IPhone has certainly shocked the world by replacing the iPhone Mini with an iPhone 14 Plus, a feat in which the statement "the bigger the better" is being put to use.
The last time Apple launched its Plus version was in 2017 the iPhone 8 Plus. Although it has been years since then, they are still adamant about resurrecting the Mini version for its new iPhone 14 lineup.
But does making it bigger really make it better?
I have been reviewing the iPhone 14 Plus for more than a month now and here are my thoughts on it.
DESIGN
Overall, the iPhone 14 Plus is bigger, taller, and surprisingly lighter.
It has a display size of 6.7 inches and weighs 203g, which is much less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (240g).
I can easily carry it around and snug it in my back pocket without compromising my comfort, however, I did notice a mild strain on my pinky after using it for a few hours (given that I use my pinky to withstand the entire weight of the phone) and it can be quite cumbersome to hold for a long time.
Unfortunately, one rear camera is missing and, instead of the Dynamic Island reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, you'll get a notch at the middle-top part of the display.
It is also fitted with a Ceramic Shield glass back and comes in Midnight, Starlight, Purple, Blue, and red. The one I tested was in Purple and the colour fits my aesthetics despite it being a smidge dull for my modern preference.
DISPLAY
Unfortunately, the iPhone 14 Plus sticks at only a 60Hz refresh rate instead of the more powerful 90Hz or 120Hz. It might not bother you if you're not much of a gamer and lean more toward content creation, but at some point, you'll tire your hands from the waiting.
Despite the lower refresh rate, it doesn't consume that much battery and it could last you longer than the previous lineup.
Its 6.7-inch OLED display produces bright and rich colours for all its videos and social media content. I was watching the Solo Levelling trailer and I was impressed by the poppy colours and meticulous details it produced from the display.
And thanks to its hunky size, it gives me an ample view of the contents ranging from TikTok, Youtube videos, Instagram, subtitles, etc. It's like binge-watching via a mini tablet.
CAMERA AND PERFORMANCE
The iPhone 14 Plus still sticks to the 12MP main camera and wide-angle camera system much like the iPhone 14.
From the main camera to the wide-angle cameras, you'll be able to see a difference in terms of details between the two. Although the wide-angle camera is slightly grainy and blurry, it maintains the natural colour balance that the main camera produces - which is true to life.
The main camera is slightly overexposed, but it makes the shots look brighter compared to the previous generations.
However, my selfie shots are slightly oversharpened, especially the lines and bumps on my face.
iPhone 14 Plus boasts its Action mode especially for taking videos when walking or running. When I tested it out - with vigorous shaking included - the video was buttery smooth and jitter-free.
As for content creators, they can utilise the Cinematic mode to get one of those aesthetic shots for their content.
Although it is powered by the A15 bionic processor, it has an additional GPU core. I tested it out with Asphalt 9: Legends for a spin and the performance was great and the graphics were smooth.
Multitasking was even better and there were no lags or pauses as I switched between apps and answered multiple emails for a few hours.
VERDICT
Starting from RM4,699, the iPhone 14 Plus is pretty good for avid content creators.
You'll get a bigger screen, which means a bigger battery, a decent processor that can endure intense mobile games, and a good HDR camera quality. All that without paying for the Pro price.
It is available in 128 GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.
Verdict: 4.7/5
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