Apple's iPhone 14 Plus launched today in markets around the world, coming a full three weeks after the other models in the iPhone 14 family became available, and four weeks since iPhone 14 pre-orders began.
Online orders of all iPhone 14 Plus configurations on Apple's website have shipping estimate delays into next week, but for customers who forgot to pre-order the iPhone 14 Plus or simply decided to wait, the good news is that same-day or next-day pickup will be an option at many Apple Stores around the world.
As of writing, Apple's online stores in the United States and Canada haven't yet been updated to show pickup availability, but shortages aren't expected and there is unlikely to be much variation state by state. Meanwhile across the pond, all iPhone 14 Plus colors and configurations are available for Apple Store pickup today in countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com or in the Apple Store app, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP or postal code, choose an available Apple Store location, select a pickup date, and select a 15-minute check-in window. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.
iPhone 14 Plus models may also be available for walk-in customers at Apple Store locations with sufficient inventory, but availability can't be guaranteed. Walk-in customers may be placed into a separate queue with lower priority upon arrival to the store.
The iPhone 14 Plus is meant for customers who want a larger iPhone without all the features of Apple's high-end models, but pre-order demand for the new model has reportedly not reached the highs that Apple anticipated. The iPhone 14 Plus, like the iPhone 14, features the same chip as the iPhone 13 Pro, camera improvements, and other minor enhancements. Reviewers called the iPhone 14 an "iPhone 13S," noting the little improvements and changes compared to its predecessor.
During Google's latest launch event, the company made multiple references to Apple and the iPhone 14, iOS 16, and Apple's reluctance to adopt support for RCS messaging.
Google yesterday held an event where it announced the Pixel Watch, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, and offered new details on the Pixel Tablet. During the event, some presenters couldn't help but take a few jabs at Apple and some of Cupertino's latest announcements.
"Pixel has always been a leader in smartphone innovation," said Brian Rakowski, Google's vice president of product management, speaking about Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. "We take it as a compliment when others in the industry follow our lead, like the always-on display and At a Glance, putting useful information right on your Lock Screen," Rakowski continued, alluding to Live Activities on iOS 16 and the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on capabilities.
"We introduced Car Crash Detection three years ago along with other important ways to keep you safe, like safety check and emergency sharing," Rakowski said during the event. Last month, Apple introduced Car Crash Detection with the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and the latest Apple Watch models, and iOS 16 brings Safety Check to users for their own personal safety. "It's an amazing track record of pioneering features that were first on Pixel," Rakowski concluded.
One of the biggest points of tension between Apple and Google is Apple's refusal to adopt RCS messaging support, the latest and increasingly more common standard for messaging. Apple continues to limit messaging on its devices to only the SMS standard and iMessage, despite public calls from Google for it to adopt RCS. Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to those calls by saying it's not something Apple users are asking the company to do.
During Google's event, it once again put pressure on Apple to change course. "RCS is the modern industry standard for messaging, and it's already been adopted by most of the industry. We hope every device maker gets the message and adopts RCS, making texting better for every smartphone user."
It's already Friday, October 7 in New Zealand and Australia, which means its iPhone 14 Plus launch day. Customers in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their hands on new devices due to time zone differences, and the new iPhone 14 Plus is no exception.
The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max already launched on September 16, but the iPhone 14 Plus was delayed. Prior to the debut of the iPhone 14 models, there were rumors of manufacturing issues that would cause delayed production for the 6.7-inch device, and that turned out to be true.
Measuring in at 6.7 inches like the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Plus replaces the prior-generation 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini in the lineup. The iPhone mini devices were not selling well, leading Apple to opt to discontinue the smaller size.
Australians and New Zealanders who preordered an iPhone 14 Plus will be receiving their deliveries and will soon share images and first impressions on social media networks, Reddit, and the MacRumors forums. The iPhone 14 Plus is not expected to be as popular as the iPhone 14 Pro models, as Apple added a range of appealing features to the Pro devices that are not available in the standard iPhone 14 models.
Because New Zealand has no Apple Stores, customers in Australia will be the first to be able to pick up an iPhone 14 Plus. Stock in Australia will give us an idea of what we can expect from other stores worldwide, but we do not anticipate huge demand for the iPhone 14 Plus models.
Following New Zealand and Australia, sales of the iPhone 14 Plus will begin in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America. With this launch, iPhone season is coming to an end, and we will now turn our attention toward late 2022 product debuts. We are expecting new iPad Pro models, refreshes of the MacBook Pro and Mac mini, and a new low-cost iPad.
Did you get a new iPhone 14 Plus today? Share your images and first impressions in the comments below.
Google is aiming to lure iPhone users to its new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro by offering high trade in values for prior-generation iPhone 13 models. Google is providing up to $750 in trade-in value to iPhone customers, with the $750 offered for an iPhone 13 Pro Max with 1TB storage, originally priced at $1599.
Google offers $595 for a 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max, $645 for a 256GB model, and $695 for a 512GB model. Apple itself only offers a maximum of $720 for customers who trade in an iPhone 13 Pro Max for a new smartphone, such as the 14 Pro Max.
With the $750 maximum, the $599 Pixel 7 would be free, while the Pixel 7 Pro could be purchased for $150 as it is priced starting at $899.
It is worth noting that Apple does not offer anywhere near as much trade-in value for Android devices such as the Pixel 6, providing a mere $240 maximum trade-in value for last year's Pixel 6 Pro. Apple devices generally hold their value better than Android devices due to demand and because Apple provides software updates for at least five years after launch.
Google today announced the launch of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, which will directly compete with the iPhone 14 lineup, plus it debuted the Pixel Watch, an Apple Watch competitor. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera was at Google's event, and he was able to get some hands-on time with the new devices to give us a look at how they measure up to Apple's latest product lineup.
Priced starting at $599, the Pixel 7 features a brighter 6.3-inch display with a hole-punch camera cutout, a matte aluminum enclosure, and a Gorilla Glass Victus front and back. It has a Google-designed Tensor G2 chip with 8GB RAM and a dual-rear camera system with a "cinematic blur" feature and wide and ultrawide lenses.
The more expensive Pixel 7 Pro is priced starting at $899, with the larger device offering a 6.7-inch display (the same size as the 14 Plus and Pro Max), a Tensor G2 chip with 12GB RAM, a triple-lens camera system with a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 50-megapixel wide lens, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. Camera features include macro focus, 30x Super Res Zoom, Cinematic Blur for portraits, and Real Tone for realistic skin tones.
Google has added a built-in VPN feature that's coming soon, plus the Pixel 7 smartphones offer 24+ hour battery life, fast wireless charging, fingerprint unlocking, and a coughing and snoring detection feature that's been added to the sleep tracking functionality.
Along with the Pixel 7 phones, Google also introduced the Pixel Watch, which competes with the Apple Watch. Priced starting at $350, the Pixel Watch has a round display, which sets it apart from the Apple Watch's rectangular display design. The Pixel Watch incorporates features from Google-owned company Fitbit, including heart rate tracking, ECGs, sleep tracking, fall detection, Emergency SOS, and more.
We'll be doing a more in-depth comparison between the Pixel 7 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, plus offering a side-by-side look at the Pixel Watch compared to the Apple Watch, with those videos set to come out next week. What do you think of Google's new product lineup? Let us know in the comments below.
Twitter today announced that Twitter Blue subscribers in the United States now have access to the edit tweet feature that has been in testing for the last month.
Earlier this week, Twitter provided an edit button to Twitter Blue users in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and promised a U.S. expansion, which has come quicker than expected.
The "Edit Tweet" button can be found alongside the the already available Delete Tweet, Pin to Profile, Change who can reply, and Add/remove from Lists options.
the Edit Tweet test is expanding and now rolling out to Twitter Blue members in the US
go ahead, try it out! https://t.co/828Q3PIQL5
— Twitter Blue (@TwitterBlue) October 6, 2022
Tweets can be edited for up to 30 minutes after being sent, and tweets that have been changed are denoted with an "Edited" tag. Twitter provides a history of tweet edits, so the original tweet can continue to be viewed.
Twitter Blue is priced at $4.99 per month in the U.S. and it provides access to ad-free articles, various customization options, a bookmarks folder, an undo tweet option, early access to new Twitter features, and more.
Apple is planning to launch an external monitor with a 27-inch mini-LED display in the first quarter of 2023, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young.
In a tweet shared with super followers, Young said that Apple had "pushed" the debut of the monitor to Q1 2023. Young is presumably talking about the first calendar quarter of 2023, aka the months from January to March.
Young was a guest on the MacRumors podcast in July where he said that Apple was planning to launch the mini-LED display sometime in early 2023. Young initially expected Apple to introduce the display in June at WWDC, but he said in May that the launch had to be delayed until October because of design delays. Apple is also unable to meet the October goal, and Young believes the company is now aiming for 2023.
Throughout 2022, Apple has been dealing with supply constraints across products that include Macs and its displays, which may be the reason for the delay.
Apple's upcoming display is said to feature mini-LED technology along with ProMotion support, allowing for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is not expected to be a direct replacement for the Pro Display XDR, which is a larger, 6K display. It will instead be similar to the Apple Studio Display, which is a 27-inch monitor.
With ProMotion support and mini-LED technology, the rumored 27-inch display is expected to be more expensive than the Studio Display, which is priced starting at $1,599.
An appeals court in France today lowered a fine levied against Apple by the French Competition Authority due to alleged "anti-competitive behaviour towards its distribution and retail network," according to Reuters. The report claims the fine has been lowered to 372 million euros, down from the original amount of 1.1 billion euros.
The antitrust regulator fined Apple in 2020 after finding that it imposed prices on Apple Authorized Resellers in France so that prices were in line with those charged at Apple Stores and on Apple.com. The fine was reduced after the appeals court dropped one of the three main charges related to price-fixing allegations, and significantly lowered the rate applied to calculate the overall fine, according to the report.
The investigation began after a dispute between Apple and one of its leading French wholesalers, which alleged that it went out of business due to Apple's uncompetitive rules. When fined in 2020, Apple said the French Competition Authority's decision was "disheartening" and "discards thirty years of legal precedent."
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
You can get big savings on previous generation Apple Watch models this week on Amazon, including up to $149 off Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE. These devices might not be the latest and greatest from Apple, but at the steepest discounts we've ever tracked they're perfect for early holiday shopping, or for anyone who doesn't need the latest model looking for a new Apple Watch.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple Watch Series 7
The best deals are on cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 7, starting with the 41mm cellular model for $349.99, down from $499.00. This is an all-time low price on the cellular Apple Watch Series 7, and it's available in three colors.
Secondly, the 45mm cellular Apple Watch Series 7 is at a discounted price of $379.99, down from $529.00. This is another record low price on the Series 7, and Amazon also has this model in stock at this price in three colors.
Comparatively, not many GPS models of the Series 7 are seeing notable discounts on Amazon this week. The best deal can be found on the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 for $309.99, down from $429.00. This is an all-time low price and it's only available in (PRODUCT)RED, but it has a delayed shipping estimate as of writing.
There are no 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 models on sale as of writing, but you can save on a few models of the previous generation Apple Watch SE. You can get the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $199.00, down from $279.00, which is another record low price. It's only available in one color and won't deliver until the end of the month, but this is a great deal even on a previous generation model just in time for the holidays.
44mm GPS models of the Apple Watch SE are on sale for $229.00, down from $309.00. On the cellular side of things, you can get the 40mm cellular device for $249.00, down from $329.00, and the 44mm cellular device for $249.00, down from $359.00.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
In 2021, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 as the successor to the popular iPhone 12, with improved rear cameras, longer battery life, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. Despite being from different annual generations, both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 mini are still available from Apple for a price of $599, leading many customers to consider which device they should buy.
At $599, both devices sit above the $429 iPhone SE in Apple's product lineup, adding features like OLED displays and Face ID. The iPhone 13 mini is a more modern device than the iPhone 12, and features the same battery life as the larger device despite having a smaller internal battery, but it does come at the cost of display area.
As the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the older model to save money? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you.
Comparing the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 Mini
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini share a large number of key features, such as OLED Super Retain XDR displays, Face ID, 5G connectivity, MagSafe, and Ceramic Shield. Apple lists these identical features of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini:
Similarities
OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch
Face ID
6GHz 5G connectivity (and mmWave in the U.S.)
Six-core A-Series Bionic chip
4GB of memory
Dual 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide cameras with two-times optical zoom out
Photography features including Night mode, Deep Fusion, True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait mode, and more
Videography features including 4K video recording at up to 60fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision, Audio zoom, slo-mo video up to 240fps at 1080p, Night mode Time-lapse, and more
Ceramic Shield front
IP68 rated splash, water, and dust resistance
Aerospace-grade aluminum
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging
Lightning connector
Up to 17 hours battery during video playback
Available with 128GB and 256GB storage options
Available in (PRODUCT)RED
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a large number of notable key features. Even so, there are some meaningful differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini, such as their processors and display brightness, that will be important when weighing up which device to choose.
Differences
iPhone 12
iPhone 13 mini
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display
625 nits max brightness (typical)
800 nits max brightness (typical)
"Notch"
20 percent smaller "notch"
A14 Bionic chip
A15 Bionic chip
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM) and dual eSIM support
Optical image stabilization for video
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Smart HDR 4 for photos
–
Photographic Styles
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 30fps
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60fps
–
Cinematic mode video recording with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Weighs 164 grams
Weighs 141 grams
Available in Purple, Blue, PRODUCT(RED), White, and Black
Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Green, and PRODUCT(RED)
Available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options
Available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 mini have the same industrial design with squared-off edges and a flat aluminum band around the sides. The devices use aerospace-grade aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear. The iPhone 13 mini's dual rear cameras are offset against each other diagonally, as opposed to the iPhone 12's vertical orientation.
The iPhone 13 mini features a 20 percent smaller notch for the TrueDepth camera array, which frees up more display area and makes the cutout less obtrusive. Other than the rear camera positioning and the smaller notch, the devices look otherwise the same.
As a smaller phone, the iPhone 13 mini is shorter and narrower than the iPhone 12. The size of the iPhone 13 mini makes it much more pocketable than the iPhone 13.
Another factor that demarcates the difference between the two devices is their weight. The iPhone 13 mini is 23 grams (0.81 ounces) lighter than its larger counterpart, at just 141 grams (4.97 ounces) in total. If you want the smallest and lightest possible iPhone, the iPhone 13 mini will be a better choice than the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 is available in Purple, Blue, Green, White, and Black, while the iPhone 13 mini is available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green. Both are also available in PRODUCT(RED). The two shades of Blue are similar, as are White and Starlight, and Black and Midnight. As similar-looking devices, preference for either the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13 mini in terms of design and colors will come down to personal taste.
Display
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 mini both have a OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch. The only difference with the iPhone 13 mini's display is that it is able to get 175 nits brighter during typical non-HDR use, but this is not a major reason to get the newer model.
The most noticeable difference between the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 is the size of their displays. The iPhone 13 mini has a display size of 5.4-inches and the iPhone 12 has a display size of 6.1-inches. This means that the larger phone will be able to show more content on the screen, with the UI elements of apps spaced further apart and items such as the keyboard being bigger.
Nevertheless, the smaller phone is easier to use with one hand. For example, the Control Center is easier to reach at the top of the screen, and users may feel more comfortable swiping around iOS on a smaller display with a firmer grip.
The main reason to prefer the iPhone 13 mini will be because of its better fit in the hand and easier one-handed use. Likewise, those that want a larger display for media consumption, being the same size as the iPhone 14, will clearly prefer the 6.1-inch iPhone 12.
A14 vs. A15
The iPhone 13's A15 Bionic chip brings a modest performance improvement over the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12. Benchmarks show that the A15 in the iPhone 13 offers around 10 percent better single-core performance and 18 percent better multi-core performance compared to the iPhone 12's A14 chip. In graphics tasks, the iPhone 13 performs roughly 15 percent better than the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.
These performance improvements with the A15 are iterative rather than a substantial reason to upgrade alone. The A14 is still an extremely capable chip, and in day-to-day use, the two devices are likely to perform similarly, although the A15 chip may be supported for longer and perform better over time.
Dual SIM
Both devices support dual SIM, with one physical nano-SIM and an eSIM, but the iPhone 13 mini is also able to support two eSIMs simultaneously. If you need to switch between two eSIMs, you will need to get the iPhone 13 mini to get this functionality.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini have dual 12MP rear cameras with a ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and a ƒ/1.6 Wide camera. The iPhone 13 mini's Main camera features a larger sensor than the iPhone 12, capable of capturing 47 percent more light for less noise and brighter images, and the Ultra Wide features a new sensor to capture more detail. The Main camera also contains sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology for smoother video and improved image quality.
Although the devices can both record Dolby Vision HDR video, the iPhone 13 is able to record this up to 60 fps, as opposed to the iPhone 12's 30 fps.
The iPhone 13 mini features Cinematic mode, which allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field at 1080p and 30fps. Cinematic mode can rack focus to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another when capturing video. It holds focus on the subject while blurring the background, and can automatically change the focus when a new subject is about to enter the scene. Blur and focus can be adjusted after capturing video as well through the Photos app.
The iPhone 13 mini also supports Photographic Styles, which are smart, adjustable filters that can do things like boost or mute colors without affecting skin tone. Styles apply selectively to an image, unlike a filter that is applied to the entire image. Photographic Styles include Vibrant (boosts colors), Rich Contrast (darker shadows and deeper colors), Warm (accentuates golden undertones), or Cool (accentuates blue undertones). Tone and Warmth are customizable for each style, so you can get the exact look that you want.
While the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini feature cameras with similar specifications, the iPhone 13 mini offers Dolby Vision HDR video at a higher frame rate, Cinematic mode, and Photographic Styles, as well as hardware improvements such as a larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization. The iPhone 12's camera is still highly capable, but with more photography and videography options and improved image quality, the iPhone 13 mini is the better option.
Storage
A key area to consider when weighing up the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini is storage. While both devices start at $599, the iPhone 12 features a base storage configuration of 64GB, while the iPhone 13 mini offers 128GB of storage for the same price. The iPhone 12 with 128GB of storage costs $649 and at 256GB it costs $749, $50 more than the iPhone 13 mini with the same amount of storage. If storage is a priority for you, it may be better to get the iPhone 13 mini since higher storage quantities come in at a lower price across the board.
The iPhone 12 is also not available with a 512GB configuration, unlike the iPhone 13 mini. This means that if you need more than 256GB of storage, you will need to get the iPhone 13 to have the option of a larger 512GB storage capacity.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 13 mini's upgrades over the iPhone 12 are mostly iterative, offering refinements in terms of a brighter display, a smaller notch, performance improvements, and new camera software features. The more significant upgrades include the camera hardware, but at face value there is likely not enough to justify getting the new model over the iPhone 12 for those who mainly want a larger display. The iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip and dual-camera setup are still highly capable for everyday use, and the device shares an overwhelming majority of the iPhone 13 mini's most versatile features, such as a 17-hour battery life, 5G connectivity, Night mode, MagSafe, and IP68 water resistance.
However, when looking at the 128GB and 256GB storage options only, since these options are available with both models, the iPhone 13 mini costs less than the iPhone 12. If you need more than 64GB of storage and do not want a larger display, you should buy the iPhone 13 mini – especially considering that it comes with additional features and is a year newer. If 64GB of storage is sufficient for you, it will be a case of deciding if the iPhone 13 mini's selection of improvements and extra storage are worth sacrificing a larger display.
Amazon today knocked the price of the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 down to $399.99, from $499.00. We haven't tracked this deal in about a month, and this time around it's available in all four colors: Starlight, Space Gray, Purple, and Pink.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The iPad mini is shipped and sold directly from Amazon, with the fastest delivery estimated to arrive on October 8, and free delivery estimated for October 11 for most colors. As of writing, only Amazon is offering $99 off the iPad mini.
Not only the 64GB Wi-Fi model is on sale, as you can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $549.99, down from $649.00. Additionally, the 64GB Cellular model is available for $549.99 and the 256GB Cellular model is on sale for $699.99, both sales representing $99 discounts on the 2021 iPad mini.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Following the launch of the iPhone 14 Plus in the U.S. and over 40 other countries this Friday, availability will expand to other countries later this month.
Apple today announced that the iPhone 14 Plus will be available in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and 20 other countries and regions starting Friday, October 14, followed by Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico starting Friday, October 28.
Key new features of the iPhone 14 Plus include car crash detection, upcoming support for emergency texting via satellite in the U.S. and Canada, longer battery life, improved cameras, and a more repairable design with a removable back glass panel. The device is powered by the same A15 Bionic chip with a five-core GPU as in the iPhone 13 Pro.
Compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch display, weighs more, and gets longer battery life. iPhone 14 Plus pricing starts at $899 in the United States, compared to $799 for the iPhone 14. The first iPhone 14 Plus reviews were published earlier today, offering a closer look at the device.
On Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Series 6 and later models running watchOS 9, you can use the redesigned Compass app's Backtrack feature to track your route and then help you retrace your steps in case you get lost.
Backtrack uses the GPS on your Apple Watch to create a virtual breadcrumb trail of your route so you don't have to worry about keeping track of where you're going. According to Apple, Backtrack is designed to be used in remote settings, away from familiar places like your home or workplace, and outside densely populated areas without Wi-Fi, but there's nothing stopping you from using it anywhere you need it.
The following steps show you how to use the Backtrack feature in watchOS 9. Note that the accuracy of Backtrack may be hindered by metal watch bands.
Open the Compass app on your Apple Watch.
Tap the footprints icon in the bottom-right of the screen, then tap Start to begin recording your route.
If necessary, scroll down and tap Allow Once to allow Compass to access your Recent Locations.
When you're ready to retrace your steps, tap the pause icon in the bottom-right of the screen, then tap Retrace Steps.
Your starting location will appear on the compass, and a bouncing white arrow will point you in the right direction. The path back to the starting point will appear within the compass circle as a white line. Follow the path back to return to where you first turned on Backtrack.
When you've arrived at your starting location, tap the footsteps icon again, then tap Delete Steps.
Apple has given select media outlets and YouTubers access to the iPhone 14 Plus ahead of its launch on Friday, October 7.
The iPhone 14 Plus is Apple's largest entry-level iPhone model with a 6.7-inch display, a display size that's been historically reserved for only the highest-end iPhone. The iPhone 14 Plus shares many of the same features of the standard smaller iPhone 14 model, which was reviewed prior to launch last month.
Thanks to a display that lacks Pro features such as always-on capability and more internal space allocated to the battery, the iPhone 14 Plus features the longest battery life of any non-Pro iPhone. The Verge's Allison Johnson says the iPhone 14 Plus is capable of offering users multi-day battery life, saying it offered three days of battery life on a single charge in testing.
Apple's claim of the "best battery life in an iPhone" isn't an exaggeration. Typically, a day of moderate use with about two hours of screen-on time and plenty of time away from Wi-Fi only drained the battery by about 25 percent in my experience. I even managed to get three days of use on a single charge. Reader, I can't remember the last time I used an iPhone that comfortably made it through multiple days of use.
The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern said the iPhone 14 Plus lasted 20 hours in a video streaming test, shy of the iPhone 14 Pro Max at over 21 hours.
The iPhone 14 Plus features just a 60Hz display, and CNET's Patrick Holland says while the display is impressive with good brightness and colors, the lack of a higher refresh rate is disappointing for a phone in this price range.
A higher refresh-rate screen looks more immersive, whether you are playing a game or just scrolling on Twitter. The 14 Plus' screen is locked in at 60Hz. I wish Apple had included a higher refresh-rate display on the 14 Plus, even if it's a more modest 90Hz. And it's strange that only the Pro models get an adaptive refresh rate.
The 14 Plus' screen looks good, but the one on the 14 Pro Max looks better. Some of that is about the refresh rate, but some of it is that the 14 Pro Max can get much brighter. In my time testing the 14 Plus, I didn't have any issues being able to see the screen outdoors. But I live in San Francisco, so in a sunnier locale that could be more of a challenge.
Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share the exact same camera system, so camera reviews for the iPhone 14 will also be applicable to the iPhone 14 Plus. As expected, reviewers say the iPhone 14 Plus handled low-light situations well, with poppy colors and good highlights. From The Verge's Allison Johnson:
What that boils down to is better low-light performance, especially from the ultrawide and selfie cam, even though the hardware isn't exactly new or special. You can read a little more in-depth analysis in my iPhone 14 review, but the short version is that this is a very good camera system — not solely worth upgrading for, but it'll be a pleasant update if you're coming from an iPhone 11 or older.
Performance
Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share the same chip from last year's iPhone 13 Pro. Despite this, the iPhone 14 Plus "still feels premium though, and has more than enough performance to handle anything you can throw at it," according to Engadget's Sam Rutherford.
Video Reviews
For a more detailed rundown of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, see our roundup.
Rumors suggest that Apple still has several new devices that are coming before the end of the year, including a range of Macs and iPads. It's not looking like we're going to get an October event in 2022, but refreshes are coming soon, probably via press release. If you're planning to buy a Mac or an iPad, make sure to check out our list to know what's safe to pick up now and what's not.
The iPad Pro was last updated in April 2021, and we're expecting an updated version before the end of 2022. There are no design huge changes that we know of coming, but there are some features worth waiting for.
Both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will get a refresh, but rumors suggest just the 12.9-inch model will have a mini-LED display, despite some information that had indicated Apple could bring the technology to both models.
Apple's updated iPad Pros are expected to use the M2 chip that was first introduced in the new MacBook Air in June, bringing speed and performance improvements. There have also been rumors of wireless charging support, with Apple perhaps adding a new larger glass Apple logo at the back that would allow for MagSafe charging.
Reverse wireless charging is also a possibility with the new iPad Pro models able to charge iPhones, AirPods, and other devices.
Apple has long offered a low-cost basic iPad that is available at a ~$300 price point, but this year, the cheap iPad is getting some trickle down features that have previously been limited to higher-end iPads.
Apple is going to refresh the tired old design the low-cost iPad has been using for years, introducing 10.5-inch display with a more modern look featuring flat edges and rounded corners. We've previously seen this design used for the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
The flat-edged design usually accompanies a bezel-free interface, but rumors right now suggest the iPad will continue to have top and bottom bezels along with a Touch ID Home button, but it remains to be seen if that's true. Apple could opt for the same power button Touch ID design used for the iPad mini and the iPad Air.
With the exception of the low-cost iPad, every iPad uses a USB-C port, and Apple is going to swap Lightning for USB-C with the 10th-generation iPad refresh.
We could also see some improvements to the camera, and a faster chip is a sure thing (likely the A14), but one thing the iPad might lose is the headphone jack. Removing the headphone jack would bring the low-cost iPad in line with the rest of the iPad lineup.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros came out in October of last year, and we might see new M2 Pro and M2 Max models released before the end of the year. New MacBook Pro models are said to be planned for release as soon as this fall, but there is a chance the timing could be pushed back because of supply constraints that Apple has been dealing with.
There hasn't been a Mac mini refresh since 2020 when the M1 chip was added, but Apple doesn't yet plan on discontinuing the desktop machine. A refresh is in the works, and updated Mac mini devices could include M2 and M2 Pro chips.
We're not expecting any design changes, and the highest-end chips will likely be reserved for the Mac Studio, which is like a hybrid of the Mac Pro and the Mac mini.
Apple TV
Apple last updated the Apple TV in April of 2021, and it may be time for a refresh. Rumors suggest that there is a new model with an A14 chip and 4GB RAM in development, and it could be ready to launch before the end of 2022.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said several times this year that Apple is planning to lower the price of the Apple TV when it's refreshed, but whether that will actually happen remains to be seen.
Since the Mac Pro hasn't been updated since 2019 and doesn't yet use Apple silicon chips it's obvious that now is not a great time to buy. While we did hear some early 2022 rumors suggesting that the Mac Pro could get a refresh before the end of the year, it's now looking like a new Mac Pro isn't coming until 2023.
While we may have several months to go before the Mac Pro sees an update, we don't recommend buying one right now. You're definitely going to want to wait on Apple to bring its ultra fast Apple silicon chips to its highest-end pro machine.
Rumors suggest that the Mac Pro will use an M2 Ultra, an upgrade to the M1 Ultra first introduced in the Mac Studio, and an even more powerful M2 Extreme chip. The M1 Ultra features up to a 20-core CPU and a 64-core GPU, and the M2 Ultra could be even more powerful.
The M2 Extreme will be Apple's most powerful chip to date, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurmanhas said that the chip could have upwards of 40 CPU cores and 128 GPU cores.
Wrap Up
Note that this list is based on rumors that we've heard, so it's possible that some of these refreshes could be delayed into 2023. Timing Apple product releases is not always straightforward, but if you can wait on a purchase, it's a good idea to hold off until a new product announcement if you're concerned about having the latest and greatest device.
We have more product release timelines available for every Apple device in our dedicated Buyer's Guide, which is an invaluable resource for Apple fans.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 155 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web Inspector, CSS, Rendering, JavaScript, Media, Scroll to Text Fragment, Web API, Loading, and WebDriver.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is built on the Safari 16 update and it includes support for feature coming in macOS Ventura such as Live Text, Passkeys, Web Extension improvements, and more.
The new build of Safari Technology Preview is compatible with machines running macOS 13 Ventura, unlike prior versions of Safari Technology Preview, but it no longer works with macOS Big Sur.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Apple today updated the Shazam app for iPhone and iPad, introducing a new feature that is designed to allow songs identified using Siri to be added to both the Shazam App library and the Music Recognition History view in the Control Center. Note that this functionality requires iOS 16.
Apple added Music Recognition feature to the Control Center back in iOS 14, and there has long been a history of songs identified if you long press on the Shazam Control Center icon. Songs listed here were shown if you used the Control Center button to identify music content, but not if you asked Siri to identify a song.
"Hey Siri, what's the name of this song?"
Songs you identify using Siri on iOS 16 now sync to your Shazam App library and Music Recognition History View in Control Center.
With the update, the Music Recognition History list and the App Library in Shazam will show songs identified through Siri or through the Music Recognition tool.
Apple purchased Shazam in 2018 for $400 million and has been integrating the service into its devices since then, in addition to adding a number of improvements. Apple last year said that its Music Recognition feature in Control Center had surpassed one billion cumulative recognitions over the course of a year.
Apple today seeded the eighth beta of macOS Ventura to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Ventura operating system ahead of its release. The eighth beta comes following the seventh public beta and it corresponds with tenth developer beta released earlier this week.
Public beta testers can download the macOS 13 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.
macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new multi-tasking option for focusing on a task while having other apps waiting in the wings. Stage Manager puts your main app front and center, tucking your other apps to the side for quick access.
Continuity Camera allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, offering much better camera quality than the built-in Mac camera. Apple is building special stands to hold the iPhone with a Mac, and there are neat features like Desk View, which uses the Ultra Wide lens.
Handoff now works with FaceTime so you can answer calls on the Mac and then transfer them over to another device, and Messages is gaining undo, edit, and mark as unread features. SharePlay now works in Messages in addition to FaceTime, and the Mail app has been overhauled. Search is more relevant, emails can be scheduled, and there's even an option to undo an email for up to 10 seconds after it's sent.
Apple brought the Weather and Clock apps to the Mac, redesigned System Preferences and renamed it System Settings, and added support for Shared Tab Groups. Passwords are being replaced with more secure Passkeys in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, and there are updates to Spotlight, Visual Lookup, Live Text, and more.
There are a ton of other features in macOS Ventura, and we have a full rundown available in our dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.
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