What can the iPhone 14 do?

The cameras, especially those on the Pro models, have undergone the biggest changes. Thanks to more megapixels, better light sensitivity and other improvements, you can now take even better pictures. And there’s another feature of the Pro models: «Dynamic Island». With the iPhone X, Apple introduced the notch – a small area for the camera and other sensors on the edge of the screen. The Dynamic Island shifts this area further down and enhances it with animations to show various actions. It’s rounded and appears as an integral part of the display – a very smart and well-implemented innovation. Some models also benefit from better brightness (good for use in strong sunlight), a more powerful processor and, of course, software innovations and improvements thanks to the new iOS 16 operating system.

The Pro models come with the biggest innovations. The two «standard» iPhone 14 versions feature new and improved cameras as well as a slightly optimized processor compared to last year. In addition, users won’t have to go for a Pro model to enjoy a 6.7-inch screen since the iPhone 14 Plus now comes in this size too. Overall, however, this is a rather moderate update.

If you really want to have the best new products, you’ll need to opt for one of the Pro models. With these, you benefit from significantly improved cameras, the A16 Bionic processor and the Dynamic Island, all of which are clear upgrades or cool innovations compared to last year’s Pro models.

Anyone who wants the best of the best should go for the iPhone Pro (6.1-inch display) or iPhone Pro Max (6.7-inch display), which are almost identical apart from their screen size. While you’ll need to shell out at least CHF 1,180 for these, you won’t have to make any compromises on performance, cameras and new features. This argument should particularly win over photo fanatics deeply rooted in the Apple universe.

If you’re looking for something to cater to a smaller budget and aren’t desperate for the latest technology, the iPhone 14 (6.1 inches) or iPhone 14 Plus (6.7 inches) might be more suitable. That said, if you already have an iPhone 13, you’ll want to take a close look at the list of new features, since a lot of these are relatively minor upgrades, and spending over CHF 900.– on an iPhone 14 might not be worth it for everyone. Then again, if you currently own an iPhone 12 or an older model, it’s certainly worth considering upgrading to an iPhone 14 (Plus).

Kurz gesagt: Ziemlich genau wie das Alte. Das Design ist gleich geblieben, und auch die Abmessungen variieren höchstens um ein paar Zehntelmillimeter im Vergleich zu den direkten Vorgängern. Mit etwas Glück passen sogar noch die bisherigen Cases (vor allem, wenn es weiche und somit etwas dehnbare Silikon-Cases sind). Die einzige Möglichkeit, sich auf den allerersten Blick als neuer iPhone-14-Besitzender zu outen, ist, wenn ihr eines der Pro-Modelle in der neuen Farbe Dunkellila kauft. Apple hat bezüglich Formfaktor also keinerlei Experimente gewagt, was aber auch nicht nötig war.

As already mentioned, there are very clear differences between the «standard» and the «Pro» models. While buyers of an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus still have to make do with 12-megapixel cameras (although these have also been upgraded a bit in terms of light sensitivity and the selfie camera), the Pro models offer a lot more. With up to 48 megapixels (with the main camera) and an aperture that allows for more light, you can look forward to significantly improved pictures, even in difficult situations. Thanks to these 48 megapixels, Apple offers users a range of possibilities. Would you prefer Pro-Raw mode with its genuine 48 megapixels or instead four pixels combined into one, giving more manageable file sizes but better images than 12 megapixels? You can do both. Thanks to the improved light sensitivity, image noise is also further reduced in dim light, and pictures in night mode now often don’t need as long an exposure time as they did in the past. In short: There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to the cameras of this year’s Pro iPhones. On top of this, they offer image stabilization – and of course the Pro and Pro Max models continue to boast various well-known features such as macro mode.

There have been a few comments about blurry images when using apps such as TikTok or Instagram. I didn't notice anything during the test and Apple has already released a firmware update that solves the problem.

You can buy the latest iPhone here.