Reassuring, safe, and familiar. That doesn’t sound like praise, but in the case of the iPhone 14 Pro, it really is.
Apple is happy with its smartphone formula. This much is clear because the iPhone 14 Pro isn’t that much different from the iPhone 13 Pro, which wasn’t all that far removed from the iPhone 12 Pro. While some bemoan the lack of visual changes between recent generations, what really matters is if the entire package has improved with each numerical uptick.
My iPhone 14 Pro arrived on Friday, September 16, and that’s not enough time for a full review — but it is more than enough for a close look at what the iPhone 14 Pro is like. It’s familiar, like a safe pair of hands. And no, this isn’t the downside you may first think it is.
If you own an iPhone, changing over to your new iPhone 14 Pro is a wonderfully simple process, and it leads you into ownership in exactly the right, comfortable, convenient way. From Apple providing free iCloud storage to make swapping apps, photos, and settings simple, to the way all your home screens are identically replicated on the new device, it’s like you never left the old one.
This is also true of the design. If you’re coming from an iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro feels the same in your hand. The flat, squared-off chassis is still slightly too sharp, and the already large camera module has got even bigger this time. The volume controls and power button are still in place, but if you buy an iPhone 14 in the U.S., there’s no SIM tray as it is an eSIM-only phone.
I don’t dislike the familiarity. It looks the same, feels the same, and works in almost the same way as the iPhone 13 Pro I left behind. While this may make you legitimately question whether an upgrade is worthwhile for you, the seamless, hassle-free way you can switch to that brand-new phone is enticing. It takes away any stress about losing precious photos, saved games, music, or messages.
The iPhone 14 Pro has taken over from my old phone without an issue. No, it doesn’t really look any different, but that’s fine. It’s a slick, modern design, and beautifully made from quality materials (plus the Deep Purple color is glorious in the right light). I especially like the way it’s integrated into the camera bump and lens housings, giving them depth and visual punch.
It’s not a dramatically different phone than before, but whether you’re new to iPhone or coming from a previous one, it welcomes you with open arms. And because the experience is so damn polished, you’ll quickly forgive it for not having a slightly different look.
The Dynamic Island is the feature I was most excited to try on the iPhone 14 Pro. Not least because it looked fantastic during Apple’s launch event, but also because it’s really the largest visual change on the phone, and certainly the one most people have been talking about.
