Apple today confirmed that the Live Activities Lock Screen feature is going to be available when iOS 16.1 launches. Apple shared the information with developers and said that the ActivityKit API is available so developers can begin incorporating Live Activities into their apps.
Live Activities are interactive notifications that stay up to date, allowing you to keep an eye on things happening in real time right from the Lock Screen. If you're following a sports game, for example, you can see the updated score on the Lock Screen, or if you're waiting for a Uber ride, you can watch for your driver to approach.
You'll be able to follow along with Live Activities on the Lock Screen, and iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max users will also see Live Activities in the Dynamic Island.
Apple says that when the iOS 16.1 release candidate is available to developers, apps with Live Activities will be able to be submitted to the App Store.
Though iOS 16 was just released on Monday, Apple is already moving on to testing the next update to the operating system. iOS 16.1 was seeded to developers today, and it introduces a handful of new features that are worth noting.
Lock Screen/Home Screen Customization
When tapping on the "Customize" interface on the Lock Screen, there's now an option to choose between customizing either the Lock Screen or the Home Screen, rather than just the Lock Screen. This makes it easier to customize the look of the iPhone from one spot without having to go through multiple steps.
Apple Fitness+ on iPhone Without an Apple Watch
Apple Fitness+ is available even if you do not have an Apple Watch to use with both iOS 16.1 and tvOS 16.1. You can start a workout if you are an Apple Fitness+ subscriber, though you will be missing the Apple Watch metrics on the display.
You can subscribe to Apple Fitness+ without a watch after the updates have been installed.
Matter Support
iOS 16.1 introduces a new "Matter Accessories" section to the Settings app, suggesting that Apple is preparing for the fall launch of the Matter smart home standard.
Tapping into the Matter Accessories section suggests that it will display all Matter accessories that have been added to a connected service. "These can also be added to additional services with an app that supports Matter," reads the text. Matter will allow interoperability between smart devices from different companies, so HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant devices, for example, can work together.
In the release notes for the update, Apple says that pairing Matter accessories first requires a profile installed on your device. There are also several other known issues with the Matter standard at the current time, with workarounds available on Apple's site.
Removing Apple Home from the Matter accessory Connected Services menu in Home doesn't remove the accessory tile.
You might receive an alert to turn on Wi-Fi when pairing a Matter accessory.
Accessory details might not open if a Matter accessory is unreachable.
You might be unable to pair using a Matter ECM code via the Matter Support Framework pairing API.
Uncertified accessory notifications might appear when pairing Matter accessories.
You might be unable to pair a Matter accessory if the accessory is already paired to a third-party ecosystem.
The device that initiates the pairing needs to use the same iCloud account as the home hub. Only the owner of a home, not an invited user, can pair Matter accessories.
This section was removed in the third beta of iOS 16.1.
Clean Energy Charging
iOS 16.1 adds a toggle to enable "Clean Energy Charging" in the Battery section of the Settings app. Clean Energy Charging will try to reduce your carbon footprint by selectively charging when lower carbon emission electricity is available.
Apple says that the iPhone will still reach full charge before you need to use it based on your daily charging routine, and the feature can be toggled off if desired. It appears to be enabled by default when updating to iOS 16.1.
Live Activities API
iOS 16.1 re-adds the Live Activities API that was available for developers for testing purposes during the iOS 16 beta. iPhone users cannot access Live Activities at the current time as there are no apps that support it, but developers can begin implementing support.
Delete Wallet App
iOS 16.1 adds the option to remove the Wallet app from the iPhone entirely. In iOS 16 and earlier versions of iOS, the app could be removed from the Home Screen, but not deleted. It is now able to be deleted entirely for those who do not want to use Apple Pay or other Wallet features.
The option comes as Apple is facing a lawsuit accusing it of violating antitrust law by making Apple Pay the only available mobile wallet for tap-to-pay payments on iPhone.
Battery Percentage in Status Bar
iOS 16.1 adds battery percentage to the battery icon in the status bar on the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini, all iPhones that did not support the feature in iOS 16.
Screenshot UI
When you close the Screenshot editing tool, there is an updated interface in the upper right corner that gives the options to delete a screenshot, copy and delete, or save it. This menu used to be at the bottom of the iPhone, so this new implementation is sleeker and less in your face as it does not take over the bottom of the display.
Battery Status Bar Visual Charge Indicator
Apple in iOS 16 added battery percentage to the battery icon in the status bar on Face ID iPhones, and in iOS 16.1 beta 2, improved the feature to show a visual indication of the charge level.
The battery icon shifts throughout the day as the battery depletes or is charged, making it easier to see charge level at a glance. Prior to the beta, the battery indicator in the status bar showed percent, but the battery level was static and always full, making it sometimes confusing to determine the iPhone's charge with a quick look.
Battery Font
Apple has updated the font that's used for the battery icon, slightly increasing the size.
Lock Screen Charging Indicator
When charging an iPhone, the battery percentage is now displayed above the time both when the iPhone first starts charging and each time that it is woken from sleep during the charging process.
This allows for a clear indication of the charge level when tapping on the iPhone's display without unlocking the device. The always-on display does not show charge level and waking the screen on an iPhone 14 Pro model is required to get the battery level to show up.
Copy and Paste Fix
The incessant copy and paste prompts that iOS 16 users are seeing have been addressed in iOS 16.1, and you no longer need to explicitly approve each and every copy and paste attempt. While this is fixed in iOS 16.1, we are expecting Apple to address it prior to the iOS 16.1 launch with an iOS 16 bug fix update that is planned for next week.
No Camera Shake Fix
Reports suggest that the bug causing the iPhone 14 Pro rear camera to shake and vibrate has not been addressed in iOS 16.1 beta 2. Apple has said that the issue will be fixed in an iOS 16 update coming next week, and we are expecting an iOS 16.0.2 release.
Wallpaper Updates
Apple has updated the Wallpaper section of the Settings app to allow users to swap between wallpapers from this interface. The design has also been tweaked, making the options to add new wallpaper more obvious.
Stage Manager
In the latest beta of iPadOS 16.1, Apple has expanded Stage Manager availability to the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models equipped with A12Z and A12X chips. Previously, Stage Manager was limited to the M1 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air models.
Apple has also removed external display support from Stage Manager in this beta, with the feature to return in a future update to iPadOS 16. When reintroduced, external display support will be limited to M1 iPad models. .
Emergency SOS via Satellite
Apple is beginning to lay the groundwork for Emergency SOS via Satellite and Find My satellite integration, functionality that is coming to iPhone 14 models starting in November. Code in the update reveals some of the text we can expect to see.
Send your location using a supported iPhone from places where there are no cellular or Wi-Fo networks.
Send your Location via Satellite.
This friend sent you their location via satellite because they have no other network available.
Can send location again after X amount of time.
X hours ago - Last time your location was sent.
You can now text emergency services via satellite on your iPhone.
iPhone can try to use a satellite to text emergency services. When it's safe, exit the vehicle and follow the iPhone instructions.
iPhone is texting emergency services via satellite.
AirPods Pro 2 Volume Touch Control Toggle
The iOS 16.1 beta adds a new feature that allows the touch-based volume control of the AirPods Pro 2 to be disabled.
Preload In-App Content
After you've downloaded an app from the App Store, there is sometimes extra content to download the first time you open it, especially if it's an app that has a large size. With iOS 16.1, there is a toggle to automatically run newly downloaded apps in the background to download content before you first launch them.
The setting is enabled by default and can be found in the Settings app under App Store > In-App Content.
Other New Features
Know of a new feature in iOS 16.1 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
The iOS 16.1 beta that was provided to developers today introduces a new Clean Energy Charging feature, which is designed to help iPhone users cut down on their carbon footprint.
Available in the Battery section of the Settings app, Clean Energy Charging selectively charges when lower carbon emission electricity is available in an effort to provide a more green charging method.
Apple says that the iPhone will still reach a full charge before it's needed based on a user's daily routine, and the feature can be toggled off if desired. It is enabled by default.
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.
Apple in iOS 16 updated the battery icon on iPhones with Face ID to display the specific battery percentage rather than just a visual representation of battery level. At launch, this feature did not include the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone XR, or iPhone 11, but according to multiple reports from the MacRumors forums and Twitter, all of these iPhones now support the feature.
Battery percent was not present on iPhones that have Face ID in iOS 15 because of the lack of space on either side of the notch that houses the TrueDepth camera hardware, but Apple's updated iOS 16 design adds the specific battery level to the battery icon, providing a better idea of battery status at a glance.
With this update, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 users can see their battery percentage in the status bar, and battery percentage is officially available on the iPhone XR and later. Devices without a Face ID notch always display the battery percentage as well.
Marques Brownlee's review of the iPhone 14 Pro today provides a helpful overview of everything that the Dynamic Island can do so far.
Low Battery alert in Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro via MKBHD
There are currently around 30 things that the Dynamic Island can show, including system alerts for incoming phone calls, AirPods and other accessories being connected, Face ID authentication, Apple Pay, AirDrop, AirPlay, car keys in the Wallet app, unlocking the iPhone with an Apple Watch, charging and low battery indicators, ring/silent mode, various NFC interactions, Focus mode changes, Shortcuts, Airplane Mode, SIM card alerts, and Find My.
Notably, iPhone 14 Pro models no longer display an annoying low battery alert in the middle of the screen when the device drops to 20% battery life remaining, with or without a charger connected, as The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern confirmed to us. Instead, the low battery alert appears in the Dynamic Island and requires no action from the user.
Dynamic Island also allows users to interact with live activities, such as an ongoing phone call, a SharePlay session, music playback, a timer, turn-by-turn directions in Apple Maps, voice memos, screen recordings, and Personal Hotspot connections. Music playback is supported for Apple Music and for third-party apps using the Now Playing API, including Spotify, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Overcast, Stitcher, and others.
Last, Dynamic Island also works with third-party apps using the CallKit API, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Skype, and Google Voice.
Stern provided a closer look at the Dynamic Island in her iPhone 14 Pro review video, which was shot on an actual island in the New York City area.
Exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models, the Dynamic Island is a pill-shaped area that replaces the notch found on previous models. Aided by software, the Dynamic Island morphs into different shapes and sizes for system alerts and other tasks. The feature will also work with Live Activities in third-party apps starting later this year.
The iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 betas that were released to developers today add a new "Matter Accessories" section to the Settings app as Apple begins preparing for the launch of the new Matter smart home standard.
Tapping into the Matter Accessories section suggests that it will display all Matter accessories that have been added to a connected service. "These can also be added to additional services with an app that supports Matter," reads the text.
Apple has not yet implemented official support for Matter, but has said that it will be introduced sometime this fall. Matter is a new interoperable, secure connectivity standard that is designed for smart home devices.
Created by the Connectivity Standards Alliance that includes tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google, Matter ensures interoperability between smart home devices from different companies. HomeKit, Google Assistant, Alexa, SmartThings, and other smart home devices that support Matter will be able to work together.
Some accessory makers are set to support Matter as soon as the new standard is released and supported by Apple.
The new iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts two hours longer than last year's iPhone 13 Pro Max, according to a battery test conducted by Tom's Guide meant to simulate real-life usage.
In its review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Tom's Guide said that the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasted an average 14 of hours and 42 minutes on a single full charge. In a similar test, the iPhone 13 Pro Max lasted 12 hours and 16 minutes. On Tom's Guide's ranking of battery life in smartphones, the iPhone 14 Pro Max now ranks in 2nd place after the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro, which clocked in at around 15 hours and 30 minutes.
In its testing, Tom's Guide found that the iPhone 14 Pro Max only drained 30% in 5 hours while downloading apps, listening to music, and taking pictures and videos.
Anecdotally, the iPhone 14 Pro Max fared quite well in terms of endurance. After charging close to 90% and then using the phone from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for downloading apps, playing music and shooting photos and videos, the phone's battery only dropped to 60%.
When it comes to charging, Tom's Guide'S test results fall short of Apple's claim that the iPhone 14 Pro Max can charge up to 50% in less than 30 minutes. Tests conducted by the publication showed it only charged to 42% from 0% in half an hour.
Unfortunately, the iPhone 14 Pro Max sticks with 20W charging, so there are faster charging phones out there. Charging a drained iPhone 14 Pro Max, we got to only 42% in 30 minutes; Apple claims you can hit 50%, so we'll be retesting and updating this review. By comparison, the Galaxy S22 Ultra got to 58% in 30 minutes with its 25W charger, and the OnePlus 10 Pro reached 93% and got to 55% in 15 minutes, benefitting from 65W charging speeds.
Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Pro Max does actually have a slightly smaller battery, but benefits from the new A16 Bionic chip and a more efficient display. Unlike the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro features a more advanced OLED display with a variable refresh rate of as low as 1Hz, as opposed to as low as 10Hz for last year's iPhone.
On top of the more efficient OLED panel, the display is now controlled by a new display engine embedded in the A16 Bionic chip that mitigates power consumption and features like ProMotion, Dynamic Island, and the always-on display.
Reviews of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max were shared earlier today, offering a more detailed look at Dynamic Island, the new 48MP Main camera, the always-on display, and more. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 16.
Apple today released the first beta of iOS 16.1 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the launch of the iOS 16 operating system.
Registered developers can download the iOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.
There's no word as of yet what's included in the beta, but there are several iOS 16 features that have not yet been implemented. We are waiting on Apple to add Live Activities, a feature that allows you to follow activities happening in real time on the Lock Screen.
Apple has also delayed iCloud Shared Photo Library, the feature that allows you to more easily share photos with friends and family. Other features that have not yet been added to iOS 16 include the planned Freeform app, updates to Game Center, Apple Wallet key sharing, a new Home app architecture, and support for the Matter smart home standard.
When we learn what's new in the iOS 16.1 beta, we'll update this article.
Apple today seeded another beta of the upcoming iPadOS 16.1 software to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming three weeks after the initial iPadOS 16.1 beta was seeded out.
Registered developers can download the iPadOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.
Apple has opted to delay the launch of iPadOS 16 in order to continue working out bugs and other issues with the Stage Manager feature that is coming to M1iPad models. iPadOS 16 will not launch in September alongside iOS 16, and will instead be released as iPadOS 16.1 at a later date.
"As its own platform with features specifically designed for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on its own schedule. This Fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS, as version 16.1 in a free software update," Apple said.
With the first beta of iPadOS 16.1, Apple has already started to make improvements to the way that Stage Manager works, changing the way the side rail can be interacted with while in full screen.
Apple rarely splits iOS and iPadOS launches apart, but it has decided so in this case because the latest version of iPadOS is rife with bugs and has been seeing a number of complaints about the multitasking Stage Manager option that continues to need refinements.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming just one day after the launch of watchOS 9.
To install watchOS 9.1, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, watchOS 9.1 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
We don't yet know what's included in the watchOS 9.1 update, but watchOS 9 brought a redesigned Compass app, a new medication tracking feature, updated watch faces, improvements to Workouts, new features for the ECG app, and more.
We'll update this article if anything notable is found in the watchOS 9.1 update.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming just one day after the launch of the tvOS 16 operating system.
Developers can download the new tvOS 16.1 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are typically minor, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.1 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch. tvOS 16 brought enhanced multiuser support, Personalized Spatial Audio when using AirPods, and Accessibility improvements.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
A key new feature of iPhone 14 Pro models is the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area that replaces the notch on previous models. Aided by software, the Dynamic Island morphs into different shapes and sizes for things such as incoming phone calls, alerts, notifications, Face ID authentication, timers, and more. Dynamic Island will also integrate with Live Activities in third-party apps starting later this year.
One smaller detail that we have now confirmed is that the Dynamic Island is only visible in screenshots taken on iPhone 14 Pro models while it is being used by apps, or when the camera/microphone indicator dots are active. The screenshot shows the entire Dynamic Island, including any added elements, such as a circular timer icon.
On the other hand, the Dynamic Island does not appear in screenshots when it is completely inactive. In this case, the screenshot simply shows the wallpaper behind the Dynamic Island, which is the same screenshot behavior as on iPhones with a notch.
This approach makes sense, as when the Dynamic Island is actively being used, it contains information that could be valuable for screenshots.
According to Marques Brownlee's review of the iPhone 14 Pro models, this same behavior applies to screen recordings on the devices as well.
Reviews for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have been published, offering a more detailed look at Apple's new high-end phones and all they have to offer, including an always-on display.
One detail confirmed today by the reviews is that the always-on display features no customization features, as it only displays a tinted version of a user's iOS 16 Lock Screen wallpaper, widgets, and Live Activities, if any are actively running. Users can't customize the always-on display, such as what information it chooses or whether it shows a darkened wallpaper or a black background.
Users can, however, disable the always-on display entirely from within the Display and Brightness section of Settings. Reviewers noted that it's too early to tell whether or not the always-on display has a material impact on battery life, so we'll have to wait a few weeks before we know its effect.
The new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature more power-efficient OLED displays with a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz. This is just one of several power-saving features that the iPhone 14 Pro has for the always-on display. Today we learned from Engadget that in order to limit the impact of the always-on display on battery life, the iPhone 14 Pro prerenders individual frames for elements that predictably change, such as the time, and feeds them to the always-on display when appropriate.
As reported earlier this week, the iPhone 14 Pro intelligently detects if a user who's wearing an Apple Watch paired with the iPhone leaves the room, and when they do, it will disable the always-on display.
By disabling the always-on display when a user leaves the room, the iPhone 14 Pro saves battery life and helps safeguard privacy as the display doesn't show a user's wallpaper and widgets when they're not present.
Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi 10.2-inch iPad has returned to its all-time low price of $279.99 on Amazon, down from $329.00. Silver and Space Gray color options are both on sale at this price, and the fastest delivery options are estimated for an arrival of this Friday, September 16.
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.
This sale beats the previous record low price by around $20. Besides the 64GB Wi-Fi model, you can also save with a few second-best prices on both cellular versions of the 10.2-inch iPad (up to $50 off).
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.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores this Friday, September 16, and ahead of time, the first reviews of the devices have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.
Image Credit: The Verge
Key new features of the iPhone 14 Pro models include an always-on display with a new Dynamic Island, upgraded cameras with a 48-megapixel main lens, car crash detection and satellite connectivity for emergencies, the A16 Bionic chip for faster performance, and new Deep Purple and Space Black color options. Emergency SOS via Satellite is not launching until November, so the feature was not available for review yet.
The only differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max relate to their respective 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes, battery life, and the weight of the devices, as the Pro and Pro Max once again have identical camera systems this year.
We've rounded up both written and video reviews of the iPhone 14 Pro models below, complete with a feature-by-feature breakdown.
Dynamic Island
Exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, the Dynamic Island replaces the traditional notch found on all iPhone 13 models. Aided by software, the cutout morphs into different shapes and sizes for things such as incoming phone calls, alerts, notifications, Face ID authentication, timers, turn-by-turn navigation, Live Activities, and more.
While the Dynamic Island is certainly more useful than the notch on previous iPhones, The Verge's Nilay Patel said the feature's potential is not fully realized yet, as it currently only supports third-party apps that use the Now Playing or CallKit APIs.
"Right now, the Dynamic Island feels like one of those things that need a year of refinement and developer attention before we really know how important it is," said Patel.
Always-On Display
TheStreet's Jacob Krol said the iPhone 14 Pro's new always-on display did not have a noticeable impact on battery life during his testing:
And from my testing so far, using the always-on display doesn't negatively impact the battery life or overall runtime of the 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max. I've still been able to get a full day of moderate use on the 14 Pro, with the larger in size -- and likely in battery capacity -- 14 Pro Max lasting for a day and half with the same use. Apple specifically called out some enhancements within the new A16 Bionic which has cores designed to be efficient operators of the display.
48-Megapixel Camera
Input's Raymond Wong put the iPhone's new 48-megapixel main lens to the test and was impressed with the 48-megapixel ProRAW photos, but he said he could barely notice a difference for pixel-binned 12-megapixel photos in daylight.
I've tested more than my share of Android phones with high-megapixel camera sensors and they've always underwhelmed in some way. Apple’s ProRAW DNG was a bit disappointing for the iPhone 13 Pro and 12 Pro; there's barely more detail to get from a 12-megapixel RAW compared to a 12-megapixel JPEG. Not so with 48-megapixel ProRAW files; these images are massive (often clocking in between 70-80MB) and the amount of detail you can get is borderline nuts for a phone.
Wong also shared his thoughts on the new Deep Purple and Space Black color options:
My iPhone 14 Pro review unit is Space Black. I love it. The glass back and the stainless steel frame are noticeably darker than the gray Graphite iPhone 13 Pro; like a mix between the black and Jet Black iPhone 7. My iPhone 14 Pro Max review unit is Deep Purple; it's a dark purple that sometimes looks gray or black. Both look sleek in person; both are still fingerprint magnets. You can also get them in silver and gold.
A16 Bionic Chip
Wong shared Geekbench 5 results for the iPhone 14 Pro models, revealing up to a 16% increase in multi-core performance compared to the 13 Pro:
As far as battery life goes, none of the iPhone 14 or 14 Pro models I tried lasted significantly longer than their predecessors. The story might be different with the step-up model, the iPhone 14 Plus. Apple says it has "our longest battery life ever"—I'll test that claim when it arrives.
Apple has given select media outlets and YouTubers access to the new iPhone 14 ahead of when it begins arriving in customers' hands on Friday, September 16.
The new iPhone 14 is an incremental upgrade compared to the iPhone 13, featuring the same overall design, the same A15 Bionic chip with an additional GPU core, and slight improvements to the rear and front cameras.
Display
There are two models of the iPhone 14, the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and the larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 Plus will not begin shipping to customers until Friday, October 7, so reviews are focused on the smaller standard model.
The display on the standard iPhone 14 is nearly identical to the one on the iPhone 13, with The Verge's Allison Johnson saying it's a good display but noting that there are other options offering more advanced displays with 120Hz refresh rates at around the same price.
It's a good screen, but the competition is running laps around Apple here. Android phones from the flagship class all the way to the $350 Samsung A53 5G offer screens with 120Hz refresh rates. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's an area where it feels like the standard iPhone is overdue for an update.
Performance
The iPhone 14 features the same A15 Bionic chip that powered the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Compared to the A15 Bionic chip in last year's standard iPhone 13, the iPhone 14's chip features one additional GPU core. CNET said the iPhone 14 is "speedy" with fluid animations and no performance hiccups.
The iPhone 14 also includes an improved internal design that better manages heat, allowing users to play high-intensive games for longer without the device overheating. Engadget said the device managed to stay "cool to the touch" during gaming and that the phone remains capable regarding performance.
The iPhone 14 may use last year's A15 Bionic processor, but it's still a capable phone that holds its own against this year's flagships. My feverish rounds of Royal Match while messaging fellow reviewers my thoughts on the iPhone 14 Pro all happened smoothly, and in general the phone stayed cool to the touch. It got warm when I repeatedly tested the selfie camera’s autofocus in low light, but didn’t get alarmingly hot.
Battery Life
The standard iPhone 14 features a slightly larger battery than the standard iPhone 13. Apple is promising up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 80 hours of audio playback for the iPhone 14, making similar claims as it did for the iPhone 13 last year.
The Verge said that in real-world testing, the iPhone 14 ended the day with around 40% to 50% of battery life remaining, adding that while it's difficult to compare to the iPhone 13 given limited testing and varying usage, it should be sufficient for most users.
In the real world, after three to four hours of screen-on time, I had between 40 and 50 percent charge at the end of the day. Whether that’s substantially better than the already quite excellent iPhone 13 is hard to say, but it’s good enough to get most people through a full day, and that’s what counts.
Cameras
Both the front and rear cameras on the iPhone 14 received some upgrades. On the front, the selfie camera is an all-new 12MP camera that features autofocus. Apple says the new camera delivers up to 2x better low-light photos thanks to its larger aperture.
On the back, the iPhone 14 features the same dual-camera setup as the iPhone 13 but now includes improved Main and Ultra Wide lenses. The new Main camera has an ƒ/1.5 aperture that allows 49% more light to enter every shot. The Main camera also benefits from a new workflow that Apple calls the Photonic Engine. The Photonic Engine merges multiple pixels from multiple exposure levels to deliver brighter and "more lifelike" colors in low-light situations.
Photo taken with the Main camera on the iPhone 14 via CNET
CNET said the iPhone 14 takes acceptable photos in low-light conditions and handles details well.
And in my tests, the iPhone 14 takes great photos and videos. I was able to get a respectable snap, even when the lighting wasn't good. Check out the photo below of a dog that I took in the not-so-bright interior of a coffee shop. Notice how well the 14 captures the texture and detail in the dog's fur. It also did a good job of freezing the action even though the dog was moving his head as I was taking the photo.
For videos, the iPhone 14 includes a new Action mode that delivers stabilized video when active. The Verge says Action mode is "very much designed to be used in bright outdoor light," noting that in any other conditions, videos look "horribly blotchy."
Video Reviews
For those who enjoy watching video reviews, we've embedded some below.
Apple's future M3 chip for Macs and A17 chip for iPhone 15 Pro models will be manufactured based on TSMC's enhanced 3nm process known as N3E next year, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia. The devices are expected to launch throughout 2023.
N3E will offer improved performance and power efficiency compared to TSMC's first-generation 3nm process known as N3, according to the report.
In the meantime, the report claims that Apple plans to use TSMC's first-generation 3nm process for some of its upcoming iPad chips. It's unclear which iPad models the report is referring to, as rumors suggest that Apple will update the iPad Pro next month with the M2 chip, which is manufactured based on TSMC's second-generation 5nm process. A new entry-level iPad with an older A14 chip is also expected later this year.
The report claims that 2023 could mark the second year in a row in which only the Pro models of the new iPhone lineup feature Apple's latest chip. Last week, Apple unveiled iPhone 14 Pro models with an A16 chip based on TSMC's 4nm process, while the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models are equipped with the previous-generation A15 chip.
Mophie today announced the launch of a series of Apple-exclusive Powerstation battery packs and a 120W GaN Travel Kit, all of which can be purchased from Apple starting today.
Priced at $140, the Mophie Speedport 120W 4-Port GaN Wall Charger Travel Kit includes three USB-C PD ports and one USB-A port for charging up to four Apple devices at the same time. It offers a combined 120W, so it can charge a large device like a MacBook Pro alongside smaller devices like an iPad, Apple Watch, and iPhone. It comes with a travel case.
Available for $40, Mophie's Powerstation Mini offers up to 20W of PD power for charging an iPhone, AirPods, or iPad. It has a 5,000mAh battery and provides up to 21 hours of video playback. The Powerstation Mini is made from aluminum, it charges via USB-C, and has LED power indicator lights so you can check the charge level.
The $60 Mophie Powerstation has the same general design as the Powerstation Mini, but it comes with dual USB-C PD ports for charging two devices at one time. It has a 10,000mAh battery inside and charges at up to 24W, adding 43 hours of video playback.
Mophie's Powerstation Pro XL is a more powerful battery pack option, priced at $200. With 120W of combined power, it is able to charge a MacBook Pro, and it has three total ports if you need to charge multiple devices. The 100W main port can charge a MacBook, plus there's a 45W port and a 20W port for smaller devices. It has a 25,000mAh battery inside.
The final new Mophie product is the Powerstation 10K Stand with MagSafe, priced at $130. The Powerstation 10K Stand is a MagSafe battery pack and stand in one, providing an additional 39 hours of video playback to an iPhone. It is compatible with MagSafe iPhones, charging at up to 15W, and can also be used to charge the AirPods. There's an included USB-C port that is able to deliver up to 20W of power.
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