IPhone 14 Plus Review: Bigger Is Better

With the iPhone 14 Plus, Apple is once again targeting fans of large smartphones. While the iPhone 6 Plus had a 5.5-inch screen in the same format, the new iPhone 14 Plus is 6.7 inches. As a daily user of an iPhone 13 Mini, I tested the iPhone 14 Plus for you to tell you what this huge iPhone is worth.

The IPhone 14 Plus In A Nutshell

Unlike the iPhone 14, which turned out to be very poor in new features during my test, the iPhone 14 Plus is a perfect extension of Apple’s iPhone range. Indeed, fans of large smartphones no longer have to turn to the Pro Max model. But if you’re looking for a truly modern and attractive iPhone, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are still a must. Indeed, Apple has reserved most of the innovation for its Pro line.

The iPhone 14 Plus has been available for purchase since October 8. Compared to the standard iPhone 14, the large model costs only 150 euros more. This seems quite correct and, for comparison, it is only 100 euros more than the price of the Galaxy S22 Plus, released at the beginning of the year. Finally, you will have to pay 1169 euros for the version with 128 GB of storage, 1299 euros for the 256 GB model, or 1559 euros for 512 GB.

Design And Screen

The new iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch display, giving it an impressive size of 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8mm. With a weight of 203 g, it is, on the other hand, almost 40 g lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple uses an Oled panel with a refresh rate of only 60 Hz for the screen.

I loved

1. The superb display for reading media and playing games
2. The premium finish
3. Excellent speakers

I did not like

1. The refresh rate of only 60 Hz
2. The notch is still present

For fans of large smartphones, the iPhone 14 Plus is a more attractive alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The screen measures almost 6.7 inches, as on the Pro Max model, but Apple has not integrated the Pro Motion mode. The refresh rate is, therefore, only 60 Hz, which seems outdated in 2022. At the same time, Apple has also not equipped the iPhone 14 Plus with its new Dynamic Island as on the Pro models. Those downsides aside, the iPhone 14 Plus screen is wonderfully suited for video playback and mobile gaming.

 The maximum brightness of 1200 Nits for HDR content and 600 Nits for average content is enough to guarantee readability in direct sunlight; with a higher resolution than the base model, which is 2,778 x 1,284 pixels, the iPhone 14 Plus offers a similar pixel density of 458 dpi. The pixels are, therefore, not visible. Apart from the screen, Apple offers its usual level of finish. Although the iPhone 14 Plus comprises two large glass faces, nothing breaks or moves on the case. Added to that is an efficient vibration motor, which you can silence on iOS 16, and good stereo speakers.

Interface/OS

The iPhone 14 Plus runs on iOS 16, the latest version of Apple’s mobile OS. In addition to a pretty intuitive interface, you will benefit from excellent software maintenance. Even though Apple does not give accurate forecasts, your iPhone 14 Plus will likely be updated for more than five years.

I loved

1. iOS 16
2. Update Policy
3. The Crash Detection function

I did not like

1. Satellite emergency SOS only available in USA and Canada

If you’re new to the world of Apple’s iPhones, I recommend reading our complete guide to iOS 16. There you will find the list of all the models that will receive the update, and you will get a lot of information about the new features and much more. As I have already discussed the user experience with iOS 16 in detail in my full iPhone 14 review, as well as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max reviews, I will be brief on this point. I like iOS 16, mainly since I use a MacBook Air daily. The integration of OSes into Apple’s ecosystem is unparalleled. It is, for example, to make a call from a Mac without touching the iPhone. However, I am disappointed that the satellite emergency call function is currently restricted to the USA and Canada. Fortunately, accident detection is already available to us.

Performance: Same Same, Not Different

The iPhone 14 Plus is equipped with the previous generation’s A15 Bionic SoC. However, as with the basic iPhone 14, the SoC incorporates an additional GPU core that provides better graphics performance. Therefore, the iPhone 14 Plus is at the level of last year’s Pro models in terms of performance, which is more than sufficient for everyday use, as Apple wants.

I loved

1. Excellent daily performance
2. The bit of thermal throttling

I did not like

1. Same performance as previous models
2. No new SoC

As I have already spoken extensively about performance in my iPhone 14 test, I will be brief here too. The iPhone 14 Plus cuts an outstanding figure on a day-to-day basis. Load times in iOS 16 are almost non-existent, games run without noticeable lag at the highest graphics settings, and image and video processing are barely noticeable in most cases. Here, only the screen hinders the fluidity of the user experience.

Nevertheless, I have to criticize Apple for keeping the old SoC despite the higher prices. Paying at least 1169 euros for a smartphone and having an old SoC is unacceptable. This negative point will weigh in the balance for the iPhone 14 Plus note. Besides graphics performance and SoC, the iPhone 14 Plus incorporates the latest wireless standards. Among these, WiFi-6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and UWB to, for example, precisely locate its  AirTags as well as a satellite connection for emergency calls.

A Photo Module That Focuses On Video

The iPhone 14 Plus is equipped with a dual 12 MP photo module. As well as the brighter primary lens, thanks to its new larger sensor with an f/1.5 aperture, there’s an ultra-wide-angle lens without autofocus. The 12 MP selfie camera has autofocus.

I loved

1. Overall good image quality
2. Pretty cool action mode
3. Cinematic mode now in 4K

I did not like

1. The absence of a telephoto lens
2. The gap with the Pro models

Apple has equipped the cameras of its base iPhone 14s with larger sensors and brighter lenses. But there is no real advantage in terms of quality compared to the photos of previous models. By day, you will have excellent results with the primary lens and the ultra-wide angle. In my opinion, Apple’s Night Shots in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus look too contrived. In the gallery below, you will find a selection of photos I took with the iPhone 14 Plus. During the September keynote, Apple presented with great fanfare the new selfie camera, which now offers autofocus. In reality, it doesn’t change much.

Indeed, due to the front camera sensor’s size, the field depth is so deep that almost everything is sharp in the image. But the quality of the selfies is generally reasonable. Besides minor technical upgrades, Apple is packing a few new software tricks into its latest iPhones. Thus, the Cinematic mode now works in 4K. In 2022, Apple has further widened the  gap between its standard iPhones and the Pro range. The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max thus integrate a new primary lens of 48 MP, the possibility of shooting in RAW format, and a telephoto lens. If photo and video are essential to you, I advise you to turn to one of these two models.

Apple iPhone 14 Plus – Autonomy

The large size of the iPhone 14 Plus rhymes with a large battery! Apple announces an autonomy of up to 26 hours in video playback without giving any precise indication of the battery capacity. iPhone 14 Plus still charges via Lightning, MagSafe, or Qi wireless charging

I loved

1. The correct autonomy
2. MagSafe compatibility

I did not like

1. Fast charging is too slow
2. The Lightning Port

In the past, those who needed an iPhone with perfect battery life always had to look to the Pro Max model. With the iPhone 14 Plus, a durable standard iPhone is finally again. According to Apple’s indications, the autonomy is 26 hours in offline video playback. The iPhone 14 Plus lasts about a day and a half, which is very significant. You can even reach two days of autonomy by being a little careful. While the iPhone 14 Plus shines with its autonomy, the possibilities of recharging it are less attractive. According to Apple, it charges to half in 30 min via the optional fast charger. Other manufacturers offer significantly better, and the argument that Apple preserves the battery in this way no longer holds up in 2022.

Conclusion

In 2022, Apple was able to fill a significant gap in its iPhone lineup. Indeed, fans of large smartphones were condemned to choose the Pro Max model, which is overpriced. With the iPhone 14 Plus, there is now again an “affordable” model with a large display and good battery life. Faced with the problems with the sale of the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini, Apple seems to have met the needs of its customers. Apple hasn’t taken a misstep in the revival of the Plus models. Indeed, with the iPhone 14 Plus, you will not have to compromise compared to the iPhone 14. On the contrary: if you have large hands and spacious pockets, you will have better autonomy, a better screen, and better sound. However, Apple has also taken over the flaws of its standard iPhone this year.

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