%20-%20Used%20for%20Marketing%20Purposes%20.webp)
© Apple
Story
At Apple’s recent ‘Far Out’ event, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max were all released. The naming of models was slightly altered, as the ‘mini’ model saw an end and was replaced by the larger iPhone 14 Plus.
The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus saw moderate amounts of change compared to the iPhone 13 and 13 mini. In the camera department, the photonic engine made for major advances in low-light photography, there’s better video stabilisation thanks to Action mode, and autofocus improved the front-facing cameras. The displays on both phones now have 1200nits of peak brightness with a Super Retina XDR Display. At this iPhone release, a lot of emphasis was put on safety for users, which brought about crash detection (to detect if a user has been in a severe vehicle crash) and Emergency SOS via satellite (the ability to send a short message via satellites if in need of help).
© Apple
The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max saw far more changes and refinements, evident by the gap in price between pro and non-pro models. The displays now reach a peak brightness of 2000 nits, and the long-awaited always-on display is finally on the iPhone. The main talking point regarding the 14 Pro and Pro Max display was the Dynamic Island. This is a replacement for the notch and is where the front-facing camera and all Face ID tech will be housed. In addition, the Dynamic Island gives users another avenue to interact with the iPhone as it’s filled with numerous animations and is adaptable to the different things users use their smartphones for. Unlike the base model iPhone 14s, the Pros will be getting a chip upgrade from the A15 Bionic to the A16 Bionic processor to, allow for increased efficiency when carrying out tasks. Before this event, Apple had 12MP cameras on all their Pro models since the iPhone 6s. However, Apple has given Pro camera hardware a significant boost by going from 12MP to 48MP. This has made photo subjects more in-focus and increased light capture when taking photos, allowing for better low-light images. ProRAW is also available at 48MP, which will allow for more in-depth photo editing. A 2x telephoto option, along with action mode and cinematic mode, all made an appearance on these phones. Just like the non-pro devices, Crash detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite are on these phones to ensure user safety.
My Take
I personally wouldn’t upgrade this year if you’re coming from an iPhone 12 or 13, as apart from the dynamic island and some new camera hardware, Apple doesn’t have a particularly strong case for convincing iPhone 12 and 13 users to upgrade this year.
Regarding the Dynamic Island, Apple is trying to truly blur the line between software and hardware. I see the Dynamic Island as a long-term replacement for the notch until invisible front-facing camera tech gets to a good enough level to be sold in the iPhone’s mass market. Having said that, I think the Dynamic Island looks fantastic and hopefully, more third-party apps can take full advantage of its features.
Overview
The iPhone 14 starts at $799, while the 14 Plus starts at $899. The Pro devices saw no change in price, with the iPhone 14 Pro starting at $999 and the 14 Pro Max starting at $1099.