Everything about the iPhone 14 Pro feels entirely effortless. The design is expertly judged and modern, the software is incredibly simple to use, and the camera takes even better photographs than its predecessor. But effortless can be taken another way, too, in that it’s not exactly the most daring update over its predecessor.
Let’s talk in detail about whether the iPhone 14 Pro is worth the effort on your part to either take the plunge into Apple ownership or upgrade from an existing iPhone. If you’re looking for a less expensive option, check out our iPhone 14 review. And if you prefer your iPhone to be bigger and more expensive, see our iPhone 14 Pro Max review. Also make sure to check out our list of the best iPhone apps so you have the best apps on your new iPhone.
About our iPhone 14 Pro review
Our iPhone 14 Pro review was originally published on September 26, 2022, and written by Andy Boxall. The 11 months later and second opinion sections were written by Christine Romero-Chan, while the rest of the review was penned by Boxall.
iPhone 14 Pro: 11 months later
I’ve been using the iPhone 14 Pro as my daily driver ever since getting the device on launch day last year. Though I’ve tried using Android phones since joining Digital Trends, I keep coming back to the iPhone 14 Pro for a few reasons.
But how has the experience been almost a year later, especially since the iPhone 15 is just on the horizon?The iPhone 14 Pro is still impressive overall, but the “shiny and new” factor is wearing off. One of the big reasons why I was so interested in the iPhone 14 Pro last year was because of the Dynamic Island. However, it’s nearly a year later, and the whimsy and charm of the Dynamic Island is fading. From my experience, most of the apps I use on a daily basis don’t make use of the hardware feature much, and I only use the Dynamic Island mostly when listening to Apple Music or getting turn-by-turn directions in Apple Maps.
Basically, I only really ever see the Dynamic Island in use with native Apple apps and hardly any third-party ones. Given that it’s been almost a year and there’s still not that many apps that support the Dynamic Island (or Live Activities, for that matter), it’s been a bit of a letdown. Hopefully, this changes once the Dynamic Island is available on all iPhone 15 models, not just the Pros, but as of right now, it’s been very limited, unfortunately.Performance has remained snappy and solid, however, battery life seems to have taken a hit. Again, this is a launch day device, but according to the Settings app, battery capacity has fallen down to 94%. Of course, this seems to be on the better side of things compared to other people, but it definitely has affected daily use. After taking it off the charger around 8 a.m., the iPhone 14 Pro typically ends up around less than 50% around 4 p.m. Because of this, I’ve been plugging in more often in the late afternoon or early evening to be able to make it through the rest of the day.
Usage hasn’t changed since launch day — a lot of iMessages, checking email on Spark and Outlook, work chats in Microsoft Teams, social media (Ivory for Mastodon, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook), playing Disney Emoji Blitz, listening to Apple Music, getting turn-by-turn directions, Nexar dashcam recording, and more. The days I’m using Apple Maps and Nexar for longer drives means even worse battery life, and requires charging in the car. I feel that battery life wasn’t too bad a few months ago, but it seems to have taken a big hit with recent updates. Fingers crossed the iPhone 15 Pro fixes this!
iPhone 14 Pro: 2 months later
I’m nearly two months into using the iPhone 14 Pro every day, and it has continued to impress. The battery life, one of the big concerns when we first reviewed the phone, has stabilized and now mostly matches my iPhone 13 Pro before it, returning two working days of moderate use before needing a recharge.We’ve continued to test the camera, and have since put it up against the iPhone 14, a battle it predictably won. It’s an interesting look at why camera fans will want to spend more to get the Pro, and how it’s all about the little differences rather than large, glaring improvements.
We’ve also tested it against the Galaxy S22 Ultra, one of its top rivals. I’ve found the camera to be reliable, fun to use, and a great everyday companion.
The other standout feature on the iPhone 14 Pro, Dynamic Island, has not yet reached its potential though. It continues to be most helpful in Apple’s own suite of apps, or with general phone functions like calls, but third-party app developers have not embraced it yet. High-profile apps like Uber and Starbucks have not added support yet, for example. There are fun things you can try, like this virtual pet app, but it’s not really what made us excited about Dynamic Island.Finally, the combination of an iPhone 14 Pro and an Apple Watch is still the best smartphone/wearable pairing you can get today. It’s wonderfully seamless, with notifications delivered reliably, and workouts tracked without issue. While buying a phone and a smartwatch is expensive, it’s truly worth it with the iPhone and Apple Watch. I lean towards the Apple Watch Series 8, as I like the always-on screen over the Watch SE 2, and don’t always want the additional size and weight of the excellent Apple Watch Ultra.The iPhone 14 Pro is still a highly recommended product, and the conclusions in our review still stand after two months.
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