Apple iPhone 14 Plus review: It’s an iPhone, but bigger

Apple has a surprise or two planned each year, and in 2022 one of those novelties will be the iPhone 14 Plus. This is because instead of continuing to create a mini version of the basic iPhone, Apple has finally created an option for the big one. cheapest screen starting at $ 899 for anyone who doesn’t need the $ 1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max or want to buy.

We have already tested the vanilla iPhone 14. Rather than repeating what is essentially the same phone but with a larger screen, this review will focus on the key components and what’s different. this year’s new Plus model.

Base

Thanks to the triple rear camera and heavy stainless steel housing, the iPhone 14 Pro also weighs a little more (206 grams) than the 14 Plus, despite the significantly smaller screen.

The iPhone 14 Plus has the same basic features as the regular iPhone 14. You get a more playful color palette (blue, purple, midnight, starlight and red) than the Pro series, but you are missing some more advanced technologies like Dynamic Island from Apple, the new A16 Bionic chip or a special telephoto lens. Instead, you get an A15 Bionic processor (the same as last year’s models), just two rear cameras (including the iPhone 13 Pro’s 12MP main sensor), and a new 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera on the front. .

The phone still feels premium and has more than enough performance to handle anything. And another plus for all butter-fingered men, iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a new center bezel that makes it easy to replace front and rear windows in the event of an accident.

Don’t try to transfer the physical SIM card from your previous phone, because like the rest of the iPhone 14 series, Plus only works with eSIM cards. This change shouldn’t be a big deal as Apple has been supporting eSIM cards in its phones for years. But for those who have not yet made the switch, don’t forget to save time by contacting the operator to convert your physical card into a virtual one.

Screen

The most obvious benefit of the iPhone 14 Plus’ larger size is the ability to fit a larger screen, and for about a week it was a pleasure to use. Apple claims that peak brightness can reach up to 1,200 nits when playing HDR content. Using a light meter, I found that our review unit surpassed the typical stated brightness of 800 nits, reaching only 825 nits. And since it’s an OLED panel, you get great contrast and bright colors.

Frankly, I am sometimes pleasantly surprised that a phone with such a large and vibrant display is so light. This weight reduction makes it slightly easier to hold than the Pro Max or similar large-screen phones when watching movies. One downside to this is that the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still have 60Hz panels. Display enthusiasts may find it easier for quick actions or UI animations not to appear as smooth as on an iPhone or iPad with a 120Hz ProMotion display.

Battery life

Another big update of the iPhone 14 Plus over the regular model is the battery life, which is simply amazing. Many device makers talk about making phones that can last for days, but in my experience the iPhone 14 Plus is one of the few that actually do. Even though I went through normal settings, ran countless benchmarks, watched a handful of YouTube videos, and walked through various levels in Ustwo Desta’s fascinating tactical game, I still ended the day with over 45% energy remaining.

And while I’m primarily an Android user, I also want to thank the iPhone for its excellent standby times. I’m normally used to phones losing 3-5 percent battery overnight, but with the iPhone 14 Plus I’m looking at one, maybe two percent. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it really shows how powerful Apple’s cell phones are. And in our standard video test, the iPhone 14 Plus lasted a whopping 21 hours and 17 minutes, which is the second-longest time we’ve seen on a phone this year, only behind the OnePlus 10T.

Cameras

Unlike the Pro series, the iPhone 14 Plus has only two rear cameras: a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view. In daytime shots, the iPhone captures rich, strong colors and lots of detail, which doesn’t leave much room for criticism. However, if I’m very picky, I have noticed that compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus occasionally overexposes some images, resulting in slightly washed out and slightly less dynamic colors.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Plus nearly matched the performance of the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s night vision mode in low light, capturing crisp images with good detail. In a night shot of Grogus (aka Baby Yoda), the iPhone 14 Plus captured a beautiful golden glow from nearby lights. Unfortunately, this effect has been somewhat exaggerated, as the Pixel 6 Pro’s image looks more balanced, but it also has slightly sharper details in Grogu’s robes and the plants behind.

However, in my opinion, the Photonic Engine is the biggest upgrade to the overall photo experience on the iPhone 14 Plus. In low light, photo processing is up to two and a half times faster, which means less time. waiting between shots and, above all, less likely to miss that magical moment.

Gallery: Examples of cameras for iPhone 14 Plus

Apple’s improved camera experience also extends to the iPhone 14’s 12 megapixel front camera. This is because a true autofocus system (rather than a fixed focus distance like many other phones) allows you to take sharper selfies with significantly less effort. And for someone like me who has no experience taking selfies, like our resident selfie queen Cherlynn Low, that makes it easier to get a decent photo.

wrap

Now I know that adding a slightly larger base iPhone to the line is anything but a game changer. But the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus really completes the offering. Previously, if you wanted an iPhone with a large screen, you had no choice but to buy the Pro Max model, which costs over $ 1,000. But with the 14 Plus, you get the same screen size without having to pay for fancy features you may not want or need. As a bonus, the heat management is even better than the standard model, so you hardly ever have to worry about your hands sweating.

I’m still a bit confused that it looks like the Mini series had to die to make way for the Plus because then the iPhone family would really have a huge range of sizes and prices. I’d also like to point out that Google offers the same screen size and separate telephoto lens for the same price on the Pixel 6 Pro (and soon the Pixel 7 Pro). But I know there is no point in asking old Apple users to switch operating systems. So, for all iPhone fans who just want a reliable device with a bigger screen and excellent battery life, you’re in luck, the 14 Plus is your new champion.