Tag: Dynamic island

  • Apple iPhone 14 Pro

    Apple launched the iPhone 14 Pro in India in September 2022 at Rs 1,29,900 for 128 GB. It replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout that expands into live notifications for timers, music, calls and navigation. It was the first iPhone with an always-on display and the debut of the A16 Bionic chip.

    The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion scales from 1Hz to 120Hz and reaches very high outdoor brightness. The stainless steel frame and textured matte glass feel premium, but the 206 g weight makes it dense for its size. Performance from the A16 Bionic was class-leading, and the phone remained cool in most workloads.

    The main camera moved to a 48 MP quad-pixel sensor with a 2x crop mode, joined by a 12 MP ultrawide and 12 MP 3x telephoto. ProRAW at 48 MP gave photographers more flexibility, and video quality set the standard against the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Pixel 7 Pro. Battery life is good for a full day, while charging remains slower than most Android flagships.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 129,900 (base variant)
    India launchSeptember 2022
    SegmentFlagship
    Display6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO, ProMotion, 120Hz, 1179 x 2556
    ProcessorApple A16 Bionic
    RAM6 GB
    Storage128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras48 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 12 MP 3x telephoto
    Front camera12 MP with autofocus
    Battery3200 mAh
    Charging20W wired, wireless
    Software at launchiOS 16
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIP68
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight206 g
    ColoursSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple

    What we like

    • Dynamic Island and always-on display
    • 48 MP main camera with ProRAW
    • Class-leading video
    • Fast A16 Bionic

    What could be better

    • Heavy for its size
    • Slow charging
    • Expensive in India
    • Lightning port with USB 2 speeds

    Who should buy it

    Buyers who want a compact iPhone with the best cameras and display Apple offered in 2022.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (September 2022). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.

  • Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

    The iPhone 14 Pro Max launched in India in September 2022 at Rs 1,39,900 for 128 GB. It shares every feature of the 14 Pro, including the Dynamic Island, always-on display and A16 Bionic, but stretches the screen to 6.7 inches and adds a much larger battery. It became the most aspirational phone in Apple's 2022 lineup.

    The 6.7-inch ProMotion OLED at 1290 x 2796 is extremely bright outdoors and smooth at up to 120Hz. The stainless steel frame makes it heavy at 240 g, and long one-handed use is tiring. Performance from the A16 Bionic was top of the charts, and it handled demanding games and 4K ProRes video with ease.

    Cameras are identical to the 14 Pro: 48 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide and 12 MP 3x telephoto, with excellent colour consistency and video stabilisation. The big battery delivers among the best endurance of any phone of its year, often lasting into a second day. Against the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it lacked a 10x lens and stylus but won on video and long-term software support.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 139,900 (base variant)
    India launchSeptember 2022
    SegmentFlagship
    Display6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO, ProMotion, 120Hz, 1290 x 2796
    ProcessorApple A16 Bionic
    RAM6 GB
    Storage128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras48 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide + 12 MP 3x telephoto
    Front camera12 MP with autofocus
    Battery4323 mAh
    Charging20W wired, wireless
    Software at launchiOS 16
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIP68
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight240 g
    ColoursSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple

    What we like

    • Outstanding battery life
    • Large, very bright ProMotion display
    • Excellent video recording
    • Dynamic Island

    What could be better

    • Very heavy at 240 g
    • Slow charging
    • Expensive

    Who should buy it

    Heavy users who want the biggest screen and longest battery life in a 2022 iPhone.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (September 2022). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.

  • Apple iPhone 15

    Apple launched the iPhone 15 in India in September 2023 at Rs 79,900 for 128 GB, and for the first time some units sold on launch day were assembled in India. Its biggest changes came from the previous year's Pro models: the Dynamic Island replaced the notch and the A16 Bionic chip took over from the A15.

    The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED gets much higher peak brightness but still runs at 60Hz. A colour-infused frosted glass back and contoured aluminium edges make it more comfortable than the iPhone 14. Apple switched from Lightning to USB-C, which pleased Indian buyers who already used USB-C for Android phones and laptops, though transfer speed stays at USB 2.

    The 48 MP main camera produces 24 MP photos by default and offers a 2x crop that works as a near-optical telephoto, along with a 12 MP ultrawide. Portraits can be captured automatically when a face is detected. Battery life is a full day, and charging remains slow. It competed with the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 8, matching them on video quality but trailing on refresh rate.

    Key specifications

    Launch price (India)Rs 79,900 (base variant)
    India launchSeptember 2023
    SegmentFlagship
    Display6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, 1179 x 2556
    ProcessorApple A16 Bionic
    RAM6 GB
    Storage128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB
    Expandable storageNo
    Rear cameras48 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide
    Front camera12 MP with autofocus
    Battery3349 mAh
    Charging20W wired, wireless
    Software at launchiOS 17
    5GYes
    Water/dust ratingIP68
    Headphone jackNo
    Weight171 g
    ColoursBlack, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink

    What we like

    • Dynamic Island on a non-Pro iPhone
    • USB-C port
    • 48 MP main camera with 2x crop
    • Comfortable frosted design

    What could be better

    • Still 60Hz
    • USB-C limited to USB 2 speeds
    • Slow charging

    Who should buy it

    Buyers upgrading from older iPhones who want the modern design and better camera at the standard price.

    Specifications and price are as at the India launch (September 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.