iPhone 14 Reviews: More of an 'iPhone 13S' but Still a Solid Mainstream Phone

[CarAnalogy]

Ok slightly off topic but on the second full day of running iOS 16 I have this to say:

Please Apple, you have never needed to have another Snow Leopard year more than you do now. Please take just one year off flashy half finished ideas and work on the core of what you’ve already shipped. This is the buggiest release I have ever used.

For one thing autocorrect was supposed to get better but it has somehow in fact gotten NOTICEABLY worse.

 

[Kaikidan]

Hmm looking to upgrade from a samsung phone, should i just get 13 and save $100?

Depends, if you REALLY care about slight better photos, selfies and the extremelly niche satellite coverage for emergency calls and think it's worth the 100 bucks more, go to the 14, otherwise, you be perfectly fine with the 13. Same deal with the Watch 7 and 8, this year was the worst upgrade cicle ever on the lineup, they just recycled old hardware wilhe mantaining the price. 13 is still pretty worth compared to the 14, 95% of it for way cheaper.

 

[SactoGuy18]

If Apple had switched to the USB Type C port (with the same specs of the port used on the current iPad Air and iPad Mini), I would have considered getting an iPhone 14 Plus.

 

[Rogifan]

Tech reviewers know most people don’t buy a new phone every year but yet their reviews almost always are comparing to the previous years phone. So the 14 is disappointing because it’s not much different than the 13 yet the number of people going from a 13 to a 14 is probably small. I’ll bet the data shows people on the yearly upgrade program are mostly Pro owners.

 

[azentropy]

Apple can do whatever they want, but old technology has to be priced accordingly. The SE costs less than iPhone/iPhone pro. If they want to upgrade the iPhone on a 2 year cycle it has to cost less than it does today. There is no way iPhone 14 is worth £849. They should have charged £699 for the iPhone 14 and £799 for the iPhone 14 plus, and stop selling the 13 which is essentially the same phone (except the mini that they could sell and the current price of £649).

But that is basically what they did. You can now get the 13 (which you say is essentially the same phone) for $100 less than a week ago. OR for the same price (at least in the US) as the 13 was a week ago you can get a better GPU, 2GB extra RAM, slightly upgraded cameras, slightly upgraded screen, crash notification, satellite emergency messaging, slightly better battery life, updated color choices etc. I would have absolutely LOVED if they would have done the same thing with the mini!

 

[Lakersfan74]

Yes, you could get the 13 cheaper but in reality the 14 will always be a year newer and likely better trade-in value if you were to get 15 next year

 

[jntdroid]

People (and reviewers) need to remember that Apple is all about having a product line that fills every gap at most price points, not just catering to one group. They've worked themselves into a pretty solid position in that regard, and given their financials over the past few years, it's working pretty well. They know the cellphone market is mature and phones are commoditized now, and they're ensuring they have a spot at every point in that mature market (extremely similar to the automobile market, look at Toyota... Corolla (SE 2022) > Camry (13 / Mini) > Avalon (14) - want more? Go with the "Pro" Lexus line).

The 14 is an iterative update from the 13, at best, but sets up some pretty interesting new features for the future. If you don't care about those, save $100 and go with the 13. If you do, it's "only an extra $100".

The 13 could very well outsell the 14 over the next year. Tech media will then call the 14 a failure, but Apple won't care. They have a solid phone at every level and every price point now that caters to just about every demographic. Want small? You have two great options (SE 2022 and Mini). Want huge? You have two great options (Pro Max and Plus). Want in between? You have three solid options at different price points there as well.

It's pretty genius on their part when you step back and look at it - and I'm not a koolaid drinker either, but I can appreciate good business sense when I see it.

 

[NARadyk]

It doesn't even deserve an S title. It's a shambles how they've literally recycled last years model and sold it at a higher price tag (outside of the US).

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

IMO if you are looking at this, it would be wise to see if you can source a discounted 13 Pro (carrier sales). 13 Pro basically the same phone as this, but with 120hz promotion and better optical zoom.

 

[smulji]

Yikes at a 7/10. But I’m not surprised. I don’t think many are upgrading from the 13 to the 14. At least the DI may convince 13P/PM users to 14P/PM.

I'm upgrading from a 13 to a 14 Plus. I love the big screen but don't need the Pro features.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

This is an insult to earlier S iPhones.

The 3GS and 4S had vastly improved CPU and GPU.

The 5S introduced Touch ID and also included vast performance improvements. I haven't and won't upgrade to anything newer than the 8+ because they dropped Touch ID.

The 6S introduced 3D Touch, and again, better CPU and GPU. 3D Touch was a neat idea but an awful implementation. Apple hardly utilized the feature at all in their own software, and where they did, it was horrible. Nothing about 3D Touch would have been released under Steve since the idea wasn't fully baked. It wasn't a bad idea and I don't fault the hardware here - I fault the leadership for releasing it without any good ideas for what to do with it. Same with the Touch Bar.

What's the 14 have? The CPU is the same as on the 13. The GPU has one additional core. The camera aperture is slightly quicker than before. This would be an insult to the S phones, nevermind the main iPhones.

What should Apple do instead?

Knock it off with trying to pretend they have a new iPhone every year. Treat it the same as their Macs. When there's only minor updates to be made, just make them - don't hold a 2 hour event to say nothing at all.

I stopped watching Apple events years ago. I think most journalists have stopped bothering to go at all. The biggest story that came out of the iPhone reveal was the meme that Jobs posted mocking the iPhone 14.

Apple's leadership has utterly trashed the brand. The only question is how much longer they can keep coasting off of the iPhone. It's been a shockingly and disappointingly long time, but it will come to an end.

 

[smulji]

Hmm looking to upgrade from a samsung phone, should i just get 13 and save $100?

I would spend the extra $100 and get the 14. Its rear camera has improved low light capability, improved selfie camera, 6GB RAM (vs 4GB RAM on the 13) and an extra GPU for better gaming performance (if that's your thing).

 

[izzle22]

It doesn't even deserve an S title. It's a shambles how they've literally recycled last years model and sold it at a higher price tag (outside of the US).

I would say it's a bit more than recycled...

 

[nuproject]

Thanks for the heads up, didn't know the 14 2gb ram over the 13. Leaning towards the 14 now... but i do want a sim slot.

Then again i don't game on mobile, nor do i do anything extensive.I Mainly use phone as social media\media\web browsing\banking.

 

[QCassidy352]

More of an iPhone 11SSS.

Nah, the 12 was a real upgrade with 5G and the redesign from that awful chunky shape that the Xr and 11 used.

 

[Pianoplayah]

Last year didn’t everyone say the 13 was more of a 12s? I’m getting deja by all over again. People don’t get all butthurt when car makers make minor yearly improvements. When a car model gets a major overhaul it’s big news! That’s because you don’t actually need to upgrade every year. Cars, like phones, last for longer and the 14 is just apple’s current edition for whoever needs a new phone now at this particular time. It’s more up to date than if they just continued selling the 13. Y’all are just mad because you don’t have a shiny new toy this year. News flash—there’s a chip shortage and all kinds of other shortages. Well, get the pro then—you were all going to anyway.

 

[bodonnell202]

Depends, if you REALLY care about slight better photos, selfies and the extremelly niche satellite coverage for emergency calls and think it's worth the 100 bucks more, go to the 14, otherwise, you be perfectly fine with the 13. Same deal with the Watch 7 and 8, this year was the worst upgrade cicle ever on the lineup, they just recycled old hardware wilhe mantaining the price. 13 is still pretty worth compared to the 14, 95% of it for way cheaper.

Yeah, the contract on my iPhone 12 was coming up and after looking at what the 14 offered, I decided to order a 13 since it is a bit cheaper and basically the same phone.

 

[Sciomar]

It’s a 12S.2 at best, worth it if coming from an android or less than iPhone 12.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

This is an insult to earlier S iPhones.

The 3GS and 4S had vastly improved CPU and GPU.

The 5S introduced Touch ID and also included vast performance improvements. I haven't and won't upgrade to anything newer than the 8+ because they dropped Touch ID.

The 6S introduced 3D Touch, and again, better CPU and GPU. 3D Touch was a neat idea but an awful implementation. Apple hardly utilized the feature at all in their own software, and where they did, it was horrible. Nothing about 3D Touch would have been released under Steve since the idea wasn't fully baked. It wasn't a bad idea and I don't fault the hardware here - I fault the leadership for releasing it without any good ideas for what to do with it. Same with the Touch Bar.

What's the 14 have? The CPU is the same as on the 13. The GPU has one additional core. The camera aperture is slightly quicker than before. This would be an insult to the S phones, nevermind the main iPhones.

What should Apple do instead?

Knock it off with trying to pretend they have a new iPhone every year. Treat it the same as their Macs. When there's only minor updates to be made, just make them - don't hold a 2 hour event to say nothing at all.

I stopped watching Apple events years ago. I think most journalists have stopped bothering to go at all. The biggest story that came out of the iPhone reveal was the meme that Jobs posted mocking the iPhone 14.

Apple's leadership has utterly trashed the brand. The only question is how much longer they can keep coasting off of the iPhone. It's been a shockingly and disappointingly long time, but it will come to an end.

Agreed about most points. The only thing I can say is that 3D Touch didn't accidentally activate itself as much as the long-press items seem to do.

They almost shouldn't have even released the 14, simply dropped the price on the 13 and called it a day. The 14 even existing, yes, makes the brand look bad.

Product lineup in need of major simplification because the economics no longer make sense.

 

[bodonnell202]

I find it weird that everyone keeps calling the 14 the 13S, as if they have completely forgotten what the S cycle used to be about. S cycle iPhones used same design/shell as the previous generation, but gave the phone a speedy new chip (A4 -> A5, A6 -> A7, A8 -> A9 were all huge), along with some other upgrades, which have included big camera upgrades, Siri, Touch ID and 3D Touch (RIP). The 14 uses the same chip as the 13 with an extra GPU core enabled. Calling the 14 a 13S is generous.

 

[Worlrl]

Isn’t the 13 is a 12s?

 

[jntdroid]

I find it weird that everyone keeps calling the 14 the 13S, as if they have completely forgotten what the S cycle used to be about. S cycle iPhones used same design/shell as the previous generation, but gave the phone a speedy new chip (A4 -> A5, A6 -> A7, A8 -> A9 were all huge), along with some other upgrades, which have included big camera upgrades, Siri, Touch ID and 3D Touch (RIP). The 14 uses the same chip as the 13 with an extra GPU core enabled. Calling the 14 a 13S is generous.

Plus 2gb of RAM (not insignificant) and some emergency satellite stuff. I don't disagree with you, but let's include what we can here.

 

[Spock]

The expectation that Apple has set requires releasing a new iPhone update every year, this is that yearly update. They have improved the camera, added satellite and an extra core without raising prices. If you are not happy with the update, get the Pro or stay with what you have.

 

[Zaydax333]

So from what I can see the differences are from the 13:

2 more GB of RAM and 1 more GPU core (so SoC/RAM from iPhone 13 Pro)
Satellite SOS
Crash Detection (updated gryo, acceleromter, ambient light sensors)
Bluetooth 5.3
main camera sensor is from iPhone 13 Pro
Front facing camera has 1.9f aperture (vs 2.2 on 13) and autofocus now
a smidge larger battery capacity

software:
updated camera processing with Photonic Engine
Cinematic mode now does 4k 30 in HDR rather than 1080 30

For a year over year difference, yeah it's really minor, but at least they're not standing completely still on hardware.
This is much better than the Apple watch series 8 update over the 7, which is just new sensors.

The A15 is already so much more powerful than qualcomm's chips and will still last years.
If you don't care for those improvements, just get the 13 for a cheaper price, carrier deals still seem to be applying there.

If you're coming from an iPhone 12 or older it's a solid upgrade, IMO.

What is truly annoying is the fact that they're still on the lightning port, and that those camera software improvements aren't coming to the iPhone 13 pro phones. (Edit: and still no wifi 6e for future proofing!)

Maybe next year we'll get 90Hz displays, dynamic island, A16, and USB C in the regular lineup. I suspect only the ultrawide camera at 12MP will trickle down to the non pro line to keep more feature differential between the two.

 

[HiRez]

Yes even Apple said years ago they expect their phones to last years. Regular 14 is just for those people. Nearly no reason to go 13>14

I'm still using my iPhone X from 2017 and except for the battery life seriously degrading (I pretty much always have to charge it once during the day and again overnight), it's still a decent phone. Thinking about upgrading but even 5 years worth of updates seems a bit underwhelming. Might hold onto it for another year.