The iPhone 14 Plus: A Big Phone for a Big Price?
For the past year, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has been the second-most popular iPhone model, despite being the most expensive. Now, Apple is targeting those who want a larger display but don’t want to pay for the premium features of the Pro models. The new iPhone 14 Plus is meant to entice iPhone buyers and upgraders to spend a little more than they might have otherwise. With Android phones featuring screens larger than 5.5 inches now making up more than 50 percent of the market in some countries, it makes sense for Apple to offer a big phone at a lower price point. This move addresses a long-standing gap between Apple and the Android world, one that goes back as far as the iPhone 5.
iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus Prices in India
Apple has launched the iPhone 14 at the same price as the iPhone 13 last year. This is unusual considering the iPhone 14 Pro models have become more expensive and other models have experienced price increases due to international exchange rate fluctuations. The iPhone 14 will cost Rs. 79,900 for 128GB of storage, Rs. 89,900 for 256GB, or Rs. 1,09,900 for 512GB. The iPhone 14 Plus costs Rs. 10,000 more per tier, resulting in prices of Rs. 89,900, Rs. 99,900, and Rs. 1,19,900 respectively.
There is no replacement for the iPhone 13 mini, but considering the limited changes between generations and its recent price reduction, it still serves its target audience well. iPhones typically receive software updates for more than five years, ensuring that entry-level buyers and those who prefer smaller phones continue to be satisfied.
iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus: What’s New?
Smartphone manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to create innovative and exciting new devices. The iPhone 14 is a capable iterative upgrade over the iPhone 13, but it doesn’t break any new ground and won’t prompt anyone to rush out and buy it. However, the iPhone 14 Plus represents a completely new offering that could tempt some buyers with its larger display and improved features.
One of the iPhone 14 Plus’s most appealing aspects is its significantly lighter weight compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. At 203g compared to 240g, the iPhone 14 Plus offers a more comfortable experience for those who found the Pro Max models too bulky and unwieldy. The iPhone 14 remains one of the lightest phones in its class and is incredibly easy to handle.
Another noteworthy feature is the iPhone 14 Plus’s promise of the best battery life ever on an iPhone. Thanks to its less demanding display and other hardware, it outperforms its premium siblings in terms of battery life.
The camera system has been upgraded, with a larger sensor and f/1.5 aperture for the new 12-megapixel main camera. The most significant addition is the autofocus feature for the front camera, allowing for more creative self-portraits. Low-light performance is said to be at least twice as good across all cameras, building upon the already impressive performance of the iPhone 13 series.
Apple has introduced a new set of capabilities called the "Photonic Engine," which combines hardware and software advancements to improve image quality. This engine significantly enhances HDR processing by performing the process earlier in the capture and processing pipeline, resulting in faster focus locking, more accurate colors, and enhanced detail.
Action Mode is a new video stabilization option that uses the sensor area beyond the frame and crops each frame to compensate for motion, achieving stabilization comparable to using a gimbal.
The Crash Detection feature, enabled by the improved accelerometer and gyroscope present in all iPhones of this generation, automatically detects sudden deceleration and recognizes sounds, triggering a call to emergency services and trusted contacts.
Satellite-based emergency SMS communications, currently limited to the US and Canada, utilizes Apple’s hardware and software to locate satellites without a bulky antenna. While the process is slow and limited in functionality, it could be a lifesaver in emergency situations without cellular network coverage. It will be a paid service, but the first two years are free.
The Starlight and Midnight color options remain from the previous year, with a brighter (Product) Red option. The new additions for this year are a light, denim-like Blue and a faint lilac Purple.
iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus: What You Don’t Get
Apple believes that last year’s core hardware is still sufficiently capable for the latest iPhones. Therefore, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus utilize the A15 Bionic SoC, albeit the slightly more powerful version from last year’s Pro models with one extra GPU core. This marks the first time Apple has used different SoCs for its Pro and non-Pro models, potentially due to supply chain or manufacturing issues, or perhaps indicating a point of diminishing returns in terms of phone CPU power.
One major disappointment is that the 120Hz ProMotion display feature from last year’s Pro models has not been implemented in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The resolution, brightness, and color capabilities remain identical to the previous year. Naturally, the new Dynamic Island functionality and always-on display features are also absent. Apple has also reserved its 48-megapixel main camera sensor and second-gen sensor shift stabilization for the premium models.
In the US, the iPhones have no SIM tray as Apple has fully transitioned to eSIMs. While this may not be universally welcomed, it’s likely to be adopted by other Android manufacturers.
Besides being slightly thicker, the physical design of the iPhone 14 remains almost identical to the iPhone 13, featuring a glass back, Ceramic Shield front, and aluminum frame. There are no new claims about durability, no improvements to MagSafe or wired charging speed, and no USB Type-C port.
The iPhone 14 Plus is likely to sell well simply because it offers a larger iPhone at a lower price compared to the Pro Max models. The vanilla iPhone 14, however, may have a smaller audience as it doesn’t offer any significant new features.
In conclusion, the iPhone 14 Plus offers a larger display, improved camera features, and longer battery life at a lower price than the Pro models. While the standard iPhone 14 doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table, the iPhone 14 Plus could be a compelling option for those seeking a big-screen iPhone without the premium price tag.
