iPhone 14 Plus review
An iPhone is a device that needs no introduction. Although the lead of this article is somewhat cliche, let me remind you that Apple’s flagship product has been around since 2007, and a new model has been released every year for the past 15 years. We have been treated to the iPhone 14 series this year, and today we will be reviewing the iPhone 14 Plus.
While watching YouTube videos or walking along Shaw House Underpass on your way to see Avatar, you may have noticed ads for the phone. Would you recommend it, and is the $1,499 price tag justified? The iPhone 14 Plus is exactly what we expected after spending a week with it.
Netflix bingeing on the largest iPhone screen
Its massive, 6.7″ display is one of the main features of the new iPhone 14 Plus. Big phones like the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra are nothing new for those who already own them.
Nonetheless, if you’re using a smaller device and wondering if it’s worth upgrading, I can tell you that it’s a godsend for binge-watching Netflix, scrolling TikTok, and playing games on the go. A larger display also allows you to see more things at a glance without squinting.
Having watched YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Disney+ regularly, the large display was definitely appreciated by my eyes, and I don’t see myself downsizing anytime soon.
Your mobile games will have more visual space on the larger screen.
Having a bigger display also means having a bigger frame, and the iPhone 14 Plus has a huge frame measuring 3.07″ wide and 6.33″ high. I’ve been using the iPhone 13 Pro Max for a year, so my hands were already used to handling a large phone. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ and Google Pixel 7 are both slightly bigger than it.
There is one key difference between the 14 Plus and the 13 Pro Max: the 14 Plus is lighter at 203g compared to the 13 Pro Max at 240g. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ and Google Pixel 7, on the other hand, weigh just slightly less at 195g and 197g, respectively, which is hardly noticeable.
Especially on long bus rides, the 14 Plus’ lighter weight was noticeable. The experience is similar to holding a smartphone-shaped bag of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies.
Apple’s controversial notch was also barely noticeable whether I was watching Wednesday Addams dance or scrolling through TikTok. This was less distracting to me than the hole punch cutout on the Samsung Galaxy S22+ and Google Pixel 7.
A hole punch cutout is used for the selfie camera on phones like the Google Pixel 7 (left) and Samsung Galaxy S22+ (right), while a notch is used on the iPhone 14 Plus (middle).
This plus-sized model’s only disadvantage is that it won’t fit into my pockets, which I’ve been experiencing since I upgraded from a regular-sized 11 Pro to a larger 13 Pro Max. When I need my hands free, my jeans’ back pockets are spacious enough to accommodate the 14 Plus.
Battery life that can last a few days for casual users
I’m the first to admit that I spend way too much time online. If it’s Instagram, Reddit, or you name it, I’m on it. Therefore, battery life is very important to me as I won’t be caught staring at anything on the MRT.
Together with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Plus features the largest battery among iPhone models. The battery capacity is 4,235 maH, for those curious cats.
On days when I used my phone extensively – think about an average of 7 hours of screen time – I left the day with 30%-40% of battery life remaining. In this case, I watched YouTube videos, scrolled through Instagram stories, and browsed Reddit for information on what “netizens” were doing. In contrast, my 13 Pro Max would be down to 20%-25% after a similar day.
If you don’t anticipate spending so much time glued to your phone’s screen, you can easily go two days without charging your phone. You might even be able to get through three days of use without having to recharge your iPhone 14 Plus if you’re not easily distracted at work.
It is my responsibility to warn you that Apple no longer provides charger heads with new iPhones, and you will only get one cable with your device.
In addition to the iPhone, there is no clear case or AirPods included.
For those who have tons of Apple products and chargers lying around, this might not be a big deal. Those who are just getting started may find it inconvenient to have to purchase a charging head separately. The environment is the primary concern, right?
For Instagram, there’s a dual-camera system
It has been one of the most consistent smartphone cameras for the past couple of years, and the dual camera system on the iPhone 14 Plus continues that tradition. The two cameras on the phone are both 12 megapixel cameras, with one wide-angle lens, while the one on the front is also a 12 MP camera. Here are some photos I took with no editing at all:
It’s something about the iPhone’s pictures that makes this WFO space seem so dreamy. Check out the reflections of the sky on the windows. According to one of TSL’s photographers, Alastair, to get a second opinion.
“The photo with the sky is where the iPhone seems to do very well where the clouds and light are very pleasing,” he said. “If the scene is exposed well it does very well.” On the other hand, he commented that the photo of the study room is where the iPhone’s photo processing falls short, as it can’t handle the light streaming through the windows and the shadows by the table.
That said, to an untrained eye like mine, these photos are more than enough to be admired and liked on Instagram. In fact, plenty of my friends replied to my Instagram Story of the study room with heart emojis.
You’ll want to ditch the case when you see this pastel colour palette
The new iPhone 14 colours are Midnight, Purple, Starlight, (PRODUCT) RED, and Blue.
A $1,499 phone deserves a case and screen protector if you want me to protect it like a precious baby. However, the colors of the iPhone always tempt me to ditch my Casetify case, and I’m confident I’m not alone.
The pastel purple and blue shades are straight out of an Instagram reel, while the off-black and white shades are timeless classics.
There are 3 storage tiers available with the iPhone 14 Plus:
- 128GB – $1,499
- 256GB – $1,669
- 512GB – $1,999
Would you recommend the iPhone 14 Plus?
Its large display, lightweight design, and pastel colour options make the iPhone 14 Plus stand out among the other four new iPhone 14 models released this year. Compared to other smartphones of the same size, it is also fairly priced, starting at $1,499 for a 128GB model.
A casual Netflix user is going to love the iPhone 14 Plus, like Goldilocks and her bowl of porridge.
A heavy user who wants more camera features should opt for the iPhone 14 Pro Max instead, which costs $300 more. For better displays of the same size and better cameras, it’s not a large price jump. Yet, not everyone needs the bells and whistles included in the Pro series, which is why there is the 14 Plus.
Buy Online:
Iphone 14 plus: Shopee | Lazada
Iphone 14 pro max: Shopee | Lazada
Find out more about the iPhone 14 Plus
(Credits: Apple)
