Apple iPhone 14 review: gentle evolution rather than revolution

Familiar style and minor upgrades ensure Apple's vanilla iPhone 14 is a safe bet even if it won't rock your world.

A photo of the iPhone 14
(Image: © Basil Kronfli)

Our Verdict

If you're an Apple fan who's upgrading from an iPhone X or 11, the Apple iPhone 14 could be a smart choice, but if you have the more recent iPhone 12 or 13, you probably won't want to upgrade just yet. After all, the 14's main spec bumps won't be noticeable for most, even if it does deliver a reliably good experience, ample power, and a capable camera system.

For

  • Premium design and water resistance
  • Great speakers and sound tuning
  • Fantastic app support

Against

  • Very familiar styling
  • Poor camera mix given high price
  • Slow charging versus competition

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There's very little new in the iPhone 14 versus the 13. It's got the same design, screen tech, processor, and, now the 13 series has been updated to iOS 16 – the same operating system too. So what's actually new this time around?

The new iPhone 14 brings crash detection to the line-up, which is obviously a helpful feature should you be unlucky enough to need it. It also supports satellite communication in case of emergencies, as well as slightly smaller bezels surrounding the screen, improved repairability, and heat management. Most notably, however, the 14 has new camera sensors, which should mean better images, as well as a new Action Mode when shooting video.

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