iPhone 14 Plus begins shipping today

Apple Iphone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus — (Image credit: Apple)

From today, the iPhone 14 Plus is finally available around the world. Released last month at Apple's launch event, the 14 Plus is the last of the new iPhone generation to go on sale.

It's the first time Apple's vanilla line of handsets will be available with a larger 6.7-inch display – a feature that would usually have been reserved for the coveted iPhone 14 Pro Max.

But is the 14 Plus just an inflated iPhone 14, or can it stand up on its own? Let's take a look.

iPhone 14 Plus: key features

As mentioned, the standout feature of the iPhone 14 Plus is that bigger overall case size. In previous generations of iPhone, the only way to get your hands on that extra screen real estate was to opt for the flagship Pro Max model. That carried a substantial price tag, though, and was rammed with a wealth of features that some people just didn't need.

But that's not the only benefit. The bigger case allows more room to house a bigger battery. Rumours suggest the 14 Plus will have a 4,325mAh battery, and Apple suggest this will net an extra 4-6 hours of video playback time. That a massively chunky battery, and should serve to keep the 14 Plus going all day.

The A15 Bionic chip in the Plus is boosted with a 5-core GPU for enhanced graphics. Couple that with the bigger screen size and this could easily be one of the best gaming phones available today.

iPhone 14 Plus: the verdict

I'm certain this will be a popular handset. In fact, I'd suspect that at least part of the reason for the iPhone 14's slight underperformance so far comes from people waiting for the Plus model. For the sake of £100, it seems like a better choice.

It's going to have its work cut out – yesterday saw the release of the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which is similarly sized, similarly priced and features a stack of software changes to make it one of the most attractive propositions on the market. Apple die-hards wont be deterred, but winning over consumers who sit on the fence could be a tougher ask.

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.