From groceries to gasoline, all the things looks as if it’s costlier than in years previous. Telephones are undoubtedly not an exception to the rule, and have additionally fallen sufferer to inflation and provide chain constraints.
For instance, in 2016, Apple charged $649 for a brand-new iPhone 7. This 12 months’s iPhone 14 begins at $799. I don’t learn about you, however I’m paying extra consideration to costs than I’ve up to now and maintain on to my smartphones for longer. Thankfully for shoppers, the iPhone 14 begins on the identical value as final 12 months’s mannequin.
With Apple’s latest wave of smartphones arriving in shops on Sept. 16, you’re in all probability asking your self two questions: “Ought to I improve my telephone?” and “Is the iPhone 14 price it?” I spent virtually per week testing the iPhone 14 that will help you reply these questions, as a result of, reader, I too am someone who makes use of a telephone that was launched in 2020 and was torn on whether or not I ought to improve or not.
Design
At first look, the $799 iPhone 14 appears practically an identical to the iPhone 13. The one bodily variations I observed had been a barely larger digicam bump on the again and the dearth of a SIM card tray. With its strengthened entrance and rear glass panels (that are the hardest within the enterprise) and its aerospace-grade aluminum edges, the iPhone 14 is modern and sturdy in equal measure.
The smartphone rocks a completely waterproof construct with an IP68 ranking, which implies the telephone can survive immersion in 6 meters (20 toes) of water for half-hour. It’ll survive spillage out of your morning espresso, too.
I desire the iPhone 14’s flat edges to the curved edges from earlier iPhone iterations. It’s simple to grip and has a little bit of heft to it, so it appears and feels costly. Nevertheless, it’s not as simple to textual content one-handed as it’s with the iPhone 13 mini. And regardless of the dearth of a bodily SIM tray, I used to be capable of get my overview unit linked to my mobile phone supplier in simply a few minutes.
The iPhone 14 is offered in a quartet of placing colours: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED. I examined the blue colorway, which jogged my memory of my favourite iPhone 13 Professional shade, the superbly impartial Sierra Blue.
Show
In case your iPhone is older than the iPhone 13, you’ll be fairly stunned at how vivid the iPhone 14’s 6.1-inch display screen is. Technically, it’s outfitted with the identical 1,170×2,532-pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR show because the iPhone 13. The display screen is 30% brighter than the iPhone 12 and supplies glorious distinction ratios and HDR help.
A brighter show means you may extra simply use your iPhone in direct daylight. I took the iPhone 14 to a farmers market on a sunny day and was pleasantly stunned at how clear and brilliant the display screen was.
For those who’re a smartphone fanatic, you could be disenchanted to study that the iPhone 14 omits the 120Hz ProMotion refresh fee — a function discovered within the iPhone 13 Professional and 14 Professional, in addition to plenty of Android smartphones, just like the competing Galaxy S22 from Samsung. The next refresh fee helps enhance readability, particularly relating to scrolling giant our bodies of textual content and whereas gaming. Personally, I don’t really feel as if the display screen is inferior in any respect; the consumer interface was buttery-smooth.
It’s additionally price a point out that Apple now gives iPhone 14 in a good bigger dimension. The $899 iPhone 14 Plus includes a 10% larger show that measures 6.7 inches. If you wish to view extra content material in your show, enhance your telephone’s textual content dimension, or desire a extra immersive show for gaming and video consumption, I extremely suggest choosing the 14 Plus over the iPhone 14. Simply know that it’s tougher to make use of one-handed.
Cameras
Arguably, the largest improve for the iPhone 14 sequence is its digicam system. Moreover having a brighter flash on the bottom, you’ll discover a new 12MP selfie digicam on board that helps autofocus, so your selfies shall be sharper and higher in high quality. The brand new autofocus tech makes it simpler to seize group pictures, too.
Not solely that, however the iPhone 14 additionally packs a model new 12MP important digicam with a bigger sensor, a sooner f/1.5 aperture, and improved picture processing — what Apple dubs the “Photonic Engine.” The tech makes use of machine studying and software program alongside your telephone’s cameras to enhance the standard of low-light images.
As for the ultra-wide lens, Apple says it’s two occasions higher than the iPhone 13’s digicam at capturing images in low gentle. I used to be blown away by the element the lens supplied for up-close photographs. I primarily use my iPhone for taking photos of my canines (don’t all of us?) and Luca, my husky, appears particularly majestic.
I’m assured most customers shall be fairly impressed with the iPhone’s cameras. Coming from an iPhone 12 mini, I do know I used to be. Night time Mode images had been much less blurry and might be captured sooner, movies are extra steady, and all the things simply appeared crisp and extremely detailed.
For video, Apple introduced a brand new “Motion Mode” to the iPhone that primarily replicates a gimbal for regular and {smooth} video. It’s excellent for these movies the place you’re working round chasing the youngsters. Moreover that, zoom has been improved, as was the standard of movies recorded in “Cinematic Mode.” The latter information 4K decision as much as 30 frames per second and 4K at 24 frames per second.
Efficiency
The iPhone 14 is supplied with Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, the identical chipset that was present in final 12 months’s iPhone 13. To not nerd out on you, however the chip has a 5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. The Neural Engine is what powers machine studying and it is able to 15.8 trillion (sure, with a “T”) operations per second.
Though the iPhone 14 doesn’t have Apple’s newest chip (you’ll discover that on the costlier iPhone 14 Professional), I promise you received’t expertise any hiccups with the iPhone 14. I had no points in any respect juggling over a dozen apps, taking Zoom calls, and modifying a couple of 4K video clips. The processor is a beast and I’m assured the iPhone 14 will help software program updates for years to return. For those who’re a gamer, you’ll be glad to know that the 5-core GPU delivers 18% sooner efficiency than the iPhone 13 as nicely.
As for battery life, you may anticipate to attain a full day of use earlier than needing to plop it onto a wi-fi charger. Throughout my time testing the iPhone 14, I sometimes had 20% juice remaining round 9 p.m. In case you are an influence consumer, I like to recommend you go for the iPhone 14 Plus, which guarantees the perfect battery life for an iPhone but: Apple claims that the mannequin can play as much as 26 hours of video earlier than needing charging.
New Options
Moreover promising elevated sturdiness, higher battery life, and improved cameras, the iPhone 14 boasts a slew of recent security options, which will be the defining cause you must improve. Though I wasn’t capable of check these options firsthand, I’m nonetheless glad they exist.
The primary is “Crash Detection,” which is strictly what it appears like. The iPhone 14 makes use of its built-in accelerometer and gyroscope sensors to detect excessive g-forces which can be sometimes skilled in car accidents. When a crash is detected, the smartphone can mechanically dial emergency companies and supply your location.
In November 2022, Apple additionally plans to roll out a satellite-based Emergency SOS function, so you may ship messages through communication satellites whenever you don’t have a cell sign or Wi-Fi. You may also replace your location within the Discover My app utilizing the satellite tv for pc connection, so your family members will know the place you might be whenever you’re off the grid.
The iPhone’s working system, iOS 16, supplies a extra customizable Lock Display screen, an improved Focus Mode (so that you received’t get disturbed by distracting notifications), and my favourite function, the power to edit iMessage messages — so my coworkers received’t disgrace me after I kind “your” after I meant to kind “you’re.”
Wrap-Up
Though the iPhone 14 isn’t drastically completely different than the iPhone 13, it’s nonetheless a compelling smartphone that delivers excellent efficiency, packs better-than-average cameras, and gives customers a {smooth} and seamless software program expertise. Its new security options separate it from the competitors as nicely. I feel should you’re presently utilizing an iPhone 8, iPhone X, or iPhone XR, you’ll be glad you upgraded.
For these on the lookout for a extra highly effective digicam system for capturing photographs and recording extremely high-resolution video, I like to recommend choosing the $999 iPhone 14 Professional, which has an extra lens, a whopping 48MP important digicam, and a 1TB storage choice. Most customers shall be higher off saving the money and choosing the iPhone 14 or 14 Plus, which nonetheless each ship stellar efficiency and spectacular picture high quality all whereas stretching your greenback additional.
The 14 Plus, which prices $100 greater than the iPhone 14, is an efficient selection for people who desire a larger show and bump in battery life, however it’s just a little tougher to carry one-handed. Simply know that the iPhone 14 Plus received’t be obtainable till October 7 — an entire three weeks after the iPhone 14 comes out.
Store Apple iPhone 14
