Now that the iPhone 14 series has been out for a couple of months, it’s time to take a deep dive into all of the best new features.
Over 113 million Americans are iPhone users, many of them being dedicated customers who will get every new model. Apple always does what it can to reward that dedication with a few unique features with each new release.
Whether or not those features are worth the price tag of $800 USD – a relatively affordable price point for any smartphone, in reality – is up for debate. Today, we’ll take a look at the iPhone 14 new features, as well as some hacks and tricks that you may have overlooked.
As iPhones get better and better, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with their intense capabilities. Keep reading, however, and we’ll show you how to make real use of your brand-new iPhone 14.
Satellite Emergency Calls
Avid hiker and CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, knows the value of having a satellite phone on a long and remote hike. If you’re in a place with no cell service, which includes many hiking spots across the world, a lot can go wrong. Many people are forced to carry satellite phones in case of emergencies.
Now, with the new iPhone, you’ll be able to make emergency SOS calls through Apple’s subscription service (free for two years with the purchase of an iPhone 14). If you’re lost, alone, or injured, it connects with the many satellites out in space to pinpoint your location and notify emergency services of your whereabouts.
Low-Light Camera Upgrades
Each new generation of the iPhone comes with a better and better camera, and the 14 is no different. In particular, both lenses are getting an upgrade so that they’ll be much better in low-light situations.
The Pro and Pro Max will feature a 48 MP camera which is maximized through the ProRAW format. This combines the amazing photo processing of the iPhone with the impressive new hardware for detailed, sharp photos.
In addition, users will be getting a much-anticipated autofocus feature on the front lens, which will help you take more detailed selfies.
Action Mode
Also on the camera is the all-new Action Mode, which is going to help Pro and Pro Max users capture steadier video even while in motion. All you have to do is swipe to the video recording mode, tap the Action Mode button, and click the Shutter icon to record.
You’ll need plenty of light for Action Mode to work properly. In fact, if there isn’t enough light, your iPhone will tell you “more light required,” but it is possible to turn on Action Mode Lower Light to rectify this. Action Mode gives you 1080p or 2.8k resolution at 60 frames per second.
Better Photo Management
Although the higher resolution photos and videos that you get from these features will increase the toll your media takes on your storage, one of the best iPhone 14 hacks is the new photo management system.
For instance, you’ll notice the “Duplicates” album in the “Utilities” section. To make this, Apple recognizes all duplicate photos and videos that you have on your phone and sequesters them. You can then choose to delete or offload this media onto a hard drive to save space on your iPhone.
There’s also the Hidden and Recently Deleted album protection that allows you to truly hide your private photos and videos. All you have to do is click the lock icon in the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums.
Always-On Screen
The Always-On feature allows you to see certain things on your phone, even when it’s technically off and locked. Your screen will still display the time, some widgets, and any other activities that you’ve got going on. Make sure to get the best iPhone 14 cases to maximize this feature.
All of this is done in order to increase battery life. When you click your phone on to view the information mentioned above, you lose battery life each time. Your Always-On feature doesn’t use as much battery life as you would if your phone was actively on.
The Force Sensor
The force sensor is another safety feature that Apple put into the new iPhone, this time to help you in the event of a car accident. Basically, the sensor turns on when you start driving and detects sudden stops, air pressure changes from the airbag, and crashing noises.
If an accident is detected, your iPhone will prompt you to call emergency services. You can either turn it off manually, but if you can’t or don’t answer, the phone will call automatically.
Dynamic Island
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with something called “Dynamic Island“, which replaced the notch at the top of older iPhones with two pill-shaped boxes that are far more useful. Dynamic Island will give you alerts and notifications and tell you about system operations.
It does all of this in an intelligent way, adapting to how you use your phone. It could show face ID authentication, incoming calls, Apple Pay, or low battery alert, among other things.
ProMotion Display
ProMotion Display makes for a more viewer-friendly scrolling experience. Instead of refreshing your screen at a rate of 60Hz (60 times per second), ProMotion does so at 120Hz. This is a feature that came out on the iPhone 13 and carried over to this model.
It essentially makes your iPhone feel smoother and faster, which ends up using more energy. To deal with that, the iPhone 13 and 14 both adjust the refresh rate based on what you’re currently doing.
Enjoy All of the iPhone 14 New Features for Yourself
Now that you know a bit more about the iPhone 14 new features and how to use them, you can finally make this monumental upgrade. There’s no denying that the iPhone 14 is Apple’s best effort yet, and at $800 for the basic model, it’s pretty affordable too.
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