This is a purely subjective review, so I apologize in advance to any Apple product advocates if I offend them. I've had a lot of phones in my lifetime, from button bricks, to Windows Phone, Android and iOS. I chose the Apple iPhone 14 as a replacement for the Samsung S10e, due to some approximation of the compact size I've grown accustomed to (I didn't want a bigger phone and the 13 mini was too small). The phone as such, is really beautifully processed, nice design and quality material. The phone's square frame is nice, but it's not the most comfortable in the hand. Despite its more compact size, it's quite heavy and you can definitely feel it in your pocket (but it's still bearable, which can't be said for the Pro Max, where the weight is already annoying). The reason I returned the phone is simple. Because as well as the reason, the system itself is simple - simple and too closed. It's a simple system, for simple people who either don't need or don't know that it can all be done better. Everyone likes something different, so there's no need to argue whether this or that is better. For me, iOS is not a suitable system and it seems it never will be. It's not a big deal, but rather little things that gradually add up to the point where I decided I really don't want this. An example is the inability to pin an icon to a position on the desktop, it always moves to the top left. Apple's keyboard is years behind Google's gboard, you can't change the layout (even with gboard - apple's third-party restrictions), I miss the gif button I'm used to. However, I must praise that Apple has finally added/returned haptic keystroke response in iOS. Another thing I didn't like is the notification section when you swipe down from the left corner. For example, if I'm doing something on my phone, then I turn around or just hop off and go back to my unlocked phone, I won't know that someone has texted me on WhatsApp until I lock/unlock my phone or manually check the notification centre. Why is there no option for small icons in the status bar? Instead, you have a clock next to the big notch. Centered, with tons of room on the sides. Just set the clock to a smaller font and there's room for at least the last three notification icons. You can't even install apps outside the apple store. I could write a lot more, but everyone has to make up their own mind anyway, preferably by trying out iOS and a comparable Android flag. iOS is just a simple, fairly technically outdated system that you can't customise much and have to make do with what Apple gives you. For some people it is enough, for others it is not very proficient and so they would find Android complicated, but purely for me, Android is more user-friendly. iOS I can praise at least the ecosystem that works perfectly with their products. However, in android you can also find a similar ecosystem (Samsung for example), it is not perfect in the same way, but it is very good. In conclusion, I'll just write that I returned the phone within the 14-day period and bought a Samsung S23 128GB, which I'm much more satisfied with in the end. And not only because of android, but also for better ergonomics of the design, lower weight and above all better quality and better display. USB-C is just the icing on the cake that Apple customers will finally see with the iPhone 15 series.
