I still remember the first moment I held the iPhone 14 Plus in my hand. It almost felt like picking up a dumbbell at the gym and discovering that it was much lighter than you expected. It’s a moment many folks are likely to experience at an Apple store near you. Blame it on the extra heft we’re used to with Apple’s Pro Max devices over the past few years that have hovered around the 240gm mark or travel back in time to the iPhone 7 Plus or the 8 Plus that felt much bulkier compared to their smaller siblings. It’s a very different experience with the iPhone 14 Plus. It’s this form factor that might end up being the key differentiator for the first Apple device with the ‘Plus’ moniker in a while.
It’s Plus over the mini
I’ve always enjoyed using small-sized smartphones even as we’ve all gravitated towards larger screens. It’s why I’ve enjoyed using the iPhone 13 mini and the SE. Apple’s decision to ditch the mini in favour of the iPhone 14 Plus is a clear indication of customer preferences in 2022. The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 is now the lightest phone in Apple’s 2022 portfolio. Of course, you can still buy the 2021 iPhone 13 mini. The Plus is pitched at those who need the extra screen real estate and a more robust battery. It’s essentially a stretched version of the iPhone 14 and that might well be a masterstroke.
Feels great in your hand
The iPhone 14 Plus is not just almost 20% lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it’s also marginally lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro that sports a 6.1-inch display. It’s the choice of an aluminium chassis (versus the surgical grade stainless steel in the 14 Pro duo) that makes a significant difference. Just like the iPhone 14 and last year’s iPhone 13, the Plus looks premium. You get the same diagonal placement of the two rear lenses. This year Apple has created the glass black as a separate layer on the iPhone 14 and the 14 Plus that minimises repair costs in the event of damage from a drop. I found the Plus much easier to hold for long periods of time while gaming or working on documents. This entire review was typed on the
iPhone 14 Plus.
You don’t need to look under the hood
There was a lot of discussion and trolls around Apple’s decision to package the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus with the same A15 Bionic processor as last year’s iPhone 13 quartet. While the newer A16 Bionic processor brings more enhancements, most average users are unlikely to notice any significant difference. I pushed this device over the edge with multitasking and our usual gaming tests and it didn’t flinch.
Just iPhone (plus) things
The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display is the calling card for the iPhone 14 Plus. The OLED display (2778 x 1284 pixels / 458 PPI) delivers great colours and deep blacks and is certainly worth the Rs 10,000 premium (over the iPhone 14) if you binge watch or game a lot on your phone. It’s also a smart option, given the terrific battery life on the iPhone 14 Plus. Straight off the bat, this is the best battery life I’ve experienced on any iPhone, ever.
A dependable camera
The other change over last year’s iPhone 13 is the slight enhancement to the aperture in the primary 12MP cam that Apple claims impacts lowlight camera performance by 39%. We didn’t notice a significant overall jump in camera performance but there are two key improvements – lowlight images and the new Action mode (that’s also available on the iPhone 14 that shares the same camera as the Plus) that we also experienced on the 14 Pro Max. It manages to adjust against shakes and bumps and is perfect for those outdoor routines. The iPhone 14 Plus and the 14 also benefit from Apple’s big computational photography which is centred around Photonic Engine that delivers on the Apple promise of deep integration between the hardware and software.
Should you go Plus?
We’ve answered this question before but we think the iPhone 14 Plus is perfect for those who need the extra screen size and battery life. It’s worth the 30 gm extra heft and the slight premium. It misses out on the Telephoto lens on the Pro Max and the LTPO display. If those features don’t matter that much and you still want the extra screen real estate, the iPhone 14 Plus is a no-brainer especially if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 12 or earlier. This might well be the popular choice for most consumers looking for an iPhone this year.
The iPhone 14 Plus costs Rs 89,900/128GB, Rs 99,900/256GB and Rs 1,19,000/512GB. It’s
available in midnight, blue, starlight, purple, and (PRODUCT) RED . There’s a cashback of
Rs 7,000 on HDFC Bank cards.
