The iPhone 14 Pro: A Premium Smartphone Experience
Apple recently unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the iPhone 14 Pro. As the premium model in the new iPhone 14 lineup, the iPhone 14 Pro brings several enhancements over its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as differences compared to the regular iPhone 14. In this review, I’ll go hands-on with the iPhone 14 Pro and explore what’s new and improved.
Design and Display
At first glance, the iPhone 14 Pro looks nearly identical to the iPhone 13 Pro. It has the same stainless steel edges, matte textured glass back, and square camera bump. The dimensions are also unchanged at 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.30 inches and 7.27 ounces. However, the new phone now comes in four updated colors: space black, silver, gold, and deep purple.
The most noticeable design change is the replacement of the notch at the top of the display. Apple has implemented a new pill-shaped cutout that houses the front-facing cameras and Face ID sensors. This allows for a slight increase in usable screen real estate. The display still measures 6.1 inches diagonally and uses a flexible OLED Super Retina XDR panel with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels. It has excellent brightness, viewing angles, and HDR support.
Apple calls the cutout the Dynamic Island, which dynamically changes shape and size depending on what’s on screen. It’s a clever way to turn the necessary cutout into a feature instead of an intrusion. For example, the island expands to show album art when music is playing, or charging status when plugged in. Tapping it takes you directly into those apps for control.
Cameras
The iPhone 14 Pro has a new 48MP main camera, replacing the 12MP camera on previous models. While the sensor has far more resolution, it uses pixel binning to produce standard 12MP photos. This allows for improved detail and low light performance. The other rear cameras remain unchanged at 12MP ultra-wide and 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
The quad-LED true tone flash is now twice as bright as before. Photographic styles like vibrant, contrasty, and warm have also been improved. Video can now be shot in 4K resolution at 24, 25, and 30 fps. There’s also a new Action Mode for smoothing out bumpy videos.
On the front is a new 12MP TrueDepth camera with an f/1.9 aperture, which allows for better low light selfies and FaceTime calls. Overall, the camera system on the iPhone 14 Pro is a noticeable advancement for photography and videography.
A16 Bionic Chip & Performance
Powering the iPhone 14 Pro is Apple’s newest A16 Bionic chip. Built on a 4nm process, it’s even more power efficient than before. The 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU deliver blazing fast performance, even for intensive tasks like gaming, AR and video editing.
In benchmarks, the A16 scores significantly higher than the A15 chip in the iPhone 13 Pro. Real world usage is equally impressive – apps open instantly, and demanding games like Genshin Impact run smoothly at maxed out settings. The iPhone 14 Pro also has 6GB of RAM, ensuring optimal multitasking capabilities.
Battery life has seen minor improvements, allowing for up to 1.5 hours longer run time per charge compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. The phone still supports fast charging with up to a 50% charge in just 30 minutes with the right adapters. Wireless charging and MagSafe support also make a return.
Software & Other Features
The iPhone 14 Pro ships with iOS 16 pre-installed. The latest iOS update brings customizable lock screens, improved messaging capabilities in iMessage, revamped apps like Mail and Health, and updates to Maps, Wallet, and Home. iOS 16 also enables features specific to the new hardware like the Dynamic Island and Always-On display.
That Always-On display is one of the most useful new capabilities. It keeps the lock screen gently illuminated at all times at a lower refresh rate. You can see the time, widgets, and notifications without needing to tap or pick up the phone. It’s something Android phones have had for years, and helps keep you informed at a glance.
Crash Detection is another new feature enabled by upgraded motion sensors. Using advanced accelerometers and gyroscopes, the iPhone 14 Pro can detect severe car crashes and falls. It will automatically dial emergency services if you are unresponsive. This could potentially be lifesaving in situations where accessing a phone is difficult.
Finally, the iPhone 14 Pro introduces Emergency SOS via Satellite. If you’re outside of cellular or WiFi coverage, you can now connect to a satellite network and send emergency messages to services like 911 or share your location with Find My. It’s an unprecedented communication capability only possible on the iPhone 14 lineup.
Conclusion
The iPhone 14 Pro lives up to its Pro name with significant upgrades in nearly every area. The new 48MP camera enables detail-rich photos and video. The always-on display keeps important info visible at all times. The A16 Bionic chip provides cutting-edge performance. And safety features like Crash Detection and satellite connectivity add peace of mind.
Existing iPhone 13 Pro users may not find compelling reasons to upgrade. But for anyone with an older iPhone, the 14 Pro is the most advanced iPhone ever. It’s the ideal choice for consumers who want a top-of-the-line smartphone with premium build quality, an incredible camera, and the latest iOS capabilities.