Apple completely missed the boat with the release of the iPhone 14 series. When the iPhone 14 series was launched back in September 2022, there was one smartphone missing from the lineup. Apple had done away with the ‘Mini’ iPhone and instead released a ‘Plus’ size model. The iPhone 14 lineup consisted of four smartphones; iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The gulf between the vanilla and ‘pro’ models widened in 2022. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max featured the Dynamic Island (Apple’s replacement for the notch), far improved camera and the latest processor. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus were left with last year's components, essentially.
After using the vanilla iPhone 14 for a couple of months, and hearing from many who were underwhelmed with the 14 Plus, I can safely say one thing: The iPhone 14 is the most underrated iPhone of 2022. It’s also one of the best buys in the current market. Here’s what I think about the smartphone and where it stands in today’s market.
Easy-To-Use Smartphone
The iPhones are some of the most accessible smartphones for people just to pick up and start using. I’ve talked to countless people, some of whom are technologically challenged, and they all say that iOS (Apple’s Android competitor) is simplistic and very user-friendly. The iPhone 14 features a 6.1-inch display, which isn’t small by any means but also isn’t ungodly to use. The iPhone 14 Plus, is identical to the vanilla iPhone 14, except for its size. For most people, the iPhone 14 Plus’ 6.7-inch screen is unwieldy and hard to use one-handed. The iPhone 14’s USP is its ability to be used one-handed.
The iPhone 14 has dual 12MP primary and ultrawide cameras (with larger sensors than before) and is powered by the A15 Bionic processor. Battery life easily lasts a day, and then some. The iPhone 14 can do anything and everything that other smartphones in the market can. The only thing the iPhone 14 isn’t good at, you may ask? Gaming.
Still, pick up an iPhone 14 and you’ll instantly become familiar with it. That’s because the design, across the iPhone 14 models, is similar. The form factor, placement of the buttons, and even the charging tech. It’s the same across all the models.
Things within the Apple ecosystem are seamless, and that’s another plus point towards picking up an iPhone. Your iPhone will instantly connect and remain connected to your iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch or any of the other Apple devices you own.
Why Pick The iPhone 14 Over More Powerful Models?
There’s more to the vanilla iPhone 14 than what meets the eye. It may seem like just someone lost in the crowd, but in fact, it’s the one that is standing out.
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is one of the best screens. Period. It’s only missing a 120Hz refresh rate. Beyond that, it’s fantastic for playing casual games, consuming content and looking at stock market charts.
The cameras’ spec sheets may not wow you, but once you snap dozens of images, you’ll be left impressed. There’s a larger sensor on the 12MP wide-angle camera and a faster aperture. That means that you can get far better action shows and much improved low-light performance. The TrueDepth camera also offers autofocus for the first time. Furthermore, there’s the new computational photography feature that Apple calls Photonic Engine.
It’s these subtle updates that keep the iPhone 14 at the top of the list of which iPhone is the best buy.
When something isn’t broken, you don’t go around overhauling it. One can expect a revolutionary upgrade with the iPhone 15, but this time around, sticking to the basics has really helped the iPhone 14.
In fact, the iPhone 14 will be getting the same amount of software updates and major iOS releases from Apple as the rest of the iPhone 14 series. Again, another victory for the vanilla iPhone.
The Over-Hyped Dynamic Island
The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max featured what Apple calls the Dynamic Island. It’s Apple’s replacement for the traditional notch. At launch, it was much-hyped. Developers even created Dynamic Island-specific games. Months after the launch though, I’m barely hearing anyone mentioning the words Dynamic Island.
There are hardly any articles, any excitement, or any new ways to enjoy the Dynamic Island. It just simply exists and that’s the best compliment one can give it.
It’s safe to say that iPhone 14 and 14 Plus users aren’t missing out on anything. It’s not worth the price gulf between the two iPhone models.
The Price Gulf
The other advantage of purchasing an iPhone 14 over an iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max is the cost. Currently, the iPhone 14 can be had for just ₹66,999. Meanwhile, the 14 Pro is available at a hefty starting price of ₹1,22,999 while the 14 Pro Max begins at a whopping ₹1,32,999.
The difference in the starting price of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro is a good ₹56,000. That’s enough to book a full 5-day trip to Vietnam!
The iPhone 14 Triumphs Over Other Models
It might be boring but it sure is a firecracker on its own. The iPhone 14 is my go-to recommendation for those folks who just want to own an iPhone. There are many out there who’d agree with me.
The iPhone 14, without the bells and whistles of its bigger siblings, performs almost flawlessly for an iPhone. That’s the bottom line. The price can be stomached by most, and the simplicity, familiarity, and performance all make it a stellar buy.
