iPhone 14/Plus The only reason for all the hate the 14 plus is getting.

[Xand&Roby]

14 and 14 Plus are the perfect example of what Apple has become after losing all the professionals who have decreed its success:
a company unable to design something new (let go of that crap of DI) that continues to propose the same solutions at double costs, because it does not have a vision of the future and if it has one it must get there making you pay enormity (2000€ an iPhone, 2500€ a Watch, 2500€ an iPad, I don't even talk about Macs because they are unnecessarily overrated and hyperpowered) for some nonsense.
The Plus certainly has a target, which more than anything else is an Android target, but here battles have been fought to denigrate products deemed useless by many people (who then don't even have a vague idea of what it means to design and put a price on a product), because the only rule that applies is "buy the most expensive, so as a reflex you will be better too". They are not how one can be so gullible after decades of consumerism.

 

[kasakka]

I don’t think people here in Europe really consider US prices and how they compare to be honest. It just boils down to how much the prices have increased from last year and how little everybody’s wages have increased along with the soaring cost of living at the moment. The new iPhone 14’s are horrendously expensive in comparison with £100-£150 increases across the base models. People from the US telling us we aren’t paying over the odds doesn’t make it any less of a price hike to swallow. It’s putting a significant amount of people off upgrading but that is just one element when everything else is expensive on top of that.

Exactly.

The iPhone 14 in my country costs about the same as the iPhone 13 Pro so why would anyone buy the 14? The iPhone 14 Plus vs 13 Pro Max has a slight price difference but again the 13 Pro Max seems like the sensible buy.

The iPhone 14 lineup to me seems like nothing more than something meant to serve as a "you know, let's spend a bit more for the Pro model" product when you compare the specs.

Apple's pricing has also really shot through the roof, those higher storage models are insanely expensive for what they are. Pro Max 1TB is ~650 euros more than the base 128 GB model, which is already really expensive at ~1500 euros over here. It probably cost Apple peanuts for those higher capacity memory modules and they are laughing all the way to the bank for the whales who will buy "the best" aka "the most expensive" model every year.

 

[unchecked]

I think the more appropriate term isn't "hate", but "indifference".

Hate is a strong reaction. We just looked at the 14+ and went.. meh. That's a very opposite reaction.

 

[ChoiMinji]

I have not compared 14 and 14 Pro, and I haven‘t said that one of them offers satellite communication and one doesn‘t.

What I have written is that neither of them offer it in the European market, hence getting a standard 14 over a standard 13 does not make a lot of sense.

The iPhone 14 series will offer emergency satellite service later via software update. Only available for users in USA and Canada. I believe this implies all of the iPhone 14’s will have the feature enabled regardless of region except for phones from China, though it will only be functional in North America.

 

[Fat_Guy]

This whole discussion is funny in many ways.


Apple started selling its hardware under the guise of a better more hip and stylish way of living with devices that were a cut above in design, materials and performance.


It worked, but at the end of the day the devices are products. I have a 14 PM and I had to drive out of town to get it as they were sold out everywhere. However I could have waited, but if my phone was destroyed and I needed it right now I would have bought the 14 Plus if it was available and that would have been it.


After a week and a half of use many of the features of the Pro Max are no longer as important has the hype made out. Cool to have them and play with but my use of the phone is not any different between the two devices. Only the new large sensor means anything to me for taking photos. And the satellite connectivity will be available to almost everyone soon enough as long as their nations approve it. I’m more than interested in what happens in India as they specifically made satellite connectivity very hard there after some terrorist attacks.


So basically the phones are the same and any differences are distorted out of all proportion for marketing reasons. I do love my phone for having the sim card tray - and - satellite connectivity next month so Canadians are getting both instead of one or the other right now. The lack of a sim tray on American phones is a bigger deal for many of my friends Stateside than the media is being made out on the subject.



Anyway, that was my little rant.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Exactly.

The iPhone 14 in my country costs about the same as the iPhone 13 Pro so why would anyone buy the 14? The iPhone 14 Plus vs 13 Pro Max has a slight price difference but again the 13 Pro Max seems like the sensible buy.

The iPhone 14 lineup to me seems like nothing more than something meant to serve as a "you know, let's spend a bit more for the Pro model" product when you compare the specs.

Apple's pricing has also really shot through the roof, those higher storage models are insanely expensive for what they are. Pro Max 1TB is ~650 euros more than the base 128 GB model, which is already really expensive at ~1500 euros over here. It probably cost Apple peanuts for those higher capacity memory modules and they are laughing all the way to the bank for the whales who will buy "the best" aka "the most expensive" model every year.

The 13 Pro (and Pro Max) is hard to get now, unless you buy used. Apple isn't selling either anymore, and almost all the local retailers are out of them.

 

[MathersMahmood]

People trying to justify buying the 14 pro max instead.

Just because the PM has the most stuff, doesn’t mean it’s the best phone for other peoples use cases.

I really don’t need promotion for reading books.

Couldn’t care less for an extra camera for the 3 pics I take every month.

Oh, it weighs less? Great!

Oh it’s cheaper? Perfect.

Oh, the battery lasts even longer than the most expensive model? Awesome!

I just hope people won’t call me out on the street when they see I only paid for a 2-camera phone. So embarrassing.

No promotion and last years chip.

No thanks I am not paying for last years chip.

 

[JM]

So did anyone get one today?

Maybe two or three people did 😆

 

[aspenextreme03]

Ordered one for my Mom as a surprise and she gets it next week and will love it. She will be coming from a X.

For her the bigger screen, huge gain in battery and lighter than a PM will be just what she wants.

She takes some pics and would never do macro or action so this also is great for her use case. Sometimes I would like a PM screen with a lighter case like the Pro but I use the cameras so sticking with Pm.

People trying to justify buying the 14 pro max instead.

Just because the PM has the most stuff, doesn’t mean it’s the best phone for other peoples use cases.

I really don’t need promotion for reading books.

Couldn’t care less for an extra camera for the 3 pics I take every month.

Oh, it weighs less? Great!

Oh it’s cheaper? Perfect.

Oh, the battery lasts even longer than the most expensive model? Awesome!

I just hope people won’t call me out on the street when they see I only paid for a 2-camera phone. So embarrassing.

 

[webkit]

I don’t think people here in Europe really consider US prices and how they compare to be honest. It just boils down to how much the prices have increased from last year and how little everybody’s wages have increased along with the soaring cost of living at the moment. The new iPhone 14’s are horrendously expensive in comparison with £100-£150 increases across the base models. People from the US telling us we aren’t paying over the odds doesn’t make it any less of a price hike to swallow. It’s putting a significant amount of people off upgrading but that is just one element when everything else is expensive on top of that.

My original comment was simply in response to another poster's statement that they were "not complaining about exchange rates." Given that it is the exchange rates that largely caused the price increases, it would seem to be something worth "complaining" about in this situation.

 

[iSayuSay]

What’s wrong with 14 Plus?

Nothing, except

It uses the same old A15 chip from yesteryear.
It uses the same notch also from yesteryear, it slows down Dynamic Island implementation for many apps and contents.

The non-Pro iPhones have enjoyed significant improvement since 12 Series due to OLED display and decent camera, now it’s another step back and bad stripdown of features, for what?

 

[JM]

Ordered one for my Mom as a surprise and she gets it next week and will love it. She will be coming from a X.

For her the bigger screen, huge gain in battery and lighter than a PM will be just what she wants.

She takes some pics and would never do macro or action so this also is great for her use case. Sometimes I would like a PM screen with a lighter case like the Pro but I use the cameras so sticking with Pm.

So I’ve been very vocal about the stupidity of the 14 line (non-pro), but there are some real benefits of the aluminum phone, that you’ve touched on here: lighter, large 6.7” screen.

The issue I still have with the 14 line though, remains that Apple made no effort to advertise the benefits of the 14 over the pro.

But of course why would they do that?

Anyways 🤷‍♂️ Apple still gets the money. Yay.

 

[JM]

What’s wrong with 14 Plus?

Nothing, except

It uses the same old A15 chip from yesteryear.
It uses the same notch also from yesteryear, it slows down Dynamic Island implementation for many apps and contents.

The non-Pro iPhones have enjoyed significant improvement since 12 Series due to OLED display and decent camera, now it’s another step back and bad stripdown of features, for what?

Didn’t even consider the slowing down of dynamic island development. That’s a good point.

Maybe Apple should have more courage and just have only the “pro” line of phones as the ONLY iPhone option.

 

[4sallypat]

What’s wrong with 14 Plus?

Nothing, except

It uses the same old A15 chip from yesteryear.
It uses the same notch also from yesteryear, it slows down Dynamic Island implementation for many apps and contents.

The non-Pro iPhones have enjoyed significant improvement since 12 Series due to OLED display and decent camera, now it’s another step back and bad stripdown of features, for what?

Coming from a 12 Pro - the 14 Plus is nice advancement for me.

If it wasn't for the larger screen, longest battery life, and SOS emergency, I would have skipped the 14.

I hardly buy a new iPhone every year like most MacRumors people do.

Can't wait - should be here this morning via UPS....

 

[ssledoux]

I loved the idea of the bigger phone, but lighter weight. I would’ve definitely considered it if it weren’t for the notch. I have been waiting for a phone without the notch since they made the notch. ;-p

 

[NUFC2025]

It uses the same old A15 chip from yesteryear.

So yesteryear is 12 months ago.

 

[kp98077]

Best part of all is the 14 plus have a less intrusive "notch". Hate how the dynamic island sinks lower into the screen.

good point it literally does, you can be working on something, reading and there is the island floating on top of your work! LOL

 

[SusieS]

I totally agree. Tomorrow mine arrives to replace my XR. I take pictures all the time and they are fantastic, so fancier camera is not needed. The lighter weight is a plus!

If I traveled to exiting places or had grandchildren I’d go for the 14 Pro for the camera, but when I look at my current camera roll, it’s 95% nearly identical photos of my dogs, and 5% screenshots. I’m upgrading from an XS and I’ve been happy so far with the 5,284 dog photos it’s taken, so I think the 14 plus will make me just as happy. My aging eyes will appreciate the larger screen real estate.

 

[compwiz1202]

good point it literally does, you can be working on something, reading and there is the island floating on top of your work! LOL

I already hated that about notifications. I'm trying to do something at the top of the screen and bam I tapped a notification and am on another app.

 

[redheeler]

The valid criticism isn't that it's a bad phone, it's that the 14 Plus could've been introduced last year as a 13 Plus because that's essentially what it is.

There haven't been many iPhones legitimately like this where the hardware could've been almost exactly the same if introduced a year earlier. iPhone 5c is an example but it wasn't branded as a successor to iPhone 5.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Didn’t even consider the slowing down of dynamic island development. That’s a good point.

Maybe Apple should have more courage and just have only the “pro” line of phones as the ONLY iPhone option.

How would that work when the majority of their iPhone customers don’t buy Pro iPhones? That would be kissing goodbye to some serious business and hopefully someone with the same idea as you is not making commercial decisions lol.

 

[iSayuSay]

Didn’t even consider the slowing down of dynamic island development. That’s a good point.

Maybe Apple should have more courage and just have only the “pro” line of phones as the ONLY iPhone option.

Exactly, if Apple hopes DI to be the milestone of moving forward dealing with the notch, then it needs to put in on all of 2022 iPhones ASAP, not just half of it.

Otherwise DI would be a half-baked, half-developed solution for the most expensive iPhone out there, it would be a few years before most of iPhones out there have Dynamic Island. Well I wouldn't want to be a guinea pig after paying $1K+ for a phone.

 

[JM]

How would that work when the majority of their iPhone customers don’t buy Pro iPhones? That would be kissing goodbye to some serious business and hopefully someone with the same idea as you is not making commercial decisions lol.

I’m sure everyone thinks if they were running the show that things would be better 🤣 lol.

But have you seen the sales estimates and slowing manufacturing of the 14’s reports? I think the Pros ARE selling more than the 14’s 🤣

But yeah, I think only focusing on one product would help accelerate dynamic island development. Are you suggesting that splitting resources on incompatible display output is the way to design more efficiently? Curious

 

[Fat_Guy]

What’s wrong with 14 Plus?

Nothing, except

It uses the same old A15 chip from yesteryear.
It uses the same notch also from yesteryear, it slows down Dynamic Island implementation for many apps and contents.

The non-Pro iPhones have enjoyed significant improvement since 12 Series due to OLED display and decent camera, now it’s another step back and bad stripdown of features, for what?

Actually we are looking at possible burn-in issues related to AOD - so I’m not really using it anymore. People are bitching about Dynamic Island being a distraction after the newness wears off. The processor seems to be almost the equal of the A16 and more efficient power wise. Best battery life with 2 more gigs of ram than the 13.


It has its charm for the right person.

 

[JPack]

Exactly, if Apple hopes DI to be the milestone of moving forward dealing with the notch, then it needs to put in on all of 2022 iPhones ASAP, not just half of it.

Otherwise DI would be a half-baked, half-developed solution for the most expensive iPhone out there, it would be a few years before most of iPhones out there have Dynamic Island. Well I wouldn't want to be a guinea pig after paying $1K+ for a phone.

It's like saying iPhone 8 slowed down app development for iPhone X. The Dynamic Island is a new feature that serves as a compact version of Live Activities. Every developer knows all iPhone 15 devices will have the pill.