Apple keynote: iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro unveiled

Apple fans look forward to September every year. After all, the US company usually presents its upcoming iPhone in this month – and this year is no exception. CEO Tim Cook proudly presented his new babies in the form of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. We take a look at the technical details.

15 years after the unveiling of the first iPhone

Can you still remember the iconic Apple keynote where Steve Jobs presented the first iPhone? This was 15 years ago now. Now, with the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro comes the iPhone for 2022 and beyond. Strictly speaking, the Californian tech company is launching a total of four new devices. In addition to the standard and Pro models, Apple has added a larger model to the latest generation with the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max, both of which measure 6.7 inches. At the same time, the handy mini model is also dropped. This move was already predictable in view of poor sales figures.

Camera of the iPhone 14 has been improved

Actually, it is almost a law of nature that Apple also integrates a new chip with every new iPhone generation. Experts even assumed this year that a powerful M1 chip could be used under the hood. Unfortunately, this is not the case – quite the opposite. Apple installs the same processor in the iPhone 14, the A15 Bionic, that is already used in the iPhone 13 Pro. Something has changed in the camera. The main camera now has a larger sensor. On top of that, the lens now offers better illumination.

Again, nothing has changed with the ultra-wide-angle lens of the dual camera. The situation is different for the selfie camera. Apple has added an autofocus to it. We can again expect the best of the best in terms of the display. The US company naturally relies on OLED again. This should not only provide vivid colors. In addition, the panel’s typical great black values in combination with a maximum brightness of up to 1200 nits should enable great contrasts. In terms of resolution, the iPhone 14 with a 6.1-inch screen should offer 2,532 x 1,170 pixels. In the 6.7-inch Plus model, there are 2,778 x 1,284 pixels.

New security features on Apple iPhone 14

While the EU version of the iPhone 14 naturally has a SIM slot, Apple does without it altogether in the US. In the land of unlimited possibilities, an eSIM is to be mandatory from now on if you want to use an iPhone. The new security features are exciting. The iPhone 14 has new sensors that are supposed to register accelerations better. According to Apple, the latest generation of the smartphone can thus register different types of traffic accidents.

In an emergency, the device can then directly send an emergency call. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have a revised emergency call function. This should now be independent of the conventional mobile network and rely on a satellite connection. Last year’s flood disaster in the Ahr valley made it clear how important this is. There, mobile phone masts failed, which is why many emergency calls went nowhere. In the wake of this, mobile phone providers and smartphone manufacturers alike pledged to provide more crisis security.  

Face ID Notch Becomes “Dynamic Island”

That Apple would revise its aging notch for Face ID has been speculated for many months. In the iPhone 14 Pro, this is now becoming a fact. Thus, the notch now separates from the upper edge of the screen and floats in the screen like an island, so to speak. To the left and right of the so-called Dynamic Island, you can probably interact and display notifications.

This really makes a lot of sense when you consider that the iPhone 14 Pro is getting an always-on display – finally. Even in lock mode and with the display off, you can view important information and notifications on the lock screen. To make this feature as battery-saving as possible, the Pro model relies on a variable refresh rate that varies between 1 Hz and 120 Hz.

The new A16 Bionic is said to make the iPhone 14 Pro the most powerful Apple smartphone ever. But the tech company promises not only a lot of power, but also energy efficiency. According to the manufacturer, it is supposed to consume a fifth less power than the predecessor, which speaks for a long battery life. Of course, the triple camera of the Pro model also gets an extensive revision. The 48 MP main camera now has a quad-pixel sensor. This is supposed to provide better pictures in low-light conditions.

Prices and availability

With the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, some rumors have come true. Unfortunately, this also applies to the prices. Namely, these are increasing tremendously, especially in the Eurozone. For example, Apple wants to charge 999 euros for the iPhone 14 in the entry-level version (128 GB). This makes it 100 Euros more expensive than the iPhone 13 at release. Those who want double the memory will pay 130 euros more. The 512 GB version of the iPhone 14 will then cost a hefty 1,389 euros. The 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus starts at a price of 1,149 euros with 128 GB. 256 GB is available for 1,279 Euros, 512 GB for 1,539 Euros. The colors are midnight, red, blue, violet and polar star. Of course, the iPhone 14 Pro is also a lot more expensive.

Given the extensive hardware improvements, however, the price increase here seems a bit fairer. It starts at 1,299 euros for 128 GB. The 256 GB version is available for 1,429 Euros, and the 512 GB model for 1,689 Euros. Unlike the standard model, you can also choose a version with 1 TB of storage. This is priced at 1,949 Euros. The iPhone 14 Pro Max with 6.7 inches starts at 1,449 Euros and even breaks through a new price barrier with 1 TB at 2,099 Euros. The Pro models are available in dark purple, space black, gold and silver.  Pre-orders are possible from September 9 on Apple’s official website. Apple’s new smartphones should then find their way onto store shelves from September 16.