Of course, the star of the show was the new iPhones, even though the other products announced aren’t anything to sneeze at. So the new iPhones. We get 4 different iPhones this year, just like last year:
iPhone 14iPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 ProiPhone 14 Pro Max
Like previous years, the same naming scheme applies to these 4 devices in that, two devices are essentially the same, one being the smaller one and the other one being the bigger version. iPhone 14 Plus is a bigger version of the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the bigger version of the iPhone 14 Pro.
Specs
Chip
Perhaps the most notable difference between these two devices internally is the chip that powers the whole device. The iPhone 14 makes do with the A15 bionic that we saw on the iPhone 13. This remains a very capable chip and to see Apple recycle the same is perhaps a true testament of just how timeless these Apple chips are. The iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses the A16 Bionic chip which is one of the first chips to be based on the 4nm process.
Dynamic Island
Apple has shrunk the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro over the iPhone 14 and previous iPhones by up to 30%. The notch on the Pro versions is now a display hole punch that houses the front-facing camera and FaceID sensors. To make better use of the notch, Apple has come up with what they call Dynamic Island. Essentially, this is a bunch of functions that integrate the cut-out, making it a more useful entity that is more visually appealing compared to a static cutout that just sits there. Either side of this cutout act as a notification for ongoing functions and tasks on the device.
Satellite SOS
The iPhone 14 series of devices can now send Emergency SOS messages via satellite to text emergency services when you’re out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. This feature will only be available in the US and Canada, starting later this year. This will be free for 2 years.
Camera
The iPhone 14 Pro gets a higher megapixel camera for the first time in 7 years. Apple has stuck with a 12MP sensor for a long time in an industry that has seen sensors with up to 108MP on Android phones. It is nice to see Apple finally dipping its toes into the higher megapixel space. The iPhone 14 still makes do with the 12MP camera setup.
Pricing and Availability
Apple says the iPhone 14 will start at $799 while the iPhone 14 Plus is $799. The iPhone 14 Pro will start at $999.
