iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14: Plus, Pro, and Pro Max Models Compared

It’s official: the iPhone 14 is here. After months of leaks and speculation, Apple formally announced the latest addition to its smartphone lineup at its “Far Out” event on Wednesday, where the company also gave us a glimpse of the long-rumored Apple Watch Ultra, a new Apple Watch SE, and the second-generation AirPods Pro.

Apple’s new iPhone 14 series consists of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Preorders for all phones will begin on September 9, and the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will arrive on September 16. The iPhone 14 Plus is meanwhile only available on October 7.

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus bring a number of changes to the iPhone lineup, including satellite emergency notifications and better battery life, while retaining Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset. The premium iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, also tout the aforementioned satellite functionality, in addition to a new 48MP main camera, an always-on display, and even a replacement notch that displays notifications in real time.

However, since each phone differs so much in terms of features and prices – the entry-level iPhone 14 starts at $799 – you may be wondering which model is right for you. To help you understand Apple’s crowded lineup, we’ve summarized and compared the specs of each model (along with last year’s iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini). And while we haven’t formally reviewed the iPhone 14 yet, we’ve published our first hands-on impressions if you want to take a closer look at Apple’s upcoming flagships.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

New features, battery life and more

Regardless of which iPhone 14 model you buy, there are a few changes and features that apply across the board. For example, the US models no longer have a physical SIM tray, but are going all-in on eSIMs, which shouldn’t affect those of a major carrier, but could be a hindrance for some carriers. Plus, the entire iPhone 14 series runs on iOS 16 by default, so you can edit messages sent and add widgets to your lock screen, for example, no matter which phone you buy.

All new phones will also support satellite-based emergency SOS from November. This makes it possible to send messages via communication satellites if you do not have a mobile signal. Although it is a premium service, those who purchase an iPhone 14 model can use the feature for free for two years. In addition, every phone in the iPhone 14 series – as well as the Apple Watch Series 8 – offers the option to automatically connect you to emergency services if it detects that you’ve been involved in a car accident.

Image: Apple

But that’s where a lot of the similarities end. In addition to price, all phones vary in terms of battery life and size. For example, the iPhone 14 starts at $799, but for $100 more you can buy the iPhone 14 Plus, which comes with a larger 6.7-inch screen and longer battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus offers up to 26 hours of video playback on paper, as opposed to the iPhone 14, which is up to 20 hours. Interestingly, the iPhone 14 Plus battery even beats battery life on the $999 iPhone 14 Pro, which supposedly offers up to 23 hours of video playback. This means that the cheaper iPhone 14 Plus has battery life that is only second to the $1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max, which offers up to 29 hours.

Image: Apple

Similarities galore

In other ways, however, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are not that different. They both use last year’s A15 Bionic chipset and share the same dual-camera system, which consists of a new ultra-wide camera and a 12-megapixel main shooter. Both also feature a new 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera with autofocus that can take group shots from greater distances. Apple also claims it has improved low-light image quality by 49 percent and made night mode up to twice as fast — something we’re yet to test in the field. Every phone in the iPhone 14 series also has Apple’s new action mode, which should stabilize video while you’re recording, much like a gimbal would. All models also have a cinematic mode that can record 4K resolution at 30 fps and 4K at 24 fps.

Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

However, if you’re looking for a more powerful camera system, look to the iPhone 14 Pro range. While the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro is lighter and smaller than the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, they offer the same triple-camera system and 48MP main camera, which is the first time we’ve seen such a sensor in the market. have seen an iPhone. The Pro models also feature Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip and a 1TB storage option, which is missing from the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. They also have an always-on, high-refresh-rate 120Hz ProMotion display that does away with the notch. Instead, you’ll find a pill-shaped recess called the ‘Dynamic Island’ that can move and display various notifications, alerts, and activities in real time.

By the numbers

That’s just a glimpse of some of the key differences between each model in the iPhone 14 series. However, for a more thorough overview, we have collected all the relevant specifications so that you can compare them yourself in the table below. We’ve even included the latest-generation iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini if ​​you’re considering upgrading from one of last year’s models. However, keep in mind that the iPhone 13 Mini may be the last of its kind.

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