Apple iPhone 14 review
The iPhone 14 is the latest vanilla model from Apple, marking a year of incremental upgrades rather than significant changes. The phone features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a pixel density of 460 PPI and ceramic Shield protection, producing sharp, contrasty, and colorful content with excellent color accuracy. Performance-wise, the iPhone 14 is powered by last year's A15 Bionic chipset with 5-core GPU, which provides excellent benchmark performance on par with the iPhone 13 Pro. However, CPU performance is similar to the regular iPhone 13, and thermal management throttles performance in a gradual manner. The camera department sees an update with the 12-megapixel main cam featuring a brighter aperture and larger pixels compared to the vanilla 13. The ultra-wide camera remains identical to its predecessor. Apple's HDR image stacking technology has been rebranded as Photonic Engine, and while it produces excellent results in daylight, dynamic range is not too wide. Portrait shots from the main cam are very competent, with subject detection and separation nearly perfect. The ultrawide camera also produces solid photos with good contrast and accurate colors. Low-light conditions see an automatic night mode kicking in, which generally does a great job producing clean-looking and detailed images. The 12-megapixel selfie cam features phase detection autofocus, resulting in excellent detail levels, low noise, and natural skin texture and colors. The camera can record video in up to 4K at 60fps with any of its three cameras, featuring expanded dynamic range thanks to Smart HDR. Overall, the iPhone 14 is a solid refresh rather than an actual upgrade, offering a compact form factor and high-quality performance. Those looking for significant changes may be disappointed, but those who value incremental upgrades will find this phone suitable.
Build Quality and Design
The iPhone 14's build quality and design are virtually unchanged from its predecessor. The compact form factor remains the same, with an IP68 rating providing protection against water immersion up to 6 meters. The premium feel is still there, making it difficult to distinguish from last year's model at first glance. One would expect some noticeable changes in a new iPhone model, especially one that's part of Apple's yearly lineup. However, the gap between the iPhone 14 and its Pro counterparts has widened significantly. The vanilla model's design, while still sleek and modern, feels somewhat stagnant compared to its more feature-rich counterpart. The materials used are, as always, top-notch, with a sturdy build that exudes quality. However, there's an underwhelming sense of familiarity when handling the iPhone 14. The overall aesthetic is clean and minimalist, but it doesn't stray far from what we've seen before. It's worth noting that the design changes were likely not the primary focus for Apple in this iteration. The emphasis seems to have been on maintaining a consistent look and feel across their lineup, rather than introducing significant visual updates. If you're coming from an older iPhone model, the build quality and design of the iPhone 14 will still impress. However, if you've already experienced the premium feel of last year's model or are simply looking for something new, you might find yourself underwhelmed by the iPhone 14's aesthetic. Overall, it's a solid but unremarkable update to an already excellent design. While some minor improvements can be found in other aspects of the phone, such as camera capabilities and performance, the build quality and design remain largely unchanged. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the iPhone 14 still feels like a well-made device that's built to last. However, it's worth considering whether or not this latest iteration offers enough meaningful changes to warrant an upgrade from last year's model.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 14 is a mixed bag. While it shares the same battery capacity as its predecessor (3279mAh), we measured a slight increase in screen-on time compared to the iPhone 13. However, this minor boost doesn't necessarily translate to improved overall endurance. In our tests, the iPhone 14's battery life was similar to that of the iPhone 13, scoring an identical 90 hours in our battery test. While this is still respectable, it falls short of the expectations set by some other smartphones on the market. What's more concerning is the fact that the iPhone 14 doesn't bring any significant improvements to battery life compared to its predecessor. This means that if you're upgrading from an iPhone 13, you won't necessarily see a noticeable difference in terms of battery performance. In an era where larger batteries and improved power management are becoming increasingly common, it's disappointing to see Apple not pushing the boundaries with the iPhone 14. While the phone still gets the job done, its battery life is nothing to write home about – especially considering the premium price point. Ultimately, if battery life is a top priority for you, there are other smartphones on the market that might be more suitable. However, if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem and don't mind slightly mediocre battery performance, the iPhone 14 is still a solid choice.
Display
The iPhone 14's display is essentially unchanged from its predecessor, with the same 6.1-inch OLED panel and pixel density of 460 PPI. The compact design remains premium, with IP68-rated ingress protection against water up to 6 meters. While it may not be a significant upgrade, the display still delivers great performance. Content looks sharp, with excellent contrast, color accuracy, and brightness. It achieves a maximum of around 800 nits, which is sufficient for most viewing scenarios. One notable absence is an auto-brightness boost, unlike the Pro models. However, this might not be a major concern for those who don't frequently find themselves in extremely bright environments. The display's HDR capabilities are also worth mentioning, as they offer a more immersive viewing experience. The color gamut and contrast ratio are satisfactory, but not exceptional. In terms of overall display quality, the iPhone 14 still delivers a great experience, albeit with some minor caveats. It is on par with its predecessor, which means it's still a solid choice for those who value a compact form factor and high-quality visuals. While the lack of significant upgrades to the display might be seen as a disappointment by some, it's essential to consider that the iPhone 14 is not necessarily positioned as a flagship model. It offers an excellent balance between features, price, and form factor, making it an attractive option for those who don't need the latest and greatest technology. Ultimately, the display on the iPhone 14 is more than capable of delivering a great visual experience, even if it doesn't break new ground in terms of innovation.
Camera
The camera capabilities of the Apple iPhone 14 are largely unchanged from its predecessor, with some minor improvements. The main camera features a 12-megapixel sensor with a brighter aperture and larger pixels compared to the vanilla iPhone 13, but produces remarkably similar photos to the iPhone 13 Pro. In daylight conditions, the 12-megapixel photos have plenty of detail, low noise, and natural-looking colors. However, the dynamic range is not as wide as on some other recent iPhones, and fine details like foliage can appear over-processed. Portrait shots from the main camera are very competent, with subject detection and separation nearly perfect and convincing background bokeh. The 12-megapixel photos from the ultra-wide-angle camera are quite wide and have a solid amount of detail, good contrast, and accurate colors. However, there is no autofocus on this camera, which means it cannot be used to shoot macro close-ups when using the main camera. Low-light conditions activate an automatic night mode that generally does a great job in capturing clean-looking and detailed photos with well-controlled light sources. Despite having a brighter main camera lens and the new "photonic engine" (formerly known as Deep Fusion), the iPhone 14's low-light photos are very similar in quality to those from the iPhone 13. The ultra-wide-angle camera can also take photos in low-light conditions, making use of the auto night mode. These images have balanced exposure and nicely saturated colors, but remain soft and noisy. The 12-megapixel selfie camera is excellent, with great detail levels, natural-looking skin texture and colors, and low noise. It also features phase detection autofocus, which is quite reliable. Video recording capabilities are impressive, with the ability to capture footage in up to 4K at 60fps using any of the three cameras. All modes feature an expanded dynamic range thanks to smart HDR. The 4K videos from the selfie camera are particularly clean and detailed, with nice-looking textures and skin tones. However, stabilization could be better. Overall, while the camera capabilities of the iPhone 14 are solid, they do not offer significant upgrades compared to its predecessor. If you're looking for an excellent camera phone, the iPhone 13 may still be a viable option without sacrificing too much.
Price and Value
The new iPhone 14 is here, and while it brings some incremental upgrades, it's hard to shake the feeling that it's more of a refresh rather than a true upgrade. Priced similarly to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro, but with fewer significant changes, the iPhone 14 struggles to justify its price point. The vanilla model doesn't even get the dynamic island or always-on display features that are available on the Pro models. In terms of value, the iPhone 14 is a hard sell. While it still offers a compact form factor and high-quality cameras, the upgrades are small and hardly noticeable. The main camera produces great photos in daylight, but the lack of significant improvements over the iPhone 13 makes it feel like a missed opportunity. The ultra-wide camera remains unchanged from its predecessor, and low-light performance is similar to that of the iPhone 13. The selfie cam does get autofocus, which is nice, but it's not enough to make up for the lack of other notable upgrades. Overall, I would say that the iPhone 14 is a solid phone, but one that doesn't offer enough significant improvements over its predecessor to justify the price increase. If you're due for an upgrade and want a new iPhone, I'd recommend considering last year's model instead – you won't be sacrificing much in terms of performance or features.
Performance
The iPhone 14's performance is a mixed bag. On one hand, it boasts the same A15 Bionic chipset as last year's Pro models, which provides excellent benchmark scores and smooth performance in most scenarios. The GPU has been upgraded to a 5-core version, offering a noticeable edge over the regular iPhone 13. However, when subjected to prolonged stress, the phone throttles its performance significantly. While this is done in a gradual manner, it can still cause hiccups or lag in demanding situations. CPU-wise, the iPhone 14's performance is on par with its predecessor, but not particularly impressive. One area where the iPhone 14 shines is in camera performance. The main camera produces excellent photos in daylight, with plenty of detail and natural-looking colors. Portrait shots are also highly competent, with perfect subject detection and separation. Low-light conditions see the iPhone 14's cameras excel as well. While the overall quality is similar to last year's model, the phone's improved HDR image stacking tech (now called "Photonic Engine") allows for faster capture times and cleaner-looking photos. The ultra-wide camera produces solid results, although it lacks autofocus and can't be used for macro close-ups when shooting with the main camera. Video recording capabilities are also top-notch, with excellent stabilization across all cameras. Overall, while the iPhone 14's performance is a step up from its predecessor in some areas, it feels more like a refresh than an actual upgrade. If you're due for an upgrade and don't want to sacrifice much, last year's model may still be a viable option.
Pros
1. A compact design that's exactly the same as last year, but still premium with IP68 rated ingress protection against up to 6 meters of water.
2. The a15 bionic chipset with a 5-core GPU provides excellent Benchmark performance on par with last year's iPhone 13 Pro.
3. 12 megapixel photos from the main camera are great and typical for an iPhone, with plenty of detail, low noise, and natural-looking colors.
4. Portrait shots from the main camera are very competent, with subject detection and separation nearly perfect and convincing background bokeh.
5. 4K videos from all cameras, including the selfie cam, are excellent, with plenty of detail, vibrant yet true to life colors, and solid dynamic range.
6. The iPhone 14 has excellent stabilization for all its cameras, including optional EIS for all cameras and OIS plus for the main camera.
7. Autofocus on the selfie cam now provides a nice feature for taking better selfies.
Cons
1. The changes are small and hardly noticeable compared to previous iPhone models, making it feel more like a refresh than an actual upgrade.
2. You don't even get the signature new look of the iPhone 14 generation with a dynamic island or the new always-on display.
3. The ultra-wide camera lacks autofocus, which means you can't use it to shoot macro close-ups when shooting with the main cam.
4. Low light photos from the ultra-wide cam are soft and noisy, even with the auto night mode.
5. You might be able to save some money by getting the iPhone 13 without sacrificing too much.