The iPhone 14 Pro has landed. Announced at Apple’s Far Out event in Cupertino, the phone has some predictable changes – improvements to the camera and the latest A16 Bionic chip – and some exciting features that may sway people to upgrade their devices.
Physically, you may struggle to tell the difference between last year’s model and this unless you go for the new colours. Apple has a tried and tested formula here, and it has largely left it alone. The camera array on the back of the 14 Pro is slightly larger than its predecessor – which means new phone cases if you’re upgrading – and the lenses look physically larger too, but there’s very little in it.
So what does the iPhone 14 Pro bring? First up, Dynamic Island, the feature that launched a thousand memes. Apple has lost the notch from the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s display, giving it a subtle way to stand out from the iPhone 14 and a new way to interact with the phone all in one go.
Instead of the notch, the iPhone 14 Pro has a pill-shaped cut out that not only shapes around the front-facing camera, but also transforms into an interactive bar, depending on the app you are using. For example, if you are listening to music and minimise the player, the Dynamic Island will show the album art and a sound wave that, when tapped, will bring you straight through to the controls. If you are recording something, the microphone icon will display in the space.
Using Maps minimised will throw the directions into the Dynamic Island so you don’t have to have your phone active. Likewise using FaceID, connecting AirPods to the phone, or making a video call will show icons in the space. And if you are using more than one app that takes advantage of the feature, the “island” splits apart to give the apps the necessary space.
As mentioned, the camera has been upgraded. That means larger pixels, more light getting to the sensor and improved low light function. On the front camera, you get autofocus, which is a small addition but improves your shots by a significant factor.
The rear camera now has 48 megapixels, although standard shooting won’t get you that resolution. Instead, it takes four pixels and combines them, so you get the details of 48 megapixels in a 12 megapixel image. If you want to do it yourself though, the Pro Raw setting will give you the full size image so you can mess about with it yourself.
The video camera now includes an action mode that smooths out any jerky movements caused by running, for example. With an iPhone 13 Pro side by side with the new 14 Pro, the difference in the footage was noticeable. The latest iPhone looked like I was gliding along, instead of awkwardly plodding while holding two phones up, a movement that the iPhone 13 Pro conveyed accurately even with its image stabilisation.
Some of the more interesting features are ones that we couldn’t actually test, and Apple hopes you never have to use. The crash detection that uses advanced sensors and machine learning to sense when you have crashed your car, for example, is one that no one ever wants to experience first hand.
According to Apple, the safety feature will kick in when it detects certain conditions – speed, movement and so on – and call emergency services if you are not in a position to do so yourself. You’ll get an alert first so, if for some reason it has been triggered in error, you can cancel it before an ambulance arrives at your door.
Another one that fits into that “nice to have, hope I never test it” category is the Satellite SOS. Available initially in the US and Canada later in the year, the satellite connection will allow you to send a message to emergency services if you are in trouble and out of mobile phone range.
The good:
The improvements to the camera and the updated chip make the iPhone 14 Pro the best iPhone you can get right now. The action mode on video works very well, and the additional portrait options give you more flexibility. It seems faster at focusing too, with fewer face blurs and soft shots when trying to capture photos of children and pets.
The Dynamic Island may have taken some gentle ribbing online, but it’s actually a really useful feature, and once you get used to it – which happens more quickly than you’d think – it becomes a much quicker way to access the apps that use it.
The not so good:
If you already own the iPhone 13 Pro, you are unlikely to see as big a jump in terms of functions and features to justify splashing out again on a new device. However, the days of upgrading each year to a new device are gone for most smartphone brands, with people hanging on to their smartphones for a couple of years or more.
A combination of factors has also seen the cost of the iPhone 14 Pro rise, so if you are buying it SIM-free, the price may hurt.
The rest:
The always-on screen isn’t specific to the iPhone 14 Pro, but it is a nice feature to have. It will turn off when the phone is on low battery mode though, and when the phone is face down or in your pocket, it goes dark to avoid draining the battery.
While some people have bought iPhone in the US to take advantage of cheaper pricing in the past, that may not be a runner with the iPhone 14. US models of the phone have ditched the SIM tray, so it will be esim only, ruling it out for most – if not all – Irish customers.
The verdict:
The best iPhone you can buy right now, if you have the money to spare.
