The new iPhone 14 is here and this is what travelers need to know about the new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The camera
The iPhone 14 will have the most noticeable improvement to the front-facing camera, thanks to a new autofocus feature that can focus faster on movement.
It will also have a larger f/1.9 aperture to allow more light (according to Apple, it has a 38% higher light gathering power), making it easier to take selfies in the evening and at night.
Apple says the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also get camera upgrades, including an upgrade to the 12-megapixel sensor that delivers up to 2.5 times better low-light images with the main camera and 2 times better photos with the ultra-wide-angle camera.
The main camera also has a larger aperture that lets in 49% more light, resulting in much better detail even in low-light conditions. It even offers a night mode that enables twice as fast exposures for especially dark pictures.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max make the leap from a 12-megapixel sensor to an impressive 48-megapixel quad-pixel sensor in the main camera. This improvement makes photos look sharper than ever, revealing details that were not visible on previous iPhones.
(And for all you pro photographers out there, the iPhone now shoots ProRAW at 48 MP, which allows for a better editing workflow from the camera to apps like Lightroom and Photoshop.) It should be noted that the 48-megapixel option is not available on the base model iPhone 14, so you’ll need to upgrade.
In terms of videos, the entire iPhone 14 series gets an “Action Mode” with improved roll correction that allows for better stabilization without external gimbals.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max come with a new Dynamic Island
That small cutout at the top of your iPhone’s screen has been replaced by the “Dynamic Island.” The Dynamic Island allows for quick pop-up notifications that give you important information on the go, like map directions or important texts, while you are in other apps.
This new update also allows Apple to send notifications without interfering with your main screen. While this may not seem like a big change, it will be obvious to passengers who frequently watch movies on their phones on planes and trains and want to use every available millimeter without interruption.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come with an “Always-On” display
Another small but important change is that the iPhone Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have an “always-on” display.
This means that users will have instant access to information (such as time, weather, and travel information). This “Always-On” display will turn black when the phone is in a pocket or face down to save on battery life.
Satellite connectivity
While a camera is useful when traveling, the biggest and best news from Apple for travelers is the new SOS emergency call via satellite.
Apple has developed special antennas for the iPhone 14 models that allow users to connect directly to a satellite and notify emergency services when they are outside of cell and Wi-Fi coverage.
The phone instructs users to point their device skyward to connect to a satellite and helps send a compressed message with pre-written emergency requests and responses.
Starting in November, the service will be free for two years for two-way messages in the United States and Canada. In less extreme scenarios, users will be able to utilize Find My to transmit their location to friends and family via satellite.