instead, Apple uses over-scan and enhanced roll detection, which is a fancy way of saying it quickly and on-the-fly cuts the video to maintain the center (often a subject) more smoothly in-frame.
Although this technique does remove some video data (resulting in a cropped frame), the outcomes are GoPro-smooth. Although I doubt it would be of great use, if you enjoy action movies, this could be a godsend.
Read More: iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max: Features, Specifications, Prices & Other Things You Must Know!
iPhone 14: Audio
On the audio front, Apple has at least been reliable. The stereo speakers and spatial audio capability in all four iPhone 14 versions produce loud (if desired), crystal-clear, and brilliant music.
Spatial audio offers a surround-sound impression to movies and music that support it. In addition to an ample spatial audio library by Apple Music, you can watch movies on Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services. On the iPhone 14, everything sounded fantastic.
iPhone 14: Hardware And Specs
Hey there, mobile CPU from last year! To begin with, we must make it quite apparent that the A15 Bionic is in perfect working order. Mobile games like Asphalt: Legends and PUBG operate smoothly thanks to this powerful CPU, which has routinely outperformed the best Qualcomm offers.
The faster and more powerful A16 Bionic featured in iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max can be used to edit 4K videos, browse the web, and do all other tasks. In real life, you probably won’t notice the difference until you’ve used the phone for years.
Bringing the upgraded A15 chip from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 was a clever move on Apple’s part. Nobody will be disappointed by this smart cost-cutting strategy.
The redesigned internal design of the A15 Bionic, included in the new iPhone 14, allows for more effective heat dissipation. Apple maintains that this aids in repairability, yet a cooled chip should perform better.
Although this iPhone’s benchmarks were mainly in line with those of the A15 Bionic we tested in the iPhone 13 Pro, it does promise longer battery life (20 hours of video streaming as opposed to 19 hours for the iPhone 13), suggesting Apple’s efforts to improve the cooling system are to held responsible for this increased effectiveness.
iPhone 14: eSim And Connectivity
The entire iPhone 14 range in the US no longer has a SIM card port; instead, it uses eSIM technology to connect you to the cellular network. In our experience, there was no extra setup work required for the iPhone 14—granted, Apple had previously given our phone a phone number for testing.
You should be able to electronically transfer your physical SIM information from your old iPhone to a new one without the assistance of your carrier. Once users have access to these new SIM-free iPhones, we will know how well everything functions.
Emergency SOS via satellite is another fascinating new communication function. To provide this additional level of emergency help, Apple collaborates with low-Earth orbit satellites from Globalstar. Although we could not test it, we could observe it used at Apple’s facility.
We hiked up a hill where there was no phone service and no Wi-Fi. We observed a minor ‘SOS’ and satellite icon in the upper-right corner of the display on the iPhone 14 Pro utilized for the demonstration (we assume the system operates similarly on the iPhone 14). Please note that you must be outside and have a clear sky view for these icons to show.
If you call 911 (in the US), the iPhone 14 will ask if you wish to try emergency texting via satellite. The next step is to connect to the nearest satellite, after which an on-screen emergency assistant provides a visual clue for the direction you should face.
The system then poses a series of inquiries to you, which it can transmit as compressed text to Apple’s relay center, which subsequently contacts emergency services.
The system will alert you to turn in the appropriate direction to reconnect if a satellite moves out of range during contact.
While emergencies are the primary purpose of satellite communications, you may also utilize the system to notify others via Find My that you, for instance, successfully scaled Mount Everest or Snowdon.
Read More: iPhone 14 Battery Replacement Charges Increase by 43%!
iPhone 14: Battery
The iPhone 14 has a 20-hour video playing time limit, a 16-hour streaming video time limit, and an 80-hour audio playback time limit. There is no charger included with the iPhone 14, only a Lightning-to-USB-C charging cord.
A 5W adaptor is available, or you may spend a little more money on Apple’s 20W charger, capable of charging your device to 50% in 30 minutes. Additionally, the phone supports Qi and MagSafe wireless charging.
iPhone 14 Plus Review
It is thrilling that the Apple iPhone 14 Plus introduces a new form factor for the basic iPhone. The iPhone 14 Plus is terrific for people who want a bigger screen but do not want to pay hefty Pro costs.
iPhone 14 Plus: Price
128 GB: $899
256 GB: $999
512 GB: $1099
Getting a large, 6.7-inch iPhone for only $100 extra than the base model is fantastic. Starting prices for the 128GB base model of the iPhone 14 Plus are $899.
iPhone 14 Plus: Design
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has the same appearance as the iPhone 14 but is larger in size, similar to how the iPhone 14 Pro Max differs from the iPhone 14 Pro. The Plus is somewhat enormous due to its bigger scale, but it has a sturdy and high-end design, and we actually like the larger model much more than we had anticipated.
The iPhone 14 Plus is nearly 40 grams (1.31 ounces) lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max because the frame is made of aerospace aluminum rather than the surgical-grade stainless steel used in the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The same is true for the smaller model.
The iPhone 14 Plus features flat edges like the iPhone 13, too. This greater size is simpler to grasp than the iPhone 8 would have been, having its corners rounded, thanks to the flat edges that have been a feature of the iPhone’s design since the iPhone 12 and earlier generations like the iPhone 5.
The silence toggle, volume controls, and SIM tray are on the device’s left edge. The US, however, no longer has a SIM tray and a frosted section due to the switchover to eSIM only. In contrast, the power button is visible on the right edge.
In addition to the speaker at the top of the display above the notch, there are speakers on either side of the Lightning charging connector at the bottom. The notch we have seen since the iPhone X is still present on the iPhone 14 Plus, unlike the iPhone 14 Pro Max, albeit a little smaller than it was in 2017. This means that even if the larger form factor is new, the design is the same as the iPhone 13.
The rear has a glass surface with a glossy finish, and the distinctive square camera housing is located in the upper left corner.
Again, similar to the iPhone 13, this housing includes two diagonally positioned lenses and seamless edges that merge into the rest of the rear.
Five color options, Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red, are available for the iPhone 14 Plus. While Purple is quite pale and perhaps our least favorite, the red product is vivid and intense. We liked the Blue too, and those looking for a more subtle device might consider Starlight or Midnight.
iPhone 14 Plus: Display
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus boasts a 6.7-inch display, which is the phone’s highlight because it is the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max yet costs less than the Pro model. For people who do not need or desire all the features available on the Pro model, it increases accessibility to the iPhone with the larger display.
The iPhone 14 Plus has a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 458 PPI, which is quite similar to the iPhone 14. Because it is an OLED display, the blacks are black, and the colors are vivid and pop. With a peak brightness of 1200 nits, there is also plenty of luminance.
Even though the iPhone 14 Plus lacks ProMotion, the standard Apple display features like True Tone, Haptic Touch, and HDR support are present nonetheless. Moreover, it supports a conventional refresh rate of 60Hz.
Sadly, like its Pro sibling, the iPhone 14 Plus lacks an Always On Display. As a result, some information will not stay on the screen when it is off, even though you can still use the new Lock Screen customization options provided by iOS 16.
iPhone 14 Plus: Camera
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus’s photography capabilities are identical to those of the iPhone 14 and slightly inferior to those of the iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s telephoto capability is unavailable because of the dual lens system on the back, which consists of the primary camera and an ultrawide camera. It is also not given the upgrade to a sensor with a more excellent resolution.
However, the main camera on the iPhone 14 Plus is improved beyond what was available on the iPhone 13, choosing to be the same as the iPhone 13 Pro instead. This indicates that there will be a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.5 aperture over an f/1.6 aperture, as well as a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture.
The four iPhone 14 models all include a feature known as the Photonic Engine, which is intended to aid in low light photography. A system for image processing is essentially what it is.
Other features include sensor-shift stabilization, a tonne of features like Night mode and Portrait mode with Depth Focus, as well as Photographic Styles and Cinematic Video, both introduced with the iPhone 13 models. Additional new features include Action Mode, 4K at 24 and 30 frames per second on Cinematic Video, and Foreground Blur in Portrait Mode.
The iPhone 14 Plus features an improved 12-megapixel front camera. The selfie camera now has autofocus and a wider f/1.9 aperture than f/2.2, which should enable better low-light images.
We did not have enough time with the iPhone 14 Plus to test its camera performance, but we will ensure that when we get it in for review. We anticipate strong performance.
While the primary lens may not have the exact resolution as the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the telephoto lens may not be there, Apple has always been excellent at processing, so we would expect outstanding results from this model.
iPhone 14 Plus: Hardware And Specs
In addition, unlike the iPhone 14 Pro max, the recently launched iPhone 14 Plus does not get an upgrade to the processor. A15 Bionic chip is the same as the iPhone 13. However, it chooses to use the iPhone 13 Pro’s chip, which has a 5-core GPU instead of the 4-core GPU found in the iPhone 13.
However, it does mean that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a more powerful big device rather than on par with the iPhone 14 Plus. This is not necessarily a bad thing because the iPhone 13 performs very well. Before we can rate the performance of the iPhone 14 Plus, we must try it more, but we do not doubt that it will still be more than adequate, even if it is not as quick as its Pro sibling.
Since the release of the iPhone 12 models in 2020, all iPhones have had a 5G connection. However, the iPhone 14 Plus also has satellite connectivity. If you are in an area without a signal, you can use a satellite to send a text to emergency services. However, you only receive two years of coverage, and this feature is only accessible in the US and Canada.
The iPhone 14 Max has storage capacities ranging from 128GB to 512GB, but unlike previous iPhone models, microSD cards cannot be used to expand the available storage. You must only use eSIM on US models because there is no SIM tray.
iPhone 14 Plus: Battery
The battery size for the iPhone 14 Plus is 4,325mAh. The iPhone 14 Plus has a maximum video playback time of 26 hours, a complete streaming video playtime of 20 hours, and a total audio playtime of 100 hours.
The iPhone 14 has a fast-charging capability and can charge 50% in 30 to 35 minutes when using a power adapter of 20W or more.
Final Words
A 48MP camera, Pro Motion display, and always-on display are just a few of Apple’s top features for the iPhone 14 Pros. However, given the $100 price increase, many consumers may opt for the ordinary iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Despite having many similarities, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are different in size, pricing, and battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus might outperform the iPhone 14 by providing a big-screen iPhone experience for a lower cost than the Pro Max, but if it is not that much better than the standard iPhone 14, the smaller device might still provide the best value for your money. We hope you find this review helpful and informative.
Want to know how much iPhone 14 trade-in value is? Here, have a look at our guide below.