Written November 2025
Powerful iPhone with lots of value: iPhone 14 Pro (2022)
Key Specs:
- A16 Bionic processor & 6GB RAM
- 6.1″ 2556×1179 460PPI 120Hz LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with up to ~2000nits of peak brightness, Ceramic Shield protection, 206g weight
- 48MP Wide + 12MP Ultrawide + 12MP 3× Telephoto + 12MP selfie camera
- ~3200mAh battery with 20W wired charging and MagSafe wireless charging (~15W)
- Software support until ~2030
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The iPhone 14 Pro, for $400, is the iPhone that does everything you need it to and then some with many nice-to-haves and premium features. This is a phone that makes it feel like you’re using the newest iPhone; it has all of the essential features of the newer offerings. First of all, it looks and feels very premium with its textured matte glass finish and stainless steel frame, and its OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR display with its high 120Hz refresh rate is a drastic improvement over Apple’s 60Hz offerings. The A16 Bionic is more than enough power for this phone, powering fluid scrolling on any app and great gaming performance. It’s also the same chip found in the iPhone 15 and the newest iPad, along with 6GB of RAM, making for fluid multitasking and contributing to gaming performance when it comes to graphically intensive games. Its battery life is generally good but can vary based on how you use it and your battery health. It has the Dynamic Island instead of the standard notch, which is a good improvement, also contributing to the premium feel of the handset. One of the best parts of this phone is its amazing camera system, taking beautiful 12MP shots and 48MP ProRAW shots with its wide camera. Its telephoto and ultrawide lenses also hold up great in 2025, producing clear, vibrant images with realistic-looking lighting. This phone also takes clear video, with added bonuses such as Action Mode, Cinematic Mode, and a macro lens for up-close shots. This phone also has a LiDAR sensor, which can be used for taking high-quality 3D scans. Overall, this is a phone that will feel like you’re using Apple’s latest, as it checks all the premium phone boxes with the modern Dynamic Island, premium build quality, pro camera setup, 120Hz display, and more. I highly recommend this phone for the $400 price point, and it is a spectacular buy in 2025.
| Cons: | -Last iPhone to charge with the Lightning cable instead of USB-C -No Apple Intelligence |