IPhone 14 plus 128gb. iPhone 14 plus 128gb
Apple iPhone 14 Plus review: Is bigger better?
Apple has a Plus version of the standard iPhone 14 for 2022. Is bigger better? Yes, yes it is. Here’s our review.
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Apple has four iPhones in its 2022 line up, comprising the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Yep, that’s right, there is no iPhone 14 mini this year.
The small and able device has been replaced with a larger form factor, meaning the standard iPhone models now match the iPhone Pro models in terms of their size offerings.
So what’s the plus-size standard iPhone like? Well it’s definitely big. and not as cute as the iPhone mini. but it certainly has its advantages, many of which make it an excellent choice. Here is our full review.
Our quick take
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus brings with it a new form factor for the standard iPhone and that’s exciting. We loved the iPhone mini at.lint so we’re a little sad not to see one this year, but the iPhone 14 Plus is an brilliant option for those who want a bigger screen and bigger battery but don’t want to pay those Pro prices.
Unlike previous years, the standard iPhones aren’t as powerful as the Pro models and they lose out on a couple of features, like the Dynamic Island, Always On Display and better camera capabilities, but there’s still plenty on offer here. There’s a lovely large display, excellent battery performance, a solid camera experience and a great design that’s refreshingly lightweight for its size.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better but there’s a lot to love about the iPhone 14 Plus and if you think you want the smaller model, we urge you to reconsider. The iPhone 14 Plus’ large display, large form factor and large battery make it an excellent choice.
Familiar, but larger design
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus looks identical to the standard iPhone 14 but on a larger scale. much as the iPhone 14 Pro Max does compared to the iPhone 14 Pro. That larger scale makes the Plus pretty big but there is a solid and premium build quality here and we love the larger model a lot more than we expected to.
Aerospace aluminium is the material of choice for the frame compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s surgical-grade stainless steel frame, which makes the iPhone 14 Plus significantly lighter (nearly 40 grams or 1.31 ounces) than the iPhone 14 Pro Max. While the same is the case with the smaller model, it is much more noticeable in the larger model.
The iPhone 14 Plus has flat edges, like the iPhone 13. Those flat edges have been part of the iPhone’s design since the iPhone 12. as well as earlier models like the iPhone 5. and they make this larger size easier to hold than the iPhone 8’s rounded edges would have done.
On the left edge, there’s the silence toggle and volume buttons, along with the SIM tray for all markets except the US. Here, there is no SIM tray thanks to the move to eSIM only. The right edge meanwhile, sees the power button. At the bottom, speakers are positioned either side of the Lightning charging port, while there’s also a speaker at the top of the display above the notch.
Unlike the iPhone 14 Pro Max and its move to Apple’s Dynamic Island, the iPhone 14 Plus retains the notch we have seen since the iPhone X, though it is slightly smaller now than in 2017. That therefore means that while the larger form factor is new here. and lovely we might add. the design is familiar to the iPhone 13.
On the rear, you’ll find a glass panel with a glossy finish that loves a fingerprint. like the iPhone 13. while in the top left corner, there’s the prominent square camera housing. This housing has seamless edges that flow into the rest of the rear and there are two lenses, positioned diagonally. again like the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Plus comes in five colour options, comprising Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight and Product Red. The Product Red is bright and bold, while the Purple is very light, though definitely our favourite. It has a nice subtlety about it. We were a fan of the Blue too though, while Starlight and Midnight are good for those who want a more understated device.
Bigger display
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch display and that’s really the story for this device as it’s the same size you’ll find on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but you aren’t paying Pro here. It makes the larger display iPhone more accessible for those that don’t want all the bells and whistles offered by the Pro model.
The resolution for the iPhone 14 Plus is 2778 x 1284 pixels, which results in a very similar pixel density to the iPhone 14 at 458ppi. It’s an OLED panel so those blacks are very black, while colours are rich and vibrant with plenty of pop. There’s plenty of brightness too with a peak brightness of 1200nits. It’s not quite as impressive as the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display when outside. where there is a peak brightness of 2000nits. but it’s still a very impressive display indeed.
The usual Apple display features are on board here too like True Tone, Haptic Touch and support for HDR, though the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t bring the company’s ProMotion technology. It supports a standard refresh rates of 60Hz rather than offering the 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate offered by the iPhone 14 Pro.
Having moved from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 14 Plus, we did notice a very small amount of lag in scrolling speeds compared to the Pro device. It’s not a deal-breaker though, and you likely wouldn’t notice it unless you had used the iPhone 14 Pro Max, or 13 Pro Max model very recently.
Sadly, the iPhone 14 Plus also doesn’t have an Always On Display like its Pro sibling and this is one feature we missed quite a lot compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It means that while you can still take advantage of the new Lock Screen customisation options offered by iOS 16. more on that in a minute. certain information won’t remain on the screen when it is off. Again though, if you haven’t experienced the Always On Display, you can’t miss what you never had, right?
Hardware and specs
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t see a processor upgrade like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The A15 Bionic chip is under the hood, like the iPhone 13, though it opts for the iPhone 13 Pro’s chip, with a 5-core GPU instead of the 4-core GPU.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing as the iPhone 14 Plus performs very well, but it does mean the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the more powerful big device rather than being on par with the iPhone 14 Plus. Overall though, the standard iPhone 14 Plus is more than capable, handling multiple tasks with ease and it had no issues with games like Call of Duty Mobile either. It’s not quite as speedy as its Pro sibling but unless you are running the two devices side-by-side, you are unlikely to notice and the iPhone 14 Plus will be more than adequate.
There’s 5G connectivity, like all iPhones have offered since the iPhone 12 models launched in 2020. The iPhone 14 Plus also offers satellite connectivity too though. with the ability to send a text to emergency services using satellite if you are somewhere without signal. This function is only available in the US and Canada, however, and you only get coverage for 2 years.
Storage options for the iPhone 14 Max start at 128GB and hit 512GB, and as with all iPhones, there is no microSD support for storage expansion. As we said above, on US models there’s no SIM tray, so you’ll have to use eSIM only. That’s likely not a problem for domestic US carriers, but you won’t have the option of buying a cheap nano SIM if you travel and those who want to switch phones regularly might find it more fiddly. Phones outside the US still offer nano SIM, however.
There are a number of advantages to a larger device and one of those is battery life, which is especially the case with the iPhone 14 Plus. Now, the iPhone 14 Plus has a battery promise of up to 26 hours, which is three less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max on paper, but more than the iPhone 14 and certainly more than what an iPhone 14 mini would have offered had it existed. In our experience though, the iPhone 14 Plus performs better than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
It will see you through the day without an issue and likely into the next morning, unless you are out all night and using it continuously for photos. Taking it off charge at 7AM, we got to the end of a day with well over 35 per cent left and that’s with emails from multiple accounts coming through, WhatsApp, video calls and extensive use of the camera for testing. It’s the best performer of the four iPhone 14 models and a solid device in this department.
Upgraded camera
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus’ camera capabilities are the same as the iPhone 14 and therefore a slight step down from the iPhone 14 Pro. There’s a dual lens system on the back, comprised of a main camera and an ultrawide camera so you miss out on the telephoto offered by the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It also doesn’t get the upgrade to a higher resolution sensor.
The main camera on the iPhone 14 Plus sees an upgrade compared to what was offered on the iPhone 13 though, opting for the same as the iPhone 13 Pro instead. That means you’ll find a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.5 aperture over f/1.6 aperture, along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor with f/1.8 aperture. There’s also something called the Photonic Engine, which is present across all four iPhone 14 models, helping with low light shots. It’s basically an image processing system.
Overall, the iPhone 14 Plus delivers some great results from its dual rear camera offering. In good lighting conditions, you’ll get detailed shots with decent. and accurate. colour balance. The iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a little more detail, and you get the benefit of the optical zoom and Macro shooting, but on the whole the iPhone 14 Plus has a solid camera performance. It also allows you to just point and shoot and get a decent result, and there’s plenty to be said for that.
iPhone 14 Plus Review: The Less Noticed Big Guy!
Its been a few months since the iPhone 14 series launched, and it has been well established that it is the year of the Pro models. But if you intend to go for the frilly Pros, the amount to shell out is too much of an asking. This is where the iPhone 14 Plus steps in, which brings so much more to the table than meets the eye; the nostalgia and the relief of getting a large-screen experience without spending more than a lakh. Yes, starting at Rs 89,900, this is still an expensive iPhone, especially if you have to name the Android counterparts. But, this is also the iPhone that is more likely to do a better job than the standard model for many. iPhone 14 Plus is the less-noticed big guy of the lot and here’s why it deserves more attention. Read my in-depth review of the iPhone 14 Plus to find out.
iPhone 14 Plus Review (2023)
In this review, I have talked about the display, cameras, performance, and more aspects to give you an idea of my experience with the new iPhone. In case you want to know about a specific category, you can jump to one by using the table below.
iPhone 14 Plus: Specifications
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight | 203 grams |
| Display | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display |
| Chipset | A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | up to 512GB |
| Rear Cameras | 12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP |
| Operating System | iOS 16.2 |
| Water/ Dust Resistance | Yes, IP68 rating |
| Battery | 4,323mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired, up to 15W MagSafe wireless |
| Price | starts at Rs 89,900 |
iPhone 14 Plus: What’s in the Box?
Ever since Apple let go of the in-box charger to reduce its carbon footprint, the box contents are limited. You have the phone, a SIM ejector tool, the instruction manual, the signature Apple logo stickers, and a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box. If you are a new Apple user, you will need to buy the 20W or 30W adapter, which retails at Rs 1,900.
iPhone 14 Plus: Design and Build
It’s a given that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus don’t put forward an extraordinary design, and Apple has done little to no work for this. If you are seeking the new Dynamic Island experience, that is currently reserved for the Pro models.
Here, you have the same flat edges (which attract polarizing thoughts) and the square-shaped camera hump with diagonally-placed dual cameras (with an LED flash and a microphone). over, Apple hasn’t yet said goodbye to the notch. If you are fine with its presence, just like I am, you might not envy the Dynamic Island. The visible change is the massive screen size, which reminds me of the iPhone 7 Plus or 8 Plus days. It takes some adjusting, though, especially when you are switching from a 6.1-inch screen size.
And while there’s no innovation in terms of design, there’s no comprise either. The iPhone 14 Plus boasts an aluminum build with a tinge of gloss, a glass back, and a layer of Ceramic Shield – all of them contributing to the ‘premiumness’ one looks for in an iPhone. Plus, the colors you get make up for a nice-looking iPhone. The classic Black, the new Purple, Blue, and Starlight colorways, along with the (Product) RED — just choose any, and you would love it. I got myself the red colorway (my first time with a red-hued iPhone), and it is bound to turn heads. Although, it’s a little too bright and shiny for my liking.
And if you think a big screen would mean an uncomfortable experience, that won’t be the case with the iPhone 14 Plus. It’s lightweight and comfortable to carry around (even in the s or while hitting the gym). It doesn’t scratch easily, but I still recommend using a case and tempered glass upfront to keep things safe, for we all know iPhones are fragile entities!
iPhone 14 Plus: Display
This is one of the main reasons why someone would be attracted to the iPhone 14 Plus. Apple has finally let its non-Pro phones borrow the Pro Max’s big screen size, making things rather affordable for people who are suckers for a big screen.
A 6.7-inch OLED display is more than sufficient for watching videos, playing games, and otherwise just scrolling Instagram Reels all day. It was after years that I used a big-screen iPhone, and it took me a while to get used to it. And now that I have, I don’t think switching back to a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro would be easy. There’s a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating but the display is prone to attracting fingerprints, and I would highly recommend applying a tempered glass.
The display is sufficiently bright and reproduces vivid colors, so watching YouTube videos for hours on end or binge-watching your favorite Friends episodes will always be a delight. But what might not be likable is Apple still sticking to a 60Hz panel, especially for those switching over from Android. Coming from a 120Hz display on my iPhone 13 Pro, the transition seemed difficult, but I will have to give it to Apple for a smooth OS experience.
Once I got used to the iPhone 14 Plus, the 60Hz panel wasn’t too bothersome. Scrolling was mostly smooth and jitter-free. Of course, the rule book requires Apple to put a 120Hz refresh rate panel in a phone that is priced at around a lakh rupees. That said, it still isn’t a thing you would miss majorly. As is the iPhone 14 Pro’s AOD! But Apple holding back on features that are available even on Rs 20,000 Android phones may not sit well with some users.
iPhone 14 Plus: Performance
One area that might be a letdown for many is how Apple used a year-old chipset for the new iPhone 14 Plus, making little to no difference between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Plus.
While on paper this feels like a downside when we compare it to the A16-powered iPhone 14 Pro models, the day-to-day usage won’t feel different at all. The iPhone 14 Plus ensures fast and smooth performance. So, keeping up with my social media accounts, watching newly released YouTube videos, and how can I forget the shopping (I need to stop, though!), got done without any stutters.
And with some word games and light photo editing in the mix, I couldn’t find any fault in the smartphone’s performance. So, if you have the inhibitions of using an iPhone with an old chipset, there’s really nothing you should worry about. Clubbed with 6GB of RAM and the optimizations that come with iOS 16, this phone will deliver a seamless experience. As for the storage, my unit had a whopping 512GB of storage, and trust me, it would take years to fill up the tank. You can choose the 128GB or the 256GB models too.
I also ran the AnTuTu benchmark test and the iPhone 14 Plus had a decent score of 6,47,676. Although, my friend’s iPhone 14 Plus with 128GB of storage had a score of 8,31,861. I am not sure of the reason for the discrepancy but real-world usage doesn’t feel altered.
As for the audio performance, the stereo speakers on board are pretty good and much better than the ones on the iPhone 13 Pro. They are loud and the audio doesn’t feel lacking. Other aspects like the call quality and connectivity, or connection with the Airpods, and even the Face ID performance have been majorly good. There weren’t any issues that I encountered.
iPhone 14 Plus: Software
My iPhone 14 Plus unit came with iOS 16.2 out of the box, which is the latest iteration of Apple’s mobile OS. And as one would expect, it is a smooth runner. The latest iOS 16 features like the lock screen customizations, the new notification appearances (although, the stacked view is quite clumsy), and more add to the increasingly convenient usage. You may encounter a few bugs here and there, though. Like, the most prominent for me was the fact that text messages showed up late in the messages app despite the notification.
over, iOS 16.2 now supports Airtel and Jio 5G, and you can enjoy faster speeds if you are in an eligible city. Although, 5G speeds will vary based on the area. It will also take a toll on your battery life, so beware of that.
The software experience would feel more or less similar if you are coming from an older iPhone. But if you just recently switched between OSes, iOS 16 (or any iOS iteration for that matter) can have divided opinions.
iPhone 14 Plus: Cameras
When it comes to photography, iPhone cameras have arguably performed well in the past, and the iPhone 14 Plus embodies just that. You have a 12MP dual-camera setup, much like the iPhone 13 and the 13 mini, but its Photonic engine is expected to deliver brighter and more detailed images as compared to the predecessor.
In most scenarios, the iPhone 14 Plus maintains its image as a good camera phone. Well-lit settings provide almost natural colors and an output that will be liked by most of us. There are good details in daylight shots, but it goes on to decrease as the light goes away. Although, you can get some good images when the Night mode automatically makes its entry in low-light conditions.
Even with up to a 3x zoom in dark scenarios, you will get a photo worthy of making it to your gram. At 5x, you will get sufficient details but this is mainly in good lighting and images appear grainy in low light. There’s the classic warm tint to the images, but this has lessened with the iPhone 14 Plus.
As for the selfies, they too are detailed and reproduce natural colors. The now-added autofocus helps in clearer selfies and then there’s the ultra-wide mode too, which is always a nice addition for group-fies. The only recurrent problem is how the front camera performance takes a toll in low-light conditions.
The iPhone 13 Pro exhibited poor ultra-wide performance but that is not the case with the iPhone 14 Plus. The images are on par with that of the main camera. As for the portrait photos, the subject is detailed and sharp while the blurry background blends right in.
The iPhone 14 Plus can shoot in 4K and has support for the Cinematic mode and the Action mode for steadier videos. Both modes provide decent stabilization and a good amount of detail.
iPhone 14 Plus: Battery
The last time I used an iPhone with a long-running battery was the iPhone XR, and the iPhone 14 Plus gave me the same experience, only better. I would have to say that the iPhone 14 Plus has an impressive battery life. With the usual routine of calls, Instagram, messaging, video streaming, and taking selfies, the phone easily lasted me a day and a half, and even close to two days in some cases. This was the case with an average screen time of about 3-4 hours!
This is my second-most favorite thing about the 14 Plus and why I feel it should be on more people’s wishlists. It gets you the battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which by the way, starts at Rs 1,39,900. With a 20W charger, the charge time was somewhere between an hour and a half. This is fine by me but might prove to be a disappointment for impatient users who like to get the charging done in less than an hour, or even under 30 minutes on Android. Well, why won’t they?! The current fast-charging tech standards are crazy enough to lure anyone. In case you are okay with up to 1.5 hours of charging time and a ‘pretty darn’ good battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus will suit your needs.
iPhone 14 Plus: Pros and Cons
| Stunning large display | Lacks a high refresh rate |
| Long-lasting battery life | Design isn’t too dynamic |
| A fast performer | Still pricey |
iPhone 14 Plus Review: Is It a Good Buy?
The iPhone 14 Plus is the first device from Apple that offers a big screen and battery life at a non-Pro price point. Well, if you are seeking both these things, this is a much better choice than the regular iPhone 14, which appears just as an incremental upgrade to the iPhone 13.
I would agree big time that the choice of an older chipset isn’t the best but using the phone won’t even make you realize this fact. And even though the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t have all the attractions like a high refresh rate, a 48MP camera, or the AOD mode, it still is a solid phone, which sadly, hasn’t gotten the attention it needs.
So if you are moving from an older iPhone or an Android phone, choosing the iPhone 14 Plus might be the right choice if the budget is also a big concern. The Pro experience can be found on the iPhone 13 Pro too, but it still goes south of a lakh. For under Rs 1 lakh, the iPhone 14 Plus would be my strong recommendation for all kinds of users. Do let us know if you end up buying the new iPhone!
Buy iPhone 14 Plus from Amazon (starts at Rs 89,990)
A larger screen and battery without the Pro price tag
TechRadar Verdict
The iPhone 14 Plus is a great option for those after a bigger handset, with a design, display, cameras and build quality that are all excellent, if a bit last-generation. It’s also a more affordable way to get into Apple’s big-screen smartphone world, without having to shell out 1,000 / £1,000-plus.
Pros
- Attractive design, quality build
- Big screen and bigger battery
- eSIM (US models only) and satellite
- Good price for a big iPhone
Cons
- – The notch is now very dated
- – A15 Bionic isn’t Apple’s best chip
- – Not a huge upgrade
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Two-minute review
Everything you read about Apple’s iPhone 14 is true of the iPhone 14 Plus. You’re getting the same processor, display technology, and dual camera array on the back. What sets this phone apart from its smaller sibling is, obviously, its screen size and battery life; and for some, that will be reason enough to choose it over the iPhone 14.
The 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus is a newcomer to the iPhone lineup, supplanting the adorably small iPhone 13 mini, which apparently failed to inspire buyers. With this more affordable plus-sized smartphone, Apple hopes to attract those who aspire to the big-screen excitement of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but don’t have the budget to afford it; or who perhaps just don’t need the power afforded by the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 48MP sensor and leading-edge A16 Bionic CPU.
Coming with most of the same limitations as its non-Pro sibling, the iPhone 14 Plus might seem like just another good-enough handset; but don’t underestimate the benefits of a big screen and excellent battery life. These things matter, and getting them for 899 / £949 / AU1,579 (for the base 128GB phone), as opposed to the 1,099 / £1,199 / AU1,899 you’d pay for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, means this is a smartphone worth considering.
Taken by itself, the iPhone 14 Plus is a somewhat staid but attractive smartphone. The design is virtually unchanged from the iPhone 13 lineup, except for its Pro-level-without-being-Pro size. There’s no Dynamic Island upgrade for the iPhone 14 or 14 Plus, with the notch that Apple made 20% smaller with the iPhone 13 sticking around for another generation. It’s still an excellent, 458ppi display with 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio; just note that there’s no always on-display or adaptive refresh rate here, and you’ll be happy enough with the tasteful 60Hz OLED panel.
The best iPhone of this generation, sadly not, but it’s still a brilliant option and offers a nice middle ground between the standard 14 and the 14 Pro Max, without the 14 Pro’s price premium.
Even though we don’t get a telephoto lens or a 48MP primary sensor on the iPhone 14 Plus, the two 12MP cameras on the back (the main and ultra-wide) are a step up from the iPhone 13’s array. Part of this is due to better sensors and lenses, but there’s also the new Photonic Engine, which applies Apple’s Deep Fusion image technology to uncompressed images. Even the front 12MP camera gets an upgrade, with a better sensor and autofocus.
These are characteristically above-average cameras that we think will satisfy most casual photographers and videographers.
Performance is excellent; in benchmarks the A15 Bionic (the same version of the chip as found in last year’s iPhone 13 Pro) is a tick below what you’d get from the iPhone 14 Pro series’ top-of-the-line A16 Bionic, but we challenge anyone to tell the difference in real-world use.
Battery life is, as you might expect with a phone of this size, exemplary. In one video rundown test we got a solid 25 hours, although your mileage, obviously, may vary.
While it can be difficult to avoid fixating on what the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t have, we think many will look at what the iPhone 14 Plus brings to the table: big-screen iPhone fun, performance, and battery life at a more affordable price than the equivalent Pro. And where the iPhone 14 offers no compelling reason to upgrade from the iPhone 13, the appeal of the iPhone 14 Plus is visibly obvious.
iPhone 14 Plus price and availability
- 128GB: 899 / £949 / AU1,579
- 256GB: 999 / £1,059 / AU1,749
- 512GB: 1,199 / £1,279 / AU2,099
Apple unveiled its entire iPhone 14 line – the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max – on September 7, 2022.
The iPhone 14 Plus went on preorder on September 9 and is now available, as of October 7. It starts at 899 / £949 / AU1,579 for the 128GB model, but you can get it with up to 512GB of storage (check out our best iPhone 14 deals if you’re already interested).
iPhone 14 Plus specs
The iPhone 14 Plus comes in three storage configurations – 128GB, 256GB and 512GB – with 6GB of RAM offered across the board.
| 78.1 x 160.8 x 7.8mm |
| 203g |
| 6.7-inch Super XDR OLED |
| 2778 x 1284 pixels |
| 60Hz |
| A15 Bionic |
| 6GB |
| 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| iOS 16 |
| 12MP main (26mm, f/1.5), 12MP ultrawide (13mm, f/2.4) |
| 12MP |
| 3,279mAh |
| 20W (wired) MagSafe wireless |
| Midnight, Starlight, red, blue, purple, yellow |
iPhone 14 Plus design
- Aging design, but one that retains its allure
- Solid aluminum construction
- Glass and Ceramic Shield have premium looks
- No SIM slot on US models
From its aluminum frame to its glass back, its edge-to-edge, ceramic-shield-covered and notched display, its pill-shaped volume and power buttons, alert slider, Lightning port and grille placement, the design of the iPhone 14 Plus is eminently familiar, and mostly – we emphasize mostly – unchanged from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 before it.
Naturally, there’s an undeniable size difference. Whereas the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 is virtually indistinguishable from the iPhone 13, the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus is 6.33 inches (160.8mm) tall and 3.07 inches (78.1mm) wide. Compare this to the 5.78-inch (146.7mm) by 2.82-inch (71.5mm) iPhone 14. The two phones are, by the way, the exact same thickness, at 0.31-inches (7.8mm).
Without question, the biggest design difference from the iPhone 13 generation to the iPhone 14 line of phones – although only on models sold in the US – is that there’s no SIM slot along the left edge. The switch to an all eSIM design in the US has made the physical SIM slot obsolete, and gives the phone a slightly cleaner look.
This larger iPhone does outweigh the iPhone 14, coming in at 203 grams to the iPhone 14’s 172 grams, although despite being essentially the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Plus is 37 grams lighter. This may be due to the Plus’ new thermal management system, which helps keep the phone operating cooler and – according to Apple – makes it easier to replace a broken back glass panel.
In general, the handset feels cool, smooth, and solid. We didn’t drop it to test durability, but we did run the phone under some cool water. It can handle that, and is rated for up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for 30 minutes – just don’t plug it back in until it’s fully dried out.
Design score: 4/5
iPhone 14 Plus display
- Super Retina XDR OLED is still the best iPhone screen technology you can get
- You might miss adaptive refresh
- Bigger is better in videos, photography, gaming, and more
- Sorry, no always-on display
- It’s time to retire the notch
Apple gave the iPhone 14 Plus its best OLED display – the Super Retina XDR – but still with the limitation of the notch. This means Apple’s newest model remains saddled with a feature the company will surely phase out in a generation or two.
If we’d never seen the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s adaptable Dynamic Island, we probably wouldn’t mind, but the notch now feels excessive and overbearing by comparison. At least it appears smaller on the iPhone 14 Plus’s large 2278 x 1284 display – there are more pixels on this display than on the iPhone 14’s, but the pixels per inch is actually a hair lower (458ppi vs 460).
None of this is to say the HDR, wide-color, True Tone-supporting display isn’t gorgeous. It is. Everything from games to photos, videos and TikToks looks great on it. Its 2,000,000:1 contrast ensures that blacks look inky, and everything else pops.
Even without an adaptive refresh rate, and despite the fact that the panel on the 14 Plus is stuck at 60Hz, it still feels responsive. Gameplay in PUBG and Asphalt 9: Legends looked smooth enough to the naked eye. If, though, you like the sound of Apple’s new always-on display, think about the iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max instead.
Of course, the other big benefit of the iPhone 14 Plus is that the screen is noticeably bigger than that of the iPhone 14, which means, to our eyes, an even better video and gaming experience. Obviously, you’re not getting more pixels, but the extra millimeters of visual real estate make everything bigger. Plus, you have some nice little Plus-sized display benefits, like the ability to hold the device in landscape mode, open Mail and see your account’s assorted folders in the left-hand column. These folders aren’t persistent, but it’s still a nice perk that’s exclusive to the larger models in the iPhone 14 series.
As far as screen protection goes, the iPhone 14 Plus has the same Ceramic Shield as the rest of the iPhone 14 line – so might be worth watching this iPhone 14 Pro Max drop test to see what sort of punishment the material can take.
iPhone 14 Plus cameras
- A good set of iPhone 13 Pro transplants
- Bigger sensor and Photonic Engine take image quality up a notch
- One bigger sensor would’ve been nice
- Action mode
Apple has upgraded the camera system on the iPhone 14, and has put the exact same setup on the iPhone 14 Plus. It’s still two 12MP cameras on the back: a 26mm, f/1.5 lens and a 13mm, f/2.4 ultrawide with a 120-degree field of view.
Apple has not only upgraded the lenses, but is backing them with a larger sensor sporting larger pixels, for better low-light performance. All the cameras, including the new 12MP front-facing camera, are also supported by Apple’s new Photonic Engine, which, among other things, applies the company’s Deep Fusion image processing to uncompressed images, earlier in the image processing pipeline than before. This also results in better low-light performance, and more visual detail.
If your eyes glazed over during that description, then just know that photo quality is noticeably better when compared to iPhone 13’s cameras. It’s not a huge change, but we really could see it in every single image. Better color, clarity, and detail… there’s more truth in the images. The impact is especially noticeable in ultrawide photos, which offer more color information across the entire frame.
Portrait mode photography continues to improve on both the front and back, and is particularly impressive in low-light situations.
For video, the cameras are all still capable of shooting up to 4K 60fps video. The marquee feature is the new Action Mode that’s available for the rear cameras, which uses software and AI to smooth out the shaky video. It essentially acts like a digital gimbal, as you’d find on a GoPro. We took a run with an iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus, enabling Action Mode on the Plus (but leaving it off on the 14). As you’d hope, video turned out smoother, however, despite being a cool feature it’ll likely be of limited utility for most people.
Camera samples
iPhone 14 Plus audio
While it’s likely that you’ll use the iPhone 14 Plus with Bluetooth earbuds or headphones, the phone’s stereo speakers can get plenty loud on their own – at one point we measured 79 decibels. And it’s not just ear-piercing audio: Apple Music sounds excellent, as well. Having tested the speakers with a little Barbra Streisand, they sound just as good, if not better than, any decent Bluetooth speaker.
iPhone 14 Plus performance
- A15 Bionic (iPhone 13 Pro class) is still a winner
- Still hard to find the performance limits
- New internal design might be helping with performance
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are powered by last year’s Apple silicon; however, while that might sound less than optimal, the reality is that the A15 Bionic is an excellent mobile chipset. Also, Apple didn’t try to saddle this phone with the same processor it put in the iPhone 13; instead, this is the chip it placed in the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, which is notable for its extra GPU core.
The phone’s Geekbench 5 benchmark numbers came in about where we expected: better than the iPhone 13, but somewhat lower than the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro.
For all practical purposes, you probably won’t notice the difference, though. This is a fast phone, with enough headroom to play demanding high-fidelity games, shoot 4K video, and edit four 4K streams in Adobe Premiere Rush CC, all at once.
iPhone 14 Plus eSIM and Emergency SOS
In the US, Apple is doing away with SIM slots and making eSIM the standard. This may come as a shock for people who like the comfort of that tiny piece of communication hardware, but we’ve found that switching eSIMs to new phones like the iPhone 14 Plus is incredibly easy – so much so that we switched an existing phone number from, first, a physical-SIM-supported iPhone to an eSIM iPhone 14 Pro, and then did a separate switch of an eSIM number on the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 14 Plus. As long as you follow all the on-screen instructions, it’s absolutely painless.
Outside the US, you’ll still have your SIM slot and SIM cards (as well as eSIM support), though we think you should prepare for this inevitable change.
You’ll hopefully never have to make use of Apple’s new Emergency SOS satellite connectivity, but the ability to reach emergency services when all traditional communications fail could also save your life. While we didn’t test it on our review phone, Apple did show us how it worked shortly after the iPhone 14 line launched, in September.
They took us up a hill at Apple Park – a space where they could switch off Wi-Fi and cellular access. While there, the iPhone 14 displayed a cute little satellite icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen; an indication that emergency satellite services were available from our location.
Dialing 911 in this situation, the iPhone 14 should – as it did in our demo – launch a new dialogue pop-up asking if you want to try emergency text via satellite. After that, an on-screen emergency assistant offers a visual cue for which way you should face to connect to the nearest satellite. It then asks you a series of questions that the system can deliver via compressed text to an Apple relay center, which then contacts emergency services.
If, during the communication, a satellite moves out of range, the system will prompt you to face in the right direction to reconnect.
As a further safety measure, the phone now includes Crash Detection, another feature we could not (really would not) test. The idea is simple, though. If you’re in a car crash and your iPhone 14 Plus is with you, it can detect the crash (yes, and tell the difference between a bump and something quite serious). In that event, the phone can automatically contact emergency services and even your emergency contact, provided you put it in your phone.
Along with the rest of the iPhone 14 lineup, this is a 5G phone that also supports Wi-Fi 6. Its connectivity is good, and speeds can be great when you have a solid network connection.
The best 5G speeds, though, were only possible in some parts of our hometown and New York City. In other words, your speeds will be largely dependent on where you live, and how well built-out the 5G network is in your area.
iPhone 14 Plus battery
- Breaks the full-day battery life barrier
- Seems to sip power
- Fast charging could be… faster
Aside from the bigger screen, the main reason you might choose an iPhone 14 Plus over the 14 is battery life. For those who prize that feature over others, you’ll really want to take a look at the iPhone 14 Plus.
We did a video rundown test with both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, playing a mostly steady stream of Netflix. The iPhone 14 lasted nearly 20 hours, and the iPhone 14 Plus served us approximately 25 hours of playback.
Different activities will alter those battery life numbers, but, at least in this scenario, the iPhone 14 Plus proves it can offer impressive longevity.
Apple’s version of middling fast charging is still there. We used a 20W Apple charger to charge the phone to 45% in 30 minutes. After one hour and 10 minutes, it was at 90%.
The iPhone 14 Plus supports MagSafe for iPhone and Qi wireless charging. It does ship with a USB-C-to-Lightning plug cable, but no power adapter.
iPhone 14 Plus software
- iOS 16 experience is exemplary
- Better experience in Messages, email and Maps
- Lock screen will change how you use the iPhone
All iPhone 14 phones come with iOS 16 pre-installed. Key updates include the new lock screen, which includes image segmentation, so that, for example, the head of your subject can partially cover the redesigned clock.
There are editable and retrievable messages – a feature we’ve started to use with more frequency. There’s ‘schedule’ (send later) and ‘unsend email’, as well.
In addition, you’ll find updated maps with multi-point directions, and image segmentation that allows you to select an image subject from virtually any photo and then drag and drop it into another app; it’s incredibly cool.
In some ways, we like the iPhone 14 Plus as much as we liked the iPhone 14. It’s an excellent handset with an above-average design and features. That said, it’s also not a lot different to the iPhone 13, and we can’t help but wish all iPhone 14 handsets, especially this big-screened newbie, had the Dynamic Island.
Where the iPhone 14 Plus sets itself apart, though, is it’s size, battery life, and value. Getting a bigger screen and all that battery life is worth another 100 / £100 in our eyes.
iPhone 14 Plus score card
| Good-looking quality build and design | 4/5 |
| Super Retina XDR OLED is still the best iPhone screen technology you can get but, oh, the notch | 3.5/5 |
| A15 Bionic (iPhone 13 Pro class) is still a winner | 4/5 |
| A good set of iPhone 13 Pro transplants | 3.5/5 |
| This phone breaks the full-day battery life barrier | 4.5/5 |
| iOS 16 experience is exemplary | 4.5/5 |
| A big iPhone with a non-Pro price | 4/5 |
Buy it if.
You really want a big-screen iPhone
The introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus means Apple fans now have two big-screen iPhone options, and this may be one they can afford.
You need more battery life
We know, you’re tired of running out of battery life at the least opportune time. The big iPhone 14 Plus hook is that it offers more than a full day of battery life.
You still love the notch
How this is possible after seeing Appel’s Dynamic Island, we do not know. Still, that TrueDepth Module remains quite powerful and useful, and it houses an improved front-facing camera. And you get all this for less than you’d pay for a phone with a Dynamic Island.
You want an affordable way into satellite SOS
This neat ability to talk to satellites and help get you out of a jam is unique among leading smartphones.
Don’t buy it if.
You’re over the notch
There’s no getting around the True-Depth Module notch, even if it does appear smaller on this big-screened phone.
You’re a photographer
The iPhone 14 Plus has a trio of good cameras, but the better set, and the big 48MP sensor, can only be found on the 14 Pro models.
Also consider
Samsung Galaxy S22 The Samsung Galaxy S22 is small, fast, and offers a clean and reliable Android experience. It’s an incremental update that keeps what was good in the S21, and upgrades the camera, processor, and materials to create a solid Android device.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S22 review for more
The OnePlus 10 Pro is a great premium all-around phone with a good-looking screen, fast charging and powerful internals. The cherry on the cake is that it costs less than other ‘Pro’ phones, making it an incredibly tempting choice. However, its Achilles’ heel is the camera experience – there are a few problems with both the hardware and software that might put off passionate photographers.
Read our OnePlus 10 Pro review for more
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung has addressed some of the Z Flip 3’s biggest pain points with its 2022 successor – mainly by way of a larger battery that fits into a more compact form factor – but there’s still plenty of room left for improvement. Price versus performance remains unmatched in the market, especially when you consider that this is one of the only water-resistant foldables out there.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review for more
First reviewed: October 2022
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 launch marked a significant upheaval for Apple’s iPhone lineup. Essentially, it saw the end of the road for the iPhone mini and introduced a new large and affordable iPhone, the iPhone 14 Plus. And although it looks just like a slimmed-down version of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it is actually a blown-up variant of the regular iPhone 14 and actually shares more similarities with that one. Still, the comparisons between the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max are inevitable.
With the arrival of the iPhone 14 Plus, Apple finally allows consumers to get a hold of a fairly affordable large iPhone, albeit less advanced than the range-topping iPhone 14 Pro Max crown jewel. Previously, you could only enjoy the benefits of a large screen with the ultra-premium iPhone Pro Max model, which surely boasted everything but came with the price tag to match, and the affordable iPhones, like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, simply couldn’t match the enormous size and all boons stemming from that as better battery life and larger display screen estate.
So, which one is the go-to large iPhone to get in 2023? Does the iPhone 14 Pro Max retain the crown, or is it the iPhone 14 Plus that will be the fan-favorite? What’s more, is the battle now more equal given the identical footing that both share, or an unfair showcase of one phone’s superior technological advantage?
- Triple camera (iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs dual camera (iPhone 14 Plus)
- 1-120Hz ProMotion XDR OLED (iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs 60Hz OLED (iPhone 14 Plus)
- i-shaped notch w/ Dynamic Island ( iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs traditional notch (iPhone 14 Plus)
- Apple A16 Bionic (iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs Apple A15 Bionic w/ 5-core GPU (iPhone 14 Plus)
- Always-On display (iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs N/A
- 1TB storage option (iPhone 14 Pro Max) vs N/A
- Smaller battery but better battery life (iPhone 14 Pro Max)
iPhone 14 Pro Max at Walmart
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is available on the major carriers at Walmart. Get it for ATT from 29.14 a month for 36 installments. Keep in mind that certain colors or storage variants may be out of stock. Currently, the 256GB is available.
iPhone 14 Pro Max at Verizon: save up to 1000
Deal: get up to 1000 off from Verizon with a trade-in (it could be an old or damaged phone) and select Unlimited plans. Plus, get an Apple Watch Series 7 for free with purchase and a new line.
iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB at ATT: up to 1000 off with trade-in
Massive storage: get the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max with up to 1000 off at ATT with trade-in and an eligible unlimited plan. Regularly, the phone costs 44.45 per month at ATT.
iPhone 14 Plus ATT from Walmart
The iPhone 14 Plus is available at Walmart in all storage variants. You can get it for ATT starting at 24.42/month for 36 months.
Verizon iPhone 14 Plus: get 719 off with select 5G Unlimited plans
Deal: save 719 with select 5G unlimited plans and a new line on the iPhone 14 Plus at Verizon. You can also save 200 if you switch. No trade-in is required.
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB at ATT with up to 700 off with trade-in
Deal: get the iPhone 14 Plus 128GB with up to 700 off from ATT with trade-in and an eligible unlimited plan.
Design and Display Quality
Same size, but very different properties
Generally, the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max share the same 6.7-inch display footprint, making them the largest new iPhones available. Both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Plus mostly share the same general design, which in itself is mostly similar to the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max. There are some very notable differences, though.
This year’s Pro models looks vastly different from their predecessors when it comes to the frontal design. With two punch-holes in the form of an “i”, the iPhone 14 Pro Max employs what Apple calls a Dynamic Island, a dynamic area around the cutouts that displays contextually-aware and persistent notifications, alerts, and prompts. It’s Apple’s way of truly embracing the punch-hole and not being afraid to use the newly claimed design element to its full potential.
Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the iPhone 14 Plus is just a blown-up version of the iPhone 14 and, in extension, to the iPhone 13. It uses the same aluminum design and slim notch that was debuted on the iPhone 13-series, but aside from that, it’s a relatively standard-looking iPhone.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is available in Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple. The phone utilizes Ceramic Shield front glass and textured matte glass at the back, with stainless steel design. Meanwhile, we have the iPhone 14 Plus, which is available in Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Product (RED), Blue, and Yellow (new as of March 2023) and is made of Ceramic Shield front, Glass back, and aluminum design. Both phones are IP68-certified.
In terms of display, both phones come with 6.7-inch OLED displays, which is plenty as far as screen real estate goes. One of the main differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max involves refresh rate. The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, which allows it to dynamically switch the refresh rate between 1 and 120Hz depending on the on-screen content. Of course, the faster the refresh rate, the smoother the scrolling/viewing experience, which is very rewarding.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Plus comes with a standard Super Retina XDR screen that only achieves 60Hz, which makes for a slightly less pleasing experience. Don’t get us wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the iPhone 14 Plus’ screen, it’s just hard to get excited by it once you’ve seen the smoother iPhone 14 Pro Max display in its full glory.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max can also get much much brighter in the right ambient conditions, which means that you will have fewer issues with legibility in, say, broad daylight.
Display Measurements:
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set (area) of colors that a display can reproduce, with the sRGB colorspace (the highlighted triangle) serving as reference. The chart also provides a visual representation of a display’s color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The ‘x: CIE31’ and ‘y: CIE31’ values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. ‘Y’ shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while ‘Target Y’ is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, ‘ΔE 2000’ is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display’s measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance (balance between red, green and blue) across different levels of grey (from dark to bright). The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones, the better.
Another important distinct point between the two phones is the Always-On display functionality, which makes an appearance on the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max only. It dims your lock screen and displays a vague outline of your wallpaper of choice, as well as the vital clock face and any mini widgets that you might have. Apple already had a similar functionality on the Apple Watch and it made sense to finally have it on the iPhone.
As mentioned, Face ID remains the main biometric of choice on the iPhone 14 family. Both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max come with the three-dimensional facial recognition functionality on deck, which can be used for both unlocking the phone, as well as authorizing app installations and online purchases.
Performance and Software
New chip for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but a well-known unit in the iPhone 14 Plus
Another major difference between the the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Plus is the chipset powering each phone. The iPhone 14 Pro Max gets the newer generation silicon, the 4nm Apple A16 Bionic chipset, while the iPhone 14 Plus relies on iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max’s chip from last year, the 5nm Apple A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU on board. This marks the first time that Apple differentiates its more premium models with a newer chipset and throws a bone to the the affordable iPhones with last year’s processor.
Mind you, the Apple A15 is still among the best all-around mobile chips, so there’s nothing wrong with reusing it another year. Still, many could be irked by Apple’s decision as the company has always used its newest chipset across all of its contemporary devices.
Speaking of the Apple A16 Bionic, it’s manufactured on a 4nm node and thus offers some efficiency gains in comparison with the A15 Bionic, which relies on a larger (and older) 5nm manufacturing process.
In terms of memory, both phones come with 6GB of RAM. There are some important differences, however: iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with the much faster LPDDR5 type of RAM, while the iPhone 14 Plus relies on the slightly slower LPDDR4X RAM, courtesy of the A15 Bionic chip. Overall, this should boost performance.
How does all of this translate in real-life performance? Well, Apple has successfully created a performance rift between its affordable and more premium phones. The A16 Bionic definitely beats the A15 inside the iPhone 14 Plus, but that only matters if you care about synthetic benchmarks.
In real life, you shouldn’t notice a difference. That said, if you really want the best on paper, you will have to go with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, though the iPhone 14 Plus won’t be much behind. If anything, it’s still performing better than most of the contemporary Android phones out there.
Both iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus start at 128GB storage, but are also available with 256 and 512GB of native storage. This is where the iPhone 14 Plus hands in the towel, but true to its nature, the iPhone 14 Pro Max gives us a 1TB option, more than enough for even the heaviest of power users.
When it comes to software updates, iPhones are famous for their five- to six-year software update policy. Having this in mind means that both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max will certainly be up-to-date until 2027 or 2028, which is the best the mobile industry currently has to offer.
The iPhone 14 family now also supports Satellite SOS connectivity, allowing iPhone users to connect while in areas that are outside regular cell coverage. With this new connectivity feature, the iPhone 14 will communicate with a satellite hundreds of miles above and allow you to report emergency. Sadly, standard texting and other types of data throughput are not supported due to the limited bandwidth. Still, you can send simple short messages and hopefully get emergency services to help you out. You can also share your location to your family via Find My even though you are out and about in the wilderness.
Camera
Triple versus double, the difference is clear
Apple introduced a new, considerably larger 48MP primary camera sensor, which is exclusively available on the top-tier iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max flagships. Thanks to quad-pixel binning, this sensor combines the raw data from four pixels into one to theoretically achieve sharper detail, superior dynamic range, and low-light sensitivity. The latter is further aided by Apple’s new Photonic Engine, a term depicting an enhanced new image pipeline that dramatically improves low-light photos. By default, the iPhone 14 Pro Max camera still outputs 12MP images, but you can opt to take full 48MP ProRAW images, which routinely weigh in above 90MB.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a triple camera system, similarly to all of its predecessors: the 48MP wide-angle camera is joined by a ultra-wide and a 3X telephoto lens in order to achieve maximum versatility. Both weigh in at 12MP. The 49MP camera sensor has also allowed Apple to throw in a 12MP 2X telephoto mode that uses the main camera sensor and benefits from its wider aperture. You can use this software camera mode both in regular photo and portrait modes, so that you achieve a zoomed, but a more natural field-of-view.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Plus uses the same camera setup found on the iPhone 14. A 12MP main wide-angle camera is joined by a 12MP ultra-wide one, with the same Photonic Engine and other machine-learning goodies, like Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, Photographic Styles, and more. Overall image quality is slightly better than the iPhone 13, which can be mostly attributed to the use of the Photonic Engine.
While no 8K video recording has been introduced by either device, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus now support Cinematic mode in up to 4K HDR 30fps, a big leap over last year’s somewhat limited Cinematic Mode of 1080p at up to 30fps on the iPhone 13-series. There are many other novelties in terms of video on both phones, including Action Mode, which can shoot at up to 2880 x 2160 at 60fps, as well as much improved Pro-level workflows for video.
Finally, both devices share a new 12MP FaceTime selfie camera with autofocus and fast, f/1.9 aperture. If anything, it also supports Cinematic mode at up to 4K HDR@30fps, if that matters to you.
In terms of image quality, one thing is immediately obvious — the higher-res camera of the iPhone 14 Pro Max definitely has way lot more data to work with, which leads to more detailed images, with more information in the shadowy areas. Aside from that, both phones exude that well-known iPhone camera look, with similar, consistent color science and dynamics.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max daytime main camera samples
In low-light scenarios, the iPhone 14 Pro Max pulls ahead, but the differences are by no means as stark as we’d like them to be. Definitely room for improvement on the 48MP camera’s account in the future.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max ultra-wide camera samples
In terms of zoom, we’d recommend trying to zoom with the iPhone 14 Plus. It maxes out at 5X, which is a rather pathetic digital zoom capability. At the same time, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a much more capable telephoto machine, with a maximum of a 30X hybrid zoom. At 3X, the phone switches to its dedicated telephoto camera and delivers outstanding results, whereas the iPhone 14 Plus simply crops out from its main camera. No contest, really—the iPhone 14 Pro Max wins this one by a landslide.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max zoom samples
Finally, when it comes to selfies, both phones have scored improved selfie cameras with autofocus, which means better selfies across the board. Portraiture is good on both phones, with good background separation.
Battery Life and Charging
Best battery on any iPhone ever
When we talk about the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, we are dealing with battery champs. You can safely expect either of Apple’s two behemoths to last you a long time, as the two have the largest batteries among all new iPhones in the iPhone 14-lineup. With a 4,323mAh battery on the iPhone 14 Pro Max and a 4,325mAh one on the iPhone 14 Plus, one could go all-in that both will have a pretty similar battery life, right?
Normally, yes, but this is where the differences in display technology and chipset efficiency come into play.
On the PhoneArena browsing battery test, which involves automated web surfing and scrolling over a Wi-Fi network at 200 nits of pre-set screen brightness, the iPhone 14 Pro Max ekes out ahead of the iPhone 14 Plus by a few minutes, with both phones dangerously close to the 11-hour mark. The spread is mostly similar in the dedicated PhoneArena 3D gaming test, where the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts longer than the iPhone 14 Plus. Things are a totally different in the PhoneArena video streaming test, where the iPhone 14 Plus lags way behind the iPhone 14 Pro Max champ.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
In terms of charging, Apple has adorned the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 27W wired charging and the iPhone 14 Plus with 20W wired charging, as that’s what the charging situation looked like on the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13, respectively. Both have 15W MagSafe wireless charging, but no USB Type-C; this one is coming later this year with the iPhone 15 series.
How quickly does Apple’s big new iPhone charge? Well, it takes upwards of two hours to fully top up the iPhone 14 Plus, noticeably longer than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which charges faster but still loses to multiple Android rivals.
Specs Comparison
And here’s how the specs of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus mostly differ. You can also check out our iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Plus dedicated specs comparison.
| Dimensions | 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches (160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85 mm) | 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches (160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm) |
| Weight | 240gr | 203gr |
| Display | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED ProMotion (1-120Hz) | 6.7-inch Super retina XDR OLED (60Hz) |
| Processor | Apple A16 Bionic hexa-core | Apple A15 Bionic w/ 5-core GPU |
| Memory Storage | 6GB LPDDR5; 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1024GB | 6GB LPDDR4X; 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear cameras | Main: 48MP f/1.78 24mmUltra-wide: 12MP 13mm, ƒ/2.22X Telephoto mode: 12MP 48mm f/1.783X Telephoto: 12MP 77mm f/2.8 | Main: 12MP f/1.5 26mmUltra-wide: 12MP 13mm f/2.4 |
| Front camera | 12MP f/1.9 | 12MP f/1.9 |
| Battery size | 4323mAh | 4325mAh |
| Charging speeds | 20W wired, 15W MagSafe | 20W wired, 15W MagSafe |
| Price | From 1,099 | From 899 |
As seen in the table above, the differences are mostly found in the camera, display, and performance section, which kind of justifies the higher price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max versus the iPhone 14 Plus.
Summary and Final Verdict
So, as established in this comparison, the main differences between the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus definitely tip the scales in favor of the more premium iPhone 14 Pro Max, despite its more premium price. Its high-refresh display, faster chipset, more storage, and improved camera system are the main selling points against the similarly sized, but way less impressive iPhone 14 Plus.
The price increase for the iPhone 14 Pro Max could be justified by all the new features that will be included, but don’t be so quick to disregard the iPhone 14 Plus as well. Due to its large size and fairly affordable price in comparison with the Pro Max version, it could be the potential bestseller among all iPhone 14 models, especially if you don’t really like the new Dynamic Island or are unconvinced by the 48MP camera.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at 1,099 for the 128GB version, while the range-topping 1TB storage version goes for 1,599, quite the lump of money. At the same time, the iPhone 14 Plus keeps things more grounded (and affordable) with a starting price of 899 for the 128GB version and goes up to 1,099 for the 512GB model. affordable, but also way less appealing than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the belayed launch has also seemingly affected the iPhone 14 Plus in a rather unfortunate way. Potential adopters have either already gone for the more premium iPhone 14 Pro Max or any other of the new iPhone 14-series, and Apple has reportedly cut down the iPhone 14 Plus production already. Not a good sign.
Still, if you really want the best of the best, there’s no way around it—you simply have to go with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. In all other use cases, even a regular iPhone 14 would do you just fine.
