[imagesource: Apple Insider]

Earlier this month, Apple revealed its iPhone 14 line-up and three new Apple Watches, including the much-anticipated Apple Watch Ultra, during the Far Out event.

There was also buzz around the next generation of AirPods Pro earbuds.

The headliner in these September launch events is always the iPhone range. This year, you can choose from the iPhone 14, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max.

Each year, the question remains the same. Hold on to the phone you have, or forge ahead with the new and out with the old?

BuzzFeed News isn’t sitting on the fence, saying that “the unanimous advice for the latest iPhone 14 is that, this time around, the Pro version lives up to the higher price point”.

Let’s unpack why:

The biggest differentiation between the two phones now is on the screen: The Pros have an “always-on” display and a “Dynamic Island” feature. And those two features (plus the usual camera upgrades) make the Pro worth the extra money…

The big, new things for iPhone 14 are the satellite emergency calling, car crash detection (available on all models of 14 and Pro), the Dynamic Island and always-on display for the Pros, and as always, better cameras — with image-stabilizing “action mode” for video.

I could explain what Dynamic Island is or you could simply watch this video:

It’s an especially nifty feature for those who use their phones to play music.

Rather than having to open the likes of Spotify to skip a track or pause a podcast, you can now do so easily from the home screen.

The Always-On Display is a simple change whereby when you set your phone down and the clock still displays. It’s customisable so that you can also choose if you want other alerts to show.

For many, the camera is the tipping point:

…the upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro camera feel really significant this time. The Pros have a 48-megapixel camera and upgraded sensors, and they have a new technology — Photonic Engine — to process images. The result is less noise, sharper photos, and crisper colors.

Image: Apple Insider

I was comparing the photos I took with the Pro 14 to my iPhone 12 Pro, and the difference in the images is significant and instantly obvious. The 14 Pro camera is simply a huge step up…

There’s also the added bonus that the front-facing camera has improved.

The combination of all of these features results in a phone that is “seamlessly functional” and worth taking the plunge for. Macworld has also run speed tests and battery tests which show the iPhone 14 (and especially the Pro model) way ahead of the field.

Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer, has both the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 Pro starts from R25 699 and the iPhone Pro Max from R28 399. Both come in four different colour schemes, including Deep Purple and Space Black.

You can also trade in your older model(s) – sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio, but less creepy – and you’ll score a solid discount on your iPhone 14 upgrade.

[source:buzzfeed]