Apple iPhone 14 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Apple iPhone 14 is the mainstream pick of 2022: an A15 Bionic, 6.1-inch OLED, IP68, the reliable 12 MP dual camera and five-plus years of iOS runway remaining (two major versions left). Everyday 82/100, camera 22/100, compactness 96/100. New 6/128 units list at $799; used 6/128 units cluster around $257 — the classic iPhone value window.

Display and design

The 6.1-inch OLED at 800 nits covers the fundamentals with Apple's color discipline; 60 Hz is the generational asterisk (screen 39/100). The flat-edged 172 g body with Ceramic Shield and IP68 remains the best-built mainstream phone of its year, and at 96/100 compactness it is the one-hand iPhone.

Performance

The A15 Bionic outlived several generations of Android flagships and still posts gaming 37/100 with everyday 82/100 — iOS on this chip will feel current long past the battery's prime. Two major OS versions remain on Apple's runway.

Camera

The 12 MP stabilized main plus 12 MP ultrawide with 4K60 and best-in-class video processing; camera 22/100 reflects the two-lens ceiling, not the quality within it. The Photonic Engine brought real low-light gains over the 13.

Battery and charging

The 3,279 mAh cell manages a day of moderate use (battery 6/100 against the catalog's larger batteries); 20 W charging (2/100) is deliberate. MagSafe magnetic charging at 15 W is the convenient path.

Verdict

At around $257 used, the iPhone 14 is the safest phone purchase in the catalog: build, video, software runway, resale depth. The 14 Plus adds two-day battery; the 14 Pro adds 120 Hz, the Dynamic Island and a better camera — the base model's argument is that most buyers never miss them.