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Apple iPhone 14 Plus Audio test

November 2, 2022
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OTHER AVAILABLE TESTS FOR THIS DEVICE

We put the Apple iPhone 14 Plus through our rigorous DXOMARK Audio test suite to measure its performance both at recording sound using its built-in microphones, and at playing audio back through its speakers.
In this review, we will break down how it fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases.

Overview


Key audio specifications include:

  • Top front, front facing, bottom right, side facing
  • No jack audio output
  • Dolby Atmos technology
  • Spatial Audio playback

Scoring

Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.


Apple iPhone 14 Plus
141
audio
144
Playback
Timbre
141

158

Dynamics
138

149

Spatial
148

162

Volume
144

162

Artifacts
91

157

135
Recording
Timbre
130

147

Dynamics
124

146

Spatial
107

159

Volume
126

170

Artifacts
137

145

Background
146

166

AUDIO
Position in Global Ranking
15th
1. Black Shark 5 Pro
161
2. Asus ROG Phone 6
155
3. Asus ROG Phone 5
151
4. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
149
4. Black Shark 4S Pro
149
4. Black Shark 4 Pro
149
4. Honor Magic3 Pro+
149
8. Asus ROG Phone 7
148
9. Xiaomi Mi 10 S
147
10. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
144
10. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
144
12. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
143
13. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
142
13. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
142
15. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
141
15. Apple iPhone 14
141
15. Huawei P60 Pro
141
18. Apple iPhone 12
140
18. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
140
18. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
18. Xiaomi 13 Pro
140
22. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
139
22. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
139
22. Apple iPhone 12 mini
139
22. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon)
139
26. Apple iPhone 13
138
26. Asus ROG Phone 3
138
26. Google Pixel 6 Pro
138
26. Honor Magic5 Pro
138
30. Apple iPhone 13 mini
137
30. Google Pixel 7 Pro
137
30. Google Pixel 6
137
30. Honor Magic Vs
137
30. Honor Magic4 Pro
137
30. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (Snapdragon)
137
36. Google Pixel 6a
135
36. Oppo Find N2
135
38. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
134
38. Xiaomi 13
134
40. Google Pixel Fold
133
40. Huawei Mate 20 X
133
40. Lenovo Legion Y90
133
40. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
133
40. Samsung Galaxy S23 (Snapdragon)
133
40. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
133
40. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
133
40. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
133
40. Vivo X90 Pro
133
49. Google Pixel 7a
132
49. Vivo X Fold
132
49. Vivo X90 Pro+
132
52. Apple iPhone XS Max
131
52. Asus Zenfone 10
131
52. Oppo Find X2 Pro
131
52. Oppo Find N2 Flip
131
56. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
130
57. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
129
57. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
129
57. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
129
57. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
61. OnePlus 11
128
61. Oppo Find X6 Pro
128
61. Oppo Find X5 Pro
128
61. POCO F4 GT
128
61. Realme GT Neo 5 (240W)
128
61. Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming
128
61. Xiaomi 11T Pro
128
68. Oppo Find X6
127
68. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
127
68. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
127
68. Xiaomi 12T Pro
127
72. Apple iPhone 11
126
72. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
126
72. OnePlus 10T 5G
126
72. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
126
72. Xiaomi 12T
126
72. Xiaomi 11T
126
78. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
125
78. Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
125
78. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
125
81. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro
124
82. Google Pixel 7
123
82. Oppo Reno8 Pro 5G
123
84. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
122
84. Apple iPhone SE (2020)
122
84. Xiaomi 12
122
87. OnePlus 9 Pro
121
87. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
121
87. Sony Xperia 1 IV
121
87. Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
121
91. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
91. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Snapdragon)
120
91. Samsung Galaxy S22 (Exynos)
120
94. Asus ROG Phone 2
119
94. Huawei P50 Pro
119
94. OnePlus 9
119
94. OnePlus 8
119
94. POCO F5 Pro
119
94. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming
119
94. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
119
101. Realme GT Neo 3
118
101. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
118
101. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
118
101. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G (Snapdragon)
118
101. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
118
101. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
118
107. Asus Zenfone 8
117
107. Google Pixel 4
117
107. OnePlus 10 Pro
117
107. OnePlus 8 Pro
117
107. Vivo iQOO 9 Pro
117
112. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
116
112. Motorola Edge+
116
112. Realme GT Neo 2 5G
116
112. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
112. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
112. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
116
112. Xiaomi Mi 11
116
119. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
115
119. OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
115
119. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
115
119. Xiaomi Mi 11i
115
123. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
114
123. Vivo iQOO 7 Legend
114
125. Google Pixel 5
113
125. LG V60 ThinQ 5G
113
125. OnePlus 7 Pro
113
125. Samsung Galaxy S20+
113
125. Samsung Galaxy S10+
113
125. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G (Exynos)
113
125. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (Exynos)
113
125. Sony Xperia 1 III
113
133. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro
112
133. Nubia Red Magic 5S
112
133. Realme GT 5G
112
133. Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G
112
137. Oppo A78 5G
111
137. Sony Xperia 5 IV
111
139. Oppo Find X3 Pro
110
140. Honor 70
109
140. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
109
140. Oppo Find X5
109
140. POCO X3 NFC
109
140. Realme GT 2 Pro
109
140. Vivo X70 Pro+
109
140. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
109
147. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
108
147. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
108
147. Oppo Find X3 Neo
108
147. Realme X2 Pro
108
151. Nothing Phone(1)
106
151. Oppo Reno8 Lite 5G
106
151. Oppo A77 5G
106
154. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
105
154. Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro
105
154. Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
105
157. Honor V30 Pro
104
157. Oppo Reno8 5G
104
157. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G
104
160. Black Shark 3 Pro
103
160. Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro
103
160. Oppo Find X5 Lite
103
160. Sony Xperia 1 II
103
164. Huawei P40 Pro
102
164. Motorola Edge 20 Pro
102
164. Oppo Reno6 5G
102
167. Motorola Razr
101
168. Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
97
168. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition
97
170. Black Shark 2 Pro
96
170. Honor 20 Pro
96
170. Oppo Find X3 Lite
96
170. Vivo X51 5G
96
174. LG G8 ThinQ
95
174. Sony Xperia 10 IV
95
176. Nubia Red Magic 3S
94
177. Fairphone 4
93
177. Sony Xperia 1
93
177. Vivo X70 Pro (MediaTek)
93
180. Vivo X60 Pro+
91
181. Nokia 7.2
87
182. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
86
AUDIO
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking
10th
1. Asus ROG Phone 6
155
2. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
149
2. Honor Magic3 Pro+
149
4. Asus ROG Phone 7
148
5. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
144
5. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
144
7. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
143
8. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
142
8. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
142
10. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
141
10. Huawei P60 Pro
141
12. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
140
12. Xiaomi 13 Ultra
140
12. Xiaomi 13 Pro
140
15. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
139
15. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
139
15. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon)
139
18. Asus ROG Phone 3
138
18. Google Pixel 6 Pro
138
18. Honor Magic5 Pro
138
21. Google Pixel 7 Pro
137
21. Honor Magic Vs
137
21. Honor Magic4 Pro
137
21. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus (Snapdragon)
137
25. Oppo Find N2
135
26. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
134
27. Google Pixel Fold
133
27. Huawei Mate 20 X
133
27. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
133
27. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Snapdragon)
133
27. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Exynos)
133
27. Vivo X90 Pro
133
33. Vivo X Fold
132
33. Vivo X90 Pro+
132
35. Apple iPhone XS Max
131
35. Oppo Find X2 Pro
131
35. Oppo Find N2 Flip
131
38. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
130
39. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
129
39. Vivo X80 Pro (Snapdragon)
129
39. Xiaomi 12S Ultra
129
39. Xiaomi 12 Pro
129
43. Oppo Find X6 Pro
128
43. Oppo Find X5 Pro
128
45. Oppo Find X6
127
46. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
126
47. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
125
47. Vivo X80 Pro (MediaTek)
125
49. OnePlus 9 Pro
121
49. Samsung Galaxy S22+ (Exynos)
121
49. Sony Xperia 1 IV
121
49. Xiaomi Mix Fold 2
121
53. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
120
54. Asus ROG Phone 2
119
54. Huawei P50 Pro
119
54. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
119
57. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
118
57. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
118
59. OnePlus 10 Pro
117
59. OnePlus 8 Pro
117
61. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
116
61. Motorola Edge+
116
61. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
61. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
116
65. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
115
66. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
114
67. Samsung Galaxy S20+
113
67. Samsung Galaxy S10+
113
67. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G (Exynos)
113
67. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (Exynos)
113
67. Sony Xperia 1 III
113
72. Sony Xperia 5 IV
111
73. Oppo Find X3 Pro
110
74. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
109
74. Oppo Find X5
109
74. Vivo X70 Pro+
109
77. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
108
78. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
105
79. Black Shark 3 Pro
103
79. Sony Xperia 1 II
103
81. Huawei P40 Pro
102
82. Motorola Razr
101
83. LG G8 ThinQ
95
84. Sony Xperia 1
93
85. Vivo X60 Pro+
91

Playback

Pros

  • Good performance in all attributes, with great consistency across them
  • Great timbre performance overall, enriched by a deep low-end extension
  • Great dynamics performance overall
  • Very good spatial performance

Cons

  • Distortion and compression at maximum volume and when watching movies
  • Stereo is still inverted in music app, as in all iPhones

Recording

Pros

  • Good timbre performance overall
  • Good performance when recording loud content such as  concerts
  • Good dynamics performance
  • Good handling of artifacts overall. Wind noise reduction needs some fine-tuning but it works decently

Cons

  • Midrange rendition is too dependent on the use case, and can sound either canny or nasal depending on the app and use case
  • SNR could be greater, as main vocal content is often a bit masked by the ambient noise
  • Poor audio zoom performance

The differences between the iPhone models when it comes to audio playback and recording have usually been minimal. The same holds true now with the release of the iPhone 14 series.

The iPhone 14 Plus, which contains the  A15 Bionic chipset, shares many of the hardware specs as the iPhone 14-series models, except that the 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max both operate on the latest A16 Bionic chip.

In Playback and Recording, the iPhone 14 Plus’s audio performance was identical in all categories to the iPhone 14.

Given all the similarities among the iPhone 14-series models and that the iPhone 14 Plus’s overall Audio score was just a point below the 14 Pro Max’s score, well within our margin of error, we direct you to the full test results of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

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