March is typically when Apple takes advantage of the impending warmer weather to refresh the colors of its cases, Apple Watch bands, and even the iPhone itself. And, like clockwork, this year Apple announced a very spring color for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The catchphrase that Apple is using on its website is “Hello, yellow!” and honestly, it’s perfect.
Also: iPhone 14 models compared: Which one should you buy?
How to pre-order the yellow iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
He yellow iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus they’re officially available on Tuesday, March 14, but you can pre-order them starting today, March 10, with deliveries starting early next week. Apple, along with its carrier and retail partners, offers trade-in promotions when you pre-order any of the models, even if you end up getting a different color.
For example, you can reserve directly from Apple and get up to $800 in credits depending on your trade-in device, making the base model iPhone 14 free. At least, that’s what I see when I select a specific iPhone 14 from AT&T and switch to an iPhone 12. T-Mobile and Verizon is offering up to $400 off iPhone 14 with the same trade-in selection.
Along with the new iPhones, Apple is selling its silicone cases in a matching yellow color for $49 per piece. You can buy them directly from the company’s website or in an official store.
How is the yellow iPhone 14?
If you’re wondering what the new yellow iPhone 14 looks like in person, check out my unboxing, hands-on photos, and first impressions of the latest model below.
The new color of the iPhone is too bright a shade of yellow. Think of a shiny school bus. Bright number 2 pencil. Perfectly ripe, shiny banana.
Unlike last year, Apple did not release a new color option for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead, only the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus receive the additional settings.
Review: iPhone 14 is exactly as good as it had to be
And after getting a sample of the yellow iPhone 14 Plus, I can see why: The phone’s edges look more gold than yellow, and the iPhone 14 Pro lineup already has a gold option. That being said, the back of the phone is definitely yellow.
The right side of the iPhone still houses the power button and the antennae. Jason Cipriani/ZDNET
Outside of the new color, there’s nothing new or noteworthy about the phone. Internally, it still uses Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, has dual rear cameras, a front-facing 12-megapixel True Depth camera for Face ID unlocking and FaceTime calling.
Depending on the angle, the yellow can have a lighter shade. Jason Cipriani/ZDNET
Battery life also remains a highlight, particularly with the iphone 14 plus which Apple touts as having the longest battery life of any iPhone released to date, a claim backed up by my personal experience.
Also: How to free up gigabytes of storage space on iPhone
You may be wondering, “Why doesn’t Apple release all the colors planned for an iPhone model in September?” The main reason is that it’s a way to spur mid-cycle upgrades for those who aren’t rushing to upgrade to a new iPhone every fall when it’s first released. Those same customers probably won’t care that a new iPhone is six months away if Apple sticks to its standard September release schedule.
Apart from the color, everything about the yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus is the same as usual. Jason Cipriani/ZDNET
