Tag: iPhone 14 Pro

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Peak Design’s ‘Sage’ Everyday is my new favourite iPhone 14 Pro case

When it comes to smartphone cases, you often get what you pay for.

Cheaper cases from accessory makers like Spigen can be awesome, but if you really want a premium case to match your device that likely costs well over $1,000, you’ll need to shell out a bit of extra cash.

This is where Peak Design’s new ‘Sage’ Everyday iPhone 14 Pro case comes in.

Peak Design, which is best known for its camera bags, entered into the smartphone accessory space a few years ago with its Everyday case line. Along with smartphone cases, the company also sells various accessories like a Car Mount, its Out Front Bike Mount, a Wireless Charging Stand, a Mobile Tripod and more that all snap directly into a built-in connector system that’s surprisingly secure.

While the broader accessory ecosystem tied to the Everday Case doesn’t really appeal to me, I’m a huge fan of the company’s smartphone cases. I used its Charcoal case with the iPhone 13 Pro for several months and recently switched over to the Sage version of the same case design with the iPhone 14 Pro.

The case fits snugly on my device and prevents debris from getting inside it, features a sizable rim around the iPhone 14 Pro’s rear camera array for added protection and offers precision cut button covers. More importantly for me, it feels extremely premium, especially its green patterned fabric rear (even more so than the ‘Charcoal’-coloured version).

I often find myself absentmindedly running my fingers along its soft backing. As an added bonus, it doesn’t attract smudges, scratches or grease like other smartphone cases thanks to its fabric backing. That said, you can scuff it if you happen to drop your device on a hard surface (this happened to me with my iPhone 13 Pro Everyday Case), but it’s difficult and far more durable than any case I’ve ever used.

Peak Design sells cases for iPhones ranging all the way back to the iPhone 11 series, though only in Charcoal instead of the new Sage colour and fabric pattern. There’s even a version of the case that includes a built-in loop under its mounting system. The camera accessory maker also sells cases for Samsung’s Galaxy S series devices and Google’s Pixel line.

Peak Design’s Everyday iPhone 14 Pro case costs $55.96 and is available on its website.

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Google Pixel 7 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro: Camera Battle (Video)

MobileSyrup’s Brad Bennett and I decided to pit the Pixel 7 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro against each other in a head-to-head battle to see which device offers the better camera experience.

Obviously, like beauty, deciding what smartphone offers the better camera array is near impossible because it depends on your personal opinion, but below are a few facts about both smartphones’ cameras.

First, we started with the zoom prowess of both devices.

While there’s no definitive winner, the Pixel 7 Pro has the edge over the iPhone 14 Pro. Google’s flagship smartphone features a 5x zoom optical lens, while the iPhone 14 Pro only offers 3x zoom.

Following our zoom tests, we also tested the primary lens and ultra-wide lenses. Both handsets also use the ultra-wide lens for macro mode.

The iPhone 14 Pro uses a 12-megapixel camera for its primary shooter, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro uses a 50-megapixel sensor. Both devices snap great shots, so take a look at the video above to decide which you prefer.

When we switch gears to video, it’s obvious to me that the iPhone 14 Pro’s ‘Cinematic Blur’ is much better than what’s available on the Pixel 7 Pro. The iPhone 14 Pro’s Cinematic mode offers 4K resolution, you can adjust the effect, and it looks more like an actual movie. The Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, struggles with focusing on the subject, and the blur is overdramatic and processed.

Let us know in the comments below which photos and videos look best to you. To learn more about both handsets, check out our Pixel 7 Pro and our iPhone 14 Pro reviews.

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Apple exec says iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island is an example of “Apple-like development”

In a recent interview, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, says that iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max’s ‘Dynamic Island’ is the first significant change to the iPhone’s user experience since the release of the iPhone X five years ago.

During the interview with Japanese magazine Axis (via MacRumors), which also features Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of human interface design, the executives discuss how the new display cut-out blurs the line between software and hardware, with Dye describing the Dynamic Island as an example of “Apple-like development.”

Dye emphasized that the Dynamic Island allows both the iPhone 14 Pro’s hardware and software to work together in tandem in a unique way:

“For one purpose, our hardware and software partners will come together in the same studio to solve the problem together. This new feature also made it possible to display alerts, notifications, and ongoing operations in real-time without seeing the boundary between hardware and software. I think it’s a good example of Apple-like development.”

Below is an excerpt from Federighi’s portion of the interview:

“It’s probably the first major operation change in five years since the iPhone X came out. Five years ago, we lost the home button with iPhone X. This has fundamentally reviewed various iPhone operation methods, such as how to unlock the lock screen, return to the Home Screen, and how to switch apps. This new feature has also changed the appearance of the iPhone, and it made me think again about how to run multiple apps, notifications, and how to manage the ongoing behavior in the background. It was a very exciting challenge for us to consolidate what is happening on our iPhone into this small interactive place.”

While I like the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island, it doesn’t do much beyond interacting with a few Apple-made apps. Hopefully, once the cut-out’s development API is in the hands of developers, more third-party apps will support the unique feature.

While only Apple’s ‘Pro’ devices feature the Dynamic Island this year, recent rumours point to the cut-out making its way to the tech giant’s entire iPhone 15 lineup.

You can find the entire interview on Axis’ website.

Source: Axis Via: MacRumors

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Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could offer different features

It looks like Apple could be considering more significantly differentiating the iPhone 15 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to a new report from often-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a recent tweet, Kuo says Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro accounts for roughly 60 percent of total iPhone 14 Pro orders, which has resulted in the tech giant rethinking its strategy regarding the larger flagship smartphone.

Kuo goes on to say that demand for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus has been “obviously lacklustre,” which makes sense given beyond the new 6.7-inch Plus, the base-level smartphone is very similar to the iPhone 13.

Kuo doesn’t expand on what Apple could decide to change about the iPhone 15 Pro Max to differentiate it from the iPhone 15 Pro, but it will likely relate to its cameras.

This rumour also corroborates Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stating that Apple could have plans to adopt “Ultra” instead of Max for the 6.7-inch version of its high-end 2023 iPhone in an effort to make the device more different from its predecessor.

In the past, Apple has offered exclusive features in the larger Max version of the iPhone, including specific camera functionalities, though more recently, both Pro devices have been identical.

Apple’s iPhone 15 series is expected to ditch the long-running lightning port for USB-C, and the ‘Dynamic Island‘ will reportedly make its way to the entire lineup.

Of course, since both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Ultra are likely a year away from release, Apple’s plans for both devices could change significantly in the coming months.

Source: @mingchikuo Via: MacRumors

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Apple’s iOS 16.0.2 update fixes camera shake and copy and paste permission issue

The iOS 16 fix many people have been waiting for has arrived.

Apple’s iOS 16.0.2 update, which includes a fix for the third-party app camera vibration issue, the copy and paste permissions bug, the display going all black during setup and more, is now available.

Other fixes include touch input problems with the iPhone X, iPhone XR and iPhone 11 after the devices have been serviced, and a problem tied to VoiceOver not being available after rebooting.

To download the update, head to ‘General,’ ‘Software Update,’ and finally, select ‘Download.’

Given how recently iOS 16 dropped, Apple moved pretty swiftly to release this fix.

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iPhone 14 Pro features hidden setting enabling black-and-white always-on display

If you’re like me and you’ve turned off the iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max’s always-on display because it’s killing the smartphones’ battery too quickly, this hidden option might interest you.

As reported by 9to5mac, a somewhat hidden option removes all colour from the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on screen, making it more like the always-on displays offered by Android manufacturers like Google and Samsung.

To get the black-and-white always-on display up and running, you need to enable a ‘Focus Mode’ called ‘Dim Lock Screen,’ which darkens the iPhone 14 Pro’s display with always-on enabled.

To find this feature, head to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Focus.’ Next, tap ‘Options’ and ‘Enable Dim Lock Screen.’ And that’s it. The next time the smartphone’s always-on display is active, it will display the date, time and your selection of widgets in black-and-white and not colour.

iPhone 14 Pro always-on screen

The downside is that you’ll need to keep the ‘Dim Lock Screen’ Focus Mode enabled all day for the feature to continue working. It’s also important to note that Widgets for apps like Spotify will still appear on the lockscreen in colour.

Apple could eventually bring a more official version of this feature to iOS 16, but given the tech giant’s insistent on forcing features on users even when they don’t work as advertised, this is highly unlikely.

Still, this could be worth a try if you want to save battery life and still have the always-on display enabled.

Via: 9to5Mac

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U.S. iPhone 14 includes plastic spacer to fill SIM card hole

Apple made a controversial move this year by removing the SIM card slot from U.S. iPhone 14 models, and surprisingly, there’s still a gap on the motherboard for the SIM tray that the company has plugged with a plastic spacer.

This isn’t entirely surprising, considering that all non-American iPhones still feature SIM card slots, but it’s funny to see that a small useless piece of plastic has replaced the functional SIM card tray. It looks similar in size to a shallow keyboard key.

Alongside this tiny piece of plastic, iFixit also discovered that the iPhone 14 models (but not the iPhone 14 Pro models) have been rebuilt internally to make them easier to repair their front and back.

Beyond that, it will be interesting to see what Apple does next year and if all global iPhone models feature the same spacer. In its repair guide, iFixit hopes that Apple will fill this space with a MicroSD card reader in the future, but I wouldn’t hold my breath given the tech giant’s track record.

I’m personally hoping for a small compartment where I can store a single mint.

Image credit: iFixit

Source: iFixit

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iOS 16.1’s beta visually changes the iPhone’s battery percentage indicator

Apple’s second iOS 16.1 beta adds a notable missing feature to the recently released operating system update.

Instead of just showing a number in the battery indicator in the top right corner of the smartphone when the percentage is turned on, the tiny battery now visually shifts depending on the device’s charge (via MacRumors).

Before this update and in the current public version of iOS 16, the visual battery indicator remains stagnant and always displays as full with the percentage on, whether your iPhone is 100 percent or 30 percent charged.

The visual battery indicator will likely get a public release in the coming weeks.

Apple offered the battery percentage indicator for several years but killed off the feature when the iPhone X launched in 2017. However, with the release of iOS 16, it’s back and compatible with all of the tech giant’s recently released smartphones.

Source: @iSpeedtestOS Via: MacRumors

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How to turn off the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display

If you’re like me and aren’t fond of the battery life hit the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max takes when the smartphones’ always-on display is on, it’s thankfully possible to turn the feature off.

Here’s how to make that happen.

What’s the always-on display?

In always-on display mode, the iPhone 14 Pro’s ProMotion 120Hz screen turns its refresh rate down to 1Hz and only changes a single instance per second. The entire screen also dims, though it still features a dash of colour. You can then select different widgets like a battery indicator, your alarm and more than appear on the always-on screen.

It’s worth noting that the iPhone 14 Pro’s always on display turns off when your smartphone is face down or if you have it in your bag or pocket.

How to turn it off

To turn off the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display entirely, navigate to ‘Display & Brightness’ under ‘Settings’ and scroll down to toggle off ‘Always-on.’

iPhone 14 Pro

And that’s it, the screen is off, and you should start experiencing slightly better battery life.

For more on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, check out my review of the smartphones.

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Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro lineup achieves significantly faster 5G speeds than its predecessor

On paper, the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are outright better devices than the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, thanks to the addition of a new and advanced A16 Bionic chip and a better rear camera system. But how much of these advancements show a difference in daily practical use?

A new comparison test conducted by SpeedSmart suggests that the new iPhone 14 Pro lineup can achieve 47 percent faster 5G speeds than its predecessor.

The test by SpeedSmart was conducted with an iPhone 14 Pro and an iPhone 13 Pro on T-Mobile and Verizon’s networks in the United States.

Check out the results of the comparison below:

Download (T-Mobile)

  • iPhone 14 Pro: 255.91 Mbps
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 173.81 Mbps

Upload (T-Mobile)

  • iPhone 14 Pro: 28.25 Mbps
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 22.51 Mbps

Download (Verizon)

  • iPhone 14 Pro: 175.56 Mbps
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 126.33 Mbps

Upload (Verizon)

  • iPhone 14 Pro: 27.28 Mbps
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 21.64 Mbps

While the difference in upload speeds wasn’t all that significant between the two devices, download speed did receive a big boost, showcasing a 47 percent increase with T-Mobile’s network and a 38 percent increase with Verizon’s network.

Similarly, ping over Verizon and T-Mobile’s networks also exhibited a lower average latency (the lower, the better). The average ping for the iPhone 14 Pro came in a 52.88ms with T-Mobile, while the iPhone 13 Pro averaged 62.20ms on the same network.

The average ping for the iPhone 14 Pro came in a 37.09ms with Verizon, while the iPhone 13 Pro averaged 52.24ms on the same network.

The difference is attributed to the iPhone 14 Pro lineup featuring a more advanced 5G Snapdragon X65 modem, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup’s X60 modem. The former can reach download speeds of up to 10Gbps, whereas the latter can achieve up to 7.5Gbps download speeds.

Read the SpeedSmart report here. MobileSyrup has plans to run similar tests on Canadian carrier networks

Source: SpeedSmart