It's easy to get carried away and lose sight of just how far we've come in the smartphone world. Apple's iPhone 14 is 7.8 millimeters thick but can communicate directly with satellites, boasts photographic talents that eclipse dedicated cameras and action cams, and does so starting at just $799.

Improved low-light camera performance, Clever safety features (you hope you won't need)

Improvements feel evolutionary, eSIM may prove a headache, iPhone 13 offers much the same for $100 less

The iPhone 14 is very similar to the iPhone 13, which itself was very similar to the iPhone 12. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone — it’s just less of an upgrade for anyone using a phone that’s only two years old.

Apple's latest non-Pro iPhone is superb - it's just that it's strikingly similar to last year's effort.

Still an incredible smartphone, Brilliant battery life gets a bit better, Excellent camera system gets a bit better

Last year’s Pro hardware, Wireless charging slow by modern standards, No USB-C; it’s now well overdue

The video-centric Sony ZV-1 Mark II has excellent rolling shutter, industry-leading autofocus and a very nice selfie-friendly zoom lens, but runs into issues with short battery life and flat out-of-camera audio. The camera thrives in auto modes, making it best suited for users seeking a simple-to-use camera.

Video creators seeking a feature-packed dedicated device without a large learning curve.;

Video creators desiring manual controls and still photographers seeking a pocketable compact.;

The Apple iPhone 14 isn’t a huge upgrade on the iPhone 13, yet it still is a great phone with a top camera, good battery life and all the iOS benefits.

Clever safety features, Very good battery life, Reliable camera, Fun colours, You’ve got an ageing iPhone: If you’re on an iPhone 11 or older, then the changes here will make a notable difference.

Stuck on a 60Hz display, Minimal differences to the iPhone 13, You’ve got an iPhone 13: The changes from Apple’s previous phone aren’t enough to warrant an upgrade this year.

The Sony ZV-1 II is a good vlogging camera. Its new wider-angle lens is well-suited to vlogs. Its large fully-articulated screen also makes it easy to monitor yourself while recording, and, with full touch capability, it's easy to adjust settings on the fly without diving into the menu.

Wide-angle lens is ideal for vlogging., Fully articulated touchscreen., Vlog-friendly modes and features., Good amount of frame rate options., Highly portable design.

Slippery grip., No optical or in-body stabilization., Overheats very quickly in 4k., Mediocre battery life.

Slightly better cameras but otherwise, not much of an update - buy the iPhone 14 Pro or switch to Android instead

Better low-light photography, Slightly longer battery life, Action mode gives super stabilised video

The same performance as the iPhone 13, No Dynamic Island or Always-On display, 60Hz screen

The iPhone 14 comes to market with the same launch price as the previous generation. At the same time, iPhone connoisseurs were more than disillusioned after the presentation of the new smartphone. Apple leaves large parts of the hardware unchanged and does not dare to change the design.

Top performance level despite last year's chip, Very high quality workmanship, Improved image and video quality, Excellent battery life

Hardly any innovations, Charging takes too long for 2022

All in all, the ZV-1 II is a bit of a mixed bag. We got some of the things that the camera needed, like a wider lens and better touchscreen functionality, but at the cost of some features that we didn't want to lose, like OIS and high-speed slow motion. On the whole, we'd say it's an improvement on its predecessor, mainly owing to the massively improved touch-controls, wide lens, autofocus tweaks and a better microphone setup. If you're using it for vlogging, as the manufacturer intends, then these four factors make it so much more appealing.

Wider field of view; Excellent 3-capsule microphone; Exceptional autofocus performance; Improved touchscreen controls; Compact, lightweight and portable;

Slower lens at the telephoto end; No optical image stabilisation; Less slow motion options; Loud zoom motor;

This is a well-built, responsive, almost pocket-sized hybrid suited to a variety of uses, and a sensible ‘all-in-one’ option for everyday adventures. The new wider zoom lens setting makes it better suited than its predecessor to group portraits, shooting in landscape, and simply fitting more into...

Touchscreen is now more useful and more intuitive, Optical zoom now starts out at an ultra-wide 18mm, New Cinematic Vlog settings offer a variety of looks

No headphone jack, No USB-C cable or mains adapter supplied, No in-body image stabilization