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Apple events regarding new iPhone models remain one of the biggest tech events. That remained true with the launch of the Apple iPhone 14 products. Though the iPhone 14 Pro does not redefine the product’s design architecture, some new features and upgrades will entice Apple fans and possibly attract new buyers to the brand.
Apple often releases a Pro version of their iPhone models, offering relatively superior features to the base model. However, the extra features come at a price, as the Pro versions are usually pricier than the base models. Still, many prospective buyers opt for the Pro version to enjoy newer technology, superior performance, and consistent updates. In this case, they include the A15 Bionic chip in base models and the A16 Bionic chip in Pro models to help rival performance from brands like Samsung. The iPhone 14 Pro was also an upgrade of its predecessors regarding battery life and camera specifications. Read on for an in-depth iPhone 14 Pro full review. Let’s get to it!
Best Deals Today
The price of an iPhone 14 Pro depends on several factors, the most important being the storage capacity. Below are the best deals for a 128 GB iPhone 14 Pro.
- iPhone 14 (Best Buy) – $999
- iPhone 14 (Amazon) – $969
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display featuring Always-On and ProMotion.
- Dynamic Island, a magical new way to interact with iPhone.
- 48MP Main camera for up to 4x greater resolution.
- Cinematic mode now in 4K Dolby Vision up to 30 fps. Action mode for smooth, steady, handheld videos.
- A16 Bionic, the ultimate smartphone chip. Superfast 5G cellular.
iPhone 14 Pro Overview
Release Date and Price
Apple presented the newest iPhone lineup on September 7, 2022, at an Apple Press Event. During the event, the company stated that the iPhone 14 lineup would be available online and in-store on the 16th of September, 2022. However, the iPhone 14 Plus would not be available until the 7th of October, 2022.
The launch prices of the iPhone 14 vary depending on the model and the device’s storage capacity. The starting price of the entry-level 128 GB iPhone 14 is the same as that of the entry-level iPhone 13, at $799. Below is the launch price for each model with 128GB storage:
- iPhone 14 – $799
- iPhone 14 Plus – $899
- iPhone 14 Pro – $999
- iPhone 14 Pro Max – $1,099
Below are the launch prices of the iPhone 14 Pro based on storage capacity:
- 128 GB – $999
- 256 GB – $1,099
- 512 GB – $1,299
- 1 TB – $1,499
Different Models
The iPhone 14 is available in four versions:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
Focusing on the iPhone 14 Pro, buyers will find four models based on internal storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models.
Apple also made four iPhone 14 Pro models for specific regions: A2890, A2650, A2889, and A2892. The designated model for the United States (US) is Model A2650. It is slightly different from models shipped to the rest of the world, as you will find out later.
Features
The new iPhone 14 Pro has several upgrades compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro. The most notable change on the iPhone 14 Pro is its notch design containing the front-facing camera lens. Apple has changed the notch’s shape from a cutout into a pill-shaped interactive design called Dynamic Island. The screen is a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with rounded corners.
Other external features include a 12MP front camera and three rear cameras, including a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera. The phone’s American version also lacks a SIM card slot, meaning buyers must use eSIMs. The phone weighs 206 grams or 0.45 pounds, slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 Pro. It also features iOS 16, the latest iPhone operating system, and the new A16 Bionic chip.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85 mm (5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 7.27 ounces (206 grams) |
| Screen Type | Super Retina XDR Display |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Video Output | 4K @ 24/25/30/60 fps, 1080p @ 25/30/60 fps, 720p @ 30 fps |
| Audio Output | Stereo |
| Card Slot Type | eSIM |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Internal Battery Type | Built-in lithium-ion battery |
| Operating System | iOS 16 |
| Memory (RAM) | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery Life | 23 hours watching video. 20 hours streaming video. 75 hours listening to audio. |
| Charging Time | 50% in about 30 minutes using a 20W or better adapter |
| Warranty | One-year limited warranty |
iPhone 14 Pro Review
Once the iPhone 14 Pro was available for purchase, our team purchased the 256GB version online. We got the deep purple version with a USB-C to lightning cable. Since then, we have had time to gauge the phone’s performance. Below is an iPhone 14 Pro full review from a technical viewpoint.
Design
The iPhone’s design is iconic; you cannot mistake it for any other device. The design’s simplicity adds to its appeal, which makes it challenging to find flaws that may require fixing. In recent years, the iPhone’s most ridiculed or critiqued design aspect was its notch cutout containing the front-facing camera.
In older iPhones, the notch had no function besides hosting the camera. However, as noted earlier, the notch’s design is the biggest design change in the iPhone 14 Pro. Instead of a cutout, Apple has introduced a pill-shaped notch called a Dynamic Island that seems to float on the screen.
Apple wants consumers to think the notch is one cutout. However, it contains two cutouts that house the TrueDepth front-facing camera and Face ID, enabling components separated by a screen section. One negative aspect of the notch is that it makes a larger section of the screen unusable compared to notches in previous iPhones.
Other iPhone 14 Pro design features include a stainless steel build, textured matte glass on the back, and a ceramic shield front. The American iPhone 14 Pro is also notable for lacking a SIM card slot. The phone is available in four colors: deep purple, gold, space black, and silver. We also tested the iPhone 14 Pro’s water, splash, and dust resistance rating of IP68, which offers protection at six-meter depths for 30 minutes; we found the feature satisfactory.
Display
The iPhone 14 Pro has a Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2556*1179px at 460 pixels per inch (PPI). Therefore, the iPhone 14 Pro has more pixels than the iPhone 13 Pro, but they have the same PPI. The display is 6.1 inches with rounded corners, but the display measures 6.12 inches as a rectangle.
The screen surrounds the Dynamic Island, located a few millimeters below the top of the phone. The display has ProMotion technology, which provides a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, ideal for content consumption and creation; however, it can drain the battery. The iPhone 14 Pro display has a standard brightness of 1,000 nits, 1,600 nits in HDR mode, and 2,000 nits outdoors. We tested said brightness levels and found reading outdoors effortless at 2,000 nits.
Apple introduced the Always-On display feature, albeit slightly later than their competitors. The feature allows the screen to display some information when locked, including widgets like clocks, images, and notifications. The feature is impressive as it provides functionality without draining its battery. One can temporarily turn the feature on or off by pressing the power button or permanently disable the feature in Settings under the Display & Brightness menu. Lastly, the screen has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating that prevents display smudges.
Operating System
The iPhone 14 Pro runs on the new iOS 16 operating system (OS). Unlike previous versions, the iOS controls additional features that come with the iPhone 14, including the new lock screen setting that allows users to create several personalized lock screens. It also runs the Dynamic Island, which hosts the front camera and FaceID features and expands to display some notifications.
The iOS 16 also controls the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which supports calls for emergency services like the police, ambulance, or firetruck. Lastly, the iOS 16 has Crash Detection that can tell when you get involved in a car accident and call the relevant authorities for assistance which can be very useful, especially when you are unconscious.
Processor
We cannot have an iPhone 14 Pro full review without accounting for the phone’s performance. The iPhone 14 Pro has an A16 Bionic chip, an upgrade from the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro. Some features of the A16 chip include a six-core central processing unit (CPU) split into two performance and four efficiency cores and a five-core graphics processing unit (GPU).
The multiple CPU cores improve the iPhone 14 Pro’s performance by processing and executing instructions faster than previous iPhones. In addition, the GPU is efficient at rendering photorealistic imagery, which is ideal for people in the creative space, such as content creators, like animators and gamers.
Apple outsourced the manufacture of the A16 Bionic chip to TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. TSMC used the 4nm process to make the chip, meaning it has a more compact layout of its transistors than chips in rival smartphones. As a result, the A16 Bionic chip has over one billion closely packed transistors that facilitate faster performance by enabling energy to travel faster between transistors, raising processor clock speeds.
Memory and Storage
The iPhone 14 Pro has a random access memory (RAM) of 6GB, which allows the device to store substantial amounts of temporary program data. The large amounts of data allow the device to launch applications faster and carry out instructions more effortlessly without lagging.
Regarding storage, the iPhone 14 Pro is available in four versions, namely 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. However, the available space is often less than the listed storage size as Apple dedicates some of the space to essential programs like the operating system. Regardless, all four options provide substantial space to store photos, videos, and application data.
Cameras
The iPhone 14 Pro has an improved camera system compared to its predecessor. It includes three rear cameras: a 48MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP TrueDepth camera at the front.
Apple used pixel-binning, a technology that groups pixels to get a larger pixel to achieve the 48MP main camera. In this case, the company uses four 12MP cameras. The result is an efficient camera, especially in low-light situations. The ultra-wide camera also maintains its predecessor’s 120° field of view, which helps achieve wide-angle shots. Apple also retained the 3x optical zoom-in of the telephoto camera, which is disappointing given its rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22, have better optical zoom-in parameters.
Content creators will like the Apple ProRAW feature on the iPhone 14 Pro as it allows users to take unaltered pictures, offering greater editing freedom for creators to achieve their desired effects. Regarding video recording, the cameras can shoot 4K, 1080p, and 720p videos at varying fps and have several modes, including cinematic and action modes. Overall, the camera system, though lacking in some areas, is an upgrade year-on-year.
Audio
The iPhone 14 Pro has two stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the phone. These speakers have a wide volume range that allows users to enjoy audio in small, confined spaces and larger rooms with consistent audio quality. The phone also has spatial audio with support for Dolby Atmos. This feature creates an immersive audio experience thanks to 360° effects that resemble surround sound.
Battery Life and Charging
There is little difference between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro battery usage stats. The main difference is an extra hour of video playback in the iPhone 14 Pro compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. However, the slight improvement may not be due to an improved battery capacity but rather improved efficiencies caused by software and processor upgrades.
We found the usage stats offered by Apple, that is, up to 23 hours of video playback, 20 hours of video streaming, and 75 hours of audio playback, to be reliable. However, certain functions and usage behaviors drain the battery faster, such as using the phone outdoors during the day for extensive periods.
As noted earlier, the phone comes with a USB-C to Lightning cable. However, you have to buy an adapter separately. We got the 20W adapter, tested Apple’s claim that it can charge up to 50% in about half an hour, and confirmed the claim was factual. The phone also supports other charging modes, including charging via USB to a computer system, MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W, and Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W.
Ports and Connectivity
Apple is notorious for not installing USB-C ports on its phones. The company instead opts for its unique lightning charger. Though European Union laws call for all smartphones to have a common standard charging system, USB-C, the iPhone 14 Pro still has a lightning charger.
However, consumers can expect that to change in the future as Apple intends to comply with regulations and introduce USB-C ports. The primary connectivity upgrade in the iPhone 14 Pro is the introduction of BlueTooth 5.3 compared to BlueTooth 5.0 in the iPhone 13 Pro.
iPhone 14 Pro Pros and Cons
The iPhone 14 Pro is an impressive device; however, it is not perfect. Given our iPhone 14 Pro full review, you may have discovered some of the phone’s strengths and weaknesses. Below are some pros and cons of buying the iPhone 14 Pro.
Pros
- Improved main camera quality with a 48MP lens.
- Replacement of the notch with the interactive Dynamic Island.
- Sleek and elegant design.
- One-year limited warranty.
Cons
- It is quite pricey.
- It doesn’t have a USB-C port and requires a lightning cable.
- The always-on feature seems like an overkill sometimes.
iPhone 14 Pro: Is It a Buy?
The iPhone 14 Pro is a premium device; thus, by definition, it is not for everyone. However, our iPhone 14 Pro full review should help you decide whether the phone is for you. Here are some reasons to buy the device or avoid purchasing it.
Buy It If…
You want to enjoy one of the most innovative displays and some of the best cameras in the smartphone world. The ProMotion technology in the iPhone 14 Pro offers adaptive refresh rates of 1Hz when in Always-On mode and up to 120Hz when gaming. On the other hand, the iPhone’s image and video quality are ideal for content creators like vloggers and podcasters. You should also buy the iPhone 14 Pro if the iPhone 14 Pro Max is out of your price range.
Don’t Buy It If…
You want a phone with advanced features at a lower price; consider other brands or lower iPhone 14 versions. You can opt for the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus versions.
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display featuring Always-On and ProMotion.
- Dynamic Island, a magical new way to interact with iPhone.
- 48MP Main camera for up to 4x greater resolution.
- Cinematic mode now in 4K Dolby Vision up to 30 fps. Action mode for smooth, steady, handheld videos.
- A16 Bionic, the ultimate smartphone chip. Superfast 5G cellular.
