Before we get into this , you should know that this is my first time reviewing an iPhone . I ’ve long established myself as “ the Android girl , ” because I started my smartphone journeying with that roving political program and finally mature to opt it over my initial experience with the iPhone . The last fourth dimension I wielded one of Apple ’s phones as my day-to-day machine driver was the iPhone 4S. It ’s been a while .
you’re able to reckon my conflicting emotion relish my experience with Apple ’s iPhone 14 Pro . I ’ll get into details later , but what impress me almost right away about this telephone is how much easier it is now to go back and forth between iOS and Android without missing much . And while there are some differences in usage between the two operating system , like how you swipe around the interface or go back a page within an app , the feature film mirror symmetry experience almost one - to - one now .
Android may have all the bragging right field regarding Google integration and folding smartphones , but Apple stay fresh it simple by sticking to its try - and - true chemical formula and meliorate upon it with every looping . The iPhone 14 Pro is n’t an prompt upgrade for those with last year ’s iPhone 13 . But its nighttime photo shooting capabilities , one of the features that make Google ’s Pixel smartphones most compelling , might be something you ultimately give up Android to sample .
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is an enjoyable alternative to the flasgship Android device.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
mark that this critical review does not cover the concurrently put out iPhone 14 , which start at $ 799 for the 6.1 - in iPhone 14 and $ 899 for the iPhone 14 Plus . That model feature last year ’s A15 Bionic chip , more or less tweaked , along with the 14 Pro ’s crash detection and Emergency SOS capabilities . Apple also promises proficient bombardment life on its more low-priced model . We ’ll have a full assessment of that lineup come shortly .
Apple iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max
Apple ’s flagship smartphone has an always - on display , long battery life , and nighttime picture taking capability that rival Google ’s Pixel 6 .
This photo has been heavily edited to show you what the backside Deep Purple hue is like on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
What is it ?
Apple ’s new flagship iPhones
Price ?
This photo has been heavily edited to show you what the backside Deep Purple hue is like on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
beginning at $ 999 for the iPhone 14 Pro ; $ 1099 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max
Like
Nighttime photographic camera capability are stellar , battery life is prognosticate , Dynamic Island is a clever means to conceal the nick , always - on display is better than Android ’s
The iPhone 14 Pro in Space Black.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Dislike
It ’d be better without the notch , iOS 16 works better when you have other Apple stuff , still no USB - C charging port
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Specs & Features
I’ve fallen deeply in love with the new purple.
The iPhone 14 Pro come in two mutation : Pro and Pro Max . The Pro edition has a 6.1 - column inch Super Retina XDR exhibit made with OLED technology , while the Pro Max has a 6.7 - in screen with a slimly large resolution . Both Pro models have the Dynamic Island in station of a lifeless notch , and both feature Apple ’s ProMotion technology , which activate the adaptive refresh rate to skate between 1 Hz and 120 Hz ( for battery life ) . I ’ll get into how that function in the next section . For persistence ’s saki , I should observe that I wrote this limited review in the main establish on my experience with the iPhone 14 Pro Max .
Apple does advertise a maximal brightness of 2000 nit alfresco . But like the Android phone that do the same matter , it only goes that high if you ’re outside on a sunny day and sprain on adaptative brightness mood . The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max usually top out at around 530 nits if you manually increase the brightness .
If choose between the Pro and Pro Max , look at whether your lifestyle calls for the bigger concealment . The Pro Max is upright for record everything from Reddit to digital papers , but it ’s less wieldable one - handed for those with smaller finger . I rule thumb - typing difficult without cradle both sides of the gadget , and it was hard for my rife right hand to reach the left - placed back release on some apps . If you incessantly swear on that one - handed economic consumption face , consider the humble iPhone 14 Pro .
SIM you later! The iPhone 14 Pro Max doesn’t have a physical SIM slot.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Apple sent me the Pro Max in Deep Purple , and I am in love . Several times , I ’ve commented that this is the smartphone colour for goth girl worldwide . It ’s not as imperial as the photograph I ’ve included here depict it being . It ’s more of a hushed violet compared to , for model , the lavender - purple casing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 . The other available color are Gold , Silver , and Space Black . Apple sent over the smaller iPhone 14 Pro in that latter gloss , which appears remarkably noir in soul — even the aluminum edge are black . Apple also bundle in a MagSafe Leather Case in Ink that match the exterior chassis quite nicely on the Pro Max , but I think you may reach a cooler upshot with something see - through .
You ’d be right in think that the iPhone 14 Pro is n’t much of an update compared to its predecessor , the iPhone 13 Pro , when it comes to design . The fundament still show a three-fold - camera array , with the light-emitting diode flash mightily above the third photographic camera lens on the right hand — though the newsbreak faculty has been improved with nine new LEDs — plus all the needed side buttons . The only blazing difference is that there ’s no SIM one-armed bandit on the iPhone 14 Pro , as Apple has opt entirely for the new eSIM standard , which call to be unseamed and more secure than physical SIM cards . Unfortunately , I did not have the chance to port over a number and try the process , but onboarding with the web access code Apple provided was turnkey . Here ’s to hoping everyone else has the same experience ( and if not , please netmail me to let me know ) .
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Screen
Take a vacation to a Dynamic Island.
I scoffed a piece when I see Apple add an always - on display to the iPhone . I say , “ Ha ! That ’s something Android ’s had for a while . ” While it ’s on-key that I first fell for the theme of the AOD , as it ’s abridge , on Motorola ’s 2013 vent , the Moto X , the iPhone 14 Pro , and its customizable Lock Screen make me wish Samsung and Google were doing a short more with their respective versions of the technical school .
Apple ’s always - on display is much more subtle than what you ’d get with theGalaxy Z Fold 4 , which I ’ll habituate as an illustration since it ’s the Android phone I ’m carry around these days . Whereas Samsung lets you choose between different clock face and artwork to touch the residual of your interface , Apple dim the Lock silver screen wallpaper you have in result . Your personalization hail through rather than having to prefer something specific to display . Slightly more color peers through the 1 Hz refresh rate on the Lock Screen , too , which leave in instances where I did n’t even agnise that the always - on display was on .
You will need Io 16 to get access to that Lock Screen coldness . Any doojigger you place on the Lock Screen will also come through in the AOD , as well as notifications and medium playback controls . And if you have an alive app in the background , like a timer , you ’ll see that on the Lock Screen as the iPhone 14 Pro dips in and out of its always - on show mode .
I wouldn’t mind if Android picked up a few pointers from Apple’s always-on display.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I have to hand it to Apple to forecast out how to wrench the notch into something useful . The Dynamic Island elicited a few chortle when announced at Apple ’s Far Out tonic . But I would rather have the notch do something if it ’s going to take up space from the screen door .
Dynamic Island is essentially a software result for getting some utility out of the part of the iPhone 14 Pro housing the front - face camera and Face ID sensor . It uses theNow PlayingandCallKitAPIs already utilise by iOS developers to minimise sure apps to that part of the screen . This means devs are n’t immediately scrambling to make their apps work with this iPhone 14 Pro - only capability . So far , the apps that can expend the Dynamic Island are media playback apps like Spotify , Pocket Casts , and Apple Music , plus utility apps like the phone and timekeeper . subsequently this twelvemonth , Apple say you ’ll be capable to use drive - sharing apps or peep sports scores in the Dynamic Island .
you may concurrently access two apps at a fourth dimension from the Dynamic Island . just tap to expand it . The process is quite mobile , and it ’s nice not to worry about snarf down when seek to get at something , as I would on an Android gimmick with its telling specter . you could also use it to square up if something is dally in the desktop or through your phone .
Even with active modules, the always-on display stays dim.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Would I like Apple to project out how to funk that part of the blind so there ’s nothing there ? Absolutely . Remember , I come from the land of hole - punch cameras , so I ’m used to seeing most of the screenland when I ’m scroll vertically . When used in landscape mode , apps like YouTube will letterbox the television so that the Dynamic Island does n’t bar out part of the persuasion . But in portrayal way , the tablet - shaped island is passing obvious . If this is something that perpetually disoblige you , call up that what you get in exchange is FaceID , which works nearly flawlessly compared to my experiences with competing Android devices .
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Camera
Nighttime photos have improved.
As with every raw fashion model of the iPhone , Apple has improved the primary camera capabilities of its Pro - tied flagship twist . Whereas last year ’s iPhone 13 Pro was equip with a 12 - military police three-fold - television camera organization , this class ’s expands on that by adopting a quad - pixel sensor . This work similarly to the nona- and tetra - binning engineering science in Samsung ’s respective devices and Google ’s Pixel sensor . In Apple ’s case , the engineering tries to optimize abstemious seizure by group four pixels into a quad - pixel sensing element to bring in more igniter and detail . This variety of technology has become the status quo for smartphone cameras presently on the food market , and you ’ll find it used in most flagship and pro - level devices .
The primary tv camera on the iPhone 14 Pro is a 48 - MP shooter . But as I mentioned , it typically shoots at 12 - MP with that quad - pixel technology enabled . If you desire all megapixels engaged , you may switch to Apple ’s ProRAW modal value from the background control board and scud photos at the full 48 - MP solution for tinkering later in a professional photo redaction suite . Apple says the television camera sensor on the iPhone 14 Pro is 65 % larger than its predecessor and use a 2nd - generation sensor - shift OIS to assist aid in clear shooter when your issue is in move . That larger sensing element also brings in more light , which is how the iPhone 14 Pro feature its f/1.78 aperture .
The second tv camera on the iPhone 14 Pro is a 12 - MP Ultra Wide detector with an f/2.2 aperture and 120 - level field of view , which can be aggressive with some of your photo content if you do n’t decently frame the injection . you’re able to see an instance of it in the embedded camera samples .
The Dynamic Island is a smart way to utilize a lifeless notch.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The third photographic camera is a 12 - MP Telephoto lens with a similar aperture as the elemental camera . The telephoto can whizz along in up to 6x optically and up to 15x digitally . I did n’t get a chance to compare the iPhone 14 Pro Max ’s soar capableness to those of the Galaxy S22 Ultra , which boasts so - called “ Space Zoom . ” However , I was able to compare it to the Pixel 6 Pro ’s build - in 20x digital rapid growth and was impressed at the 14 Pro Max ’s ability to point discipline from far forth . I took two 15x shot of windmill from miles out with the 14 Pro Max and the Pixel 6 professional . Both pic come out passably acute , enough that I could enjoin what the structures were in the space . The only fulgent difference between the two photos was the color tuning . It ’s interesting to see how Apple tone its picture compare to Google .
Daytime picture taking on the iPhone 14 Pro is n’t drastically unlike from that on the iPhone 13 Pro . image are clear , while Portrait mode continues to impress . I also care that the iPhone 14 Pro can capture still images from a move subject , which was specially helpful when crack photos of my kid on a jive set . The other affair I liked is that , even in landscape painting epitome , there was balanced contingent and pungency throughout the 14 Pro ’s photos , even if something appears muddled up close .
I ’ve been tune up to Google ’s Pixel algorithms all this sentence , so it ’s nice to see Apple ’s top - tier iPhone line up to equivalence with the Pixel ’s Night Sight capability . Indeed , while I was shoot landscape photos at night , I favour the iPhone 14 Pro Max ’s result because it was less intense than the Pixel 6 Pro ’s . Google ’s camera algorithm is belligerent in comparing to Apple ’s . It would often light up region I did n’t necessarily require in the exposure . For instance , in the initial night fritter below , the Pixel 6 Pro ignite up the roof ’s awning on the right side of the pic , generally play up the item in other part where light is present . The iPhone 14 Pro Max ’s result is more tuned to sharpening rather than increasing the exposure , so there ’s more focus on the moonlit sky than everything else included in the scene .
Watch as Pocket Casts minimizes into the Dynamic Island.Gif: Florence Ion
But the next night , I prefer Google ’s resultant . I shot from a dissimilar slant and wanted to have some distinction in the trees and shrubbery in the photo ’s foreground . The area around the moonlight is more detailed in the Pixel 6 Pro ’s result than the iPhone 14 Pro Max ’s , which opted for more of a silhouette outcome . In both instances , I jell the moon hidden in the clouds as the centering point .
At the very least , experience the Google Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro on the same spectrum regarding nighttime photography is gracious . The 14 Pro is likewise capable of indoor Nox shots , specially equate to the iPhone 13 Pro . Images are not only a shade bright , but they ’re a little less yellow - colour .
The iPhone 14 Pro ’s video recording capabilities have also improved . The phone can immortalize 4 potassium and 1080p video at up to 60 frames - per - moment ( fps ) and 720p TV at up to 30 fps . Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 I reviewed , I used the iPhone 14 Pro to watch over around my kid and like how seamless it was to interchange between zooms with ease . I also judge on the Pro ’s raw Action Mode , which in effect playact like a gimble when you ’re filming , and things are bumpy . I am still dealing with some post - COVID symptom , so there was no action from me . But I could see the subtle softening of my walk with the camera with Action Mode toggled on compared to when it ’s off . It ’s specially effective at leveling the scene as you turn with the camera .
The iPhone 14 Pro’s rear camera boasts some incredible night-time photography capabilities.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I did not get enough meter to screen the full abilities of the front - facing TrueDepth camera on the iPhone 14 Pro Max . It ’s a 12 - MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and built - in autofocus . It can take portraiture shots with bokeh in the ground and dissimilar portrayal lighting effect . It also has night musical mode built in . Physically , I have n’t been feeling great , so the ego - love photoshoots have been nill . However , I did register a few TikTok confessional with the front - facing camera , and I appreciate its sharpness . And during FaceTime , my caller on the other line said the picture depend crisp and clear .
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Battery
Performance has also improved somewhat.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with Apple ’s new A16 Bionic chip . This CPU is a 6 - core mainframe twin with a 5 - centre GPU built on Apple ’s first 4 nm procedure . That have in mind it ’s very smol . The A16 Bionic chip is what enables ability like Dynamic Island , gamy brightness , and the always - on display . It ’s also the brains behind the capabilities of the 48 - MP primary camera .
As a side note : The unconstipated iPhone 14 has a reconfigured A15 Bionic cow chip , akin to the one that was in the iPhone 13 Pro . I ’ll talk more about the experience with that one when I get to the review .
Apple ’s homemade processors continue to overlook our internal benchmark chart . On Geekbench 5 , which we apply to appraise a poker chip ’s relative capability , the A16 Bionic essay 36 % higher than the Z Fold 4 ’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 + Gen 1 and the Pixel 6 ’s Tensor CPU . It ’s about 12 % in high spirits than last class ’s iPhone 13 Pro , which rate alongside Apple ’s hope of being 10 % faster than its forerunner . I ’m waiting to revisit these numbers when the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro launch next month . But if you ’re shopping between the steady iPhone 14 and the Pro model , choose the latter if things like gamy - graphics mobile gambling and live streaming from your sound is something you participate in .
Photos snapped with the iPhone 13 Pro Max.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
You should know : the second - generationRazer Kishirecently came out foriPhones , and it fits both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max just fine . My only bummer is that my copy of Elder Scrolls Online exist solely through Google ’s Stadia overhaul , so there was no agency for me to attempt to play it with the Modern iPhones .
barrage life has also ameliorate with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max . Apple does n’t typically give away the mAh sizing of its batteries in public . But its documentation promises all - sidereal day battery living : up to 20 hours of stream video playback on the 14 Pro and 25 hours on the 14 Pro Max .
The battery summation trial is typically the last affair I try for each inspection , so I ’ll have to take after up with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max ’s final numbers in our video playback trial . For now , I can say the iPhone 14 Pro Max has been rain cats and dogs a 24 - hour YouTube telecasting at 200 nit for nearly 16 hour . It ’s still chugging along at 29 % .
Photos snapped with the iPhone 14 Pro Max (left) and the Pixel 6 Pro (right) at 15x.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
If you desire memory access to the coolheaded - looking ignition lock screen with the always - on display , you ’ll need iOS 16 . It comes pre - clump on both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max . you’re able to use the always - on ringlet screen with focus modality , do n’t care . iOS 16 also brings with it editable and retractable messages , and the iCloud Shared Photo Library . Ipreviewedsome of these new feature article when iOS 16 was still in genus Beta .
I ’m primarily an Android user , so whenever I shift back to iOS , I trip up a little bit . I tend to panic once you polish off my back and home button , and I had to relearn some of my most - used crabbed - platform apps . But overall , I found the experience less harrowing than I ab initio assume it would be ( after all , the last meter I used iOS daily , it still apply skeuomorphism ) .
What help is the existence of almost every individual Google app in the Apple App Store , which imply I do n’t have to hop ecosystem to last with the iPhone . I receive WhatsApp chats and Android Messages through their several web radio link in the Chrome mobile web browser app and upload all my images to Google Photos . I even shift between Gboard and the default iOS keyboard . The only app I miss was Animal Crossing : Pocket Camp , a game I ’ve induct year of playday in since it plunge . It does not act cross - platform , and I was n’t about to bug out over with an entirely newfangled biz on iOS .
More photos snapped with the iPhone 14 Pro Max.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I particularly apprise how often iOS postulate me if it ’s hunky-dory to do something . For instance , I instal Reddit from the App Store because Sister Wives is back on , and it ’s when I ’m most active on the app . But I forgot how often the Reddit app pings you with nonsensicality , and so I was relieved when iOS 16 asked me if I desire to vacate notification accession . I believe this form of use compositor’s case contribute to why folks regain iOS more palatable than Android , even as Google has sum new abilities to make its nomadic oculus sinister more mainstream and transparent . However , it still depends on the substance abuser having a bit of expertise in navigating the software , whereas iOS is more helpful in terms of feature discovery . It ’s much easier to have the system of rules prompt you to take attention of your privacy than to savvy through the options panel for the alternative .
If you see the Far Out Apple event , you know the company made a massive raft of its new emergency features . The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max have crash signal detection capability made potential by their new gamy - dynamic range gyroscope , which is unique to this lineup of iPhones . It bring like Google ’s car clang detection feature on its Pixel machine : If you crash , the iPhone 14 Pro will light up and ask if you ’re okay . If you do n’t respond , it will then call out to emergency service using a voice loop-the-loop of your localization .
The Emergency SOS feature is a small more sophisticated in terms of the help it get you . Beginning in November , the iPhone 14 Pro will use its customs duty antennas to connect directly to a satellite richly up in blank space , see you could get at live people no matter of cellular service . Once a connection is established , Apple will route you to one of its aids via an OnStar - same call center .
Night shot comparisons between the iPhone 14 Pro Max (left) and the Pixel 6 Pro (right).Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
At launching , iPhone 14 owners will get two free year to originate with the Emergency SOS service via satellite . It ’ll be limited to U.S. and Canada at launch , and we ’re still await for item on how much the overhaul will cost when it goes live . It ’ll be interesting to see how this armed service is received when it snuff it live and if Google has any plan to counter with its own offerings .
iPhone 14 Pro Price & Availability
Definitely worth the upgrade.
The iPhone 14 Pro is the good iPhone you could get if you want to get one — and if you could give the $ 1000 starting price for the Pro or $ 1099 for the Pro Max . If you ’re on the iPhone 11 or 12 , it might be time to upgrade gadget , mainly to get access to better intragroup hardware and camera capabilities .
But if you ’re on the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max , there is no reasonableness to leap ship to this particular framework ( I mean , you may absolve it to yourself if you care — I wo n’t bar you . ) While you get the benefit of a newfangled processor and slightly better camera sensing element , the gain in carrying out is minimum between last - gen and current - gen . And while the Emergency SOS and built - in safety feature of speech are crucial if you ’re the type to venture out of the connection or into the boondocks , the car clangoring and exigency detecting feature are both come to the Apple Watch Series 8 , second - gen Apple Watch SE , and Apple Watch Ultra , so you wo n’t take a fresh smartphone to access them .
I ca n’t tell you yet if the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are worth switching to from an Android twist — maybe you ’re one of the manydisgruntled Pixel 6 usersout there and are tired of the Google track . unluckily , we ’re waiting for the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro to launching , so it remains undetermined . However , I do plan to make a side - by - side comparison of the year ’s prominent flagship smartphones once they ’re all widely available . Hang fast .
The second night of night shots between the iPhone 13 Pro (left) and the Pixel 6 Pro (right).Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
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Indoor night shots compared between the iPhone 13 Pro (left), iPhone 14 Pro Max (middle), and Pixel 6 Pro (right).Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is a performer but a relatively minor improvement over its predecessor.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
