As can be expected, these are the appropriate words to say for a device Apple iPhone 14. The introduction of the day period has raised more questions than excitement among users. Although most of the elements, features and functions offered are the same as previous models.
The only noticeable difference is in the internal hardware which only received minor updates to the GPU and camera software. This is in line with what we have said in previous articles that the iPhone 14 has minor changes in the same body. But how great is this new Apple device? This is our full review.
Device Specifications
Apple iPhone 14
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen, 2532 x 1170 pixels, (460ppi), 60Hz
Apple A15 Bionic processor
Avalanche 2-core chip
4-core Blizzard
5 Core GPU Graphics Chip
RAM 6GB LPDDR5
128/256/512GB NVMe Internal Storage
Main Camera 12+12 Megapixel f/1.5+f/2.4, Photonic Engine
Selfie Camera 12 Megapixel f/1.9, AF, Photonic Engine
3279 mAh battery
20W wired charging
15W MagSafe charging
7.5W wireless charging
SIM/Nano Telephony/5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Face ID Face Scanner Scan System
Sale Price RM 4199 (128GB)
RM 4699 (256GB)
RM 5699 (512GB)
This year Apple no longer includes a mini model in the range of new devices. Instead they put the iPhone 14 as the most basic model. However it is not a problem at all, instead the average user talks about the design and internal hardware. Putting it side by side with the iPhone 13 looks like two identical moths because it doesn't show any changes. Two large main camera lenses with an arrangement crossing each other with the LED Flash are kept in the same position.
Also retained are the flat sides with a stainless metal build matched with a glossy back panel. We have to say that there is no problem with the back panel that is too easily dirty with fingerprints but it is not completely beautiful. The use of a frame and screen protector is also highly recommended unless you are a really careful and money-minded user who will dare to use this iPhone without those two things. At the same time, the use of the frame also helps a little to prevent the device's main lens from being easily scratched.
Apple's decision to keep all of this is not a big issue in our opinion. In fact the device remains beautiful without sacrificing ergonomic features. At the same time, it also feels very comfortable and neat in the hand. In simple terms, the usage experience is much more practical compared to devices with curved screens. The bezel on the iPhone 14 looks a little thicker than the previous model, but the even thickness makes the front of the screen very balanced and just fun to use.
Like the majority of Apple devices on the market, the large notch that houses the selfie camera and the Face ID system is still present on the forehead of the device. This is in contrast to more premium models such as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max which come with Dynamic Island support. But the question is this large notch bezel interferes with use? The answer depends on the user himself. There are some users who are not satisfied because it is considered to block content that is viewed in full screen. But there are also those who do not care at all about the existence of this notch.
Next, the screen is a type of OLED that supports Super Retina resolution (600ppi), in addition to HDR and True Tone Display features to ensure that colors are displayed consistently at all times. Under bright sunlight, the display can still be read easily, in addition, Malaysia experiences an equatorial climate that is hot and humid throughout the year. This can also affect the user experience when outside the building.
Then the power button can be found on the right side, followed by two buttons for audio adjustment and a built-in mute switch on the left side. Also to be found is a slot for a SIM tray, then it should be noted that the iPhone 14 model without a physical SIM slot is only limited to the United States market so far. Next the Lightning charging port can be found on the underside flanked by two speaker audio grills.
The speaker is a type of stereo, one of which is placed in the earpiece on the top bezel of the device's screen. The device is also loaded with IP68 capability which indirectly acts as additional protection to prevent a number of components from being exposed to dust and liquid. As usual, there is no 3.5mm audio jack included.
Usage Experience
The screen is really beautiful with vibrant color display as can be expected from an Apple device. The color processing is quite good and colorful with the visual content looking beautiful. Satisfactory enough to be used for reading and multimedia without chronic issues. Next, even though the screen is only 60Hz, the performance is good with a satisfactory scrolling experience.
However, it depends on the user's own acceptance because some may think it is a bit disappointing when Apple simply includes a 60Hz screen on a device that costs RM4,000 and above. While there are only basic Android devices with a lower price capable of including a screen with a high refresh rate of at least 90Hz.
Apart from that, existing iPhone users who are used to screens with ProMotion and 120Hz technology such as the iPhone 13 Pro and while with it may be faced with the issue of relatively slow animation transitions on this device. This is the situation one of our editors experienced while doing a review for the iPhone 14 Plus previously. However, for iPhone users with a screen without Pro Motion, it can be said that there is no problem because the screen is smooth and fast, especially on Apple's own applications.
Next, the combination of a good screen size of 6.1-inch also makes us have no problem holding this device. Through it all surfaces can be accessed using one hand very easily. However, it depends on the size of each palm and if you want a bigger screen, you can get the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus.
The iOS 16 operating system used is the latest version offered by Apple. In general there are no major changes to the main interface of the device as it seems to focus more on adding features rather than reworking the interface on the system. All elements of the interface are still minimalistic and neat, at the same time easy to use. An Android device-like lock screen customization feature is also offered that allows users to save a personal theme with their own font design.
One thing that might disappoint is the absence of the Always On Display system that might excite some users. But not on us as we are used to this feature on Android devices. In fact, we also don't use it because it affects the battery life of the device. No chronic problems were found during the review, in fact the experience of use was quite good and satisfactory.
Another interesting feature that is also loaded on the iPhone 14 is Crash Detection, which is an automatic accident detection feature. It is a feature that allows the device to detect violations and an emergency call will be made after 10 seconds of no response. But it should be emphasized that the violation referred to here is the result of a traffic accident. Otherwise, the device will not be able to detect. An example situation is simple, an alarm sound and time alarm will be activated as soon as the device detects any serious car violation.
Then an emergency call to the appropriate party will be made along with information about the location of the accident. A disclaimer here we didn't even try it because it required an actual accident to happen. This partnership is based on what Apple explained during the recent WWDC. In the meantime, this feature is also believed to trigger accidental detection for some other incidents such as riding rollercoasters and bumper cars. Citing a Wall Street Journal report, as many as six such incidents have been reported at the Kings Island theme park located in Cincinnati so far.
Bench mark
The A15 Bionic chip used is the same as the previous model. However, the GPU capabilities have been improved which now has five cores instead of the previous four. This at the same time allows it to perform better, at the same time the interior design is also updated for better efficiency. Another improvement is that the memory capacity is now adjusted to 6GB of RAM for all iPhone 14 models this year compared to only 4GB on the iPhone 13.
The storage options differ depending on the type of model and the iPhone 14 is available in three variations that include 128GB/256GB/512GB. Next, the Antutu and Geekbench 5 benchmark test results also show a small gap for performance compared to the previous iPhone 13. For comparison, we've also included the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 alongside it.
Geekbench 5
Apple iPhone 14 – 1747/4786
Apple iPhone 13 – 1723/4639
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 1875/5469
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 1298/3963
Antutu 3D
Apple iPhone 14 – 845,895
Apple iPhone 13 – 816,065
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 980,346
WildLife Extreme
Apple iPhone 14 – 2,924
Apple iPhone 13 – 2,498
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 – 2798
Camera
The main dual-camera is 12+12 Megapixels that uses wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses. Also included are 2X optical and 5X digital zoom capabilities. In addition, the selfie camera is also retained on the 12MP sensor with a wide-angle lens. The size of this sensor may look the same but there are some improvements given such as video recording in Cinematic Mode which now supports up to 4K HDR/30fps if necessary.
Next, a new technology called Photonic Engine was also introduced which according to Apple is very helpful in making photos look better. Especially for photography in low light without worrying about loss of details and darkening of colors.
There are no negative comments for the elements used on the camera application interface. The functions provided are diverse with the ability to choose between time-lapse, slo-mo, cinematic, video, photo, portrait and panorama functions. In order to access the Photogenic Engine feature, users need to access it on an additional menu that may be somewhat hidden. It works like a built-in 'filter' that can be adjusted with an emphasis on certain colors and tones. If I'm not mistaken, it resembles the Photographic Styles function found on the iPhone 13 Pro Max before.
Overall, the camera capabilities of this device are at a satisfactory level. Image reproduction shows sharp and vivid results in a variety of situations. The details on the objects are also well taken care of. At the same time, the color also looks balanced and exactly resembles the original condition. Next, the wide-angle picture is also attractive with good contrast. A night mode can also be found which is automatically activated when the camera detects low lighting levels. It can also be deactivated manually if necessary.
The results of night pictures also look good depending on the current situation. Through it, the noise problem is still visible and the Lens Flare issue also occurs in some situations, especially situations with excessive lighting. The results of selfies are fine with the ability to reproduce skin tones more naturally than a number of Android devices that are seen as excessive with built-in beauty features. Not to be left out, the video capabilities are also improved with built-in Action Mode capabilities that work like a gimbal.
Battery
Moving on to the 3279 mAh battery which is slightly larger than the 3227mAh on the previous iPhone 13. Through it, it is advertised as being able to operate for up to 20 hours for video playback, while audio playback can last up to 80 hours. The 20W charging system is also supported by a device that according to Apple can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes. Not to be left out, wireless charging through Qi and MagSafe is also supported by this device.
In terms of durability, the iPhone 14 can last more than 12 hours of use with the screen on for more than 10 hours where the battery level is 100% to 7%. This endurance then drops to around 7 hours with the screen on for over 4 hours for extreme use. Both of these uses are completely dependent on Internet data usage. It should be noted that the charging head must be purchased separately for those who have just purchased an iPhone device for the first time because it is not available in the purchase box.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x iPhone 14
1x USB-C to Lightning charging cable
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
1x Apple Sticker.
Conclusion
The iPhone 14 is just an iPhone 13 with minor changes to the internal components. Among the updates given are improved GPU capabilities, larger battery capacity, better focus on low-light recording and 6GB of RAM memory which is now standard for all models. The recycled body design is not a big issue but manages to maintain the premium value of the device itself. It is not only comfortable in the hand but also clearly proves that the user experience is what we can expect for a device from Apple.
We just think, there is no need for an iPhone 13 series user to upgrade to this device as there are no visible significant changes. The performance of the A15 Bionic chip is also still powerful so far, but the advantage for this new iPhone is the GPU used. With a starting price of RM4199, the iPhone 14 is now available in Malaysia with a number of storage variants depending on each use.
Pros:
Premium design & feels good in the hand.
The A15 Bionic processor is still powerful.
A camera system with built-in modes is interesting.
The selfie camera is equipped with autofocus.
Larger battery & memory capacity.
Cons:
Charging is still only 20W.
Expensive price for a small change.
Small chip performance improvement compared to iPhone 13.