The selection of Apple iPhone 14 Plus colors is a critical choice for any buyer. It dictates the device’s aesthetic, influences its resale value, and reflects the owner’s personal style. The iPhone 14 Plus was introduced with five initial shades: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and RED. Apple later refreshed the lineup with the addition of a bright Yellow variant in the spring of 2023. This comprehensive guide reviews and compares all six available options, providing an in-depth analysis to help consumers make the perfect decision.
The Full Spectrum: Introducing the iPhone 14 Plus Colors
Apple’s color strategy for the standard iPhone models focuses on providing a mix of timeless neutrals and vibrant, trend-setting hues. The iPhone 14 Plus, with its large 6.7-inch display and excellent battery life, makes a bold canvas for these six distinct finishes. Each color applies to the durable glass back panel, while the aluminum frame is color-matched to create a cohesive look.
Midnight
Midnight is Apple’s modern interpretation of black. It serves as the quintessential neutral choice. However, the Midnight shade often carries a very subtle, almost imperceptible blue or grey undertone, making it slightly softer than a pure, stark black. The Midnight finish provides a classic and understated look. It appeals strongly to professionals and those who prefer their technology to blend seamlessly into any environment.
Review and Comparison of Midnight
Midnight consistently ranks as one of the most popular and safest choices. Its deep, dark nature makes the phone appear incredibly sleek when viewed from the front, especially when the screen is off, giving an “all-screen” effect.
- Pros: It is extremely elegant and timeless. It offers high compatibility with virtually any case color or style. It often retains excellent resale value due to its universal appeal.
- Cons: The highly glossy finish of the back glass means it attracts and shows fingerprints and smudges more readily than lighter colors. This requires frequent wiping for users who prefer to go caseless.
- Buyer Note: If discretion and professionalism are your priorities, Midnight is the ideal selection. Remember that you will likely need to clean the back panel often.
Starlight
Starlight is the counterpart to Midnight, serving as the official light neutral for the iPhone 14 Plus lineup. It is not a harsh, clinical white. Instead, Starlight possesses a warm, pearlescent cream or soft gold hue. This warmth distinguishes it from the pure white options of past iPhones. The color name suggests a subtle glimmer, giving the phone a premium and sophisticated feel.
Review and Comparison of Starlight
Starlight manages to look simultaneously classic and fresh. The aluminum frame accompanying the Starlight back is usually a polished silver or light gold, which beautifully catches the light. This is a subtle yet striking difference from a basic white finish.
- Pros: It is highly effective at concealing minor scratches and smudges, making it an excellent choice for caseless users. The light color makes the device easy to locate in low light conditions or a cluttered bag. It offers timeless aesthetic longevity.
- Cons: The warm tone might clash slightly with stark white accessories or very cool-toned personal items. Some buyers prefer a pure white option.
- Buyer Note: Choose Starlight if you want a light, resilient phone that handles daily use marks well. Its warmth provides a softer look compared to traditional white phones.
Purple
The Purple offered on the iPhone 14 Plus is distinct from the Deep Purple seen on the higher-end Pro models. This shade is a light, airy, and soft lavender or lilac. It leans heavily toward the pastel spectrum, offering a dreamy and whimsical appearance. It quickly became the signature color of the launch. Apple often introduces a unique, lighter color for the standard models to highlight the new generation.
Review and Comparison of Purple
This Purple is a fashionable statement. It captures a gentle, yet unmistakable, sense of personality. It is neither too dark nor too bright, hitting a sweet spot that appeals to a wide demographic. The pastel nature of the purple changes subtly depending on the light source. It can look almost silver or pale blue in certain indoor lighting.
- Pros: The light pastel hue is unique and eye-catching. It is less common than Midnight or Starlight, making the device stand out. It is relatively good at hiding fingerprints due to its lighter color base.
- Cons: As a fashion color, its long-term popularity and resale value might fluctuate more than the neutral options. It may not appeal to users who prefer deep, saturated colors.
- Buyer Note: If you seek a color that embodies the generation’s specific aesthetic without being overly loud, the Purple finish offers a perfect blend of style and subtlety.
Blue
Apple has offered various blue shades over the years, and the Blue on the iPhone 14 Plus is a sophisticated, muted tone. It sits closer to a classic slate blue or a deep sky blue rather than a brilliant sapphire. This blue is far lighter and more serene than the deep navy blue seen in the iPhone 12 era. It is subtle, calming, and highly professional.
Review and Comparison of Blue
The Blue shade provides a sense of depth and tranquility. It strikes a fine balance between being a colorful option and maintaining a serious, mature appearance. The aluminum frame matches the back glass precisely, resulting in a monochromatic look. This uniformity gives the phone an elegant finish.
- Pros: It is a universally appealing color that projects confidence and calm. It is a refreshing alternative to black or grey without being overly playful. It works well with both professional and casual accessories.
- Cons: Under certain indoor lighting, it can sometimes appear darker, almost blending into the Midnight category. This means it can lose some of its distinct color visibility.
- Buyer Note: This blue is excellent for those who want color but insist on a shade that remains understated and elegant. It looks fantastic paired with clear cases.
RED
The RED color is always one of the most vibrant options available. This finish is a loud, proud, and highly saturated cherry-red hue. Beyond aesthetics, choosing RED carries the added significance of supporting global health initiatives, as a portion of the proceeds from this model goes to The Global Fund. This gives the purchase an altruistic component.
Review and Comparison of RED
RED is the ultimate statement color. It stands out instantly and unequivocally in any setting. Unlike some of the softer hues, the RED color remains consistently intense under all lighting conditions. Its presence on the device makes it incredibly easy to spot.
- Pros: It is visually stunning and impossible to overlook. It provides a moral benefit through the charitable contribution. Its brightness makes the phone very hard to lose.
- Cons: The intensity of the red can be overwhelming for some users. The bright finish can sometimes make tiny hairline scratches more noticeable than on Starlight or Purple.
- Buyer Note: Choose RED if you embrace bold colors and want your device to be a focal point. Always remember the powerful cause behind this distinct shade.
Yellow
The Yellow iPhone 14 Plus was introduced later in the cycle, making a dramatic and welcome entrance. This color is an intensely bright, happy, and vivid lemon yellow. It is not a pale or mustard tone, but a truly saturated, cheerful hue designed to evoke feelings of sunshine and optimism. Apple typically uses this mid-cycle color drop to re-energize interest in the lineup.
Review and Comparison of Yellow
The Yellow finish is arguably the most dynamic and cheerful option in the lineup. It instantly conveys a playful personality. Compared to previous yellow iPhones, like the pale yellow iPhone 11, the 14 Plus Yellow is much richer and deeper in pigment. It brings a level of vibrant saturation often associated with dopamine dressing trends.
- Pros: It is incredibly bright, ensuring high visibility. It is a distinctive seasonal color that offers a unique look. The lightness helps to hide fingerprints effectively.
- Cons: Its seasonal release timing means it may appeal to a slightly niche market. Some users may find the brightness too intense for long-term daily use.
- Buyer Note: The Yellow color is perfect for those who want a truly maximalist aesthetic. It serves as a fantastic summer or spring accessory.
In-Depth Color Analysis and Comparison
Understanding the individual shades is only half the battle. A truly informed decision requires comparing the colors based on practical considerations like fingerprint resistance, case aesthetics, and long-term trends.
The Neutrals: Midnight vs. Starlight
Midnight and Starlight represent the foundation of the iPhone color palette. They are the most popular choices globally because they offer unmatched versatility.
Midnight is the choice for users prioritizing maximum screen immersion. The deep color of the surrounding frame minimizes the appearance of the bezel. This enhances the visual experience, especially when consuming media in dark environments. However, Midnight’s glossy glass back acts like a mirror for smudges and oils.
Starlight favors resilience and visual warmth. The light glass panel reflects light effectively. This makes fingerprints significantly less visible. The warm undertone of Starlight provides a softer, less industrial feel than pure white. It complements gold and silver accessories beautifully.
Both colors maintain strong resale value. Midnight generally edges out Starlight slightly in the secondary market because black remains the most traditional and sought-after device color.
The Fashion Hues: Blue, Purple, and Yellow
These three colors are trend-driven and express personality vividly. They target users who view their phone as a fashion accessory.
The Blue option is the most conservative of the three. It is versatile enough to transition seamlessly from a boardroom to a casual setting. It serves as a great bridge for users moving away from black or silver into color.
Purple is distinctly playful and leans into a softer, more mysterious aesthetic. Its pastel quality allows it to pair well with other pastels or neutral tones. It makes an excellent backdrop for unique, personalized cases or stickers.
Yellow is the most energetic and least formal of all options. It commands attention immediately. A yellow phone under a clear case creates an electrifying look. Buyers should consider this vibrancy when pairing it with professional outfits or minimalist environments.
When comparing longevity, the muted Blue will likely age more gracefully than the bolder Purple or Yellow. The Purple and Yellow shades often depend on current trends for their appeal.
Comparing with Previous Models
The iPhone 14 Plus color palette exhibits Apple’s evolution in color management. Compared to the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 Plus colors show a shift towards lighter, more pastel tones.
The iPhone 13’s Blue was darker and more saturated. The 14 Plus Blue is notably lighter and more subdued. This change reflects a broader design trend towards softer aesthetics.
The iPhone 13 had a Pink option. Apple replaced this soft color with the new pastel Purple for the iPhone 14 series. This switch introduced a new primary color for the base model lineup.
The Yellow color, released mid-cycle for the 14 Plus, was an intentional revival. It brought back a bright yellow that had been absent since the iPhone 11. This decision gave customers a truly bright, non-muted color option that the initial lineup lacked. This deliberate color refreshing keeps the product relevant across its lifecycle.
The RED Distinction
RED occupies a unique space. Its brightness is comparable to the Yellow option, but its significance extends beyond simple aesthetics. It serves as a philanthropic choice.
When evaluating RED, buyers must weigh their color preference against their desire to support a charitable cause. This deep, rich red consistently stands out. It carries a powerful, universal symbol of health and awareness. From a purely practical standpoint, it is a highly visible color that ensures the phone is rarely misplaced.
Its intense hue means that matching accessories can be slightly challenging. The phone looks best with black, white, or clear cases that allow the red to dominate the design. This intense saturation can make imperfections visible under harsh light, requiring meticulous care from the owner.
Key Considerations for Buyers
Choosing a phone color is not just about personal preference; it involves practical factors that affect daily use and future value. Buyers should assess these points before finalizing their iPhone 14 Plus selection.
Resale Value and Popularity
Color significantly impacts the secondary market value of a smartphone. Data consistently shows that neutral colors generally retain the highest resale value.
Midnight, being the closest to black, often tops the charts for retaining value. Starlight follows closely behind. Buyers of these neutral colors can expect maximum return when they eventually upgrade their device.
The Blue and Purple options tend to hold average value. Their appeal is strong during the device’s main sales window, but this appeal can slightly diminish as newer colors are introduced in subsequent generations.
Yellow and RED, while visually appealing, usually see a slightly faster depreciation curve. These highly specific, bold colors appeal to a smaller subset of future buyers. Resellers may need more time to find a buyer for these specialized shades. If maximizing resale value is important, stick to Midnight or Starlight.
Case Compatibility and Aesthetics
Most users protect their large iPhone 14 Plus with a case. The color choice determines how the phone’s base aesthetic interacts with the chosen case.
- Midnight and Starlight: These colors are the most versatile. They provide an ideal backdrop for any case design, from subtle, solid colors to complex patterns and graphic designs. They ensure that the case design is the primary focus.
- Blue and Purple: These look superb when paired with clear cases or cases with complementary tones. For example, a light grey or mint green case enhances the softness of the Purple finish. The Blue pairs excellently with black or navy accessories.
- Yellow and RED: These vibrant colors are best showcased with clear or translucent cases. Using a solid, contrasting color case, such as a black silicone case, creates a stark, eye-catching two-tone effect. Buyers should note that solid cases completely obscure the unique color choice, effectively negating the initial investment in the specific hue.
Durability and Fingerprint Resistance
The physical durability of the glass back remains the same across all colors, thanks to Apple’s construction materials. However, the perceived durability and cleanliness vary significantly by shade.
Darker, glossy colors like Midnight readily show fingerprints and smudges. Every touch leaves an oil mark that becomes highly visible when light reflects off the dark glass. This makes Midnight appear dirty quickly unless regularly cleaned.
Lighter colors, particularly Starlight, Purple, and Yellow, are remarkably adept at concealing these imperfections. The way light scatters across the pale surfaces minimizes the visual impact of smudges. Starlight is arguably the best color for maintaining a pristine look without constant cleaning.
The aluminum frame’s durability is consistent across all models. However, scratches or scuffs on the frame of a colored model, such as Blue or Yellow, might be more noticeable than similar damage on the Midnight or Starlight frames, which use classic black and silver aluminum finishes.
Detailed Feature Comparison: Beyond the Color
While color is central to the decision, the iPhone 14 Plus itself offers a compelling set of features that are enhanced by the aesthetic choice.
Screen and Color Interaction
The iPhone 14 Plus features a stunning 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. All colors showcase content equally well, but the frame color influences the viewing immersion.
Midnight maximizes immersion. Its dark border visually extends the screen when watching films or playing games. The light frames of Starlight, Purple, and Yellow provide a slight visual border, reminding the user where the display ends and the body begins. This is purely a matter of preference for screen enthusiasts.
Internal Components and Performance
Apple equipped the iPhone 14 Plus with the A15 Bionic chip, an upgrade from the previous generation’s GPU core count. This ensures excellent performance across all color variants. There is no technical or performance difference related to the external color. Every phone offers the same dual-camera system, advanced Photonic Engine for improved low-light performance, and cinematic mode.
Competitor Comparison: Design and Color
Competitors in the smartphone market, particularly flagship Android devices, often offer different material choices, which affects color perception. Many Android phones use satin or matte glass finishes, which are better at resisting fingerprints than the iPhone 14 Plus’s glossy back.
However, Apple’s color matching of the aluminum frame with the glass back is superior. This creates a monolithic, polished look that gives the phone a premium feel. Some competitors use contrasting plastic or metal frames, resulting in a less integrated design. The iPhone 14 Plus colors feel deliberate and cohesive across the entire body.
Conclusion: Making Your Color Decision
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus presents a curated selection of six colors designed to cater to every taste. Your final choice depends entirely on your usage habits and personal style objectives.
Choose Midnight or Starlight if you prioritize maximum resale value, versatility with accessories, and a timeless aesthetic. Midnight is perfect for the minimalist who values screen immersion, while Starlight suits those who prefer a clean, warm, and low-maintenance look.
Opt for Blue or Purple if you desire a fashionable color that still maintains a sophisticated maturity. Blue is the best middle-ground for professional color expression. Purple offers the best reflection of current design trends.
Select Yellow or RED if you want your device to be a bold, unmistakable personal statement. Yellow provides unmatched vibrancy and fun. RED offers a deep, powerful color and the significant benefit of supporting a global charitable cause.
No matter the color you choose, the iPhone 14 Plus delivers a fantastic large-screen experience with exceptional battery life and strong performance. The color is the final personal touch on an already excellent device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular iPhone 14 Plus color for resale?
Midnight consistently proves to be the most popular color for retaining resale value. Its universal and timeless black aesthetic appeals to the widest range of secondary market buyers.
Does the Yellow iPhone 14 Plus have the same specifications as the other colors?
Yes, the Yellow iPhone 14 Plus is identical in every technical specification. Apple released it later in the product cycle solely as an aesthetic update, with no changes to the A15 chip, cameras, or battery.
Does the Purple iPhone 14 Plus look the same as the iPhone 14 Pro Deep Purple?
No, the Purple on the iPhone 14 Plus is a significantly lighter, pastel, and airy lilac shade. The iPhone 14 Pro features a much darker, richer, and more muted Deep Purple, which often looks black or gray in low light.
Which color of the iPhone 14 Plus is best at hiding fingerprints?
Starlight is the best color for concealing fingerprints and smudges. Its light, pearlescent surface effectively scatters light, making oil marks and dust particles much less visible than on the dark Midnight finish.
Does buying the RED phone actually benefit charity?
Yes, Apple contributes a portion of the proceeds from every RED purchase directly to the Global Fund to support HIV/AIDS programs and other health initiatives.
