but who is it really for?
Launching this Friday, the iPhone 14 Plus expands Apple’s smartphone family by taking on the dimensions of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but with the capabilities of the iPhone 14.
From Mini to Plus. Apple splits in 2022. Leaving the 5.4-inch screen format tried in recent years, the brand standardizes its smartphones with only two screen sizes (6.1 and 6.7 inches). And that’s for either iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.
A 180° turn on the bet made in recent years with the desire for smaller and more compact iPhones. There will be no successor to the iPhone 12 and 13 mini, leaving the field wide open for the iPhone SE 5G due out this spring. Its ever-present fingerprint sensor and its “old” design are not insurmountable flaws in the face of its finally reduced size and more competitive price than other ranges (now 550 euros).
That’s why Apple decided to return to its original principles for the iPhone: a “normal” model and a larger screen version. This was once the main reason behind the numbered iPhones and their Plus-labeled version. Tim Cook and his men are back at it again for iPhone 14. Very good in France, but very expensive – nothing to be ashamed of on paper for a high-end iPhone that is a slightly improved copy of its predecessor. Thanks to the presence of Photonic Engine image processing technology to enhance shots, or by offering accident detection, repairable distances, in photo capacity, a function that should fortunately be used often. For the rest, they look like Siamese.
Déjà vu from the bigger seer
So, wouldn’t the reason be bigger and more thoughtful in countries where the iPhone 14 costs significantly more than the iPhone 13 outside of the US? Arriving in stores this Friday, October 7, the iPhone 14 Plus looks like déjà vu, but it’s nicer and offers another alternative to the Pro.
We could mistake it for the iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max if we didn’t flip it over to distinguish just the two photo sensors on the back. The front still has the same design with the notch and now the same size with a 6.7-inch panel. The colors are another differentiating element, not benefiting from the matte colors of the Pro range. It comes in black, white, navy, red and light blue. Its most fun asset compared to the serious Pro series.
For the rest, it works as well as the iPhone 14 we tested, with the obvious advantage of more pleasant reading comfort for surfing the web, watching videos, reading messages or others. Those who have already tasted the tiles of the iPhone Pro Max know how difficult it is to fall down. It’s not a noticeable difference, though: the iPhone 14 Plus’ screen isn’t ProMotion, and its excellent, super-bright display doesn’t have a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother, more responsive screen reading.
A great autonomy
In terms of performance, the iPhone 14 Plus is also far from double the size. Because Apple decided to implant the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro while flying over the current discussions with its friend A16 Bionic chip. Of course, a difference in power that is not expressed on a daily basis in most tasks, but will affect the longevity of use after a few years. Anecdotal though.
Equipped with a very large screen, a 48 Mpx main sensor, very good in photos and videos without reaching the perfection of the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus is above all autonomy. Apple simply claims that it has the biggest battery ever in an iPhone. That’s the promise of a very long all-day capacity, much better than the current behemoth of the iPhone Pro Max, which fills a gap we think is insurmountable in the face of the competition.
But it should be taken with a grain of salt: The Californian company makes its argument by estimating that an iPhone 14 Plus user uses less energy than an iPhone 14 Pro owner. Video in ProRaw, ProRes (not available on iPhone 14), crazy surfing or using demanding video games. In use, it is extremely patient and uses its large screen intensively for a good day without missing a beat.
Who finally got the iPhone 14 Plus?
The newcomer on paper makes you wonder who this iPhone 14 Plus will be targeting. Above all, for those who want a large screen without the large addition of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple is hoping to attract iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 7 Plus users who could no longer take advantage of the iOS 16 update. The arrival of a more affordable iPhone at the size they know (the iPhone 14 Pro Max and now the iPhone 14 Plus are almost the same size) is appealing.
We find it slightly cheaper than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, so it shares the performance, but it loses a photo sensor and a LiDAR sensor. iPhone 14 Plus has a new camera with an ultra-wide angle, larger pixels (1.9 µm) and wider aperture (ƒ/1.5), and video improvements (especially the arrival of Action mode for shake-free shooting), sensor displacement and Photonic Engine Optical image stabilization allows you to get more detailed and bright shots. Apart from night and portrait mode, the iPhone 14 Plus has nothing to be ashamed of. Its TrueDepth front-facing camera also benefits from improvements that make it more efficient (autofocus now, larger aperture for better low-light rendering). More efficient in photography, it may appeal to iPhone 11 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max owners looking to upgrade.
Thus, the iPhone 14 Plus revives Apple’s old philosophy of the standard iPhone model and the simple need for an enlarged version. It’s also coming to split the 2022 range into two more segments: the iPhone and the iPhone Pros. Size is no longer a mandatory decision parameter for an apple brand. With its large size, the iPhone 14 Plus certainly offers renewed interest in France over the iPhone 14 (not the Pro) and makes the bill in France less painful with a new (larger and cheaper) offering.
iPhone 14 Plus price and availability
The iPhone 14 Plus is available from October 7 on the Apple website and from partner retailers for €1,169 (or €48.70 per month for 24 months). Available in Midnight, Blue, Starlight, Purple and (PRODUCT)RED.
