If the iPhone 14 Plus has a challenge, then, it’s that by intentionally adding extra separation between the Pro and non-Pro series this year, Apple has made it much easier to justify opting for the more comprehensive smartphones. The Plus does have some other benefits: it has, Apple says, the longest battery life of any iPhone so far, at up to 20 hours of streaming video or up to 100 hours of audio playback. In my own mixed use, I’m easily getting through the day and well into the next. It’s also, despite being considerably bigger, actually lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro is.
If you only want the bigger screen — and literally just the increased size, not the smoother refresh or better outdoor visibility — then the iPhone 14 Plus is a decent saving. Factor in some healthy carrier promotions, though, not to mention the trade-in deals that Apple and others are offering, and the step up to an iPhone 14 Pro Max really isn’t all that big.
Does that make the iPhone 14 Plus less appealing? I still think there are people for whom a cheaper route to a big screen makes sense, probably more sense than the iPhone 13 mini ever did in the grand scheme of smartphones. That judgment call comes down to just how much the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera talents appeal, and maybe what you already have in your pocket to trade in.
The iPhone 14 Plus can be purchased starting on October 7, 2022, directly from Apple for a starting price of $899 with 128GB internal data storage. This device will launch in five colors, including Blue, Purple, Midnight (black), Starlight (white), and (PRODUCT)RED.
