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

Yearly Apple has a shock or two in retailer for its machine lineup, and for 2022 a type of twists is the iPhone 14 Plus. That is as a result of as a substitute of continuous to make a mini model of the fundamental iPhone, Apple has lastly created a extra inexpensive big-screen choice beginning at $899 for anybody who does not want or wish to shell out for a $1,099 iPhone 14 Professional Max.

That mentioned, we have already taken an enormous have a look at the vanilla iPhone 14. So in lieu of rehashing what is basically the identical cellphone however with an even bigger show, this evaluate goes to give attention to crucial elements together with what’s totally different on this yr’s new Plus mannequin.

The fundamentals

Packing a 6.7-inch OLED display screen with a 2778 x 1284 decision, the iPhone 14 Plus is identical measurement because the Professional Max, however with a a lot lighter physique (203 grams vs 240 grams). The truth is, because of issues like its triple rear cameras and heavy stainless-steel body, the iPhone 14 Professional really weighs a tiny bit extra (206 grams) than the 14 Plus, regardless of having a considerably smaller display screen.

The iPhone 14 Plus has the identical primary options as the usual iPhone 14. You get a extra playful collection of colours (blue, purple, midnight, starlight and pink) than the Professional line, however lose out on some extra refined tech comparable to Apple’s Dynamic Island, the brand new A16 Bionic chip or a devoted telephoto digicam. As an alternative, you get an A15 Bionic processor (the identical as final yr’s fashions), simply two rear cameras (together with the 12MP principal sensor from the iPhone 13 Professional), and a brand new 12MP TrueDepth selfie cam in entrance.

The cellphone nonetheless feels premium although, and has greater than sufficient efficiency to deal with something you possibly can throw at it. And as one other perk for all of the butterfingered folks on the market, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a brand new mid-frame that makes it simpler to exchange back and front glass panels within the occasion of an accident.

Simply do not attempt to carry over the bodily SIM card out of your earlier cellphone, as a result of like the remainder of the iPhone 14 line, the Plus solely works with eSIMs. This transformation should not be an enormous deal as a result of Apple has supported eSIMs on its cellphone for years. However for many who have not made the change, simply keep in mind to avoid wasting time to contact your provider in an effort to convert your bodily card right into a digital one.

Show

The obvious benefit of the iPhone 14 Plus’ elevated dimensions is its means to suit an even bigger display screen, and over the course of a couple of week, utilizing it has been a delight. When displaying HDR content material, Apple says peak brightness can go as excessive as 1,200 nits. In the meantime, utilizing a light-weight meter, I discovered that our evaluate unit really exceeded its claimed typical brightness of 800 nits, hitting simply shy of 825 nits. And since it is an OLED panel, you get excellent distinction and vivid colours.

Actually, once in a while I discover myself pleasantly stunned {that a} cellphone with a display screen this large and vibrant is as gentle as it’s. That weight discount makes it just a bit bit simpler to carry than the Professional Max or related big-screen telephones whereas watching motion pictures. The one draw back to that’s as a result of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus nonetheless function 60Hz panels, show aficionados could extra simply discover that quick motion or UI animations do not look fairly as clean as they may on an iPhone or iPad with a 120Hz ProMotion display screen.

Battery life

The opposite large improve on the iPhone 14 Plus over the usual mannequin is battery life, which is solely superior. Numerous machine makers discuss making handsets that may final a number of days, however in my expertise, the iPhone 14 Plus is without doubt one of the few that truly delivers. Even with me going by means of customary setup, working a slate of benchmarks, watching a handful of YouTube movies and plowing by means of a bunch of ranges in Ustwo’s charming techniques recreation Desta, I nonetheless completed the day with greater than 45 p.c juice left. That meant even with reasonable use, I did not have to fret about recharging till going to sleep the next evening.

And whereas I am primarily an Android person, I additionally wish to commend the wonderful standby occasions you get with iPhones. Usually I am used to telephones shedding between three and 5 p.c battery in a single day, however on the iPhone 14 Plus, I am one, perhaps two p.c. I do know that does not sound like a ton, but it surely actually goes to point out how environment friendly Apple’s handsets are. And in our customary video rundown take a look at, the iPhone 14 Plus lasted a whopping 21 hours and 17 minutes, which is the second longest time we have seen from any cellphone this yr, solely behind the OnePlus 10T’s mark of twenty-two:59.

Cameras

Not like the Professional line, the iPhone 14 Plus solely will get two rear cameras: a 12MP main shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree subject of view. In daytime pictures, the iPhone captured wealthy, punchy colours and many element that does not go away a lot room for critique. Nonetheless, if I am actually nitpicking, I did discover that when in comparison with the Pixel 6 Professional, the iPhone 14 Plus sometimes overexposed some pictures, which resulted in barely extra washed-out colours and a bit much less dynamic vary.

In the meantime in low gentle, the iPhone 14 Plus virtually matched the efficiency of Google’s Evening Sight mode on the Pixel 6 Professional, capturing vivid photos with good element. In a single shot at evening of Grogu (aka child Yoda), the iPhone 14 Plus captured a stunning golden glow from close by lights. Sadly, that impact was considerably exaggerated as evidenced by the Pixel 6 Professional’s picture, which appears extra balanced whereas additionally that includes barely sharper particulars on Grogu’s gown and the vegetation in again.

I believe the largest improve to the iPhone 14 Plus’ normal photograph expertise, although, is the Photonic Engine. Low gentle photograph processing is as much as two and a half occasions sooner, which implies there’s much less ready round between pictures, and extra importantly, there’s additionally a smaller probability you’ll miss out on capturing that magic second.

Apple’s improved digicam expertise carries over to the iPhone 14’s 12MP front-facing digicam as properly. That is as a result of due to the addition of a real autofocus system (as a substitute of a set focus distance like on a whole lot of different telephones), you possibly can take sharper selfies with manner much less effort. And for somebody like me who does not have a tried-and-tested selfie-taking posture like our resident selfie queen Cherlynn Low does, this makes it rather a lot simpler to seize an honest wanting shot once I do.

Wrap-up

Now I do know that the addition of a barely bigger primary iPhone to the road is way from a recreation changer. However, the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus actually fleshes out the lineup. Beforehand, when you needed an iPhone with an enormous display screen, you had no selection however to shell out for the Professional Max mannequin, which prices over $1,000. However with the 14 Plus, you will get the identical measurement display screen with out having to pay for fancy options you won’t need or want. As a bonus, its thermal administration is even higher than the usual mannequin, so that you virtually by no means have to fret about getting sweaty fingers.

I am nonetheless a bit bummed that it looks like the Mini line needed to die to make manner for the Plus, as a result of then the iPhone household would have a very nice vary of sizes and costs. I must also level out that Google gives a equally sized display screen and a devoted telephoto lens for a similar worth within the Pixel 6 Professional (and shortly, the Pixel 7 Professional, most likely). However I do know asking longtime Apple customers to change OSes is pointless. So for all of the iPhone followers who simply need a acquainted machine with an even bigger display screen and excellent battery life, properly you then’re in luck as a result of the 14 Plus is your new champion.