Apple’s New iPhone 14 Pro Actual Device Review: Why the Pro is still “the one to buy this year

Last Updated on 09/15/2022 by てんしょく飯

The iPhone 14 series will be priced nearly 20,000 yen higher than in previous years in Japan, partly due to the weak yen trend.

For those who have recently bought a new smartphone, some may think twice, saying, “If it is this expensive, I can’t afford to replace it in a short period of time. ……

So how different are the functions?

Let’s find out based on benchmarks and other tests.

Note that we did not test the “iPhone 14 Plus” this time because it was released on October 7.

The semiconductors at the heart of the iPhone are evolving in the same order as before.

In 2022, the iPhone will be divided into four models based on class (Standard or Pro) and size (6.1″ or 6.7″ screen). As for the “iPhone 14 Plus” among them, the release date will be a little later, starting on October 7.

Then, the question is, “Standard or Pro?

Although the Pro series is more expensive, many of the changes in the 2022 iPhones are concentrated in the 14 Pro series, and many people are likely to think that if they buy one, it will be the Pro.

Note that the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are nearly identical in performance. Unless otherwise noted, it is safe to assume that the Pro and Pro Max have the same features.

Now, let’s compare the performance.

Let’s start with benchmarks. The following is a comparison using GeekBench 5, a standard benchmark tool. This time, we also included the iPhone 12 Pro Max, a 2020 model, for comparison.

The iPhone’s processor has been getting faster by about 10% per year for some time now. In fact, a simple comparison shows that they are about 10% faster in 2021 (13) and 2022 (14).

GPU performance, on the other hand, is not that different: GPU performance increased significantly from iPhone 12 Pro Max to iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2021, but the increase this year seems a bit smaller.

On the other hand, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 are almost the same speed. This is probably because they use the same processor, the A15 Bionic.

Can you “feel” the camera performance?

What about the camera?

The 2022 iPhone also features “improved brightness in dark scenes,” but the impression is more like “improved naturalness” in terms of noise reduction and banding reduction. A quick comparison of the two in a smartphone alone is difficult to understand without zooming in.

Of course, the camera size has changed, but it is difficult to see breakthroughs because the changes are not only in the sensor but also in the software.

Always-on” display is useful

It is not true to say that there is no evolution at all.

There are considerable differences. And they are concentrated in the “Pro” series.

For example, the “always-on display” of the iPhone 14 Pro series no longer completely turns off the screen when the phone is in “sleep” mode by pressing the power button.

There are now many phones that do not turn off the screen, but the iPhone 14 Pro’s is a little different.

In the case of the iPhone 14 Pro, the screen is “dark” as it is. Even if you set the wallpaper to your favorite photo, etc., it will be dark as it is.

This is quite similar to the “always on mode” used in the current Apple Watch. It is quite convenient to use. It is especially nice to be able to see the clock, notifications, and widgets even when the phone is left out on the charging table or desk.

On the other hand, it is the “power consumption” that is a concern.

When we checked the iPhone 14 Pro after leaving it in “always on” and “off” mode for three hours, it consumed 6% of the battery when it was always on and 3% when it was off.

Whether this 3% is considered large or small depends on how you use the device. Those who do not charge the battery very often may prefer the lights off, while those who charge the battery frequently will find the always-on option more convenient by far.

The new “Dynamic Island” notification is interesting, but ……

Another feature of the Pro Series displays is the introduction of “dynamic islands.

This is a mechanism to make the so-called “notch,” including the camera section, smaller, and it is indeed much smaller.

On the other hand, it is not always the case that the “black area is small”.

It changes size considerably depending on the scene in which it is used. It can stretch to the left or right, split up, and sometimes become a large rectangle.

In other words, the final “non-displayed area” is the same, but by changing the combination of black + image display around it, the appearance changes considerably. This is certainly interesting.

On the other hand, it is not so convenient that I would buy a new one. It is easy to understand if you think of it as a guideline for how things will change.

Surprisingly large difference in the evolution of GPS

Another element unique to the Pro is the “high-precision dual-frequency GPS.

The iPhone 14 Pro series and Apple Watch Ultra are equipped with the ability to grab the “L5” signal in addition to the “L1” GPS signal.

In the case of Japan, this makes it even easier to catch the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “MICHIBIKI. Since it is stronger directly above the ground, it is expected to make positioning easier in areas with buildings and in forests where only the sky is open.

So, I walked along an alley in the city of Tokyo.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14, which do not support dual-frequency GPS, tended to show a path that was off the beaten path, but the iPhone 14 Pro “almost followed the path I took. It even accurately tracks which side of the road I was walking on.

Personally, this is quite impactful. For many people, it may be “fine as is,” but when you know that the accuracy is this good, you’ll want to choose the Pro.

Action mode is adequate anti-shake

On the other hand, a new feature for the iPhone 14 series as a whole is the “Action Mode” for video recording. This feature recognizes camera shake from videos shot in 4K and cuts it down to 2.8K to prevent camera shake.

The best way to understand this is to watch the test video.

The amount of blurriness is obvious in the video of “running up the stairs” with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

In some cases, using a gimbal or action cam would provide more stability. But the point is that you don’t have to have them, just tap on the screen to use them.

This is useful if you don’t need to buy an action cam, or if you forget to buy one.

One year is a tough year to replace it, but a big evolution compared to a few years ago.

I think the iPhone 14 is a bit less attractive than the Pro.

Especially in 2022, the price is a big issue. It seems to me that those who want to buy a “big screen at a low price” will wait for the release of the iPhone 14 Plus instead of the Pro Max and choose it.

That said, the performance story is when compared to the iPhone 13; if you have a “phone you’ve been using for more than a couple of years” that you bought before the iPhone 12, you’ll probably feel a pretty big difference in the iPhone 14.

The Pro, on the other hand, has few elements that make it a buy on its own, but it maintains its evolution by combining a number of differentiating features.

If you are attracted to these aspects, we think you should choose the Pro series. In particular, I think that the GPS improvements may be surprisingly appealing to many people.