iPhone 14 features: What’s really new in Apple’s latest iPhone?

When was the iPhone 14 released?

Apple released the iPhone 14 on September 7, 2022 during their Keynote event in Cupertino, CA. There are four models in the iPhone 14 series:

• iPhone 14: the base model that replaces iPhone 13

• iPhone 14 Plus: a larger version that’s quite a pivot from last year’s iPhone 13 Mini

• iPhone 14 Pro: an upgraded version of the iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Pro Max: a larger version of the Pro

Now that we’ve laid out the iPhone 14 models, let’s get into the details and see how much has really changed from previous iPhones.

How much storage does the iPhone 14 have?

The storage options for the iPhone 14 series are the same as iPhone 13: 128, 256, and 512GB for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, while the Pro and Pro Max are also available in 1TB capacities.

Here are the different storage capacities for each iPhone 14 model: 

Does the iPhone 14 have expandable storage?

Like previous Apple devices, there’s no option for expandable storage on the iPhone 14. One reason that iPhones don’t have external storage is that it tends to be slower than the internal storage on iPhones. Adding an SD card slot on the iPhone might compromise the speed and quality that they’re known for.

Price may be another factor in Apple’s decision to eschew external storage. By offering the iPhone 14 with varying built-in storage capacities, Apple can structure the price of each device to increase along with how much memory it has.

iPhone 14 price

iPhones are high-end phones, and they come with a high-end price tag (especially if you buy them new). The iPhone 14 price structure is no exception to the general rule that more storage, a bigger screen, and upgraded features will cost you more money. Since there is no Mini iPhone in the latest lineup, prices for the iPhone 14 may seem higher but they’re actually pretty consistent with what we saw in the iPhone 13 release.

If you have the patience to wait a few months for a refurbished iPhone 14, you can certainly save some money and still get your hands on the latest iPhone. Can’t wait? Here are the iPhone 14 prices if you buy new: 

*Prices on Apple.com as of Sept 2023 - subject to change (Apple is no longer selling the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max for new on their site)

Apple promises customers the “most advanced smartphone ever” year after year, which helps make the newest iPhone sound enticing enough to justify dropping all that cash. But once you’ve compared the iPhone 14 to previous models, you might find that you can get all the features you want with an earlier model. In that case, consider yourself lucky: you’ll be able to find great deals on comparable models like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12.

iPhone 14 size

There are two choices for the iPhone 14 screen size: 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch. The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro have the popular 6.1-inch display size, while the iPhone 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max have the larger 6.7-inch display for those who prefer a big screen. While the Mini will be missed, it’s nice to have the option for a bigger screen without needing to upgrade to the Pro Max model.

Here are the exact dimensions for each iPhone 14 model: 

iPhone 14 processing chips

Many anticipated that the iPhone 14 would get a brand new chip. However, Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip is only available in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

This is quite a pivot from previous iPhone releases. In the past, Apple has included a new chip in every model of the lineup (though the Pro versions have included an upgraded chip). For example, every iPhone 13 model has the A15 chip, but the 13 Pro and Pro Max have a slightly different A15 chip with an extra core.

👯 Twin alert: The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus actually have the same A15 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.

This A15 chip has a 6-core CPU: 2 for higher performance and 4 cores for efficiency. That's not all; it also boasts a 5-core GPU and 16-core Neutral Engine for a lag-free experience while gaming and performing other tasks. The A15 chip is plenty advanced and it’s included in many of the most popular iPhone 13 features.

The new Apple A16 Bionic chip is in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max only. At a glance, the specs look familiar: 

• 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores

• 5-core GPU

• 16-core Neural Engine

While Apple hasn’t released any details about exactly how different the A16 chip is from its predecessor, they claim it’s the highest-performing smartphone processor yet. While most users probably won’t notice much difference in everyday performance, the chip in your phone can enable advanced camera functions and better power efficiency.

iPhone 14 battery life

The iPhone 14’s “all day” battery life is one of Apple’s biggest selling points for this device. Like earlier iPhones, it has a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and MagSafe for wireless charging. It’s also fast-charge capable so if you’re short on time, you can get up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes (you’ll need to purchase a 20W or higher charger separately for that, though).

The iPhone 14 models have larger batteries that last about an hour longer than their iPhone 13 counterparts, at least when it comes to watching videos. The iPhone 14 lasts up to 20 hours of video playback, 16 hours of video streaming, and 80 hours of audio playback. For comparison, the iPhone 13 battery lasts up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 hours of video streaming, and 75 hours of audio playback.

The iPhone 14 Plus has the longest battery life for audio playback, lasting up to 100 hours. The iPhone 14 Pro models also offer impressively long battery life, with up to 29 hours of video playback.

🔋 Here is how long the battery lasts for each iPhone 14 model:

iPhone 14 design and display

Apple unveiled a few minor upgrades to the design and display of the iPhone 14. Before we introduce the new kids on the block, we’ll cover the more basic specs, like the display size and resolution.

Like its predecessor, the iPhone 14 has the same diagonal rear camera arrangement and a smaller notch similar to the iPhone 13 design. The finish includes a ceramic shield front for durability and a glass back for wireless charging. 

The iPhone 14 comes in five colors: 

• Purple

• Midnight

• Starlight

• Product(Red)

• Blue

Three of these are actually carried over from the iPhone 13 colors. Only the purple and blue shades are new. Both are pretty, lighter pastel hues that give a fresh update to the color choices.  

The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch OLED display with rounded corners. It’s comfortable to hold with a curved design that feels user-friendly. It also has 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 PPI with an all-screen display which is especially good for the outdoors. 

The iPhone 14 Plus offers a bigger 6.7-inch diagonal display with 2778-by-1284 pixel resolution at 458ppi. For those who like to live large, it’s a solid option. The bigger screen size is perfect for playing video games and watching movies on your phone.

Apple upped the brightness of the iPhone 14 display to 800 nits max brightness (typical) and 1200 nits peak brightness (HDR). The iPhone 14 also has an improved thermal performance that withstands pressure for longer, making it a good fit for gamers.

Here’s how the display specs stack up for all the iPhone 14 models:

Always-On display

The always-on display feature might be new for iPhones, but it’s old-hat for other smartphones, especially Android handsets (it’s often called ambient display on these devices).

Are you tired of having to tap the screen or lift your iPhone up to check the time? Now you don't have to go to all that trouble. With the Always-On display, you can view essential notifications and information on your lock screen. The wallpaper background will automatically dim.

The Always-On display feature is only available for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. They use a low refresh rate of 1Hz-20Hz for this feature to help preserve battery life, but it remains to be seen whether this dings the battery life in real-world use. 

According to Apple, the screen will turn off if you place your iPhone face down on any surface or put it inside your pocket. You also have the option to turn the Always-On display…well, off… in your settings to help conserve battery life.

🥁 Now the moment we've all been waiting for (insert drumroll, please): the dynamic island.

What is iPhone 14's dynamic island?

The dynamic island is a new feature on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max that makes use of the camera cutout space on the display (RIP notch). In place of the notch, the iPhone 14 has a pill-shaped cutout that allows you to interact with your notifications and news. 

The pill shape is dynamic in that it can change shape depending on what it’s doing, with some apps bubbling out into their own orb. Many iPhone functions, including FaceID, can be accessed on this feature. Seeing the dynamic island in action was definitely a high point of the Apple Keynote.

The dynamic island is indeed impressive. It’s a creative blend of hardware and software that’s a welcome redesign for the necessary camera cutout space. Not to worry, though: the TrueDepth camera used for FaceID is still inside the iPhone 14 Pro models, but it takes up less space on the screen than before.

iOS 16 updates

iPhone 14 comes with iOS 16 pre-installed. Many of the changes to come with iOS 16 allow for more personalization. Notifications appear from the bottom of the lock screen with an added feature that will enable you to view live activities such as an uber ride or sports scores without having to unlock your phone.

Changes are coming to iMessage, too. Get ready for the option to edit a sent text and even delete a sent text message. iOS 16 is a big update, but Apple is pretty good about supporting its devices for a long time—so you can check it out on any compatible iPhone without buying a new one.

Crash detection

The Apple Keynote event really emphasized how Apple products can change typical day-to-day activities, such as driving. One example of this is crash detection, a feature of iPhone 14’s new force sensor that can detect whether you have been in a car crash.

The iPhone 14’s sensor is activated when you begin moving. It has an advanced accelerometer and gyrometer that detect any sudden unexpected movement. A barometer can measure changes in pressure consistent with an airbag deploying. The microphone also detects loud crash noises.

If there is an anomaly while driving that indicates a crash, the iPhone will contact emergency services if you don’t respond. The message on your phone will be something like, “It looks like you’ve been in a crash. iPhone will trigger Emergency SOS if you don’t respond.”

Crash detection is also a new feature on Apple Watch Series 8, which has the same advanced accelerometer and gyrometer.

iPhone 14 camera

The upgraded iPhone 14 camera might give its predecessors a run for their money. Much like the iPhone 13, the new iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a 12MP rear dual camera system and a TrueDepth front camera. The main difference is the front camera on the iPhone 14 models, which adds autofocus to improve the quality of those all-important selfies ;)

The new iPhone 14 main camera also has a bigger sensor and aperture that lets in 49% percent more light for better images even when the lighting lets you down. Upgrades to the aperture and sensor-shift image stabilization are better for taking pictures of fast-moving objects.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max camera system took a major leap in megapixels. The Pro camera system features a 48MP main camera, delivering incredible detail for photos.     

Video recording also gets an upgrade in the iPhone 14 line, with the addition of Action Mode. Action Mode essentially stabilizes movement for a smoother result if you’re moving while recording. Similar technology exists on other cameras, such as GoPro devices, but this is the first iPhone to have something like it.

iPhone 14 connectivity

Apple introduced satellite connectivity for the first time in the iPhone 14. All models in the iPhone 14 line have the feature, which allows users to send messages via satellite in remote locations that don’t have cell service. 

The satellite connectivity is meant for contacting emergency services, and it won’t replace your carrier service. The iPhone 14 enables 5G connections with Wi-Fi 6 and a Bluetooth band of 5.3. Other supported connections include: 

• LTE

• GSM/ EDGE

• Ultra Wideband chip

• NFC with a reader mode

• Express cards

The iPhone 14 also no longer supports physical SIM cards but instead uses a digital eSIM that Apple says is more secure and supports multiple phone numbers.

What’s the difference between iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro?

The Dynamic Island is the most notable difference between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro. Replacing the notch on the front display with the pill-shaped cutout (and making it interactive) gives the Pros a totally different look, while the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still look a lot like the iPhone 13 (and 12, for that matter).

Like earlier Pro lines, the 14 Pro and Pro Max also have a third rear camera lens along with a mega-boost to the megapixel count of the 14 and 14 Plus. Another significant difference is the new A16 Bionic chip in the Pros, while the standard models have the A15 chipset.

As we saw with the iPhone 13 series, the 14 Pro models have a 1TB storage capacity option. The battery life is also longer on the Pro models compared to the standard iPhone 14. However, if it’s just a bigger screen you’re after, you can now get that in the iPhone 14 Plus without the Pro price tag.

Is the iPhone 14 worth it?

Undoubtedly there are a few updates to the new iPhone 14 series, but mostly in the Pro and Pro Max models. If you’re using a much older iPhone, it may be time to upgrade—but you can get a lot of the same technology that’s in the iPhone 14 with a refurbished iPhone 13 or iPhone 12.

The A15 chip in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus is actually the same one that’s in the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max (plus you’ll get a Pro camera system with a third rear lens, not found on the standard iPhone 14).

Buying used iPhones

With the release of the iPhone 14, prices for a new iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 have already decreased. But, you’ll find even cheaper iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 deals if you shop used and refurbished instead. 

With plenty of people jumping on the iPhone 14 bandwagon, there are tons of second-hand devices available that work as well as new for a fraction of the price. Plus, buying a refurbished iPhone helps cut down on e-waste so you can feel good about shopping sustainably.

Buying a refurbished iPhone from a legitimate source can save you from the uncertainty and hassle of dealing with sellers you don’t know if you can trust. At Back Market, devices are renewed and tested by experts and we have a transparent grading system that lets you know the exact condition of the device you want to purchase. 

We also guarantee that your phone will be 100% functional. Every device on Back Market comes with a 12-month warranty and 30 days to change your mind.

Upgrading? Trade in your old phone

Old is gold, but if you decide to upgrade your phone, we’ll give you cash for your old device. Find out what your old device is worth and sell your phone with BuyBack to pad your pockets and protect the planet from additional e-waste.