May 11, 2024
iPhone 14 Pro held in hand with a home screen featuring widgets only.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Developments

As September shortly approaches, which means the iPhone 15 launch is simply on the horizon. Nevertheless it additionally signifies that the iPhone 14 lineup has been out for nearly a 12 months now, and it’s been one heck of a trip.

The bottom mannequin of the iPhone 14 didn’t change a lot from its predecessor, and the iPhone 13 mini changed the iPhone 14 Plus, however the iPhone 14 Professional was the place all the joy was. Or, no less than, that’s what I assumed after watching final 12 months’s keynote.

Let’s have a look again on the iPhone 14 Professional and why I’m nonetheless utilizing it — regardless of the failings.

It’s (nearly) the right measurement

Deep Purple iPhone 14 Pro held in hand with a wooden gate in the background
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Developments

I’ve been taking part in round with extra Android units ever since becoming a member of Digital Developments, and for probably the most half, I really like what you are able to do with Android. There’s little question that Android does a variety of issues higher than iOS, reminiscent of notifications, customization, person management of the {hardware}, and extra. And there are undoubtedly extra apps accessible that you just simply received’t discover on Apple’s App Retailer, reminiscent of emulators, for instance.

However one factor that bothers me about a variety of Android units is the easy incontrovertible fact that so a lot of them are simply too rattling large. The Galaxy S23 Extremely is without doubt one of the finest telephones on the market in order for you an important smartphone digital camera, nevertheless it’s huge with a 6.8-inch show. I really like the appears of the Nothing Telephone 2, however for the reason that display screen measurement is 6.7 inches, I’ve discovered it fairly troublesome for me to make use of it comfortably, particularly with out a case.

An iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro laying on a table with their screens on.
Joe Maring / Digital Developments

Although the iPhone 14 Professional continues to be a bit bigger than I’d like at 6.1 inches (I personally suppose 5.8 inches is the right measurement), it’s nonetheless one of many smaller telephones on the market, and for me, that’s nice. With the assistance of a PopSocket, I can handle one-handed use on the iPhone 14 Professional fairly effectively, which I do extra incessantly than I’d wish to admit. It’s nonetheless a bit heavier than I’d like, although, so I get hand cramps after prolonged use, nevertheless it’s higher than bigger telephones, that are very arduous for me to make use of comfortably.

Possibly at some point, Apple may convey again the mini or return to the 5.8-inch measurement, however till then, the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Professional measurement works finest for me.

The Dynamic Island is a combined bag

The Dynamic Island on an iPhone 14 Pro featuring the Timer and Pixel Pals running at the same time.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Developments

When Apple first introduced the iPhone 14 Professional, one of many key promoting factors over the usual iPhone 14 fashions was the Dynamic Island. The elongated capsule cutout, which may change in measurement relying on the app you’re utilizing and the way you work together with it, is changing the notch that has been round for the reason that iPhone X. Rumor has it that the complete iPhone 15 lineup can have the Dynamic Island, totally eliminating the notch as soon as and for all.

I by no means appreciated the notch because it was launched, as I at all times thought it was ugly and took up extra space than it ought to have. I just like the Dynamic Island greater than the notch, as it might home helpful standing indicators and in addition present enjoyable little issues like audio playback, timers, map instructions, and some different issues.

Nevertheless, although I largely just like the Dynamic Island, probably the most use I get out of it primarily comes from native Apple apps. I barely get any use out of the Dynamic Island from the third-party apps that I rely upon every day, and that’s been disappointing.

With the Dynamic Island rumored to be coming to the complete iPhone 15 lineup, I hope that it’ll get extra helpful quickly. As a result of proper now, the Dynamic Island is nonetheless very restricted — even a 12 months later.

Apple must tone down its digital camera processing

iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro.
Joe Maring / Digital Developments

I nonetheless use my iPhone 14 Professional as my major smartphone, however I’ve additionally tried out sufficient Android telephones by now to understand that Apple isn’t the perfect anymore with regards to pictures. And that’s due to Apple’s overuse of computational pictures processes to attempt to make your images come out “higher.”

Have you ever ever seen while you snap a photograph after which view it straight away, that you just’ll see the way it appears as you captured it for just a few seconds earlier than it “corrects” itself for the ultimate end result? I’ve seen this occur loads of occasions, and sometimes, the precise photograph finally ends up trying worse than what I used to be seeing earlier than these computational processes have been utilized.

Sadly, this “good” auto-editing course of can’t be turned off because it may with earlier iPhones, so that you simply find yourself getting caught with these photographs. The one solution to keep away from these oversharpened and processed photographs is to both shoot in ProRaw format or use a third-party digital camera app, reminiscent of Halide. However as somebody who largely makes use of the digital camera to seize a really lively toddler, I don’t have time to enter an app like Halide and ensure all of the settings are appropriate earlier than I need to snap a photograph.

The rear cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Joe Maring / Digital Developments

I’ve used different telephones to take images of my daughter, such because the Google Pixel 7, and I really like how the outcomes end up. They give the impression of being pure, and although Google additionally makes use of a variety of AI for post-processing on its photographs, it does it a lot better than Apple.

I’m not saying that my iPhone 14 Professional takes horrible images, particularly of my daughter, however once I take a look at the outcomes facet by facet, I usually desire what I get from a Google Pixel. The iPhone has been affected by this overprocessing of images for the reason that iPhone 13, and it’s solely been extra obvious this 12 months with the iPhone 14 collection.

I hope Apple learns from the previous two years and makes the iPhone 15 lineup not endure from unhealthy picture high quality once more, or no less than provides us the choice to show off all that computational stuff. The digital camera {hardware} is at all times nice — it’s the software program that ruins it.

Battery life has been abysmal

iPhone 14 Pro battery life settings.
Andrew Martonik / Digital Developments

I’ve had each era of iPhone for the reason that unique. I improve yearly and preorder yearly to get the newest and best on launch day. For the iPhone 14 Professional, which means I acquired it on September 16, 2022, and actually started utilizing it the next weekend.

After I first began utilizing the iPhone 14 Professional, I keep in mind the battery didn’t appear to final so long as the one within the iPhone 13 Professional I had, and that’s been the final consensus throughout the board. Via software program updates, the battery life appeared to get higher, after which worse, after which it repeats the method over — similar to a curler coaster.

iPhone 14 Pro showing Activity app.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Developments

This prompted me to verify my iPhone 14 Professional’s battery well being, as I’ve been getting abysmal battery life these days on iOS 16.6. Seems that it’s at 94% capability, and once more, we’re speaking a few launch-day machine that isn’t even a 12 months previous but. After I say “abysmal,” I imply it appears to get to round 40% to 50% by 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., after being unplugged round 8 a.m. and getting used fairly closely all through the day. It’s mainly gotten to the purpose the place I simply plug it in across the center of the day to verify I don’t have a lifeless cellphone by dinnertime.

I’ve additionally seen that the iPhone 14 Professional has been getting hotter extra usually, primarily once I’m taking part in video games on my cellphone or simply charging it through a cable or MagSafe. I’m certain it has one thing to do with the depreciating battery, and it’s one other reminder of how disappointing battery life has turn into, even after just below a 12 months of use.

It’s been a love-hate relationship with my iPhone 14 Professional

iPhone 14 Pro showing home screen while on a Disneyland blanket.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Developments

With the iPhone 15 set to be revealed subsequent month, it’s a great time to have a look again and see how the iPhone 14 Professional I’ve been utilizing as my every day driver has carried out. It undoubtedly hasn’t been excellent, however the iPhone 14 Professional has been largely dependable, with just a few shortcomings.

I’m hoping to see Apple enhance a few of these flaws with the iPhone 15 lineup, so I’ll preserve my fingers crossed. However I’m additionally enthusiastic about another issues, like the brand new button changing the mute toggle, USB-C (lastly!), and even a attainable titanium body.

We solely have just a few extra weeks to attend till the autumn iPhone occasion, so right here’s hoping!

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