Phone Screen Replacements Tips

Although the iPhone 14 looks almost identical to the iPhone 13 on the outside, it is a different story on the inside.
As evidenced in this iFixit teardown, Apple has made it much easier to repair the back glass panel. The back glass can now be removed independently of the logic board, making repairs much cheaper. Previously, only the front glass was separably removable. And, it seems Apple is also passing this cost savings onto consumers …
The Apple service page says that iPhone 14 back glass damage can be repaired out of warranty for $149.
This is much cheaper than was possible with the iPhone 13, as a back glass only repair wasn’t available from Apple. Instead, back glass replacements would fall under “other” damage, requiring full device refurbs with associated service costs around $500-$600.

Although iFixit hasn’t been able to teardown an iPhone 14 Plus yet, for obvious reasons, the Apple service page also suggests that model will also feature this new internal chassis structure. Apple quotes out-of-warranty back glass repair costs for that model at $199. (The Pro models do not seem to have this internal change, though, as their back glass repair costs remain at the typical $550/$599 levels.)

Upon removing the front glass, the main logic board is covered by a new metal shield, hiding the internals. What’s new is the back glass can now also be lifted up using suction cups, opening to the right. This reveals all the internal parts as before. The new design enables cost-effective repairs of the back glass, without making front glass repairs more difficult.
The new mid-frame also required a new antenna design to circumvent radio interference. Otherwise, after gaining access through the back glass opening, the teardown is mostly the same as the iPhone 13. See iFixit’s full video here:

iPhone 14 Pro review: Price and availability

The iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999 for the 128GB model, just like last year. Rumors about a price hike proved false, and you won’t catch me complaining about it. 

The 256GB variant costs $1,099, 512GB goes for $1,299 and 1TB will run you $1,499. And with all of the video features, you might want the extra storage — the 1080p limit on ProRes video for the 128GB version remains.

I think the Galaxy S22 Plus stands as the best price comparison for the iPhone 14 Pro. Both start at $999, feature top-end screens, powerful cameras, and excellent processors. But other top Android phones cost less than the iPhone 14 Pro, such as the $899 Pixel 6 Pro (which is the iPhone’s chief photography competitor) and the $749 OnePlus 10 Pro.

Apple has a spread of iPhones for you starting at $799 for the iPhone 14, with the iPhone 14 Plus climbing to $899 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max sitting at $1,099.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Design

I find the iPhone 14 Pro’s design dichotomous. On the one hand, it looks a lot like the iPhone 13 Pro, just with an even larger camera module. From the back, it might be hard to distinguish this handset from its predecessor unless you look really hard at those lenses — admittedly, they are noticeably larger thanks to the upgrades underneath.

On the other hand, the front of Apple’s new phone looks a lot different. The notch is gone, replaced by the pill-shaped Dynamic Island. The old, tired iPhone design has finally gotten a refresh, though the cutout is still larger than those on the best Android phones because it houses Face ID.

The Dynamic Island is actually pretty interesting. It’s not just a static pill (versus the hole punch on most Android phones). And Dynamic Island expands depending on what you’re doing, displaying animations for many system actions like unlocking, playing music, timers, and so on.

It’ll even turn into a media player if you tap and hold the Dynamic Island while listening to music. In that way, you can access media controls without pulling down the Notification Center. 

Screen cutouts are here to stay for a while, at least until Apple figures out under-screen Face ID and under-display cameras get way better. But as someone who never truly got used to the notch — and has hated it since its inception — I like the Dynamic Island. Not only does it look better than the notch, it offers actual utility where its predecessor just sat there doing nothing.

The iPhone 14 Pro sports a stainless steel frame with a matte finish on the back glass — which is now removable for easier (but not cheaper) repairs. Apple’s Ceramic Shield coats the screen, providing extra durability. The phone clocks in at 7.3 ounces, a noticeable heft for such a diminutive device. And like the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro’s massive camera bump ensures that it does not lay level on a flat surface. This means the phone wobbles if you try to use it while it’s sitting on a table or counter. An iPhone 14 case may help with this.

I’m still not a fan of the squared off edges first introduced on the iPhone 12, but this isn’t the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 14 Pro’s more manageable size makes those sharp corners less cumbersome. The lighter weight also helps it not dig into your palm.

I like the iPhone 14 Pro’s new front design, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the same-y back. Apple takes a while to change things up, but this is the third generation of the squared-off look, which is less ergonomic than a curved back. I hope the iPhone 15 goes back to that design, but for now, the iPhone 14 Pro is more of the same in most respects. I just love the death of the notch.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Display

Samsung and Apple typically have the best smartphone displays on their respective handsets. The iPhone 14 Pro continues that trend. In fact, this is the best display I’ve ever seen on a phone. From the punchy colors to the insane brightness both indoors and outdoors, I have never enjoyed looking at a screen more than I do with the iPhone 14 Pro.

The iPhone 14 Pro's display improved slightly over the iPhone 13 Pro's, notably in color reproduction and accuracy. (Delta-E measures that, where 0 is perfect.) It, however, did not hit the 2,000-nit peak outdoor brightness in our measurements, even with a powerful testing equipment.

Returning this year is the 120Hz ProMotion display, able to clock down to 1Hz to save on battery power. That's is also key to the new always-on display.

I watched Blade Runner 2049 all the way through on this display, thrilled with incredible neons, dingy city scenes, and harsh oranges in the latter part of the film. The iPhone 14 Pro offered me the best viewing experience of this movie I’ve had, besting even my gaming monitor and TV. That’s impressive. 

Games look equally impressive. Genshin Impact with its saturated palette and anime-styling looked amazing, especially at the higher and smoother frame rates. Other titles like Pascal’s Wager (a gritty Bloodborne-style Souls-like), Dead Cells, and Asphalt 9 all also looked great. Thanks to the display and new chipset, gaming is an absolute treat on the iPhone 14 Pro.

I have no trouble imagining that Samsung will match the iPhone 14 Pro’s display quality when the Galaxy S23 series arrives in early 2024, but other Android phone makers have a huge hurdle to overcome to match this panel.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Cameras

Apple made sure the iPhone 14 Pro got some big camera upgrades this year. Chief among them is the new 48MP quad-pixel main sensor. While not unique to Apple’s phones, the iPhone 14 Pro can take a 12MP image that the phone has adapted to your lighting conditions with the whole sensor, but with four times the detail thanks to the quad pixel setup. If you want, you can get a whole 48MP image in ProRAW, which is wild.

The 12MP ultrawide sensor also saw a boost with a new sensor that’s twice as large as the one on theiPhone 13 Pro. The telephoto lens is still 3x. I had hoped to see at least 4x to match the Pixel 6 Pro, but Apple instead added 2x optical zoom to the main sensor. So you have four zoom options with the ultrawide’s 0.5x, the main lens’ 1x and 2x, and the telephoto’s 3x. 

A new feature for iPhones this year is the Photonic Engine, which all iPhone 14 models enjoy access to. It’s basically a new computational photography model that improves mid- and low-light photos by incorporating Apple’s Deep Fusion technology earlier in the pipeline before the frames get compressed. Photonic Engine promises to enhance dynamic range to bring out detail even in low-light pictures.

The selfie camera on the iPhone 14 Pro sees some improvements, too. Autofocus now comes standard, a feature I’ve been wanting to see for some time now. Apple says the TrueDepth camera’s faster aperture will ensure better low-light selfies, which I put to the test below. The front-facing camera also gets access to the Photonic Engine.

I pulled out the iPhone 14 Pro’s biggest camera rival, the Pixel 6 Pro, to see how these changes translate to actual photos.

Starting off with this shot of a produce stand, the race is extremely close. In fact, it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two photos. Colors are vibrant in both shots, especially the purple eggplants and red tomatoes. However, looking at the iPhone 14 Pro’s image, you can see it’s a bit brighter than the Pixel 6 Pro’s. The reflections in the tomatoes are more prominent, whereas the Pixel dialed things down a bit too much. 

Both have a strong natural look, but I find the iPhone 14 Pro more accurately captures the scene as I saw it. 

Staying outside with this photo of some signs and colored boards, both phones are once again neck and neck. I noticed that the Pixel 6 Pro’s shot is a bit dimmer since it was an overcast day, an effect I like better than the iPhone 14 Pro’s over-brightening. In the latter’s case, I think the colors got a wee bit too washed out, whereas they look more accurate in the Pixel’s picture. So the Pixel gets the win in this one.

Heading inside to this room with copious amounts of natural light, I found the same to be true as the comparison we just looked at. Both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro produced beautiful images of this table with some pumpkins. All of the colors look properly autumn-like and I find either shot warm and welcoming. That said, I think the iPhone cranked up the exposure more than necessary. The colors look a bit deeper in the Pixel’s photo, as do the shadows in the background.

For this first indoor test, I think the Pixel 6 Pro comes out on top with richer colors and better exposure control.

Looking at this bookshelf in my living room, the two photos are nigh indistinguishable. Considering the dark day and harsh artificial light, both phones performed admirably. The iPhone is a tad brighter than the Pixel, but I don’t see any washed out colors. I can easily read all of the book spines, too. My one nitpick is that the orange joycon down on the left looks more accurate in the Pixel’s picture, but overall, I can’t pick one as better than the other here.

For all of its improvements with lighting, I think the iPhone 14 Pro’s ultrawide camera goes a bit overboard. Looking at this scene, I see some of the colors off. For example, the pumpkins in the foreground look slightly too saturated, but the ones on the table look almost too overexposed. It’s a strange image and not something I really noticed on the phone’s display while out photographing.

Look at the Pixel 6 Pro’s ultrawide shot in comparison — there’s a slight difference because the Pixel is 0.7x versus the iPhone 14 Pro’s 0.5x. The colors are toned down and more accurate to my eye. There’s a ton of detail, but also a sense of softness where needed. The lighting is also just better. I don’t get the sense that the Pixel strayed too bright.

For all of its improvements with lighting, I think the iPhone 14 Pro’s ultrawide camera goes a bit overboard. Looking at this scene, I see some of the colors off. For example, the pumpkins in the foreground look slightly too saturated, but the ones on the table look almost too overexposed. It’s a strange image and not something I really noticed on the phone’s display while out photographing.

Look at the Pixel 6 Pro’s ultrawide shot in comparison — there’s a slight difference because the Pixel is 0.7x versus the iPhone 14 Pro’s 0.5x. The colors are toned down and more accurate to my eye. There’s a ton of detail, but also a sense of softness where needed. The lighting is also just better. I don’t get the sense that the Pixel strayed too bright.

Heading up to the upper end of either phone’s optical zoom, here’s the same building at 3x for the iPhone 14 Pro and 4x for the Pixel 6 Pro. I think the iPhone’s shot looks a bit better than the one previously. Colors are more in check and the exposure controls appear more in line with what I’d like to see. 

That’s not to say that the Pixel is any worse. This 4x photo is very good. Colors are incredibly accurate, I appreciate the sharp details around the wood and plants, and it’s a very good shot overall. I also like that the Pixel can shoot at 4x, which offers more versatility compared to the iPhone’s 3x. I will call a draw on this one.

 Wrapping up zoomed photos, here’s a comparison between the iPhone 14 Pro’s max digital zoom at 15x and the Pixel 6 Pro’s at 20x. This is where you can see evidence of Google’s excellent Super Res Zoom, which uses AI to clean up a zoomed-in image. The pumpkin sign is a little clearer and less blurry, despite my naturally shaky hands. The Pixel wins here.

I grabbed a couple of night shots to test either phone. The first one is outside with this bowl of fruit on my pergola. You can see some wildly different approaches to this nighttime scene. The iPhone 14 Pro gave me a warm image, full of vibrant colors, sharp focus, and excellent exposure control. I like how good this looks.

I’m not a huge fan of the Pixel 6 Pro’s photo. It’s far too cool given the warm deck lights above. It’s a little blurrier, showing that the phone had more trouble with my unsteadiness than the iPhone did. In this case, Apple’s Night mode has surpassed Google’s Night Sight — and I’m shocked.

To test the night modes in the dark indoors, here are some pumpkins. The purple decor one is very hard to see in the iPhone 14 Pro’s attempt. I found it difficult to make out too much detail in the ghost pumpkins, too. Considering the results of the last comparison, I’m floored at how badly the iPhone did here.

Just look at the Pixel 6 Pro’s image to see what I mean. Here, you can clearly see the purple of the pumpkin, as well as the details in the little guys. This shot is a reversal of fortune from outside and the Pixel easily wins the victory here.

For portraits, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro took different approaches. My photographer stood the same distance from me with either device, but you can see the obvious zoom differences. The iPhone got real close to me to create its portrait. It’s overall a pleasant image with good detail and focus, plus a nice bokeh effect. My beard looks a little less red than it normally is, though the iPhone played up the dark gold of it. 

Finally, the macro mode from the iPhone 13 Pro returns this year with the iPhone 14 Pro models. Here’s a test sample of that from the iPhone 14 Pro. The phone rendered this leaf in incredible detail, far better than my eye could see. I’m floored, especially since I’m used to the atrocious macro cameras you find on a lot of cheap phones.

Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro cameras are incredible. I think the Photonic Engine goes a bit overboard sometimes, particularly in the ultrawide shots. But the Night mode outside amazed me, even if it fell flat indoors. The selfies are the best I’ve ever seen from front-facing cameras, smashing what the Pixel 6 Pro could do. 

iPhone 14 Pro review: Video

Apple stepped up its dominance with smartphone video this year. Not only does Cinematic mode, introduced with the iPhone 13, return (now available in 4K 30 fps), but the iPhone 14 Pro can record up to 4K 60 fps or 4K 30 fps in ProRes (on the 256GB and larger models).

New this time around is Action mode. This is basically extreme stabilization for video with Apple claiming that you don’t need a gimbal when shooting video on the move.

Suffice to say, I’m amazed. Action mode made it look like a natural sway in my step, not the jerky movements that the camera’s image stabilization attempted to correct.

Action mode supports up to 2.8K 60 fps and works with Dolby Vision and ProRes. The iPhone 14 Pro also features smoother zoom transitions in videos. Previous models could be janky when switching zoom levels, but zooming looks a lot better in my experience on the iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Performance

The iPhone 14 Pro sports the new A16 Bionic chipset, Apple Silicon’s latest chip built on the new 4nm process. It features a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. It has many improvements over the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro, such as a new display engine (which helps with the new always-on display feature), new image signal processor, and more power efficiency.

Just look at that generational improvement in Geekbench, and how much of a lead Apple enjoys over Samsung and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The other test results mostly show some slight improvements, though you'll notice that the iPhone 14 Pro got the exact same time as the iPhone 13 Pro in the Adobe Premiere Rush 4K-1080p transcode benchmark.

In practice, the iPhone 14 Pro is a poweruser’s dream. It’s got power for days, more than enough for most tasks. Gaming is no problem, with the iPhone 14 Pro maintaining consistently smooth frame rates in all of the games I tested. The A16 Bionic also shines in video editing on the fly, even 4K ProRes footage. You can apply effects and edits on the go with the phone barely experiencing a hiccup.

The Android competition has even more ground to cover now, though the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 has gotten closer to Apple — at least in terms of last year’s Apple silicon. I don’t expect the second-generation Tensor from Google to come even close to the A16 Bionic, but Google hasn’t aimed for the performance crown. Tensor is leading the pack on AI smarts, so it’ll be interesting to see how the iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro stack up when it comes to machine learning-focused applications.

I think the A16 Bionic has more power than most people need, but there’s something ever so satisfying about having more headroom than you’ll probably ever use. I get that same sense of satisfaction with the iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Battery life and charging

The iPhone 13 Pro wowed me with its battery life, scoring 11 hours and 46 minutes in the Tom’s Guide battery life test. So I had high hopes for the iPhone 14 Pro. I thus far have not been disappointed. 

However, in our custom battery life test — where we set a phone's display to 150 nits and task the device to endlessly reload web pages over a cellular connection — the iPhone 14 Pro turned in a less than stellar result. Here's what we found.

In our test, the iPhone 14 Pro fell two hours short of the iPhone 13 Pro under the same conditions. We don't know the battery capacity yet, but rumor has it that Apple increased the size for the iPhone 14 Pro. 10 hours is the average we like to see, so the battery life here isn't bad, but not on the level we saw last year — or on the same playing field as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

Anecdotally, I had no trouble with the iPhone 14 Pro's battery life. It powered through hours upon hours of photography, plus many hours of idling and some light usage before I had to recharge it. That accounted for two days, which is no small feat. iOS 16 could be messing with our benchmark, so I might test it again when Apple has released some updates to address the update's battery life issues.

The major letdown in this area is that Apple stuck with 20W wired charging for the iPhone 14 Pro with 15W MagSafe and 7.5W Qi. Apple claims you can get a 50% charge in 30 minutes, but we’ll test that for ourselves.

So while I don’t have hard numbers for you yet, I think the iPhone 14 Pro will easily earn a spot on our list of the best phone battery life. Be sure to check back in the next few days to see the handset’s results in our test.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Software

The iPhone 14 Pro comes with iOS 16 out of the box. We’ve already broken down everything iOS 16 for you over the course of the last few months, so be sure to check out our iOS 16 review if you’d like to learn more about all of the features.

I have two things I like most about iOS 16: the lock screen and the Focus enhancements. The latter excited me because I recently took the time to hone in my Focus modes, and now I can set custom lock screens and filters to different Focus modes. I love this. 

Apple has unlocked the lock screen for a ton of customization. You can add widgets, change the clock typeface, choose all kinds of effects for backgrounds, and so on. iOS 16 lets you create multiple lock screens to switch between at your leisure. My current main lock screen has a calendar widget, the weather, and the battery level of my Apple Watch.

However, while all compatible iPhones will have a similar iOS 16 experience, the iPhone 14 Pro enjoys exclusive access to the Dynamic Island. I already touched on this earlier, but at launch, the Dynamic Island is an impressive notch replacement. Apple says the relevant APIs are open to developers, so third-party apps can join in to take advantage of the Dynamic Island with alerts. Some have already come onboard, like Spotify, WhatsApp, Audible, and Instagram.  

My time with the iPhone 14 Pro and the Dynamic Island was limited, but there are a host of first-party services that interact with it. Some include Apple Pay, Face ID, Phone incoming calls, plus live activities like ongoing calls, SharePlay, timers, now playing media, and Maps directions.

All told, iOS 16 is best experienced on the iPhone 14 Pro. Not only does the A16 Bionic and ProMotion display make the system appear utterly flawless, but the Dynamic Island truly enhances the overall feel of the OS. Going back to iOS 16 on the iPhone 13 Pro Max felt like a watered down version in comparison — it didn’t take long for me to adjust to the Dynamic Island and find it a crucial part of the iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 14 Pro review: Verdict

I am confident in saying that, based on my usage and time with the device, the iPhone 14 Pro is the best phone Apple’s made. (I’m not a fan of big phones, so the 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 14 Pro Max doesn’t appeal to me.) Tom’s Guide’s Content Director Mark Spoonauer would argue that the new Pro Max is the superior device — and he might be right, given the Pro Max's longevity — but apart from battery life and screen size, these two phones boast the same capabilities. 

With its incredible cameras, beautiful display, and powerful performance, the iPhone 14 Pro outshines any of the competition. It’s faster, smoother, and its cameras win out against everything else, even the Pixel 6 Pro (though it’s a close call in some areas).

The biggest downside to the iPhone 14 Pro is the lack of a physical SIM tray in the U.S. models, which might irritate some people. I was also less than impressed with the device in our battery life test.

For $999, you can’t go wrong with the iPhone 14 Pro. It’s less worthwhile of an upgrade over the iPhone 13 Pro, but anything older pales in comparison. Even the iPhone 12 Pro trails the iPhone 14 Pro, given the older phone’s lackluster (at best) battery life. 

I think that the iPhone 14 Pro is truly the best phone that Apple has ever released, crushing everything else before it. It easily earns my utmost recommendation.

There’s a very consistent theme to the base model iPhone 14 reviews: It’s not good enough to justify paying $100 more than the (now) $699 iPhone 13. If you want a new phone this year, spend the extra on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Indeed, of the early reviews, I’ve only spotted one which didn’t boil down to this advice …

The Verge isn’t overly impressed, saying it’s too similar to the iPhone 13, and too different from the iPhone 14 Pro.

The iPhone 14 is good. You probably shouldn’t buy an iPhone 14.

If those two phrases sound at odds with each other, then let me explain. The iPhone 14 is highly capable. Its chipset can handle everything from day-to-day tasks to graphics-intensive gaming. Its cameras are capable of very good photos, and it records the best video clips you’ll see from any phone in its class. This is all true of the 14, but it’s also true of the iPhone 13.

The iPhone 14 is a very good phone, with a handful of useful upgrades over the 13. But it’s a small handful, and that leaves the 14 in a tight spot. The iPhone 13, which came out a year ago and Apple is still selling, is nearly identical to the 14 and $100 cheaper, while the iPhone 14 Pro introduces a lot of interesting new features. 

CNBC echoes this view:

The regular iPhone 14 […] is a small update over last year’s iPhone 13. It starts at $799 and has upgraded cameras over the iPhone 13, slightly improved graphics processing and the same car-crash and satellite SOS features in the iPhone 14 Pro. But, it’s missing the following features that you can get in the Pro:

– The cameras are new, but they aren’t as sharp as the ones on the iPhone 14 Pro.
– There’s still no ProMotion display, so scrolling isn’t as smooth on the Pro.
– The sides are made of aluminum instead of stainless steel.
– The iPhone 14 uses last year’s A15 chip, but with an additional graphics processing core for improved gaming performance.
– There’s no always-on display and no Dynamic Island.

Engadget, too, says this is not a worthwhile upgrade from the 13.

The best way to distinguish between the iPhone 13 and 14 is by looking for the SIM tray on the left. The new phone doesn’t have one. Other than that, the only difference this year are the new color options (purple and blue). I like them, but they don’t inspire the same sort of lust in me that the green iPhone 12 or pink iPhone 13 did […]

I’m kind of upset that Apple still hasn’t upgraded the iPhone 14’s screen. It still runs at 2,532 x 1,170 and a mere 60Hz. What gives? The last generation was already woefully outdated with its slow refresh rate. When I switch between the iPhone 14 and the 14 Pro, I immediately notice how much choppier scrolling is on the regular phone […]

Compared to the previous generation, though, this year’s cameras aren’t a huge step up. Photos I shot with the iPhone 14 and 13 were very similar […]

The iPhone 14 is very similar to the iPhone 13, which itself was very similar to the iPhone 12. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone — it’s just less of an upgrade for anyone using a phone that’s only two years old. You’ll notice a bigger difference if you’re going to the iPhone 14 from the 11 or older, since new features like Emergency SOS via Satellite and crash detection are hopefully things you won’t need to use much. For those people, the iPhone 14 will be a satisfying daily driver.

The WSJ also falls into this camp. Joanna Stern’s view is go Pro or go home.

Forgive me friends for what I’m about to say: You should just buy this year’s $999-and-up iPhone Pros […]

The regular iPhone 14’s screen looks exactly the same as the 13. It even looks to me the same as the iPhone 12, though Apple says it’s brighter […]

[As for the cameras,] in my low-light testing, I didn’t see a 49% improvement. In fact, when I shared a group of photos with colleagues without telling them which phone took which, some ranked shots with the 13 above the 14. They ranked all those shots above any taken with the 11 and 12 […]

Given that the $799 iPhone 14 isn’t substantially better than the now-$699 iPhone 13, I can see why some may want to just save the $100 […] So, is it worth spending $200 extra to go Pro? You know where I stand—on the dynamic island.

The Washington Post didn’t mince any words:

Get out your magnifying glass. Apple’s iPhone 14 is better than the iPhones that have come before it. But you’re going to have to look really, really close to even notice.

How close? In our camera tests, we had to study one shot for 15 minutes to tell it apart from a photo taken on a three-year-old iPhone 11 Pro. “Solid but subtle” is how we would describe the iPhone 14 upgrade, including an emergency satellite connection we hope you’ll never need, modest battery gains, and a new shape for the front cutout on the 14 Pro models.

TechCrunch offers rare disagreement, arguing that the base model has plenty to commend it.

For the second year in a row, Apple delivers a really enticing ‘entry’ point to the new lineup […]

With the excellent base of the A15 bionic, a brand new main sensor with a 49% (not 50, never catch Apple lacking, they use number numbers) better light gathering and access to the new image pipeline with the Photonic Engine – and all of the new safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite, the iPhone 14 becomes a really, really tempting buy. When you add to this that the color palate of options available is bolder and more fun than the somewhat reserved Pro lineup and you’ve got a killer looking deal.

The iPhone 14 is pleasant to use, friendly to look at and extremely capable. The lack of the advanced cameras in the iPhone 14 Pro is leavened a bit by the image pipeline delivering Action Mode, 24p 4k shooting and improved zoom interpolation while filming. Those could easily have been reserved for the Pro models and I doubt anyone but some close observers would have complained. But you get all of it.

And this year they even have ‘the big one’ [iPhone 14 Plus] if that’s what you’re into.

iPhone 14 reviews wrap-up

It’s no surprise that most reviewers dedicated much more time, and many more words, to the iPhone 14 Pro. If you’re upgrading from an older phone, you might find the iPhone 14 a worthwhile upgrade, but the smart money seems to be on paying the extra for the Pro model, or holding onto your cash.

It is, though, worth bearing in mind that none of the reviews cover the iPhone 14 Plus. If you want a large screen without paying the big bucks for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, that could well be the perfect upgrade. Reviews for this model are likely to drop next month, ahead of availability.

iOS 16 will launch later today. Announced during the WWDC 2022 keynote in June, iPhone users will finally be able to take advantage of this operating system. Here are the five best features of iOS 16 that I think you’ll love to take advantage of.

Edit, unsend, and unread Messages on iOS 16

iOS 16 is bringing some major improvements to iMessage. When it’s available to all users, you’ll have 15 minutes to edit and two minutes to unsend any messages. This is very useful when you misspelled a word or send the wrong message to the wrong person.

When editing a message, Apple will now show the history of the edited message plus the user will have up to five chances to edit that content.

Unread, on the other hand, is useful to help you keep track of what messages you want to answer later. It’s important to notice that at least edit and unsend message features will need all devices to be running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13 Ventura, or watchOS 9.

A brand new Lock Screen to your current iPhone

The most important feature of iOS 16 – or at least the most noticeable – is the new Lock Screen. It offers a handful of new customization, letting you edit the Lock Screen almost any way you want.

It’s easy to customize the font, color, or placement of elements on your Lock Screen by tapping them. With a multilayered photo effect, photo subjects are dynamically displayed in front of the time to make the subject of the photo pop.

In addition, you can also add, for the first time, widgets to the Lock Screen in iOS 16 — and not only widgets made by Apple, but third-party widgets as well.

• iOS 16 beta adds music and podcast preview on Lock Screen

iOS 16 brings groundbreaking Live Text feature to video

Live Text was already great with iOS 15. You could grab information from a photo by selecting the text available, a telephone or address, for example.

Now, with Live Text in videos, the text is completely interactive in paused video frames, so you can use functions like copy and paste, lookup, and translate.

In addition, Live Text with iOS 16 adds recognition of Japanese, Korean, and Ukrainian text. Last but not least, data detected in photos and videos is actionable with a single tap. Track flights or shipments, translate foreign languages, convert currencies, and more.

Focus Mode is getting even more useful in iOS 16

With iOS 15, I said Focus Mode was the most important feature of the update. Now, this function is getting even better.

For example, the Lock Screen can link with your Focus Mode. So if you’re working, your Lock Screen will reflect the Focus set.

With Focus filters, you can set Apple apps like Calendar, Mail, Messages, and Safari to draw boundaries for each Focus you enable. In addition, you can have a Focus turn on automatically at a set time or location, or while using a certain app, which is more useful than just a particular time.

For a passwordless future, meet Passkeys in iOS 16

Passkeys plans to replace passwords with an easier and safer sign-in method by using your face or fingerprint with Face ID/Touch ID.

It’s protected against phishing and website leaks, since passkeys never leave your device and are specific to the site you created them for, making it almost impossible for them to be phished or hacked.

In addition, Passkeys syncs across devices and lets you sign in to other devices. Apple says that it is trying to reach an industry standard so you can sign in to websites or apps on other devices, including non-Apple devices, with your saved passkey by scanning the QR code with your iPhone or iPad and using Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate.

Wrap up

These are the five iOS 16 features that I consider the most important. Which is your favorite feature in this operating system? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.