Apple iPhone 14 Plus: Epic Battery Can’t Save Its Sluggish Screen (521 User Reviews Analyzed)

We analyzed 521 reviews from verified users for the Apple iPhone 14 Plus. Our goal is to show you what actual owners think, moving beyond marketing claims and simple star ratings.

To do this, we use sentiment analysis to count positive and negative mentions for key aspects: Battery, Camera, Screen, Performance, Design, Software, and Value for Money. We then calculate a satisfaction score for each, pinpointing the phone’s true strengths and weaknesses.

💰 Value for Money: Sweet Spot, Missing Pieces

For the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, the question of its value for money is not a simple yes or no, but a story of who is buying and what they are willing to overlook.

The most positive aspect driving its value perception is users’ overall satisfaction with the features they get for the price, which earns a 79% positive sentiment score. While this is 5 points below the category average of 84%, for many, it hits a sweet spot. They see it as a way to get premium Apple features without the premium price tag of a Pro model.

a great choice for those looking for a larger screen and longer battery life without the higher cost of the Pro models.

Another echoed this sentiment, stating it was simply “the best phone for the price for me.”

Frustrations with Included Items

However, this satisfaction is tempered by a significant frustration with what’s missing from the box. The feeling of being nickel-and-dimed is a palpable source of irritation, reflected in a low 24% positive score for avoiding unexpected costs—a figure only slightly better than the category average of 21%.

This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; for many, it sours the entire value proposition. The frustration is clear in reviews.

It didn’t even come with the wall charger block, just the cord.

Another felt the practice was more systemic, complaining about “the way Apple nickel and dimes you for everything.” This suggests that while the sticker price might seem reasonable, the additional necessary purchases leave a bad taste.

The Upgrade Dilemma

The phone’s position becomes even more precarious when viewed through the lens of upgrades and competition. Whether the iPhone 14 Plus is a worthwhile jump is a sharply divided issue, with its 60% positive score for upgrade justification sitting right at the category average of 59%.

For those coming from much older devices, the leap feels significant.

Just upgraded after having the iPhone X for the last 6 years and it’s a nice upgrade.

But for those with more recent models, the value is harder to see, with one user advising:

If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, this phone won’t be much of an upgrade.

This internal struggle is magnified by external competition, where a formidable rival like the OnePlus 12 boasts a massive 94% satisfaction-to-cost rating, making the iPhone’s 79% seem modest and highlighting that better value is perceived elsewhere in the market.

Trade-Off: Buyers receive a large screen and dependable performance at a discount to the Pro models, but must accept a package that feels incomplete and offers a less compelling upgrade path than its key competitors.

📸 Camera: Quality vs. Features

The camera system on the Apple iPhone 14 Plus tells a story of two very different user experiences: one of surprising excellence in fundamental quality, and another of significant frustration with missing capabilities. While users applaud the core photo-taking results, deep-seated limitations prevent it from being a universal win.

Image Quality and Low-Light Performance

The standout triumph for the iPhone 14 Plus is its remarkable performance in difficult lighting, a factor where it achieves a flawless 100% positive sentiment. This score dramatically outpaces the category average of 61%, a difference that has a tangible impact for users.

They feel a sense of confidence and delight, knowing they can capture great memories in any environment. As one owner put it:

The camera is amazing, especially for taking photos in the dark.

This is supported by a strong 85% positive score for general image and video quality, with users frequently attesting that their “videos and pictures are so clear they look like they have been taken with a professional camera.”

Frustrating Feature Limitations

However, this satisfaction with basic quality is sharply contrasted by disappointment in the phone’s creative toolkit. User happiness with camera features and modes plummets to just 41%, a full 20 points below the category average of 61%.

This isn’t just about missing niche settings; it affects core photographic functions, leaving users feeling they’ve been short-changed. This is also seen in its weak zoom capabilities, which score only 36% positive. One user clearly outlined the practical consequence:

I am disappointed that the camera only has a 5X zoom. To get the 10X you have to buy the 14 pro.

Competitive Context

This sense of compromise becomes undeniable when placed in a competitive context. The iPhone 14 Plus’s meager 36% positive score for zoom is dwarfed by the 85% achieved by its direct rival, the Samsung Galaxy S24.

For users switching brands, this difference is jarring. A reviewer who previously used a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra explained:

My 22Ultra phone is much better, clearer, with farther zoom. I’m very disappointed with the camera on my iPhone.

This highlights that while the iPhone 14 Plus can take a beautiful static shot, those who value the creative flexibility of a powerful zoom will find it a significant step down from what competitors offer.

Trade-Off: Users gain a reliable, high-quality point-and-shoot camera that excels in low light but must sacrifice the advanced zoom and creative features found on competitor devices and Apple’s own Pro models.

📱 Screen: Beauty Without Smoothness

For buyers of the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, the value of its screen is a tale of celebrated size and quality clashing with noticeable performance frustrations. Positive sentiment for display quality and vibrancy stands at an impressive 95%, a full 12 points above the category average. This isn’t just a number; it translates into a tangible, immersive viewing experience.

Users describe the OLED display as “sharp and crisp” and “super clear and high definition,” making it ideal for media consumption. The expansive size, with a 94% positive rating, enhances this benefit, particularly for those with accessibility needs or a preference for larger media.

As one owner put it, the big screen:

makes life so much easier not having to constantly reach for my glasses,

while another celebrated that the:

massive 6.7-inch display is perfect for watching videos, browsing, and gaming.

A Disappointing Refresh Rate

However, beneath this beautiful surface lies a significant source of user disappointment. The screen’s smoothness and refresh rate receive a dismal 30% positive rating, falling a staggering 45 percentage points below the 75% category average. This deficit is not just a technical specification; it’s a feeling of sluggishness in a premium-priced device.

One user lamented:

The only problem I feel on the refresh rate. 60hz display is bit disappointing. It’s very slow.

This is compounded by issues with touch responsiveness, which scored 12 points below its category average. Users report daily operational friction, with one complaining:

I would try to type something and it would freeze or become extremely slow,

and another expressing frustration that:

on the screen I have to tap the icon 2-3 times just to get it to open.

The Competitive Landscape

This performance gap becomes even more pronounced when placed in the competitive landscape. While the iPhone 14 Plus lags with a 30% score for smoothness, direct competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 boast scores of 96% and 91%, respectively.

This vast difference means users accustomed to other modern flagships are likely to notice the iPhone’s comparative lack of fluidity, an exact sentiment captured by a reviewer who noted:

60 Hz is something you’ll have to get used to especially if you’re coming from another flagship.

For many, the decision to purchase the 14 Plus is an intentional choice to prioritize size over this specific feature, with one buyer stating they:

chose this over the iPhone 15 just for the screen and I’m glad I did.

Trade-Off: Users gain an impressively large and vibrant display but at the significant cost of the fluid, high-refresh-rate experience that is now standard on most competitor flagships.

🍎 Design: Beautiful, But Stagnant

When it comes to the design of the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, users are deeply impressed by its fundamental look and feel, even as they express a distinct lack of excitement for its evolution. The phone’s visual appeal and material quality are its strongest assets, with Aesthetics and Look earning an impressive 89% positive sentiment. This isn’t just about a generic premium feel; it’s an emotional connection to the specific choices Apple made.

Owners celebrate the vibrant color options, with one gushing, “I have the GORGEOUS YELLOW IPhone 14 plus,” while another bought it for their mother because the “purple (lilac) color…is beautiful.” This satisfaction is reinforced by a stellar 87% positive rating for Build Quality, far surpassing the 76% category average. Users feel this translates to real-world resilience, trusting it as a “beautifully engineered product” that is “very durable, dropped it on accident a few times and it’s still good as new!”

Familiar Design, New Frustrations

However, the story sours when users consider what’s new—or rather, what isn’t. The score for Design Features and Changes plummets to just 35%, falling 5 points below the category average and revealing a core frustration. This number signifies a feeling that the design is playing it too safe, as one user bluntly put it:

Design is still the same though.. Apple needs to be a tad more creative.

This isn’t just a vague complaint; it has practical consequences that irritate users. One reviewer lamented that Apple “moved the back camera slightly to the side, so no cases from the 13 will fit the 14, and you have to proceed to buy everything anew.” For others, frustration stems from the continued absence of features they miss, with one user stating:

I miss the home button which I had on the older one.

The Trade-Off for Size

This tension between size and innovation becomes even clearer in a competitive context. The phone’s 75% positive score for Size and Handling—outpacing both the category average of 71% and the Google Pixel 8’s 72%—is driven by a very specific user need: a large screen without the associated weight of a Pro model.

For many, this is a deliberate and celebrated choice. One user who chose it over the Pro Max “really liked the 14 Plus’s lighter weight and better overall hand feel.” Others find the size essential for accessibility, noting, “My eyesight is now a bit poor so a big screen is definitely a good choice!”

But this is a double-edged sword. For every person who loves the size, another finds it a daily inconvenience, complaining that it’s “a bit clunky to hold” and simply “not a trouser pocket phone.”

Trade-Off: Users are choosing a familiar, beautifully crafted large-screen experience at the expense of pocketability and meaningful design innovation.

🥵 Performance: Hot Processor, Cool Speed

Regarding the Performance of the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, users tell a story of stark contradictions. While the phone delivers the fluid, day-to-day speed an iPhone user expects, a significant underlying flaw creates very real frustration.

The primary driver of satisfaction is the phone’s raw processing power and speed, which, with an 83% positive rating, meets the category average precisely. For most owners, this translates into a seamless and reliable experience.

Processing Power and Speed

They describe how “everything runs smoothly with the fast processor” and praise that “the speed of the phone handles any apps or games that I’ve tried so far.”

This consistent zippiness provides a sense of confidence, with one user upgrading from an older model concluding:

everything works/runs amazingly!

Thermal Management

However, this smooth experience is frequently undermined by a critical weakness: thermal management. This factor scores an alarmingly low 15% in positive sentiment, falling to less than half the category average of 33%. This isn’t just a number on a page; it’s a tangible, frustrating heat problem that interrupts daily use.

Owners report the device “is heating without any reason” and gets especially hot during common activities like video calls. This leads to pointed questions from disappointed buyers, such as one who asked:

It’s very expensive but when I use it it gets hot, why?

This issue becomes a recurring annoyance that makes the device feel unreliable under load.

Competitive Context

This performance imbalance becomes even clearer when placed in a competitive context. While the iPhone 14 Plus’s 83% speed rating seems adequate, it trails behind the step-up iPhone 14 Pro (88%) and is significantly outpaced by Android flagships like the OnePlus 12 (96%). For power users, this makes the 14 Plus feel competent but not exceptional.

The more damaging comparison, however, is on thermal management. Its 15% score is trounced by the Samsung Galaxy S24 (50%) and OnePlus 12 (63%), proving this isn’t an unavoidable issue for modern phones.

Even a user who previously owned a premium iPhone noted that after switching, the 14 Plus had “struggled with overheating issues,” a problem they didn’t have before, solidifying the impression that this model has a specific, frustrating flaw.

Trade-Off: Users gain Apple’s reliably smooth day-to-day operation but must accept a significant and frustrating overheating problem that its main competitors have better managed.

🍎 Software & OS: Smooth UI, Unstable Core

An appraisal of the Apple iPhone 14 Plus’s Software & Operating System tells a story of conflicting user realities, where the celebrated ease of iOS is often undermined by significant underlying frustrations. While many users praise the system’s intuitive design, the experience is severely hampered by a level of instability that falls short of both expectations and competitor performance.

Familiar UI, But Lacking Polish

The most positive aspect of the software experience is its familiar user interface and smoothness, which earns a 61% positive sentiment. For users upgrading from older iPhones or switching from Android, this translates into a tangible sense of relief and simplicity.

The setup process is a key highlight, with one user noting that “transferring data was a breeze,” and another adding that “it was a painless process to adapt to the new device.” This feeling of seamless integration is a core part of Apple’s appeal, as one person explained:

“As usual, Apple has iOS custom tuned to perform as best as possible with the built in hardware and bugs/glitches are fairly rare.”

For these satisfied users, the phone simply works the way an iPhone is expected to.

Significant Software Instability

However, a deeper look reveals a much more problematic story centered on software stability, which draws a strikingly low 24% positive score, falling 3 points below the category average. This isn’t a minor inconvenience; it’s a source of significant disruption.

Users report a range of frustrating and often critical failures. One person detailed a paralyzing glitch:

“I’m having an issue with the phone that the technician believes is the proximity sensor. Sometimes the screen goes black and I’m not able to get the screen to end a phone call.”

Others faced baffling errors during setup, with one user describing how “People that I’ve communicated with over the years became blocked callers for no apparent reason,” and another exclaiming their frustration over data migration:

“The PASSWORDS!! Omg has caused me so much stress and my time because none of it transferred.”

These experiences paint a picture of an operating system that can feel unreliable and actively counterproductive.

Falling Behind Competitors

This mixed performance is thrown into sharp relief when compared to its rivals. The iPhone 14 Plus’s 61% positive score for UI smoothness is significantly lower than the 76% achieved by the Samsung Galaxy S24 and 78% by the OnePlus 12. This data suggests that Apple’s historical dominance in smooth performance is no longer a given.

For some former Android users, this gap is palpable, leading to a sense of disappointment:

“Coming from a Samsung Galaxy to Apple is a letdown for me… You can’t customize your phone the way you would like with different launchers different icons.”

Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Plus lags dramatically in AI features, with its 52% positive score dwarfed by the Google Pixel 8’s 84%. While iPhone users praise basic functions, they are missing out on the more advanced computational tools that define the modern flagship experience.

“the voice to text feature, which works great,”

Trade-Off: Users receive the signature simplicity and streamlined setup of iOS, but in exchange, they must tolerate a surprising number of software bugs and forego the superior stability and advanced AI features prevalent in top-tier competitors.

🔋 Battery: Endurance, But Slow Refueling

For the Apple iPhone 14 Plus, battery performance is overwhelmingly defined by one stellar attribute: sheer longevity. The phone’s staying power earns an 88% positive sentiment score, a full 14 points above the category average.

This isn’t just a number on a spec sheet; it translates into a tangible sense of freedom and reliability for users. They describe it as a “game-changer,” with one owner reporting:

gone almost 3 days without dying, and has saved me in certain situations (like being stranded at the airport).

For many, this exceptional endurance means the “obsessive worrying about carrying charging cables around is a thing of the past.”

Inconsistent Drain and Dated Charging

However, this glowing picture is tarnished by frustrations with inconsistent battery drain. Mentions of battery drain patterns are only 20% positive, and while that’s slightly above the category average of 15%, it highlights a significant user pain point.

Owners report unexpected power loss, with one stating:

I need to charge it as my mobile battery goes down soon even without using it.

This suggests that while the battery is large, its discharge can be unpredictable, causing anxiety. Furthermore, the phone’s charging methods, which earn just 43% positive mentions, feel dated to many, with one user noting that the:

Only real downside is the lightning charging.

Competitive Landscape

In the competitive landscape, the iPhone 14 Plus’s battery endurance is its trump card. Its 88% positive score for battery life decisively outlasts direct competitors like the Google Pixel 8 (59%) and the Samsung Galaxy S24 (78%).

However, where the phone falls behind is in refueling. Its 77% positive score for charging speed is respectable but pales in comparison to the blistering 99% achieved by the OnePlus 12, a difference that users feel acutely. As one owner put it:

it takes a long time to charge.

Interestingly, the older Lightning port is a double-edged sword. While a point of frustration for some, for others it’s a feature. One user, buying the phone for his father, noted it “was a deciding factor, since they are the same as his older iPad” and he could reuse old cables.

Trade-Off: Users gain truly class-leading battery endurance that provides genuine peace of mind, but in exchange, they must contend with inconsistent drain patterns and an aging charging ecosystem.

Bottom Line

• ✅ **Exceptional Battery Life:** Its greatest strength is endurance, earning an 88% positive score that is a full 14 points above the category average.
• ⚠️ **Outdated Display is the Top Complaint:** The screen’s 60Hz refresh rate is a major source of user frustration, scoring a dismal 30% for smoothness—a massive 45 points below the category average.
• 🔻 **A Frustratingly Stagnant Design:** The design feels stale, with a low 35% positive score for new features and changes that render iPhone 13 cases incompatible for no clear user benefit.
• 📉 **A Weak Upgrade Proposition:** Only 60% of users feel it is a justified upgrade, with many advising those with an iPhone 11 or newer to skip it entirely.
• 🏁 **Outmatched on Key Features:** It is decisively beaten by rivals, with its camera zoom scoring just 36% positive compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24’s 85%.
• 💡 **The Bottom Line:** Ideal for users prioritizing a large screen and battery above all else, but a poor value for anyone seeking modern performance or a meaningful upgrade.