The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus are Apple's new "affordable" flagship iPhones with pricing starting at $799, and the devices are being sold alongside the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple did away with the "mini" iPhone in 2022, and the iPhone 14 models come in 6.1- and 6.7-inch sizes. The new 6.7-inch iPhone 14 is called the "iPhone 14 Plus," harkening back to the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and prior generations. Apple's iPhone 14 models are identical in design to the iPhone 13 models, featuring flat edges, an aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure, and a glass back that enables wireless charging.
The iPhone 14 models come in blue, purple, midnight, starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED. Unlike the iPhone 14 Pro models, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus continue to have a notch at the top of the display that houses the TrueDepth camera. Like the iPhone 13 models, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus include Super Retina XDR OLED displays that support 1200 nits peak brightness, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, Dolby Vision, and True Tone support for matching the white balance of the display to the lighting in the room. There is no ProMotion display technology available in the standard iPhone 14 models, with this feature limited to the Pro models.
A durable Ceramic Shield front cover protects the iPhone's display from bumps and drops, and the iPhone 14 models are IP68 water resistant, allowing them to withstand a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.
Apple is using the same A15 chip that was in the iPhone 13 Pro models for the iPhone 14 models, but there is an updated internal design that allows for better thermal performance. The A15 chip offers a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.
There's an updated 12-megapixel Wide camera that features a larger sensor, an ƒ/1.5 aperture, and larger 1.9 µm pixels for improved performance in low-light, plus there's sensor-shift optical image stabilization. Apple also added an updated TrueDepth camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture, and while the Ultra Wide lens didn't get improvements, the Photonic Engine improves low-light photography across all of the iPhone 14 cameras.
Using a combination of hardware and software, the Photonic Engine improves low-light performance up to 2x on the Ultra Wide camera, 2x on the TrueDepth camera, and 2.5x on the Wide camera. The Photonic Engine expands on Deep Fusion and provides impressive detail while preserving subtle textures and providing improved color.
For video, there's an Action mode that provides smooth-looking video with better image stabilization than ever before. Action mode is able to adjust to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when video is captured in the middle of action. Cinematic mode has been improved and is available in 4K at 30 fps and 4K at 24 fps. The True Tone flash is 10 percent brighter with better uniformity for more consistent lighting.
The iPhone 14 models include a dual-core accelerometer that can measure up to 256Gs, and the accelerometer and a high dynamic range gyroscope power a Crash Detection feature that can automatically contact emergency services if you're in a serious accident and can't reach your iPhone. Apple also uses other sensors to power this feature, so the barometer detects changes in cabin pressure, the GPS watches for rapid speed changes, and the microphone can listen for car crash noises.
As with the iPhone 13 models, the iPhone 14 models support 5G connectivity (sub-6GHz and mmWave in the United States), and they use a new Qualcomm X65 modem. In the United States, iPhone models ship without a physical SIM card as carriers now use eSIM.
Battery life has been improved with the iPhone 14, and it lasts an hour longer than the iPhone 13. With its larger size, the iPhone 14 Plus has even longer battery life than the iPhone 14. iPhone 14 lasts for up to 20 hours when watching video, while iPhone 14 Plus lasts for up to 26 hours when watching video.
The iPhone 14 models are available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities. MagSafe charging up to 15W continues to be supported, and fast charging over Lightning is available with a 20W or higher charger. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also support WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
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Pricing and Availability
iPhone 14 pricing starts at $799 for 128GB of storage, while pricing on the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 for 128GB of storage. Additional storage is available for a higher price. Pre-orders began on Friday, September 9, and a launch for the iPhone 14 followed on Friday, September 16. The larger iPhone 14 Plus will launch on Friday, October 7 and is available for preorder at the current time.
Design
The iPhone 14 is essentially identical to the iPhone 13, with no design updates aside from new colors. It features the same flat-sided design with squared-off edges that Apple used for last year's iPhones.
Apple's iPhone 14 measures in at 6.1 inches, while the larger-screened iPhone 14 Plus measures in at 6.7 inches, the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 models feature an all-glass front and colorful glass back framed by a color-matched aerospace-grade aluminum frame. A notch at the top of the display includes the TrueDepth camera, speaker, and microphone, with Apple keeping the notch around for its more affordable devices. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max no longer use a notch, and instead have a "Dynamic Island."
A set of antenna bands can be seen on the top and sides of the phone, with a power button on the right and volume buttons and a silence switch on the left. Underneath the power button, there's a 5G mmWave antenna, but this is limited to iPhone 14 models sold in the United States.
There are speaker holes and microphones at the bottom of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, along with a Lightning port for charging purposes. Apple has eliminated the SIM slot in the United States, as it has transitioned to eSIM.
The camera bump at the back of the iPhones is unchanged, featuring a diagonal lens setup, a True Tone flash, and a microphone.
The iPhone 14 measures in at 5.78 inches tall (146.7mm), 2.82 inches wide (71.5mm), and 0.31 inches deep (7.80mm), identical to the iPhone 13 except for the thickness. It is 0.15mm thicker, which is something that most people will not notice. The iPhone 14 weighs 6.07 ounces (172 grams), so it is just a bit lighter than the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Plus measures in at 6.33 inches tall (160.8mm), 3.07 inches wide (78.1mm), and 0.31 inches thick (7.80mm). It weighs in at 7.16 ounces (203 grams).
No iPhone 14 mini
Last year, Apple sold a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini alongside the 6.1-inch iPhone 13, but this year, there is no 5.4-inch iPhone. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini did not sell well according to analyst estimates, leading Apple to discontinue that particular size.
Apple now offers the iPhone in 6.1- and 6.7-inch sizes, which are the same sizes available for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is the first time that Apple has offered a larger version of a standard iPhone, as in past years, the 6.7-inch size was limited to "Pro" versions of the iPhone.
Colors
Apple has been offering its standard iPhone lineup in a range of bright colors for several years now. The iPhone 14 models come in Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED.
Water and Dust Resistance
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have an IP68 rating for resistance to water and dust intrusion. The smartphones are able to withstand a depth of up to six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes.
In the IP68 number, the 6 refers to dust resistance (and means the iPhone 14 can hold up to dirt, dust, and other particulates), while the 8 pertains to water resistance. IP6x is the highest dust resistance rating that exists. With the IP68 rating, the iPhone 14 can hold up to splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should be avoided.
Water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, according to Apple, and can deteriorate over time as a result of normal wear. Apple's standard warranty does not cover liquid damage, which means it's best to use caution when it comes to liquid exposure.
Display
There have been no updates to the display with the iPhone 14 models compared to the prior-generation iPhone 13 models. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature an OLED Super Retina XDR display with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for blacker blacks and brighter whites, and up to 1200 nits peak brightness for HDR photos, videos, TV shows, and movies. Typical max brightness is 800 nits for the standard iPhone 14 models, 200 nits lower than the 14 Pro models.
The iPhone 14 has a resolution of 2532 by 1170 with 460 pixels per inch, while the iPhone 14 Plus has a resolution of 2778 by 1284 with 458 pixels per inch.
Wide color support offers vivid, true-to-life colors, and True Tone matches the white balance of the display to the ambient lighting for a paper-like viewing experience that's easier on the eyes. There's also a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and support for Haptic Touch, which provides haptic feedback when interacting with the display.
The display is protected by a "Ceramic Shield" material that is made by infusing nano-ceramic crystals into glass. The ceramic crystals were manipulated to optimize for clarity while maintaining toughness, with the display created in partnership with Corning. According to Apple, Ceramic Shield is tougher than any smartphone glass, with a dual-ion exchange process ensuring protection against scratches and everyday wear and tear.
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus do not support the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate or the Always-On display technologies available on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
A15 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature the same A15 chip that was used in the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, and this is the first time that Apple has not updated the A-series chip across the iPhone lineup. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max have an A16 chip, but Apple did not use the technology in the 14 and 14 Plus.
The A15 has a 6-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, along with a 5-core GPU. Apple last year only used the 5-core GPU version of the A15 in the iPhone 13 Pro models, and a 4-core GPU version was in the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, so there are still improvements comparatively.
While CPU performance is about the same between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, there are some modest improvements to the GPU. Apple is also using an updated internal design that provides better thermal efficiency.
Neural Engine
The 16-core Neural Engine in the A15 chip is able to perform up to 15.8 trillion operations per second, and it powers features like Cinematic mode and Smart HDR 4.
RAM
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature 6GB RAM, up from 4GB in the prior-generation models.
Storage Space
All iPhone 14 models start with 128GB of storage, and the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus can be ordered with up to 512GB storage space. That's half the maximum storage space of the iPhone 14 Pro models, which come with up to 1TB.
TrueDepth Camera and Face ID
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus continue to use Face ID, the facial recognition system first introduced in 2017. Apple eliminated the notch with the iPhone 14 Pro models, but the standard iPhone 14 models continue to feature a display notch for the TrueDepth camera hardware.
Face ID is used across iOS for unlocking the iPhone, allowing access to third-party passcode-protected apps, confirming app purchases, authenticating Apple Pay payments, and more.
Face ID works through a set of sensors and cameras. A Dot Projector projects tens of thousands of invisible infrared dots onto the surface of the skin to create a 3D facial scan that maps the curves and planes of each face, with the scan read by an infrared camera.
The facial depth map is relayed to the A15 chip where it is transformed into a mathematical model that the iPhone uses to authenticate identity. Face ID works in low light and in the dark, and with hats, beards, glasses, sunglasses, scarves, and other accessories that partially obscure the face. As of iOS 15.4, Face ID also works with a mask.
Front-Facing Camera Features
Apple's iPhone 14 models feature an updated 12-megapixel front-facing camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture that is designed to let in more light than before for improved selfies and FaceTime video calls. It also features autofocus for the first time, which also improves image quality, and low-light selfies are 2x better.
The front-facing camera supports many of the same features as the rear cameras, including Night mode for selfies, Smart HDR 4, Dolby Vision HDR recording, Deep Fusion, and the new Photonic Engine, along with ProRes and the Cinematic mode for capturing videos with movie-like depth-of-field changes.
4K video recording, QuickTake video, Slo-mo video, Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and the Photographic Styles feature for selectively applying edits are also supported on the front-facing camera.
Dual-Lens Rear Camera
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are equipped with a dual-lens camera setup that features both a 12-megapixel Wide lens, which Apple now calls the "Main" lens, and a 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide lens.
Apple has updated the Main camera with an ƒ/1.5 aperture, an improvement over the ƒ/1.6 aperture used in the iPhone 13 camera. The new lens, which also has a larger sensor, lets in more light for better improvement in poor lighting conditions. Apple says the new Main camera lets in 49 percent lighter than the iPhone 13 camera.
Photonic Engine
The Photonic Engine is a new iPhone 14 software feature that builds on Deep Fusion, applying it earlier in the imaging process to provide more detail, preserve subtle textures, and improve the color in the photo.
Apple says that the Photonic Engine offers a "giant leap" for mid- to low-light photo performance in photos, both for the Main lens and the Ultra Wide lens. With Photonic Engine, you'll get up to 2.5x better low-light photos with the Main camera and 2x better low-light photos with the Ultra Wide camera.
Video Capabilities
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus offer up to 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps. HDR recording, ProRes video, slo-mo video, and time-lapse are all supported.
Battery Life
There is a 3,279mAh battery in the iPhone 14, which is a bit larger than the battery from the prior-generation iPhone 13. The iPhone 14 Plus has a 4,325mAh battery. The iPhone 14 offers up to 20 hours of battery life for video playback, up to 16 hours for streaming video playback, and up to 80 hours for audio playback, which is an improvement over the iPhone 13 by about an hour.
The iPhone 14 Plus offers up to 26 hours of video playback, up to 20 hours of streaming video playback, and up to 100 hours of audio playback.
Both devices are fast-charge capable and can charge up to 50 percent in 30 to 35 minutes with a 20W or higher power adapter.
5G Connectivity
The iPhone 14 models are equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem that supports 5G connectivity. In the United States, iPhone owners can connect to both mmWave and sub-6GHz networks, while other countries are limited to sub-6GHz.
mmWave 5G networks are the fastest 5G networks, but mmWave is short-range and can be obscured by buildings, trees, and other obstacles, so its use is limited to major cities and urban areas along with venues like concerts, airports, and other places where a lot of people congregate.
Sub-6GHz 5G is more widespread and available in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the United States and other countries. For the most part, when you use a 5G network, you'll be using Sub-6GHz 5G. Sub-6GHz 5G is typically faster than LTE, especially when mid-band spectrum is used, but it isn't always the blazing fast 5G that you expect.
5G Bands
LTE Bands
Emergency SOS via Satellite
All iPhone 14 models can connect to satellites in emergency situations when cellular and WiFi connections are not available. Apple has designed the new Emergency SOS via satellite feature to allow the iPhone's antennas to connect to satellites operated by Globalstar.
Satellite communications are available in emergency situations where you can't connect to WiFi or a cellular tower, and the feature is designed to be used in open spaces with few trees so the iPhone can connect to a satellite that's in the sky.
Apple has a walkthrough interface that instructs you how to hold the iPhone to connect to a satellite, and the company has developed a compressed messaging protocol because sending data via satellite can take minutes. In an area with no trees, a short message to emergency services can send in as little as 15 seconds.
Emergency SOS via satellite provides a series of important questions that you answer when it is activated, with these questions aimed at getting necessary details to emergency personnel as quickly as possible. The answers that you provide are sent directly to emergency services if text communication is supported in your area, or sent to relay centers staffed by Apple-trained specialists who can call emergency services on the user's behalf.
Satellite connectivity is mainly designed to allow users to contact emergency services in dire situations, but it can also be used to update your Find My location if you're camping or hiking off the grid, giving your family and friends peace of mind about where you are.
Emergency SOS via satellite is free for all iPhone 14 users for two years, and Apple has not yet provided details on what it will cost in the future.
Crash Detection
There's a high dynamic range gyroscope and a dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs in the iPhone 14 models, and paired with other iPhone sensors like a barometer that can detect cabin pressure changes caused by deployed airbags, this new hardware enables a Crash Detection feature.
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when the car's occupants are seriously injured or unable to reach their iPhone. Apple trained motion detection algorithms on more than a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data for accuracy purposes.
Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, GPS, and U1
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus support WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO, and Bluetooth 5.3. There's an NFC chip with reader mode, and a U1 Ultra-Wideband chip. The U1 provides improved spatial awareness, allowing iPhone 14 models to precisely locate other U1-equipped Apple devices.
The U1 chip can be used for precision tracking, such as when locating AirTags. It is also used for directional AirDrop and for interactions with the HomePod mini with a U1 chip. As for GPS, the iPhone 14 models support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou location services.
MagSafe
There continue to be MagSafe magnets at the back of the iPhone 14 models, with those magnets able to connect to the MagSafe charger and other magnetic accessories. Official MagSafe chargers from Apple and authorized third parties can wirelessly charge the iPhone 14 models at up to 15W.
Qi-based charging is also available, but it maxes out at 7.5W.
iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
Apple is selling the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus alongside the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which are quite an upgrade this year.
Compared to the iPhone 14 models, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature a higher-quality 48-megapixel Main camera, a faster and more efficient A16 chip built on a new 4-nanometer process, ProMotion display technology, and an Always-On display.
Future iPhone Rumors
Apple's first all-screen smartphone could come in 2024 with the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro. The device might be the first to feature under-display Face ID and an under-screen front camera, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but display analyst Ross Young expects under-display Face ID to come first followed by an under-screen camera with the iPhone 18.
2023 iPhones are expected to feature the same dual-hole cutout similar to this year's iPhone 14 Pro models, says display analyst Ross Young. The 2023 models will use the same design with a circular cutout and pill-shaped cutout, and the feature won't be limited to the Pro models. The pill and hole design could shrink a bit, but it will be a couple of years before Apple is ready for full under-display Face ID.
USB-C
Apple in 2023 will opt for a USB-C port for the iPhone instead of a Lightning port, according to Bloomberg and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This would see USB-C as the default charging method over Lightning for all iPhone 15 models.
Multiple sources have said that Apple will stick to Lightning, but the European Union is passing new legislation that would force Apple to adopt USB-C on all of its devices sold in Europe. If this legislation is enacted, Apple would need to ship special USB-C models in Europe, or make a change across all of its devices, which seems more likely.
In-House Modem Chips
Apple is working on creating its own modem chips that are designed in-house, much like the Apple silicon and A-series chips, which will allow the company to reduce its reliance on modem chip vendors. Apple has been working on the modem for several years and development accelerated after Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple could transition to its own 5G modems as early as 2023. Once Apple comes out with its own modem designs, it will no longer need Qualcomm. 2023 is the "earliest" date, but multiple rumors have suggested that Apple chip supplier TSMC will be ready to manufacture Apple's modem chips in 2023.
Periscope Lens
A periscope telephoto lens could be introduced in the 2023 iPhone models, allowing for greater zoom capabilities without increasing the overall thickness of the device.
Under-Display Face ID
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a way to put the hardware for Face ID under the display to get rid of the notch. It was initially thought that Apple could adopt under-display Face ID technology as soon as 2022, but display analyst Ross Young says that components like the infrared camera will not be moved under the display until 2023 or 2024.
Foldable iPhone
Further in the future, Apple could potentially introduce some kind of foldable iPhone, based on various rumors and patents the company has published, as well as competition from companies like Microsoft and Samsung, which have developed foldable smartphones.
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| A mockup of what a foldable iPhone could look like |
Multiple sources have said that Apple will stick to Lightning, but the European Union is passing new legislation that would force Apple to adopt USB-C on all of its devices sold in Europe. If this legislation is enacted, Apple would need to ship special USB-C models in Europe, or make a change across all of its devices, which seems more likely.
In-House Modem Chips
Apple is working on creating its own modem chips that are designed in-house, much like the Apple silicon and A-series chips, which will allow the company to reduce its reliance on modem chip vendors. Apple has been working on the modem for several years and development accelerated after Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple could transition to its own 5G modems as early as 2023. Once Apple comes out with its own modem designs, it will no longer need Qualcomm. 2023 is the "earliest" date, but multiple rumors have suggested that Apple chip supplier TSMC will be ready to manufacture Apple's modem chips in 2023.
Periscope Lens
A periscope telephoto lens could be introduced in the 2023 iPhone models, allowing for greater zoom capabilities without increasing the overall thickness of the device.
Under-Display Face ID
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a way to put the hardware for Face ID under the display to get rid of the notch. It was initially thought that Apple could adopt under-display Face ID technology as soon as 2022 but display analyst Ross Young says that components like the infrared camera will not be moved under the display until 2023 or 2024.
Foldable iPhone
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