Apple has given select media outlets and YouTubers access to the iPhone 14 Plus ahead of its launch on Friday, October 7.
The iPhone 14 Plus is Apple’s largest entry-level iPhone model with a 6.7-inch display, a display size historically reserved only for the highest-end iPhones. The iPhone 14 Plus shares many of the same features as the standard smaller iPhone 14 model. by, which was reviewed before its launch last month.
Battery life
Thanks to a display that’s always-on and the lack of Pro features like more internal space allocated to the battery, the iPhone 14 Plus features the longest battery life of any non-Pro iPhone. The VergeIts Alison Johnson says the iPhone 14 Plus is capable of providing users with multi-day battery life, saying it offered three days of battery life on a single charge in testing.
Apple’s “best battery life on an iPhone” claim is not an exaggeration. Typically, a day of moderate use with about two hours of screen-on time and plenty of time off Wi-Fi only drains the battery to about 25 percent in my experience. I even got three days of use on a single charge. Readers, I can’t remember the last time I used an iPhone that comfortably made it through multiple days of use.
The Wall Street JournalIts Joanna Stern says the iPhone 14 Plus lasted 20 hours in a video streaming test, more than 21 hours shy of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
display
The iPhone 14′ Plus only has a 60Hz display, and CNETPatrick Holland says the display is impressive with good brightness and colors, but the lack of a higher refresh rate for a phone in this price range is disappointing.
A higher refresh-rate screen looks more immersive, whether you’re playing a game or scrolling through Twitter. The 14 Plus’ screen is locked to 60Hz. I wish Apple had included a higher refresh-rate display in the 14 Plus, even if it was a more modest 90Hz. And it’s odd that only the Pro models get an adaptive refresh rate.
The screen on the 14 Plus looks good, but the one on the 14 Pro Max looks even better. Some of that is about the refresh rate, but some of it is that the 14 Pro Max can be a lot brighter. When testing my 14 Plus, I had no problem being able to see the screen outside. But I live in San Francisco, so in a sunny locale that might be more of a challenge.
the camera
Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share the exact same camera system, so the camera reviews for the iPhone 14 will also apply to the iPhone 14 Plus. As expected, reviewers say the iPhone 14 Plus handled low-light situations well, with poppy colors and good highlights. from The VergeAlison Johnson of:
What does stand out is better light-weight performance, especially from the ultrawide and selfie cams, though the hardware isn’t exactly new or special. You can read a bit more in-depth analysis in my iPhone 14 review, but the short version is that it’s a very good camera system—it’s not a complete upgrade, but it’s a nice update if you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or higher.
performance
Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share the same chip from last year’s iPhone 13 Pro. Despite this, the iPhone 14 Plus “still feels premium and has more than enough performance to handle anything you can throw at it,” according to EngadgetIts Sam Rutherford.
Video review
For more details on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, check out our roundup.
