Apple iPhone 14 Plus review
The iPhone 14 Plus is essentially a larger version of the standard iPhone 14 model, offering a bigger form factor at a slightly lower price point than the Pro Max. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in the Pro Models, such as a high refresh rate screen and the latest chipset, it still provides excellent performance. The design of the iPhone 14 Plus is identical to the standard iPhone 14, with a flat glass back and rounded corners. However, its larger size means a bigger 6.7-inch OLED display, which while not having a high refresh rate, is quite bright and has great color accuracy. One advantage of the larger size is a bigger battery, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite live up to the Pro Max's endurance rating. The camera setup is also familiar, with a 12-megapixel main cam from last year's iPhone 13 Pro Max, although this time around there's an update to the HDR image stacking tag called Photonic Engine. The results are great, especially in daylight, with good dynamic range and natural-looking colors. Portrait shots from the main cam are excellent, while ultra-wide photos have solid detail and accurate colors. The selfie cam has autofocus, producing great low-light shots. Video recording is also top-notch, with excellent stabilization on all cameras and optional EIS for added smoothness. If you're looking for a bigger iPhone without breaking the bank, the 14 Plus is certainly worth considering, but if you can stretch to an older model like the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it might be an even better deal.
Build Quality and Design
The iPhone 14 Plus is essentially the larger version of the vanilla iPhone 14, offering a bigger form factor at a more affordable price point than the Pro Max. Measuring 6.7 inches, its screen size is identical to that of the Pro Max, making it an attractive option for those seeking a larger display without breaking the bank. In terms of design, the iPhone 14 Plus follows Apple's tried-and-true formula. The flat glass back and rounded corners are familiar, while the full IP68 Ingress Protection ensures water resistance up to a depth of 6 meters. The build quality is solid, with a minimal weight advantage over the Pro Max – at around 40 grams less. The screen itself is an OLED display, boasting a resolution similar to that of its Pro counterpart. While it doesn't feature a high refresh rate like some Android devices, content looks sharp and vibrant, with great contrast and HDR10/Dolby Vision support. The notch cutout might be a drawback for some, but it's not as noticeable on the larger display. The iPhone 14 Plus also inherits its battery capacity from the Pro Max – a 4323 milliamp hour unit that delivers decent endurance ratings, albeit not quite up to par with the Pro Max. Still, it should suffice for most users' needs. The phone's dimensions and weight might make it feel more substantial in the hand, but overall, the build quality is on par with Apple's standards. Overall, the iPhone 14 Plus presents a compelling option for those seeking a bigger screen without committing to the Pro Max's premium price point. Its design and build quality are solid, if unremarkable, making it a reasonable choice for those prioritizing size over cutting-edge features.
Battery Life
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus boasts a larger form factor and a bigger screen than its predecessor, but does it deliver when it comes to battery life? In our tests, the iPhone 14 Plus scored an endurance rating of 102 hours, which is better than the vanilla model's 90 hour rating. However, it falls short of the Pro Max's impressive 121 hours. Despite its larger size, the iPhone 14 Plus doesn't quite match the battery life of its more expensive counterpart. The 4,323mAh battery is identical to the one found in the Pro Max, but somehow, it just can't seem to stretch as far. In our tests, we were able to charge the iPhone 14 Plus from 0 to 47 percent in half an hour using a 20W Apple adapter. While that's not bad, it's still no match for the Pro Max's impressive charging capabilities. Overall, while the iPhone 14 Plus's battery life is decent, it's not quite up to par with what we'd expect from a device of its size and power. If you're looking for a phone with long-lasting battery life, the Pro Max may still be the better choice. However, if you prioritize a larger screen and don't mind sacrificing some battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus is still a solid option.
Display
The iPhone 14 Plus boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display, matching the size of its Pro Max counterpart. However, unlike the latter, it doesn't offer a high refresh rate, settling for a standard 60Hz instead. This means that swiping and scrolling on this screen might feel less smooth than on the iPhone Pro Models or high-refresh-rate Android phones. Despite this, the display is quite bright, measuring around 800 nits with the manual brightness slider. This makes it plenty sufficient for most users, although there's no extra boost available. The pixel density of nearly 460 PPI ensures that content looks sharp and detailed on this screen. HDR10 and Dolby Vision support are also present, as well as great color accuracy. While the notch cutout does eat into usable screen space, it's not as big an issue here as it is on smaller displays. One advantage of the larger size is a bigger 4,323 milliamp-hour battery, matching the capacity of the Pro Max. However, the battery life isn't quite as great, with an endurance rating of 102 hours in our tests – significantly less than the Pro Max's 121 hours. The display package is otherwise similar to the vanilla model, featuring a pair of stereo speakers that scored very well in our loudness test and delivered excellent sound quality. Overall, while not the most exciting display, it's still a solid offering from Apple, particularly considering its price point.
Camera
The iPhone 14 Plus is an interesting addition to the iPhone lineup, offering a larger form factor and a bigger screen without breaking the bank. While it shares many features with the vanilla iPhone 14, one of the most notable aspects of this device is its camera setup. The iPhone 14 Plus has a 12-megapixel main camera that's identical to the one found on last year's iPhone 13 Pro Max. In daylight conditions, the results are impressive - photos have plenty of detail, low noise, and natural-looking colors. The dynamic range is good but not too wide, which can be considered an advantage in some situations. Portrait shots from the main camera are also very good, with excellent subject separation and a pleasant balance between background blur and subject sharpness. However, it's worth noting that these images may look slightly processed, especially when viewed up close. The 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 14 Plus is identical to the one found on last year's iPhone 13, and while it produces solid results with good contrast and accurate colors, it lacks autofocus. This means you can't use it for close-up shots in low light conditions. Night mode processing is applied automatically when shooting with the ultra-wide camera, resulting in photos that have balanced exposure and saturated colors. However, they're still a bit soft and noisy, which may not be ideal for users who demand more from their smartphone camera. The selfie camera on the iPhone 14 Plus has autofocus, making it quite reliable for capturing portraits or close-up shots. The results are impressive, with plenty of detail and nice-looking textures and skin tones. In terms of video recording, the iPhone 14 Plus can shoot up to 4K at 60fps using any of its three cameras. All modes also feature an expanded dynamic range thanks to smart HDR. 4K videos from the selfie camera are excellent, with low noise and plenty of detail. The main camera produces equally impressive results, with true-to-life colors and solid dynamic range. The ultra-wide camera is capable of producing detailed 4K videos as well, which is a rare feat for this type of camera. Overall, the stabilization on the iPhone 14 Plus's videos is excellent, with optional EIS available for all cameras. A new Action mode offers an extra-smooth effect at the cost of some resolution and a narrower field of view. In conclusion, while the camera setup on the iPhone 14 Plus may not be revolutionary, it's certainly capable of producing high-quality images and videos in various situations. The lack of autofocus on the ultra-wide camera is a notable omission, but overall, this phone offers great value for those looking for a larger iPhone experience without breaking the bank.
Price and Value
Apple's latest addition to the iPhone lineup is the iPhone 14 Plus, a device that promises a larger form factor without breaking the bank. Priced similarly to last year's iPhone 13 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Plus offers a more affordable alternative for those who want a bigger screen and battery without the high-end features. One of the primary selling points of the iPhone 14 Plus is its size. Measuring in at 6.7 inches, it's identical to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but with a slightly lighter weight. This larger display means a more immersive experience for content consumption, and the OLED panel delivers sharp visuals with great contrast and HDR support. However, beneath this bigger screen lies last year's hardware, specifically the A15 Bionic chip and 12-megapixel main camera from the iPhone 13 Pro Max. While still capable of delivering excellent performance and photos, it's not the latest and greatest Apple has to offer. In terms of price, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at a competitive $899 for the base model, which is only $100 more than the standard iPhone 14. Considering you're getting a larger screen, bigger battery, and similar features, this seems like a reasonable value proposition. That being said, if you're willing to spend a bit more, the iPhone 13 Pro Max (which still uses last year's hardware) can be had for around $700. This makes it an even better deal than the iPhone 14 Plus, with some additional perks like optical zoom and a higher refresh rate screen. Ultimately, the iPhone 14 Plus is a solid choice for those who want a bigger iPhone without breaking the bank. However, if you're not particular about having the latest hardware or can wait for Apple to release next year's model, you might find that last year's flagship offers more value for your money.
Performance
The iPhone 14 Plus boasts a large form factor, mirroring the Pro Max's size but with almost 40 grams less weight. However, it doesn't come with the Pro-grade features, instead recycling the vanilla feature set from last year's iPhones. Under the hood, the iPhone 14 Plus is powered by the A15 Bionic chipset, which was used in last year's Pro Max model. This chip still provides excellent benchmark performance, on par with last year's iPhone 13 Pro Max, thanks to its five GPU cores and six gigabytes of RAM. Storage options include 128, 256, or 512 GB, but unlike the Pro Models, there is no terabyte option available. The A15 Bionic chipset may not be the most exciting upgrade, as it has been seen before, but it still delivers solid performance in everyday use. The iPhone 14 Plus's camera capabilities are also based on last year's technology. The main camera features a 12-megapixel sensor with a new Photonic Engine, which improves image quality and reduces noise. In good lighting conditions, the results are excellent, with plenty of detail and natural-looking colors. However, in low-light situations, the camera struggles to produce detailed images. Performance-wise, the iPhone 14 Plus delivers smooth performance, with seamless app transitions and fast navigation. The device's battery life is also respectable, lasting around 102 hours in our tests, although this falls short of the Pro Max's 121-hour rating. In conclusion, while the iPhone 14 Plus may not offer cutting-edge technology, it still provides solid performance, making it a suitable option for those seeking a larger iPhone without breaking the bank.