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Hands-on impressions of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shared by lesser known leaker

By Anam Hamid

Updated: Aug 16, 2022, 1:27 AM

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iOS Apple

Hands-on impressions of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shared by lesser known leaker

Yesterday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the iPhone 14 will be "a fairly minimal update." Rumors suggest that the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max will largely be the same as their 2021 counterparts. The 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will spice things up with a new front design, which might prove to be decisive, a higher resolution 48MP camera, and a next-gen chip. But despite those upgrades, the new phones might not provide a drastically better user experience.

LeaksApplePro, who isn't exactly an established leaker but shares info from time to time, and in their own words, they happen "to be right sometimes," says that their source got some hands on time with working iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max units and had some thoughts to share.

iPhone 14 Pro pill+hole cutouts will grow on you (or you will learn to live with it)

Firstly, the pill and hole setup is not functionally different than the notch it will replace and though it might be an eye sore for some, you won't even notice it after a while, or so thinks the source. They also add that the display quality hasn't improved compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, which doesn't line up with a report that had said the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max would employ Samsung's latest M12 generation OLED technology.

They also say that the iPhone 14 Pro Max feels like a brick. Reports have said that it will be growing in dimensions and that makes us wonder if it will also be a little heavier. Per an earlier rumor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max will have a 4,323mAh battery, slightly smaller than the 4,352mAh cell in its predecessor. The iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, is tipped to offer a slightly bigger 3,200mAh battery compared to iPhone 13 Pro's 3,095mAh cell.

A separate rumor had said that the iPhone 14 Pro Max may gain an additional 2 hours and 10 minutes of battery life and today's leak corroborates that, noting that the "battery life is going up by a couple hours."

There is a trade-off to using a 48MP camera

The iPhone has been stuck with a 12MP camera for years, whilst still churning out great photos. We can expect an upgrade in resolution from 12MP to 48MP this year. The new sensor is tipped to be around 57 percent larger than the current unit. The downside is that it will have smaller pixels and so, while the new sensor should help the Pro models deliver more detailed images, the smaller pixels could affect low light performance.

This fear has been echoed by LeaksApplePro who said that while the 48MP module works great when there is enough light, the night mode is not all that impressive and images are susceptible to noise. Apple will likely fix this before launch.

Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously said that the iPhone 14 Pro camera would "elevate mobile phone camera photography to a new level," so regardless of any minor shortcomings, the iPhone 14 Pro will likely be one of the best camera phones of the year.

As previous reports and leaked dummy units and schematics had suggested, the camera island has increased in size to accommodate the larger 48MP sensor. Today's rumor also says that the iPhone 14 Pro is equipped with better speakers that deliver clearer audio.

It's best to treat this rumor with caution because LeaksApplePro doesn't have a great credibility score. Also, even though Apple products are not immune to leaks, it's rare to come by hands-on leaks of the company's offerings.

Apple is expected to reveal the iPhone 14 range on September 6 alongside the standard Watch Series 8, a budget wearable, and a rugged Apple Watch Pro.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.