Apple on September 7, 2022 unveiled there line up of their latest iPhones. While as always, the presentation was a feature rich and hype laden event, keen observers noticed some significant differences.
Apple has been trying to get into the mid-range segment (quite successfully, I might add!) for some time now, be it the iPhone SE series or more recently the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 which were priced and positioned firmly for the mid-range segment. However, the gap between the mid-range iPhones and the flagship models have never been so obvious as it is this time.
Comparing the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 plus to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max the first difference that immediately pops into mind is that of the notches or “pills.” While the former two models still have the, now infamous, “iPhone notch,” the Pro models have a new hole cut out, which they call – “the pill.” (On a side note, the way they have managed to incorporate the hole punch as a functionality that dominates the iOS UI is truly remarkable.)
However, the differences on the surface are mostly superficial, but the real differences are on the inside. For the first time in, I don’t know how long, the non-Pro models have the same A15 chipset from the previous year while the new A16 Bionic has been reserved for the Pro models. This could be a way to manage the global semiconductor shortage by recycling unused chipsets from last year, we can’t be sure. But in addition to the chipsets, and the camera unit, the displays also are significantly different. While the Pro models have the high-end variable refresh rate functionality, the same is missing in the non-pro models.
In my opinion, if you are looking to upgrade to the Pro models of iPhone 14, go for it, otherwise, its better to either stick to the same one you have now or get the iPhone 13 at a cheaper price if possible.
