I've been using my iPhone 14 for a while now, and I have to say, it's been a wild ride. I've been quietly enjoying the new features and improvements, but I've also encountered some issues that have left me scratching my head.
You can buy the iPhone 14 at any electronics store, and we got ours from DNC. Prices are roughly the same everywhere, but be careful not to fall for refurbished phones that are masquerading as new ones.
Price: 89,099 rubles.
Now it's 69,999 rubles.
We also bought a screen protector at DNC, which the salesperson kindly applied for free.
Warranty: 12 months
Country of origin: China
Release year: 2022
EXTERNAL APPEARANCE
The iPhone 14 comes in a sturdy, familiar white box. I've held these boxes before, and they're always a pleasure to touch - matte, smooth, and premium-feeling. The design is minimalist, but it looks expensive.
What's in the package:
• phone
• earbuds
• charging cable (no wall adapter)
The iPhone 14 really caught my eye with its stunning looks. It's got a gorgeous 6.1-inch OLED display with no bezels, and the glass body is IP68-rated, which means it's totally waterproof and dustproof. Plus, the Ceramic Shield on the front is super resistant to scratches and cracks. Still, I'd recommend getting a screen protector just in case!
I opted for the black model, and to be honest, it's not like I'll be seeing the back of it anyway since I've got a case on it.
The design is sleek and premium, and it feels really nice in my hands. The iPhone 14 isn't exactly lightweight, but it's still easy to hold and maneuver with two hands. Plus, it's less likely to slip out of my grasp that way.
One thing I've noticed is how much narrower the iPhone 14 is compared to my old iPhone 11. It's a big difference, and it makes it even easier to hold and use. My 11 looks like a brick next to it, to be honest! And when I'm using the same apps on both phones, I can see how the 14's narrower design means some of the icons get pushed down to the second row.
USING IT
I'll get straight to the point – the things that really stood out to me when I used this phone. Some of it was a pleasant surprise, and some of it was a definite improvement over my old iPhone 11.
Activation
Activation has gotten a lot easier over the years, in my opinion. You just need to place the two phones side by side, verify your old account on the new phone, and let the files sync. It only takes a few minutes.
SIM Cards
This phone has the option to set up two nano-SIM cards, which is a nice feature. For comparison, my old iPhone 11 had two SIM cards too, but one was a regular SIM and the other was an E-SIM.
Visuals
I was really happy to discover that I can now adjust the blur effect when choosing wallpapers for my home screen. It used to be that if I picked a bright, colorful photo, the icons on my home screen would get lost. Now, the original photo stays as is on the lock screen, while the rest of the home screens have a blurred version of the same photo. Alternatively, I can choose a different photo or go for a gradient or solid color instead.
Camera
The main camera is a 12+12 MP dual-camera setup with a True Tone flash. It's amazing, and the quality of the photos is top-notch, especially with a resolution of 4032x3024.
I'm not exactly a nature photographer. Given that I write reviews, my phone's gallery is always cluttered with random pics: bottles of wine, product shots, and even food photos. I'm sharing some examples to give you an idea of the image quality.
Portrait mode is still amazing. You can also adjust the portrait strength in the finished shots by adding or reducing background blur.
I was stoked to find this nifty feature in the camera - it shows you the horizon when you're taking a photo. It's a total game-changer, as it lets you know if you're holding the camera straight or at an angle.
If you open up the photo editor, you'll find the Straightening tool in the Adjustments section. If you click on Auto, the photo will automatically level itself to the right or left, depending on the original shot. The Auto mode isn't always available, but it seems to kick in when there are some obvious issues with the photo. Check it out in the editor below.
I'm totally obsessed with this feature, as I often take photos straight on and end up with boring results. This Auto-straightening mode adds a whole new level of excitement to my photography. Check out the Before and After shots below - the After versions definitely look more lively!
I love that you can zoom in on a specific object in a video. It's super helpful when you're trying to create a stylish video, like the ones you see on social media.
The 12MP front camera is amazing for selfies and video calls. Everything looks super clear.
Typing Experience
I have to say, I was blown away by the typing experience. Now, if you accidentally write a word incorrectly and it's run-on with another word, the system will not only correct the mistake, but also separate the words. I've been using this phone for a while, and I've never seen this feature before. It's a game-changer, especially when you're typing in a hurry.
However, I do have to say that I'm not a fan of the lag when trying to select text and place the cursor. For example, I'll try to place the cursor in a specific spot, but instead, it starts highlighting the word. I'll try to tap once, or hold it in place, but nothing seems to work. It's frustrating, to say the least!
Battery Life
I have to say that I'm disappointed that there's no Lightning charger included. I mean, come on, Apple - a charging cable is one thing, but a block for the charger? That's just cheap. And don't even get me started on the lack of headphones. It's like they're trying to nickel and dime us at every turn.
I've gotta say, this phone charges super fast. We're talking an hour and a half to go from 0 to 100% - that's crazy. I've never charged a phone from a laptop before, only a wall outlet. And I'm using a power adapter from an old laptop and a charging cable from my old iPhone.
As for battery life, it'll last you a day if you're not glued to your phone. Less than a day if you're stuck in social media or watching videos all day. After a year, the battery hasn't taken a huge hit.
Face ID
Face ID has gotten a lot more advanced. Now you can just set your phone down on a table and the scanner will pick up your face. No more hovering over the phone to get it to recognize you. The feature has expanded the field of view, and when you're setting it up, it'll even ask you to take a closer look at your eyes to catch any tiny details. This way, it can recognize your face even with a mask on. You can opt out of this, though.
Tracking your activities
When you open any app for the first time, the iPhone 14 will pop up a window asking if you want to allow the app to track your activities. I usually choose to deny it.
On top of that, you'll get periodic warnings about an app having access to your contacts, all your photos and videos. You can block access right from that window.
I like these pop-ups - they're all about safety and comfort. They're anticipating potential problems down the line, like someone sending something they shouldn't.
iCloud
I noticed a new feature – you can now sign in to your iCloud account using a verification key on your computer instead of having to use the computer itself. It looks like a QR code that you scan with your phone's camera. It's super convenient and fast. You'll need an OS 17 to make it work.
Apps
Remember when I said that notifications have gotten a lot more thoughtful? They've also improved Apple Store. Every now and then, your iPhone will suggest enabling notifications from Apple Store about new app releases, updates, and recommendations.
The app store has an enormous selection of paid and free apps, so you're bound to find something that suits your taste.
WHAT DIDN'T IMPRESS ME
While I'm really loving my iPhone, there are a few things that left me wanting more.
Camera and recording glitchesI've been experiencing the same issue as with my 11 iPhone – when recording video on the standard camera in photo mode with music enabled, the first 30 seconds of music are barely audible, as if they're being played through a membrane, and then the volume suddenly increases and becomes normal after a few seconds. I've tried searching online for the cause, but I couldn't find any answers. It's not just me, though – I've seen other people reporting the same issue.
Another thing that's been driving me crazy is the alarm clock glitch.
Occasionally, my alarm will start ringing at 6:45 or 7:00, even though I've disabled all my alarms. My sleep mode is completely turned off, so there's no reason for it to be ringing. But sometimes, the alarm will start ringing, and it looks like a normal notification, but it's actually the alarm sound. It's really frustrating.
I've noticed that this issue seems to have carried over to my new phone from my old one. I spent ages trying to figure out a solution, but I couldn't find one. So, sometimes I get frustrated and I end up stressing out my family.
glitches with SiriFor example, I'll say something like, 'Hey Siri, set a timer for 1 hour to wash the dishes.' But for some reason, she doesn't understand that I'm referring to a 'dish timer' and asks me, 'For how long would you like to set the timer?' I'll tell her an hour, and instead of setting the timer for 1 hour, she adds the new hour to the existing timer. So, I end up with a 2-hour timer instead of a 1-hour one. It doesn't always happen, but it's pretty annoying.
But if I say something like, 'Hey Siri, set a timer for 15 minutes to boil the potatoes,' she seems to understand that I'm cooking potatoes and will remind me when the time is up. However, with some other words, she just doesn't get it.
glitches with transferring photos to my computerI've been having issues with transferring photos to my computer for ages, even before the latest update. The Photos app would often crash or fail to transfer the photos, and I'd have to unplug and replug my phone every time. It was such a hassle.
After the update, the problem didn't go away, but it got worse. The new app is even less user-friendly, and I have to go into settings to switch back to the old format every time. It's just ridiculous.
In the end, I got so fed up with it that I switched to a cloud storage service. Maybe I'll write a review about that too sometime.
I've encountered a lot of issues with this phone, but they're not always noticeable while I'm using it. You just get used to dealing with them.
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Of course, people can say that this phone isn't worth the money, that Android is better, and all that. And I agree with all of that, except for the Android part. For me, an iPhone is still the most user-friendly option.
When you pick it up, everything just clicks. The camera opens up and the image pops up like you're right there, no lag and natural colors. Too bad the prices are so high here in Russia, but I guess that's just the way it is...
P.S. The Apple iPhone 14 is an amazing phone for everyday tasks: calls, texts, and creating beautiful videos. I highly recommend it!