I was never a fan of big-screen phones. But something changed in 2020 — most of which I spent staring at the 5.8-inch screen of the iPhone XS late at night, while my newborn slept next to me. I realised after all those sleepless nights that I needed a phone with a bigger screen. So the next year, I ultimately switched to the iPhone 12 Pro Max– a stark contrast from my earlier preference. Since then, the 6.7-inch iPhone has remained my daily driver — whether for scrolling Instagram or watching shows on Netflix. But Apple had kept the bigger screen reserved for its Pro series so far. This year, it has changed the iPhone lineup, by introducing a bigger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus.
Of course, the iPhone 14 series appears to be an incremental upgrade — Apple hasn’t changed the processor for one, sticking with the A15 Bionic that powered last year’s iPhone 13 series. The camera specification remains at 12MP– though Apple has claimed there are improvements, especially in low-light performance. But is that good enough to make the iPhone 14 Plus a good pick? Here’s my review where I try to answer some questions.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus specifications: 6.7-inch OLED display | A15 Bionic chipset | 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage | 12MP+ 12MP ultra-wide | 12MP selfie camera | iOS 16
Apple iPhone 14 Plus price in India: Rs 89,900
Apple iPhone 14 Plus: So why would anyone consider this?
The iPhone 14 Plus is supposed to be a big-screen option for those who don’t want to pay the Rs 1.4 lakh price tag that the iPhone 14 Pro Max attracts. The iPhone 14 Plus is thus comparatively more ‘affordable’, since it costs Rs 89,900 — of course, at this price, this is still more expensive than most other flagships in the market. So if you’ve wanted an iPhone with a bigger display, and better battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus is your go-to option.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus: Has anything changed compared to the iPhone 13?
This is a tough one to answer. With the iPhone series, the upgrades are now incremental. And given the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, comparisons with the iPhone 13 will be inevitable. Apple has continued with the notch design on the iPhone 14 Plus — the ‘Dynamic Island’ is reserved for the Pro. The processor is the same as the A15 Bionic–though with an extra core for graphics compared to the older iPhones. The higher refresh rate on the screens is also not an option here.
Of course, since the iPhone 14 Plus has a bigger form factor, it packs a bigger battery. Apple typically does not reveal the battery size — reports claim it stands at 4,325 mAh for the Plus. Apple’s own website lists a video playback time of 26 hours for the iPhone 14 Plus, while for the Pro Max it stands at 29 hours. In my usage, I found the battery life of the iPhone 14 Plus impressive. This is a phone which will easily last the day even with heavy-duty usage. With moderate usage, you can easily get one and a half days. My usage included WhatsApp, and Instagram, taking plenty of pictures, watching shows on various OTT apps, and some gaming. The battery life remains one of the strongest arguments for getting the iPhone 14 Plus compared to the iPhone 14 or even the older iPhone 13–which might be available at a better deal.
