Apple's iPhone 14 Is Familiar But Different
The iPhone 14 is officially here. Unveiled at Apple's annual September event, the next-gen smartphone has even more bells and whistles, from emergency satellite service to an upgraded camera.
Ditching the Mini, Apple will offer the iPhone 14 (6.1 inches, starting at $799) and the iPhone 14 Plus (6.7 inches, starting at $899) in five colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Product (RED). The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will price at $999 and $1099, respectively, and pre-order begins on September 9.
As for those bells and whistles? A 12 megapixel camera is outfitted with a technology that Apple calls Photonic Engine, improving low-light detection and color rendering. Video comes with a new "action mode" that stabilizes footage, eliminating the need for a gimbal.
Satellite support allows users to send and receive text messages without cell service — simply point your iPhone at the sky, and a message will send in approximately 15 seconds. Dubbed Emergency SOS, the feature is available on all iPhone 14 models and is free for two years.
Also in safety features, Crash Detection will trigger the phone to automatically make an emergency call if it detects a collision.
While the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus isn't doing away with the hotly debated "notch," it is getting rid of the SIM tray. Citing security concerns, the tech giant is banking on eSIM, a digital SIM card that eliminates the need for a physical chip that can be stolen or lost.
If you're a notch-hater, you'll want to opt for the Pro or Pro Max — both models forgo the rectangular formation in favor of a smaller, pill-shaped cutout called the Dynamic Island.
Admittedly, the iPhone 14 looks pretty similar to its predecessor, a point that Twitter has wasted no time in making. While the 14 is certainly new and improved, its only major change is Dynamic Island — a feature that, again, is only available on the Pro or Pro Max.
Also important to note: the 14 is built with an "enhanced" version of last year's A15 chip, rather than a brand new one.
If you've got cash to burn, splurging on the iPhone 14 can't hurt. Otherwise, your iPhone 13 is probably just fine.
