Hands-on with the iPhone 14 Pro
You have probably already seen the first experiences of the international media about these new devices. There have been unboxing videos and there are already a few websites with more in-depth reviews. Of course we can't stay behind here in the Netherlands and we give you our own view on the new devices, based on our own experiences.
On this page we give you our first impression. Later, of course, many more extensive reviews of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will follow. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below this article. We'll do our best to go into more detail in the final review!
Text, photos and review: Gonny van der Zwaag (@gonny). We tested with a 512GB iPhone 14 Pro in blue and a 1TB iPhone 14 Pro in deep purple. These devices have been made available by Apple as loaner copies. In addition, we will test with a self-purchased iPhone 14 Pro in Space Black, so you will see it in the photos of our more extensive Pro review.
Introduction
Apple has completely revamped the iPhone line-up with four new models. Three of them are already in the shops: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The brand new Plus model will come later, but is technically the same as the iPhone 14. For the real innovations you have to go to the Pros this year, which is why we put the most emphasis on that in this first impression.
p>As far as we are concerned, the line-up is a lot clearer this year: two standard models and two Pro models, both in the sizes 6.1-inch and 6.17-inch. Biggest downside, which you already have to deal with before you have purchased them: they have become considerably more expensive. It's only been a few years since a thousand euros for a new iPhone caused a stir. Today there are iPhones on the shelves that cost more than two thousand euros. Then you do have the top model iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB storage. But the foundation has been laid for a £2000+ smartphone if Apple ever plans to roll out a folding screen model.
The appearance: muted colors
When unpacking a new iPhone, it's always a surprise how the color turns out. This year we have a special new color (Deep Purple) on the Pro models. According to previous rumors, this color would have a somewhat iridescent (bubble) effect, as you sometimes see with Android devices. That does not appear to be the case. Apple has actually opted for a somewhat faded purple, which sometimes tends to gray, but can also be lilac in bright light. The marketing photos give you an idea of how Apple wants us to see it: as a color that is a bit more faded purple, mainly due to the matte finish, which always gives the Pro models a less pronounced color. You can also see that with the new color Space black.
At Space Black, we had hoped that Apple had opted for deep black, but that is not the case either. This color is not that different from last year's Graphite, which was also a kind of dark asphalt gray. The colors Gold and Silver are as expected. If you don't like change, choose Silver, because this color has remained almost the same for all generations, while gray has changed a bit.
iPhone 14 in Blue next to iPhone 13 Pro in Sierra Blue.
With the normal iPhone 14, the colors are less pronounced than in previous years. Of course you have the new classics Midnight and Starlight and if you want a bright color there is again a bright red. But in addition, there is only the choice of purple and blue. Purple is a light lilac color, while blue appeals to us as a light blue color that is slightly more striking than Sierra Blue on last year's Pro models. Again, it has to do with the different lighting in the glossy and matte finish.
iPhone 13 in Starlight next to iPhone 13 Pro in Sierra Blue.
The difference between the normal models and the Pro models is just like before: shiny back with matte edges for the normal models and the other way around for Pro. It looks like Apple isn't going to change this, so we've resigned ourselves to never getting a completely matte iPhone case. The camera section on the back is as expected: two lenses on the normal models and a (again) larger section with three lenses on the Pro models. This ensures that old covers will not fit.
In previous years you mainly bought the Pro models because of the better camera, but this year there are more reasons that are at the front: the Dynamic Island and the always-on screen.
< p>Screen: familiar, yet very different
The design of the iPhone 14 Pro may be familiar, but on the front there are two innovations: the Dynamic Island and the always-on screen. The Dynamic Island is an elongated pill-shaped bar around which all kinds of information is displayed. If you look from the side, you can clearly see that there are two recesses: a pill for the TrueDepth sensors and a circle for the front camera. However, this disappears completely when you use your device. Only when watching movies is the Dynamic Island prominent and a small notch on the side might have been nicer.
Close up you can clearly see the camera.
What Apple has done with the Dynamic Island is really innovative as far as we're concerned. There are many manufacturers who have already made smartphones with holes and pill-shaped cutouts, but none have come up with the idea of using it as a necessary ‘whitespace’ (or actually ‘blackspace’) around notifications, live activities and status information. An app will appear in Dynamic Island when you open it and then swipe up. It also appears automatically when, for example, you put your AirPods in your ears, want to AirDroppen something or pay with Apple Pay. It automatically adjusts based on the tasks you perform and it happens so naturally, you feel like it's never been different. The great thing is: this is a new function that does not require any getting used to.
The other major innovation in the Pro models is the always-on screen. This has been talked about for years and now that it is there, it has actually been introduced quite silently. During the keynote, it was over before many people knew it. You will therefore have to experience it in practice. The always-on screen means that information on the screen remains visible, but is dimmed. You can adjust what you see by setting up other widgets. In the beginning it is a bit strange that your screen is on all day, but you get used to it quickly.
Do you need always-on? Well. There's been a lot of hype about it in the run-up to the iPhone 14, but now that it's here we're a bit wondering if it's a reason for many people to upgrade. The way Apple has handled it is very good, by the way. When you walk out of the room with your paired Apple Watch, the screen will turn off completely. And that is also the case if you enable sleep mode.
Hardware in the iPhone 14 Pro models
Only the iPhone 14 Pro models have a completely new processor, the
A16 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU (two for performance) and 5-core GPU, complemented by a 16-core Neural Engine. But even if you buy the iPhone 14, you get excellent performance. The fact that there is a satellite function in the iPhones is no reason to buy now. This only works in the US for now. And the crash detection is not necessary if you have a recent car, as European cars have been required since 2018 to support eCall, an automatic emergency call system if you are involved in a serious car accident. And something else: you also get crash detection when you buy a new Apple Watch (for example the SE 2022), so you don't need the latest iPhone for that.
iPhone 14 Pro with Ink wallet case and iPhone 14 in Storm Blue case.
As before, you can choose storage from 128GB, 256GB and 512GB – with the extra option of 1TB with the Pro models. Our previous poll showed that many people go for 128GB or 256GB and that is a logical choice. On my current device I have 200GB in use, most of which are photos, so I can get by just fine with 256GB.
Camera of the iPhone 14 Pro models
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In this first impression we can say little about the qualities of the camera. The most important thing we noticed when starting the Camera app is that in the interface next to the button for 3x zoom, there is now also a button for 2x zoom. We missed this very much, because the 3x zoom was often just a bit too much of a good thing. And for those who are afraid that the 48-megapixel camera will create huge photo files: if you shoot a free-hand photo with the standard settings, it will still be 4032×3024 pixels in size and take up around 2MB to 2.5MB , just like with the iPhone 13 Pro. So you don't have to worry that your less handy roommate or partner will suddenly fill up all iPhone storage with gigantic photo files.
The 48-megapixel camera in the rather hefty camera section.
Apple has also added a Photonic Engine for even better photos in poor light. We will be testing this extensively in the coming days. We also look at the new functions such as Action More and blur in the foreground with portraits. You can read more about this in our more extensive review.
The iPhone 14 (Pro) runs on iOS 16, although you must first install a small update when you unpack it. You will also receive all the innovations in iOS 16 on your current device, which can be a reason for many people to wait a little longer before switching to a new iPhone. You can read more about our experiences in our iOS 16 review. You will of course miss the unique features of the iPhone 14 Pro, such as the Dynamic Island, the always-on screen and the camera functions, but you will not miss others so easily.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 in a Midnight and Storm Blue case.
Conclusion iPhone 14 Pro first impression
The iPhone 14 Pro is a great update and the best choice if you want a new device from the iPhone 14 series. The improved camera is not the only reason to choose the Pro this year: we might be even more enthusiastic about the many possibilities of the Dynamic Island, with which Apple has made a virtue of necessity. The extra blocks of information appear with a smooth animation, drawing your attention to the point you preferred to ignore before. The always-on screen also adds something to your experience of what you can do with the iPhone.
You could also opt for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is technically the same but has a bigger screen and a bigger battery. If that's what you need, you should pick the Pro Max, but we prefer the more compact 6.1-inch model.
You can also opt for the iPhone 14, but it impressed us the least. In our opinion, there are too few innovations compared to the iPhone 13 to get excited about it. Especially when you consider that the price of the iPhone 14 has gone up considerably and you can currently get the iPhone 13 with a nice discount. If you want to upgrade from the iPhone XS or iPhone 11 series, we also think the iPhone 13 is a great choice. If you want the best and the latest, simply choose the iPhone 14 Pro.
Our extensive review of both models with pluses and minuses and a rating will follow in about a week. Until then, we are busy testing. Do you have questions? Let me know in the comments!
Buy iPhone 14
The pre-order of the iPhone 14 (Plus) and iPhone 14 Pro (Max) has already started and the first devices will be delivered from September 16th.
- 6.1-inch iPhone 14 — from €1,019 | (single device | subscription)
- 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus — from €1,169 | (single device | subscription)
- 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro — from €1,329 | (single device | subscription)
- 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max — starting at €1,479 | (single device | subscription)
The iPhone 14 series is available at these stores and providers:
T-Mobile | Tele2 | Mobiel.nl | KPN | Vodafone | Belsimpel.nl
You can also contact these providers:
Amac | Amazon | Coolblue | YourMacStore | BCC | Bol.com | Belsimpel.nl | Mobiel.nl | MediaMarkt
Also view our iPhone offers. Do the above links not work properly? Then it is best to disable your adblocker.