The “new” IPhone Isn’t Really New
You might get the impression that the world of technology as a whole is in a bit of a stalemate. Companies promote new products every year, but advertise recurring features rather than revolutionary changes. Today, for example, Apple is promoting a brand new iPhone just six months after the last line of devices was released. The thing is, it doesn’t just look like last year’s iPhone: it’s exactly the same. Oh, but now it’s yellow. I think it’s new.
Yes, the “new” iPhone is just the yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. That’s all. This is new”. No camera upgrade, no speed boost, no brighter display. Now you have the option to buy an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus that looks a bit like your favorite Electric Pokémon if you didn’t like the five colors the 14 and 14 Plus came with: blue, purple, midnight, starlight. and (PRODUCT)RED.
Otherwise, it’s the same iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. The devices feature 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch OLED displays, respectively, and carry over the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 lineup. You get a dual-camera system (wide and ultra-wide) with a “photon engine” for better images at an average and low light. They also support Apple’s Action Mode (for capturing fast-moving subjects with enhanced stabilization) and Cinematic Mode (for capturing movie-like video with shallow depth of field).
You’ll also find an emergency SOS service via satellite , which lets you call for help in areas without cell service, and an accident detection feature that can automatically dial emergency services when the iPhone thinks you’re in an accident (although it can also call cops on your for skiing ).
Apple has a history of color refresh in the middle of the iPhone cycle. For example, back in 2021, the company launched purple iPhone 12 and 12 mini “just in time for spring.” It looks like the goal is to flag device support midway through its production cycle.
When the iPhone 14 first dropped, I didn’t think it was the best deal on the market , and I still think you’d be better off buying last year’s discounted iPhone 13 or the iPhone 14 Pro if you can afford the extra $200. Of course, the 14 Pro doesn’t come in yellow. If you want your iPhone to look like Pikachu, the new 14 is your only option (next to the yellow case ).