This would have been a ‘non’ discussion last year. For quite a few years now, you had to shell out top dollar (or rupee) if you wanted to buy the iPhone with the largest screen and the best battery. The iPhone 14 Plus has changed all that. It’s added an interesting element to the 2022 iPhone 14 portfolio that also includes the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro twins. At a starting price of just under Rs 90K, it’s Rs 50,000 cheaper than the iPhone 14 Pro Max but gives you a robust battery and a big screen. Should you go with the 14 Plus and save the extra bucks or go Pro?

Chill pill or notch?

Once you get over the name – Dynamic Island, you will enjoy the functionality of the cut-out reserved for this year’s Pro siblings. The Notch has shrunk to a new pill-shaped cut-out that houses Face ID components and the front facing camera. It isn’t just visibly smaller than the Notch but also adds a whole new, intuitive navigation experience. You can stay on your primary display even as you control ongoing background activities. It’s the same old notch on the iPhone 14 Plus, an iPhone constant since 2017. It’s not just Dynamic Island, the 14 Pro Max features a more immersive display with ProMotion and 120Hz refresh rate. It’s also brighter (2,000 nits of peak brightness) compared to the iPhone 14 Plus that peaks at 1,200 nits. If you’re a compulsive gamer, then the 120Hz refresh rate and the smoother scrolling makes a difference but if you’re just catching occasional videos or the odd show on Netflix, the 14 Plus might just be all the display you need

Raw power

Many platforms have not taken kindly to Apple’s decision to kit the iPhone 14 and the 14 Plus with the same A15 bionic chip that powered the 2021 iPhones. I don’t believe that’s a deal breaker. The 14 Plus slayed every task we threw at it and given how iPhones age, you’re covered for the next few years. Yes, the A16 bionic chip under the hood of the Pro Max is cutting edge but it’s not something that should influence your choice between these two devices.

Stellar design

While the notch might seem dated, the 14 Plus is a good-looking device. The Pro Max boasts of a premium stainless-steel finish but it’s likely to be concealed behind a back cover unless you’re one of those brave folks who carry your Pro Max without a case. At 203 gm 14 Plus is the perfect heft. It’s about 20% lighter than the Pro Max and is a tad lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro. It’s this lighter form despite a large battery that is one of our favourite features of the 14 Plus. It’s also easier to repair thanks to a new redesign that allows the back glass and the screen to be removed separately at a lower cost than before. ifFixit did a tear down that demonstrates this in a blog post. If you’re worried about maintenance costs or you’re prone to damaging phones with your butter fingers, this is something to keep in mind.

No-contest

The Pro Max has a clear advantage when it comes to camera creds. The iPhone 14 Pro Max (and Pro) becomes the first iPhone to feature a 48MP main camera that gets a boost from a quad-pixel sensor. It adapts to the photo being captured and features second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization. Lowlight images look visibly better even as you capture them at a practical photo size of 12MP. You can shoot at ProRAW at 48MP if you need more details, but you will need a lot of storage to accommodate the large size files on your iPhone. Overall, the results were terrific. You get some of the cool Apple tools like Cinematic Mode and the new Action mode on the iPhone 14 Plus though. You will need a Pro Max if zoom photography is a key purchase driver. The 14 and 14 Plus miss out on a telephoto lens.

Pro or Plus

If you’re one of those types who lives life on the cutting edge, upgrades your phone every year and needs the best iPhone, you already know what you want. In our tests the 14 Plus has the edge in the battery department. The Pro Max did better once we disabled the Always-On display, but I wouldn’t recommend that. This new feature is one of our favourite add-ons on the Pro devices this year. The iPhone 14 Pro Max brings the best of Apple with a best of breed processor, superior camera and display. If these features are not dealbreakers, then the 14 Plus might be all the big iPhone you need and offer you a significant saving.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,39,900 while the iPhone 14 Plus starts at Rs 89,900