Apple Cell Phones Review and Prices
What Is Apple?
Apple is a technology company founded in 1976 that is widely known for producing both technology hardware (phones and computers) and software (apps and programs). Apple was one of the first companies to mass-produce personal computers for household use. The iPhone, a flagship Apple product, launched in 2007 and was the first successful mobile phone with a screen-only interface. Other noteworthy Apple products include the wearable Apple Watch and the iPad, Apple’s tablet computer. Apple also owns the headphone company Beats as a subsidiary, and some of its recent digital accessories include AirPods (earbuds) and AirPods Max (headphones).
Cell Phones Reviewed:
Cell Phones Available From Apple
Apple iPhone 13 Review
(Apple)
Apple iPhone 13 » Buy at Amazon 4.0 U.S. News Rating Base Price $829.00 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 6.0 meters for 30 min
#3 in Best Cell Phones of 2022 (tie)
Pros: Fast, updated processor
Long battery life
Significantly water-resistant Cons: Slow display refresh rate (only 60 Hz)
No USB-C port
No telephoto camera lens
The iPhone 13 is built using Apple’s most updated processor, the A15 Bionic chip, so when it comes to phone speed and performance, it ranks toward the top of the pack. Compared to similarly priced competitors, it provides a long battery life (up to 19 hours of video playback, according to Apple), sports cameras that take Night Mode photos and videos, and features an OLED touchscreen.
The iPhone 13 OLED display uses a 60 Hz refresh rate, while some comparative smartphones provide a 120 Hz refresh rate. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the visual experience on the phone, which can be particularly important when it comes to gaming, but the gap between 60 Hz and 120 Hz is noticeable even for nongamers.
Professional reviewers point out that when it comes to improvements and upgrades, there isn’t much difference between the iPhone 13 and its predecessor, the iPhone 12. It still comes with Apple’s proprietary Lightning port instead of a USB-C port. And unlike the iPhone 13 Max Pro, which has a telephoto lens and can take macro photos, the iPhone 13 cameras don’t provide many more features than the iPhone 12 cameras.
The iPhone 13’s versatility and ease of use, its attractive design and array of color choices, and long battery life are three of its biggest strengths. It also provides a decent amount of storage for the base price, 128 GB (gigabytes), and users can purchase an iPhone 13 with up to 512 GB in storage, which is more than sufficient for most users.
Apple iPhone 13: Specs
Apple iPhone 13: Price
The base price for the iPhone 13 is $829.00, which is nearly twice as much as the iPhone SE (2022) at $429.00. The base model of the iPhone 13, however, comes with 128 GB storage as opposed to 64 GB for the iPhone SE, as well as an OLED screen instead of an LCD screen, and cameras with Night Mode and optical zoom. If the base model storage of the iPhone 13 won’t be sufficient, then users can scale up to 256 GB or 512 GB of storage at higher prices.
Apple iPhone 13: Design
The iPhone 13 features a 6.1-inch touch screen that stretches across the entire face of the phone, with a notch at the top of the screen to accommodate the front-facing camera. It also has two rear-facing cameras and a Lightning port at the base of the phone. Users can buy the phone in six different colors: Midnight (black), Starlight (white), red, green, blue or pink. It weighs a little over 6 ounces, measures just under 6 inches in height and just under 3 inches in width, and is a slim 0.30 inches wide.
Apple iPhone 13: Performance
A smartphone’s processor is the part of the phone that controls its speed and performance, like a processor in a computer, or the brain inside a body. Apple’s latest processor is the A15 Bionic chip, and professional reviewers agree that it provides a powerful and fast performance experience. The processor in the iPhone 13 is a 4-core GPU (graphics processing unit), an integrated graphics card that, as the name indicates, comprises four cores. Apple’s most advanced processor is the A15 Bionic 5-core GPU, which has five cores and can be found in the iPhone Max Pro 13.
Apple iPhone 13: Screen and Display
Smartphone screens come in two basic types: LCD (liquid crystal display) and OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens. An OLED screen offers better images because each pixel on the screen emits light, while the pixels on an LCD screen are backlit by light. The iPhone 13 comes with an all-screen 6.1-inch OLED display. The screen refresh rate is 60 Hz, which refers to how frequently (per second) the screen is able to display a new image. Many newer phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate, which can make activities such as gaming easier on phones, so the 60 Hz refresh rate could feel too slow for some game-loving users.
Apple iPhone 13: Ports and Audio
Like Apple’s other iPhone products, the iPhone 13 has a single Lightning port at its base. A Lightning port is Apple’s proprietary connector, which the company began using in 2012. Apple has since started making iPads with USB-C ports, but as of this generation, all iPhone ports are Lightning ports. There is no headphone jack for these phones, but users can either separately purchase a headphone-to-Lightning converter cable for any wired headphones, or use wireless listening devices that can connect to the iPhone via Bluetooth.
Apple iPhone 13: Cameras and Video
The iPhone 13 includes cameras that professional reviewers agree are fun and easy to use, and that produce brilliant color-saturated photos and videos. There are two rear-facing cameras on the iPhone 13, one wide-lens camera and one ultrawide-lens camera, both 12 megapixels. This allows the iPhone 13 to take photos and videos in Night Mode, giving more flexibility when it comes to low-light conditions.
The camera can record 4K video (the highest-resolution video available in an iPhone) at 24, 25, 30 or 60 frames per second (fps), as well as 1080-pixel HD video at 25, 30 or 60 fps, and HDR video with Dolby Vision up to 4K resolution at 60 fps. This capacity highlights some of the visual elements of the image (brightness and colors, for example). Users can edit both their photos and videos directly on the iPhone 13 using the included Photos app. The iPhone 13 video capabilities also feature audio zoom, or spatial filtering, to help users tune a video’s sound.
The front-facing camera on the iPhone 13 is a TrueDepth camera that takes 12 megapixel photos, plus it also offers Night Mode. The front-facing camera also includes a “cinematic mode” recording setting for video, which creates a shallow depth-of-field or what’s known as a bokeh, or blurred, background effect.
The iPhone 13 cameras are an improvement over the iPhone SE camera offerings, but the iPhone 13 lacks the telephoto lens that Apple put on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which allows the iPhone 13 Pro Max to take macro photographs and also provides significantly better digital zoom capabilities, 15x on the 13 Pro Max compared to 5x on the 13.
Apple iPhone 13: Charging Speed and Battery Life
Apple reports that the iPhone 13 reaches a 50% charge in 30 minutes, which is the same amount of time it takes to charge an iPhone 13 Pro Max or an iPhone SE (2022) to 50%. The only phone that outperformed this charging speed was the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which charges to 50% in 20 minutes. Battery life on the iPhone 13 is notably improved from previous iPhone versions, according to professional reviewers. The phone provides up to 19 hours of continuous video playback, four hours more than the iPhone SE.
Apple iPhone 13: Storage
The most basic version of the iPhone 13 (which costs $829.00) comes with 128 GB of storage. Because iPhones do not use SD or micro SD cards to expand storage capacity, users should purchase the phone with the amount of storage they think they will need throughout the phone’s lifetime. The iPhone 13 can also come with 256 GB of storage, double the basic version’s amount, or 512 GB of storage, but those cost more.
Apple iPhone 13: What’s Included
The iPhone 13 comes with a charging cord – a cable connecting USB-C to a Lightning connector – but it does not include a power adapter. Users will need to already own or buy a separate USB-C-compatible power adapter in order to charge the phone. The cable can also be used to connect the iPhone 13 to an Apple computer, either an iMac or a MacBook, that has a USB-C port. Users will also need to purchase headphones or earbuds (either wireless or wired with a headphone jack adapter) separately, as those items are not included with the purchase of an iPhone 13.
Apple iPhone 13 vs. the Competition
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra » Buy at Samsung Best Samsung Camera of 2022 4.0 U.S. News Rating Base Price $1,199.99 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.5 meters for 30 min
Apple iPhone 13 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most expensive and feature-laden phone that Samsung released this year, while the Apple iPhone 13 is Apple’s middle-of-the-road option based on cost and offered features. In terms of phone speed and performance, the two are comparable, but the Galaxy S22 Ultra has some extras that you won’t find on the iPhone 13, and the base model costs about $370 more than the iPhone 13.
While both phones use OLED displays, the display on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a bit bigger than the display on the iPhone 13 (6.8 inches compared to 6.1 inches), and the refresh rate on the Galaxy S22 is 120 Hz compared to the iPhone 13’s 60 Hz, giving the Galaxy a smoother visual experience than the iPhone.
The Samsung cameras are also standout performers, according to professional reviewers, who appreciate the larger sensor that lets in more light and creates better, brighter Night Mode photos. The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a telephoto lens for macro photography, which the iPhone 13 lacks.
Learn more in our Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review.
Google Pixel 5a » Buy at Amazon Best Value Cell Phone of 2022 3.9 U.S. News Rating Base Price $449.00 Storage 128 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.0 meter for 30 min
Apple iPhone 13 vs. Google Pixel 5a
The Google Pixel 5a is a more basic phone than the iPhone 13, which its price reflects at $449.00 compared with iPhone 13’s $829.00. The base models of both the Google Pixel 5a and the iPhone 13 come with 128 GB in storage, and the cameras and processing power are comparable, but the iPhone 13 offers a few more attractive features for users, including design and color options.
The battery life for both phones is on the longer side, and both include wide-lens and ultrawide-lens cameras on the rear. The iPhone 13 has a High Dynamic Range (HDR) display, while the Pixel 5a features a full-HD OLED display, but both offer a 60 Hz display refresh rate.
Professional reviewers praise Google’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital zoom, which the iPhone 13 lacks. And while the Google Pixel 5a comes in one color (black), users can select from six different iPhone 13 colors, including black (Midnight). But in most other ways, the phones are comparable, so price may be the deciding factor.
Learn more in our Google Pixel 5a review.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Review
(Apple)
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max » Buy at Amazon Best iPhone Camera of 2022 3.8 U.S. News Rating Base Price $1,099.00 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 6.0 meters for 30 min
#7 in Best Cell Phones of 2022 (tie)
Pros: Camera with telephoto lens
120 Hz ProMotion display
Long battery life Cons: Expensive
No USB-C port
Charging speed is average
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the highest-end phone available from Apple as of August 2022, and the company has packed the phone with all kinds of interesting features. It’s the first iPhone with a telephoto lens on the rear and the first with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanner, allowing users to take macro photographs and Night Mode portraits. With storage capacity up to 1 TB (terabyte) and featuring Apple’s fastest-ever processor, the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a slick performance experience for users. Its AMOLED screen with 120 Hz display refresh rate provides silky-smooth graphics rendering, which professional reviewers say is noticeably less jagged than the 60 Hz display refresh rates available on the iPhone 13.
Photography and video enthusiasts will appreciate the low-light and depth-of-field options that the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers. Users can shoot photos and record video with bokeh-style blurred backgrounds to contrast with the subjects in the foreground, in both well-lit and low-light conditions. The iPhone 13 Pro Max also features one of the longest-lasting batteries available as of August 2022, accommodating 28 hours of video streaming (Apple’s next-best performer, the iPhone 13, provides 19 hours). It comes in five colors.
Reviewers note that the 13 Pro Max’s larger size and heavier weight and average charge speed were the device’s biggest drawbacks. It’s also on the expensive side for what users get, as the iPhone 13 Pro Max costs $1,099.00 for a storage capacity of 128 GB. And, like Apple’s other iPhones, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is still using the company’s proprietary Lightning port instead of the more popular USB-C port.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Specs
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Price
The base price for the iPhone 13 Pro Max is $1,099.00, which comes with 128 GB in storage. Because iPhones use flash storage instead of SD cards, users must buy the phone with the amount of storage they think they will need throughout the phone’s lifetime. For an additional fee, users can double the amount of storage to 256 GB. Other storage options include 512 GB or 1 TB (terabyte), the most storage available on any iPhone as of August 2022. Its telephoto lens and extra features contribute toward this being the most expensive iPhone currently on the market.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Design
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is one of the largest and heaviest new phones available on the market, at almost 8.5 ounces and over 6 inches in height and 3 inches in width. The phone remains on the slim side at just 0.30 inches thick. There is one Lightning port at the base of the phone, three cameras on the rear, and a “selfie” camera on the phone’s face. The touchscreen covers the full face of the phone, with a notch at the top for the front-facing camera. It comes in five different color options: Sierra Blue, Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Alpine Green.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Performance
Just like a computer, a phone uses a processor in order to function. The processor controls the phone’s speed and performance, as well as its ability to execute commands. If phones were animals, then the processor would be equivalent to the phone’s brain. Apple’s latest processor, the A15 Bionic chip, comes in both four-core and five-core versions, of which the five-core version is the most powerful. The five-core processor inside the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max gives it the ability to handle a multitude of tasks and executions seamlessly and easily, according to professional reviewers.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Screen and Display
The touchscreen on the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is 6.7 inches and covers the entire face of the phone, with a notch at the top to accommodate the front-facing or “selfie” camera. It features a Super Retina XDR with ProMotion-enhanced OLED screen, where each screen pixel is self-illuminating, providing its own brightness and light. Pixels in the other popular type of phone screen, the LCD screen, are backlit, which is why these screens do not offer the same clarity and color saturation as OLED screens. The refresh rate on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is 120 Hz, which reviewers say provides an ultra-smooth visual experience for users.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Ports and Audio
Like every iPhone since 2012, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max features a Lightning port at its base. Lightning is an Apple-specific type of port and cable, and it is used to charge the iPhone as well as to physically connect it to other devices, such as a computer.
There are no headphone jacks on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Users can either obtain a headphone jack adapter for the iPhone’s Lightning port, which will work for wired headphones, or they can pair wireless headphones to the iPhone 13 Pro Max using Bluetooth technology.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Cameras and Video
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has added a third camera to the rear with a telephoto lens that allows users to take macro photographs. It also features a brand-new LiDAR Scanner, a laser scanner that optimizes Night Mode and autofocus capabilities in low light.
There are three rear-facing 12 MP (megapixel) cameras on the device. The telephoto lens is new, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max also features both a wide and an ultra-wide camera lens on the rear. The updated cameras allow the phone to take portrait Night Mode photographs, with a blurred background and sharp subject even in low-light conditions. The front-facing “selfie” camera is also a 12 MP camera.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max also offers significant video capabilities, including recording in cinematic mode, macro video recording (including slo-mo and time-lapse options), 1080-pixel and 4K video recording (including Dolby Vision recording, which enhances some color and brightness image aspects), digital zoom up to 9x, and audio zoom, which allows for audio filtering. This phone also offers ProRes video recording, which allows users to record high-quality video in a smaller, compressed file. The front-facing camera provides cinematic mode for video recording as well as ProRes recording, so users can capture high-quality video from either side of the phone.
Some professional reviewers agree that the cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra edge out the iPhone cameras in 2022, but not by much. The Night Mode on the Galaxy S22 Ultra allows a shade more flexibility when it comes to low-light shooting conditions, according to reviewers.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Charging Speed and Battery Life
The charging speed of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is on par with other Apple iPhones in our rating, which reach 50% charge in 30 minutes with the Lightning connector. However, the battery life for the iPhone 13 Pro Max is one of its best features, according to professional reviewers, and is significantly longer than both any other iPhone and longer than comparably priced phones from other vendors. Apple states that the iPhone 13 Pro Max provides up to 28 hours of video playback, a significant improvement over the iPhone 13, with up to 19 hours of video playback.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Storage
Apple does not make phones that are compatible with SD or micro SD cards, so users must purchase phones with the amount of storage they will want throughout the phone’s lifetime. The most basic iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with 128 GB of storage for $1,099.00. Given the enhanced photo and video capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this may not be enough storage to satisfy most users. Users can also select storage increments of 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB (terabyte)—the largest amount of storage available on any iPhone, but each storage upgrade comes with a higher price tag.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: What’s Included
As part of a stated commitment to the environment, Apple includes only the device itself and a USB-C-to-Lightning charging cable with all its phones. This means that to charge the phone, users will need to already own a USB-C power adapter, or they should purchase one separately. Alternatively, users can charge their iPhone 13 Pro Max by plugging it into an iMac or MacBook that has a USB-C port. There are no headphones, wired or wireless, included with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, so users will need to buy those separately, as well, along with adapters for the wired version.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. the Competition
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus » Buy at Samsung 3.8 U.S. News Rating Base Price $1,049.99 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.5 meters for 30 min
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
The Galaxy S22 Plus comes in either 128 GB or 256 GB storage sizes, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max also offers either a 512 GB or a 1 TB storage capacity, and so the latter might be preferred for users who save a lot of video and photos. The S22 Plus also comes in a wider variety of colors than the iPhone 13 Pro Max (seven for the Galaxy and five for the iPhone). The price difference between the two devices, one of which is an iPhone and one an Android, for the lowest storage amount is nearly the same, about a $50 difference.
Both phones feature telephoto lenses on the rear, plus Night Mode and depth-of-field selection to create that desirable blurred-background effect. Professional reviewers agree that the features and capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s camera create slightly better photos and video than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus.
Learn more in our Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus review.
OnePlus 10 Pro » Buy at Amazon 3.9 U.S. News Rating Base Price $899.00 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.0 meter for 30 min
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. OnePlus 10 Pro
Professional reviews say that the OnePlus 10 Pro is the most powerful phone that OnePlus has made, and at $899.00 for the 128 GB base model, it’s a more affordable alternative to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, by choosing the OnePlus 10 Pro, users will be sacrificing some of the slick features and options of the iPhone.
Both phones use AMOLED screens with 120 Hz display refresh rates, some of the clearest and fastest screen displays available on the market. The cameras and photo/video features on the iPhone 13 Pro Max outperform the OnePlus 10 Pro, though, according to reviewers, who praise the clearer, brighter visuals.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with two larger storage options than the OnePlus 10 Pro, 512 GB and 1 TB. Users can also choose 128 GB or 256 GB storage options for either. There are two color options for the OnePlus 10 Pro, compared with five for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Both phones are approximately the same size, and the battery life on the iPhone is significantly higher.
Learn more in our OnePlus 10 Pro review.
Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review
(Apple)
Apple iPhone SE (2022) » Buy at Amazon 3.7 U.S. News Rating Base Price $429.00 Storage 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.0 meter for 30 min
#9 in Best Cell Phones of 2022
Pros: A powerful 5G phone for the price
Has home button and Touch ID
Quality rear-facing camera Cons: Small base storage: 64 GB
Screen can feel restrictive (not edge-to-edge)
No Face ID or camera Night Mode
If you’re seeking a decent smartphone on a budget, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) is one of the top contenders. It’s built with the same processor that Apple used to make its very latest iPhones, a powerful A15 Bionic chip that performs smoothly and quickly, meaning you can perform many of the same tasks on an iPhone SE that you can do on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. The storage options on an iPhone SE range from 64 GB for the entry-level version, up to 256 GB for the largest-available storage on an iPhone SE.
One big area of difference between this iPhone and its more expensive counterparts is the camera. Instead of two or even three cameras, there is only one camera on the iPhone SE. Pro reviewers call it a solid wide-lens camera, but it can’t shoot photos or videos in Night Mode. There is neither an ultrawide lens on the SE, nor a telephoto lens for macro photography. Its video capabilities are similarly minimal.
Another big difference between the iPhone SE and its counterparts is the lack of Face ID. The iPhone SE instead features the Touch ID pad and home button, which can be seen as an advantage for those who prefer to unlock their phone or pay at the register by using a thumbprint instead of their face.
Professional reviewers agree that the iPhone SE is one of the best 5G capable smartphones you can buy at this price point. It’s a solidly performing phone that can handle all of the apps and tasks that a more expensive iPhone would be expected to manage, and it’s available at a fraction of the price.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Specs
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Price
The iPhone SE (2022) starts at $429.00, which includes 64 GB of storage. While the iPhone SE uses the same high-performance A15 Bionic chip processor and durable glass as the iPhone 13, it’s built with the body of an iPhone 8, and the SE cameras are therefore not as versatile or high-quality as the cameras on the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Max. Many users, and especially those who plan to use the phone for photos and videos, will find 64 GB of storage too limiting. For an additional fee, users can double the storage to 128 GB, or upgrade to 256 GB of storage.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Design
With a 4.7-inch touch screen and weighing in at 5.09 ounces, this is one of the smaller smartphones currently available for purchase. It comes in three colors: Midnight (black), Starlight (white), and red. It features a single rear camera with a wide lens as well as a front-facing camera, a home button and Touch ID pad for unlocking and navigating the phone, and a single Lightning port at the bottom of the phone.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Performance
A smartphone processor is the part of the phone that makes it work. It is the central operating system in your device, the equivalent of your phone’s brain. The processor will determine how quickly and how well your phone is able to open an app or execute a command. Apple’s A15 Bionic chip is one of the newest and most advanced processors on the market, and it’s the processor behind all of Apple’s latest iPhones, including the iPhone SE (2022) as well as its pricier counterparts, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Screen and Display
Smartphones currently use two general types of display technologies, either LCD (liquid crystal display), or OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens. The essential difference is that LCD screens use a backlight to brighten pixels on the display, while each pixel on an OLED screen produces its own light, creating a cleaner, crisper image. The iPhone SE (2022) features an LCD display with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. This screen still has black bars at the top and bottom edges, as it does not stretch across the entire phone. The latest smartphones provide a 120 Hz refresh rate, so while the iPhone SE display and screen are decent, they still might feel like a downgrade for those accustomed to a newer device.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Ports and Audio
Like its predecessors, the iPhone SE (2022) does not come with a headphone jack. Instead, the phone has a Lightning port, a type of charging and connecting cable that is specific to Apple products, which was first introduced in 2012. Newer iPads use a USB-C port, but Apple has continued to make its new iPhones with Lightning cable ports. Users have the option to either pair Bluetooth-enabled speakers, headphones, earbuds, and other listening devices to the iPhone SE, or to use a headphone-to-Lightning adapter jack for any plug-in or wired headphones or other audio devices.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Cameras and Video
There is only one camera on the back of the Apple iPhone SE (2022), but professional reviewers say it’s a powerful one. The f/1.8-aperture wide-lens camera shoots 12 MP (megapixel) photos with optical image stabilization, portrait mode (which offers depth control and bokeh-style backgrounds), a digital zoom up to 5x, and Deep Fusion image processing. The camera can shoot 4K video at 24 fps (frames per second), 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, and it features 1080-pixel HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps. When shooting video, the camera features a digital zoom up to 3x. The front-facing selfie camera is a FaceTime HD camera that can take 7 MP photos. The selfie camera can record 1080p HD video at either 25 fps or 30 fps.
While the camera on the iPhone SE is serviceable, users who have become accustomed to some of Apple’s more advanced camera features will notice their absence on this device. Because the iPhone SE has only one camera, the beloved-by-photographers Night Mode feature is not available on this device, making it much more difficult to shoot photos or video in poorly lit or dark environments. The iPhone SE camera also doesn’t have optical zoom, which allows photographers to zoom in or out by magnifying the actual subject (the view that the photographer is capturing), instead of first capturing an image and then magnifying it.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Charging Speed and Battery Life
The iPhone SE can reach a 50% charge in 30 minutes, about the same as both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and slightly faster than the Google Pixel 5a. Samsung’s Galaxy 22 Ultra was the only phone that beat the iPhone in charging speed for phones in our rating. According to Apple, its battery life should accommodate up to 15 hours of video playback, which is less than the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max, but still puts the iPhone SE on par with most other smartphones.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Storage
The iPhone SE (2022) in its most basic version comes with 64 GB of storage for $429.00. To increase the phone’s storage, users must pay more to purchase phones with larger memory capacity. Unlike some other mobile phone brands, you cannot buy an SD card or micro SD card to increase an iPhone’s storage. Instead, users can double the amount of iPhone SE storage to 128 GB if they’re willing to pay an additional fee, which increases again for 256 GB of storage built into the phone.
Apple iPhone SE (2022): What’s Included
The iPhone SE (2022) comes with a USB-C to Lightning charging cable. This cable allows you to charge the iPhone SE using a USB-C power adapter (sold separately), or to connect your iPhone via cable to a newer iMac or MacBook computer, some of which use USB-C inputs. The iPhone SE does not come with a power adapter, and an adapter must be purchased separately in order to charge the phone. The iPhone SE package also does not include headphones or earbuds, which must be purchased separately.
Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. the Competition
Google Pixel 6 Pro » Buy at Amazon Best Android Camera of 2022 3.6 U.S. News Rating Base Price $899.00 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance Yes Water Resistance 1.5 meters for 30 min
Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the closest-in-price Google-made competitor to the Apple iPhone SE (2022), although the Pixel 6 Pro outprices the iPhone SE by at least more than $400.
The basic Pixel 6 Pro comes with double the memory of the iPhone SE, at 128 GB to the iPhone’s 64 GB. The Pixel 6 and the iPhone SE are both available in three colors, but the Pixel’s more recently updated body might be appealing to users who care more about aesthetics, because iPhones are all the same design. Camera enthusiasts will note that the Pixel 6 Pro has three rear cameras, including ultrawide and telephoto cameras, while the iPhone SE has only one wide rear camera.
Conversely, professional reviewers agree that the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life is disappointing, especially compared with other smartphones, such as the iPhone SE, which offers 15 hours of continuous video streaming compared to 9 hours on a Pixel 6 Pro. And because the iPhone SE operates on Apple’s most up-to-date processor, its performance and speed make it a solid choice for users who aren’t as concerned about using it for photos or videos.
Learn more in our Google Pixel 6 Pro review.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 » Buy at Samsung Best Cell Phone of 2022 4.1 U.S. News Rating Base Price $959.99 Storage 128 GB, 256 GB 5G Capability Yes Dust Resistance No Water Resistance 1.5 meter for 30 min
Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 is an Android phone with a lot of bells and whistles, so it makes sense that it’s priced significantly higher than the $429.00 Apple iPhone SE (2022), at $959.99 for a basic phone. Users will also get quite a few extras with the Galaxy Z Flip3 compared to the iPhone SE.
Unlike the iPhone SE, which has a bar-shaped phone body, the Galaxy Z Flip3 features a foldable screen in a body that “flips” open and shut in a clamshell fashion. You can use the phone split-screen style, which provides more multitasking opportunities than most other phones. The Galaxy Z Flip3 features an AMOLED screen that uses a 120 Hz refresh rate, providing clearer, brighter images than you’ll find on the iPhone SE’s LED screen with its 60 Hz refresh rate.
That said, the iPhone SE runs on Apple’s latest processor, so in terms of basic smartphone speed and performance, it’s equal to the Galaxy Z Flip3, but is more affordable. When a low replacement cost outweighs screen display and other features, then the iPhone SE is a clear alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip3.
Learn more in our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 review.
Apple FAQ
How do I buy an Apple cell phone?
iPhones are available to purchase directly from Apple, either online or at an Apple Store. You can also purchase an iPhone from cell phone carriers and from most major electronics outlets and vendors, including warehouse discount stores, such as Costco. and other online-only retail stores are another way to find and purchase an iPhone. You do not need an active cell phone plan to purchase an iPhone, however. If you don’t currently have a mobile phone plan, then you can purchase a prepaid Apple phone, which does not require a carrier plan to activate or use, at retailers such as Walmart or Target. If you do have a mobile phone plan, you may be able to finance an upgrade to an iPhone through your carrier, which will add a monthly surcharge to your bill.
Does Apple offer a warranty for its cell phones?
Apple offers a limited one-year warranty for the iPhone, which covers manufacturing issues only. Apple also provides a 90-day guarantee for any services or replacement parts provided, which extends to the remaining term of either your limited warranty or your AppleCare+ plan (available for an additional fee) if your warranty or AppleCare+ plan will cover your phone for longer than 90 days. For more complete coverage, which includes loss, theft, and damage beyond manufacturer’s defects, you will need to subscribe to an AppleCare+ plan. You can get your phone serviced by making an appointment at your nearest Apple Store, mailing your iPhone in for repair, or scheduling an onsite service at your house.
Does Apple offer good customer support?
If you need help with your iPhone, you can contact Apple’s customer support online, download the Apple Support app, or make an appointment at an Apple Store’s brick-and-mortar Genius Bar, where a staff member will sit down with you and help you troubleshoot any issues. The website offers a number of support articles, as well as a live chat option, or you can call the customer support department directly. Apple will follow up with you via email and provide a case number that you can use to follow your device’s support journey.
Does Apple have a good voice assistant?
Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, was the first smartphone voice assistant (introduced in 2011) and activates when users say “Hey Siri” while within hearing distance of an unlocked iPhone. Users can program Siri with different voices, both male and female. Siri performs automated and hands-free tasks, remembers your relationships with your important contacts (e.g., “Jane Smith is your mother”), and suggests improvements to your iPhone setup.
Best iPhone Models of 2022
If only there were a dating app that would pair you with the perfect cell phone (OkCuphone? iHarmony? Call Me Maybe?). Since there isn’t, you’ll have to stick with this guide. But we have a few tips to help you choose the perfect device. (If you already know exactly what you want then you can skip this section. We won’t be offended.)
Choose a price range
You can easily end up spending over $1,000 on a new device. That’s great, if you can afford it. But many of us can’t, so be sure you go into your shopping with a price point in mind. Some iPhones on this list go for under $500, and can be even cheaper if you snag a good promo deal.
Know your phone plan
These days, most smartphones will work with any carrier (you can usually unlock a phone if it isn’t unlocked already). But you should still know what phone plan you're on to be sure you get a compatible phone (not all iPhones work on 5G, for instance).
Don’t fall for extra features that you’ll never use
There are some very cool features on luxury phones like the iPhone Pro Max, but not everyone will really use them (like the “true depth camera array”). Don’t pay extra for something that you don’t really need!
Consider the future life span of your device
Apple has been pretty good at keeping old phones serviced with new software and security updates, but eventually every phone will enter the digital graveyard. Newer models will almost certainly be serviced further into the future than older ones, which is one major advantage to opting for, say, an iPhone 13 over an iPhone 11.
Know your cameras
A lot of words have been written here and elsewhere about iPhone cameras. But what exactly is a megapixel? Is optical zoom important? Figure out what you really want from a phone camera before going in for a pricey three-lens piece of equipment.
Consider what you use your phone for throughout the day
Overall, the most important thing is to take stock of how you really use your phone. Check your existing phone battery and usage logs to see what you spend the most time doing. If you game a lot, get a phone with a powerful processor and crisp display. If you are on business calls all day, opt for a bigger battery. If you really just text and scroll through Insta every once in a while, consider a budget pick.
iPhone 14 Pro review: The best power & camera to cost balance
Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro 4.5
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The iPhone 14 Pro adds an always-on display, 48MP camera, and a new user interface paradigm to an already outstanding smartphone line — but the already excellent iPhone 13 Pro looms large.
Apple's annual refresh of its flagship smartphone saw the debut of the iPhone 14 Pro, the smaller of the two Pro-level smartphones for 2022. As usual, Apple brings several changes to the product line, including quite a few frequently-rumored and much-needed additions.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are discussions for another day. The iPhone 14 Pro is where Apple's annual upgrade cycle properly starts.
Similar looks, different inside
From the outside, the iPhone 14 Pro doesn't give you many clues that it is a new smartphone. Apple hasn't made any major alterations to the design of the smartphone. The iPhone 14 Pro looks like the iPhone 13 Pro, which in turn borrowed its design from the iPhone 12 Pro.
That means you get a stainless steel chassis between front and back glass, protected with Ceramic Shield glass. The back glass is frosted, like the 2021 models, rather than glossy.
Deep Purple iPhone 14 Pro Max
This time around, buyers will choose from four colors, with Space Black, Gold, and Silver accompanied by Deep Purple.
The few changes that are visible from the outside are also extremely minimal. At 5.81 inches tall and 2.81 inches wide, it's ever so slightly taller and slimmer than its predecessor but also a smidgeon thicker at 0.31 inches.
It's also gained a bit of weight, inching up to 7.27 ounces. But again, this is not a massive change, and most people won't even notice.
Apple continues to rate the iPhone 14 Pro as IP68 for water and dust resistance, so it can survive at a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.
Always-on display
The front of the iPhone 14 Pro offers the first set of obvious indicators that there's something different about the model than previously — an always-on display.
When not in use, instead of going black, the display becomes dimmer and more muted in appearance but doesn't go completely black unless you entirely shut down the iPhone. Using a combination of ProMotion's 1Hz refresh rate, automated settings for the new Lock Screen, and other factors, the screen can now stay on constantly.
It does dim, and it seems like how far down it dims depends on how bright you had the screen before it slept. It's not a giant difference between max brightness on the screen and minimum, but it is perceptible.
Always on display dimmed
Much like the always-on Apple Watch screen, the iPhone display is handy for at-a-glance information. Not only can you see the time, but also a selection of widgets.
And speaking of that Apple Watch, if you have yours on, and you walk away from your phone for a few minutes, it turns off the screen - mostly. In a house-sized environment, we had to be about as far away from the phone as possible on other ends of the house, for this to work reliably.
If you leave your phone at home, then obviously, it will turn off the screen. But in that scenario, you probably have your phone with you anyway.
And yes, you can turn this off in the Display & Brightness control panel if it's a problem for you. There's nothing else you can do with it in settings right now other than turn it on or off, and we hope that there will be more granular settings as iOS 16 evolves, or more models get the feature.
The screen is still a 6.1-inch OLED-based Super Retina XDR display, complete with a 2 million:1 contrast ratio, Wide Color (P3) support, HDR capabilities, and ProMotion's 120Hz adaptive refresh rate system, but there's surprisingly more here.
The resolution is very slightly higher than the previous model, at 2,556 by 1,179 pixels. This only works to be a few more pixels in either direction, but the pixel density is still maintained at 460 pixels per inch.
iPhone 14 Pro max brightness (left) compared to iPhone 13 Pro (right)
For typical content, it still has a 1,000 nit max brightness, but the 1,200 nits of HDR is now 1,600 nits. If you're using it outdoors, the screen can even hit 2,000 nits as it tries to counter the sun's brightness.
We tried this a few times, and it's nearly instant. If you're using your phone and walk outside, you can see the shift, and it does make the phone more usable.
It also makes the iPhone a hair hotter. It's hard to control the variables to see how much hotter, given that you're already outside and the sun is beating on the device.
This will impact your battery, though. We'll see with time how useful it is, and what impact frequent use has on the battery.
From notches to islands
The rumor mill was right about one big front-facing feature for 2022, and that's the lack of a notch on the display. The often derided design feature isn't gone but repurposed and disguised by clever UI work.
The display still has some gaps, but takes the form of a pill-and-hole, allowing the TrueDepth camera array to function normally. It's a smaller array, too, by 31%, with a proximity sensor working from behind the display to save space.
Opening the timer on the Dynamic Island
However, Instead of simply leaving the space above these holes black in the form of a notch, as usual, Apple instead incorporated them into Dynamic Island.
Usually taking the form of a small black oval surrounding the cutouts, the Dynamic Island can expand to the sides to provide small pop-up indications or grow in size to provide more detail or controls.
This is very clever, and obvious upon retrospect. It hides the i-shaped cutout in plain sight but reframes it from being a permanently-displayed display wasteland to being part of a more helpful notification system.
It's a great bit of software-based sleight of hand. We've already seen a few games that use it, and some really fun wallpapers.
A tiny cat sits above the Dynamic Island in the Apollo app
But, it's pretty sparse right now. It's also pretty passive, mostly used as an info display from another app, on top of the one you're using. This is fortunate, because if those interactions were required, it would turn what is barely a one-hand use device into a two-handed one, with all the accessibility problems that come with that.
This all said, we're looking forward to seeing how developers can fully leverage it in the future. And, like almost everything else on a Pro iPhone, it will trickle down to other iPhones in time.
Chip changes
On the inside of the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple has shifted to the A16 Bionic chip, which is unsurprising given that happens each year. But as the iPhone 14 reuses the version of the A15 included in the iPhone 13 Pro models, it may be a chip that the 2023 non-Pro iPhone could end up using down the line.
The A16 consists of a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores and a five-core GPU. This is the same setup as the A15, but with a faster CPU that uses nearly 16 billion transistors, with a GPU that has 50% more memory bandwidth.
Then there's the 16-core Neural Engine, which is now capable of 17 trillion operations per second and an advanced image signal processor for managing photographs and video tasks.
And as far as that speed, you may have already seen some benchmarks floating around from event day. Benchmarking performed on the day of an event are done on-the-sly by folks at the event, and generally shouldn't be relied upon given the environment.
The good news is, the A16 Bionic is very, very fast, and is a big jump over the A15. While the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 14 non-pro models is a bit faster than the iPhone 13 A15, the A16 beats them all.
Geekbench 5 results on iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 13 Pro (right)
In the go-to Geekbench 5 benchmark, the iPhone 13 Pro pulled a 1,723 and a 4,658 on the single and multi-core tests. The new iPhone 14 Pro managed 1,880 single-core and 5,317 multi, easily besting the previous-generation chip while both were running iOS 16.
Geekbench has a graphics test too. In that graphics-focused Compute benchmark, the iPhone 14 Pro scored 15,739, more than the iPhone 13 Pro's 14,401.
When pitting the two devices against one another in the Antutu benchmark, iPhone 14 Pro scored a 897,708 compared to the iPhone 13 Pro's 767,863. Antutu reported the biggest gains in the GPU, memory, and UX categories with the CPU only showing a modest increase in this particular test.
Of course, these are benchmarks. Your own mileage for performance may vary.
This all said, flagship iPhones have been powerful enough for most of the smartphone using population for some time — and that's probably why the non-pro iPhone 14 has a CPU which is only slightly better than the iPhone 13.
Much more on that in a few days, though.
More Megapixels
Probably the biggest news about the iPhone 14 Pro is that Apple has finally started moving away from 12-megapixel camera sensors. Well, at least for one of them.
The Wide camera, now referred to as "Main," has a 48-megapixel sensor, four times the resolution of the 12-megapixel versions still in use in the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras.
The Main camera uses a "Quad-Pixel" sensor, in that the pixels are arranged in quads of identical color-sensing elements. This gives advantages, such as each quad acting as a huge pixel in a 12-megapixel image or acting more traditionally for a 48-megapixel picture.
iPhone 14 Pro camera
The Main lens also has a seven-element lens compared to the others' six-element versions, and a second-generation Sensor-Shift OIS system. Telephoto also has OIS.
While there are three cameras and lenses at play, the traditional three optical zoom levels of 0.5x, 1x, and 3x are joined by a fourth, 2X, thanks to the massive sensor. By using the central 12MP area of the lens, it matches the fourth zoom level while still classifying as an optical zoom as it's merely a crop of a larger image.
There's also Apple's new Photonic Engine, a change to the image pipeline that puts the Deep Fusion computational photography smarts far earlier in the process, preserving more data in the image.
The upshot is that Apple says that the iPhone's Main and Telephoto cameras are twice as good in producing low-light photographs, with the Ultra Wide being three times better. In the real world, that's harder to see.
Photographs also benefit from the usual collection of features, including Night Mode, Portrait Mode with Portrait Lighting, Photographic Styles, Macro, and Apple ProRAW.
We'll be doing more detailed work and specific demonstrations of the cameras going forward. There are improvements, and they can be seen year-over-year — yet minute for most.
Apple's software handles most of the work making those 48MP shots into 12MP images in most cases, and you can toggle this in Apple's camera app for some uses and instead save massive ProRES files at about 100 megabytes per image. Most users will be fine with this, but camera apps that will use the straight 48 megapixels are already available and ready to go for day one.
But, those images will come off the phone pretty slowly if you rely on a wired connection. Lightning is still limited to just-over USB 2 speeds. Be patient, or use a good Wi-Fi connection.
What we recommend overall is this — trust Apple's Photonic Engine and Deep Fusion, to start. Once you figure out what you like and what you don't, if you need more than a simple point-and-shoot experience, you can easily upgrade to a third-party app that gives you more direct control of the entire system.
Cinematic Mode looks much better in 4K
The improvements aren't just limited to photographs. You can still get 4K video at 60fps, including ProRes at 30fps and HDR at 60fps, but the Cinematic Mode now stretches to 4K HDR at 30fps.
Slo-mo video at 1080p at 240 frames per second remains, along with Time-lapse video with stabilization, audio zoom, stereo recording, and sensor-shift OIS, but Action Mode also joins the latter.
Action Mode uses the entire sensor and onboard processing to smooth out footage being shot even more. Almost as if you're filming by placing the iPhone 14 Pro into a gimbal, except you're doing it free-hand.
To test this, we chased our dog around like a wobbly toddler, iPhone 14 Pro in hand. Despite the uneven ground, haphazard movements, and an incredibly agile dog, the footage came out shockingly smooth.
A gimbal is still going to be the ideal solution for those who need the best stabilization, and when using one, it won't require as much lighting as Action Mode does. For the overwhelming majority of the user base, Action Mode will be more than sufficient.
Around the front, the TrueDepth camera also gets some improvements, with a new autofocus system allowing multiple subjects to be focused on simultaneously. Apple says that bigger aperture allows 38% more light to be gathered, reducing noise and improving low-light shots.
Speaking of low light, the new Adaptive True Tone flash redesigns the usual light-producing element to make it more useful. Using an array of nine LEDs in a variety of patterns, the flash can fire in different ways, depending on the focal length of the photograph.
The end result is a twice-as-bright flash on Telephoto images and more uniform light for Ultra Wide shots. Again, this is nice, but like every other new feature on the iPhone camera, what can be squeezed out of this greatly depends on the skill of the photographer.
We'll be talking about this feature in-depth and how it compares to professional gear very soon.
In case of emergency
Obviously, an iPhone has communications technology. It's implied by "Phone" after the i.
Wi-Fi is the same speed as the iPhone 13 Pro, and while Bluetooth 5.3 is here, there's not much to practically do with it yet that Bluetooth 5 didn't do. This will likely become more important later in the iPhone lifecycle, though.
There are two headline items in Apple's launch related to safety communication outside of simple wireless, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
First, there's Emergency SOS via Satellite, which is self-descriptive. If you happen to run into trouble somewhere in North America where you don't have cellular coverage, such as an off-grid cabin on a mountain, you can summon help using your iPhone.
This is not StarLink, where satellites mock a cell tower. This is literally, point-to-point communication from the iPhone to the satellite.
Rather than a phone call or a full text message, the iPhone will ask questions about the situation, then it will tell you to point it at a satellite. Once a connection is made, the answers, along with the iPhone's location, Medical ID, and battery level, are sent to the satellite.
That message is then sent to an emergency service provider, but if they don't take text, it will go to an Apple-operated emergency relay center who will place the call on the user's behalf.
The physics of this is obviously complex. Even over that short minute, you'll have to move the phone in a small arc to stay aligned with the satellite. Some napkin orbital math suggests that users will need about a 2-degree traversal of the phone as the message is sent, and a 5-degree one in obscured environments like a tree canopy.
However, Apple isn't going to have the service operational at launch, with it going live in November. Also, Apple says it will be free for two years, though it isn't clear what happens after that point.
Emergency SOS over Satellite is arriving in fall of 2022 in the US
This may not be full-blown satellite calling, but given it's for emergencies and using a very low-bandwidth technology, it's still a lot better than being stranded in the middle of nowhere without any communications at all.
Continuing the theme, Crash Detection is a feature that will trigger an emergency SOS response if it detects a severe car crash. Onboard sensors detecting barometric changes, shifts in speed and direction, loud noises, and other elements will determine if a collision has occurred, prompting the iPhone to respond.
Again, this is a feature for hopefully rare situations. It's one you hope you won't use but will be glad it exists if it's needed.
We're expecting testimonies shortly after launch about live-saving rescues enabled by the technology.
All day, no tray
As is typical, the iPhone 14 Pro boasts a hefty battery life. In terms of usage, it can manage up to 23 hours of video playback for footage stored locally, lowering it to 20 hours if you're streaming that video. Audio playback can reach up to 75 hours.
We got in this ballpark in our testing. All-day lifetime isn't even a question, you'll get that easily.
To get power back into the lithium-ion battery, you still have the choice of MagSafe up to 15W, Qi at up to 7.5W, or using the Lightning port and a power adapter.
This last option is the fastest of the trio, with Apple claiming the iPhone 14 Pro can manage up to 50% charge in 30 minutes of charging when using a 20W or higher adapter.
While Lightning is around for one more year, one thing that's gone in the U.S. is the SIM tray. Instead, Apple expects the use of the iPhone 14's dual eSIM support rather than a physical SIM card.
This may be an annoyance for people who are used to swapping physical SIMs, especially if they travel abroad, but since most people don't touch the SIM once it is installed, it's probably a good feature for people to forget about.
We've been testing the iPhone 14 Pro since Tuesday, courtesy the same testing facilities we've used in the past. Even then, under almost no load from a pile of iPhones arriving on Friday, we had some trouble getting the eSIM activated through T-Mobile.
The day after release, on September 17, the carriers are still struggling a bit under the load with a series of unclear variables on how hard the migration is for you. Anecdotally, T-Mobile seems to be having the most problems, with AT&T the least.
Expect a SIM to eSIM migration to take a few more hours than you want, regardless of carrier. We expect this will clean up in time, but early adopters should expect a wait.
Models shipped outside the US continue to support one physical SIM and one eSIMs. Given the continued adoption of eSIMs and being able to swap them electronically, it may not be that way for much longer.
Should you buy the iPhone 14 Pro?
As usual for Apple, the iPhone 14 Pro is a significant upgrade from the previous year's model. Again, there are core performance improvements that everyone expects, but this time, the other included changes are pretty substantial.
The always-on display, Emergency SOS via Satellite, Crash Detection, and the long-awaited move to 48-megapixels for the camera system are great additions on top of the standard performance improvements.
iPhone 14 Pro box
They're not small additions, either. Seeing widgets on the always-on display will increase the number of times you look at the iPhone per day, much like you'd check an Apple Watch on your wrist for notifications. Muscle and user habits still make you wonder at a glance if the phone is working right since it's still on long after you put it down, until you remember that always on.
That 48MP camera sensor jump is far beyond just making a bigger picture, as there's much more to unpack for the iPhone's imaging capabilities. It's a vast improvement for pros, and it's better for casual users. We'll discuss it more for the "pro" workflow soon.
Apple's best iPhone in the 2022 range in the iPhone 14 Pro, yet again. We feel it is the best balance of power and hold-ability in the range overall for most users.
But, it's not a giant jump over the iPhone 13 Pro. The biggest year-over-year we've seen was the iPhone 7 to the iPhone X and this isn't close. This isn't even the same gap in what you get after a year, as there was between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12.
As usual, if you have the year-ago phone, the choice to upgrade depends on many factors. If you have the iPhone upgrade program, it's a no-brainer.
If you've got a phone older than that year that it's been since the iPhone 13, or anyone who was going to get a base-model iPhone 14 before Apple confirmed the smaller-than-usual changes should seriously consider getting the iPhone 14 Pro instead. It has more now over the non-Pro model than it ever has.
Barring catastrophe, it will last a year longer before you start getting the itch for a new one because yours is slow.
iPhone 14 Pro - Pros
Always-on display
High performance A16 Bionic
Upgraded 48MP camera
Notch traded for Dynamic Island
Long battery life
Crash Detection
Emergency SOS via Satellite
iPhone 14 Pro - Cons
Reused physical design, again
One 48MP camera sensor, but two 12MP sensors
Still Lightning, no USB-C
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Where to buy the iPhone 14 Pro
Apple's iPhone 14 Pro is available for purchase, with wireless providers AT&T and Verizon offering incentives on the latest devices. Visible is also offering a free $200 prepaid card and free AirPods 3 at the time of publication when you sign up for service and purchase an iPhone 14 Pro. See for terms and conditions pertaining to the offer.
For the latest iPhone deals, be sure to head over to our iPhone 14 Pro Price Guide.
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