iPhone 14 announced: release date, price and new features explained

The wait for Apple's iPhone 14 range reached its epic conclusion in front of the world's media as four new iPhones were finally unleashed after months of secrecy.

The curtain-raiser, dubbed the 'Far Out' event, was held at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino, California on Wednesday 7 September with CEO of Apple, Tim Cooke, introducing the latest gadgets.

In total four phones were launched at the cosmic event, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max with the cheapest model set to cost £849 in the UK. 

Apple's tempting buyers with new features like Brand Crash Detection, Dynamic Island, the first 48-MP camera on an iPhone, and an Always-On display, but not all of the iPhone 14 editions come with the innovative tech. 

Read on for everything you need to know about Apple's newest addition to the family, the iPhone 14. 

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When is the iPhone 14 coming out?

Eager Apple customers will not have to wait too long for the new range – pre-orders start at 1pm on Friday 9 September for all four iPhone 14 models.

The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be on store shelves from Friday 16 September, followed a couple of weeks later by the iPhone 14 Plus on Friday 7 October.

It's not clear exactly why the iPhone 14 Plus is set to be released later than the other handsets but this is a timeline Apple has adopted for previous launches.  

To see what else Apple announced at its latest presentation, explore our story on 5 highlights from Apple's Far Out event – we've got details on Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods Pro and more.

How much is the iPhone 14?

Apple has announced prices for its own store, but of course it's important to shop around to see if you can beat them elsewhere. Apple will also allow you to spread the cost over 24 months with a financing deal, and you can save additional money on up front prices by trading in an old phone.

• iPhone 14 – £849 Sim-free, or £35.37 a month for 24 months
• iPhone 14 Plus – £949 Sim-free, or £39.54 a month for 24 months
• iPhone 14 Pro – £1,099 Sim-free, £45.79 a month for 24 months
• iPhone 14 Pro Max – £1,199 Sim-free, £49.95 a month for 24 months

You'll need a Sim contract if you buy a Sim-free phone – check out the best Sim-only deals starting at just £5 per month.

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

Apple has significantly beefed up it's Pro model range with the unveiling of the iPhone 14 and Pro Max, and although they are the most expensive handsets among the new four editions the extra money will bag you a range of fancy new features.

New iPhone 14 and Pro Max features include: 

• Always-On display
• First-ever 48MP camera on iPhone
• Crash Detection
• Powered by A16 Bionic chip
• Emergency SOS via satellite
• Innovative new way to receive notifications and activities with the Dynamic Island

The Always-On display is the first time an iPhone will have the feature, enabled by a new 1Hz refresh rate and multiple power-efficient technologies. Time, widgets, and Live Activities will be available for users with a mere glance at their phone.

The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen and the Pro Max 6.7-inch, both are made from stainless steel and textured matte glass design in four colours.

The Dynamic Island replaces the much maligned notch and offers new ways for users to interact with their phones. According to Apple, Dynamic Island, 'blurs the line between hardware and software' and is able to expand to execute different functions. 

With the introduction of the Dynamic Island, the TrueDepth camera has been redesigned to take up less of the display area and prevent impeding content on the screen. 

The Pro range is fitted with a new 48MP main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that adapts to the photo being captured, and features second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilisation. Other camera upgrades include a new 12MP ultra wide camera, cinematic mode in 4K and new Adaptive True Tone flash using nine LEDs.

Crash Detection, which is available on all four handsets, can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.

And Apple's safety focus continues with Emergency SOS via satellite which allows users to connect to satellite in situations where contacting emergency services is not possible due to no signal. 

Finally the A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will reportedly perform 40% faster than competitors.  

Our iPhone 13 Pro Max review reveals if it is worth paying extra for Apple's high end models.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

When compared against the iPhone Pro range the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have been left slightly behind. Always-On Display, the 48MP camera, A16 Bionic chip and the Dynamic Island will be exclusively for the Pro models.

New iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus features include:

• New, larger 6.7-inch size
• New dual-camera system
• Crash Detection
• Emergency SOS via satellite

A new, larger 6.7-inch size will be available to accompany the 6.1-inch design giving buyers the option of bigger screen for streaming movies and playing games. 

Made from aerospace-grade aluminum design in five different finishes, both models have an updated internal design for better thermal performance, Super Retina XDR displays with OLED technology.

Each phone has a new 12MP main camera featuring a larger sensor and larger pixels, a new front TrueDepth camera, the Ultra Wide camera to capture more detail, and improved performance in low-light. 

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will also have Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite. The phones will be fitted with A15 Bionic chips. 

Will Apple release an iPhone 14 mini?

Fans of the iPhone 13 mini will be disappointed to learn that the more compact device has no future among the iPhone 14 range. Speculation was high before the recent launch that the smaller device would be dropped by Apple.

It is thought that poor sales of previous mini models and a lack of appetite for the device have caused Apple to knock the mini on the head, however with four new phones Apple will be hoping there is something for everyone among its range.  

Fan of small phones? Check out our comparison of the iPhone SE and the iPhone 13 mini.

What colours will the iPhone 14 come in?

There are five available colours to chose from for your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus, they are, midnight, blue, starlight, purple, and red.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will have space black, silver, gold, and deep purple finishes.

Leather wallets with MagSafe and leather cases will be available in five new colours: midnight, forest green, ink, umber, and orange. 

Clear cases and silicone cases will be available in midnight, storm blue, red, chalk pink, lilac, elderberry, succulent, and sunglow.

Should I wait for the iPhone 14?

That depends on how desperate you are for Apple's latest flagship. In recent years, we haven't seen big leaps in innovation in the mobile phones market – and that goes for Android brands like Samsung as well as Apple. So you could be paying a premium price for something that's not dramatically different to the previous generation.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max have clearly taken the lion's share of the new tech that Apple currently has available, but they do come at a heavier price.

If camera capability and quality is important to you then the first-ever 48MP camera on iPhone could be a big selling point. Also the A16 Bionic chip will be a winner for those that want the ultimate performance from their phone – but in truth, only power users are likely to notice a difference.  

The extra tech for the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus is not as advanced as the Pro models but it does still benefit from dual-camera system and reportedly a better battery life, so there are clear improvements.

If none of these improvements particularly appeal, now could be the time to consider an older iPhone – you'll start to find bigger discounts on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 range, especially shortly after the iPhone 14 launches.

Alternatively, consider the second-hand market. iPhones are particularly popular here, and they're a good second-hand option – Apple has one of the best security support policies of any mobile brand, with its phones typically getting updates for upwards of six years from launch.

Read our guide to second-hand phones for some tips when shopping in this market, and if you love a bargain, check out the best mobile phone deals.