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(Pocket-lint) - Apple announced its iPhone 14 series at an event in Cupertino at the beginning of September, meaning we can sink our teeth into the different models available for 2022.
There are four devices within the series, comprising the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Yes, that's right, no iPhone 14 mini this year.
We've compared all four iPhone 14 devices based on their published specifications - along with our experience - to help you figure out which might be the right one for you.
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iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro price
Naturally, the price differs between the iPhone 14 models, you don't need us to tell you that.
If you're in the US, there thankfully hasn't been a price hike compared to last year though, but other territories may find it's a different story (in particular, we've been hit hard in the UK).
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This time around, the prices are as follows:
- iPhone 14: From $799 / £849 / €999
- iPhone 14 Plus: From $899 / £949 / €1,049
- iPhone 14 Pro: From $999 / £1099 / €1,299
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: From $1099 / £1199 / €1,449
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro design
- iPhone 14/14 Plus: Aluminium frame, dual camera, notch, five colours
- iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max: Stainless steel frame, triple camera, Dynamic Island, four colours
The standard Apple iPhone 14 models follow an identical design to the iPhone 13 models, retaining the notch at the top of the display. The iPhone 14 Plus looks identical to the iPhone 14 but on a larger scale, as you'd expect.
Like in previous years, that means for both sizes you get dual lenses again, flat edges and an aluminium frame. They also offerIP68 water and dust resistance.
The iPhone 14 Pro models, though, look different to the standard iPhone 14 models, and indeed different to any iPhone that's come before them.
As was heavily rumoured, the notch has been replaced by what Apple calls the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped cutout that houses the front camera and sensors, and plays host to animations and widget-like information. Various alerts will appear in the Dynamic Island and it will adapt depending on what you're doing.
For example, if you use Apple Pay, the Dynamic Island will turn into a square, while when you are on a phone call, it will widen and show the call duration and sound waves if you open another app whilst on the call. Overall, it's a major change to the design language that Apple's been using for years now, and it feels quite different using the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max compared to their regular counterparts - in a good way.
The iPhone 14 Pro models also feature a triple rear camera on the back and they are heavier than the standard models, offering a shiny stainless steel frame over aluminium.
The models also don't come in the same colours. Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus buyers can choose from Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple and (Product) Red. The iPhone 14 Pro range, meanwhile, comes in Space Black, Gold, Deep Purple and Silver.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro display
- iPhone 14: 6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532x1170, 460 ppi, 1200 nits
- iPhone 14 Plus: 6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2778x1284, 458 ppi, 1200 nits
- iPhone 14 Pro: 6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2556x1179, 460 ppi, 1-120Hz refresh rate, Always On Display, 2000 nits
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2796x1290, 460 ppi, 1-120Hz refresh rate, Always On Display, 2000 nits
The Apple iPhone 14 is sticking with the same display size as the iPhone 13, which means a 6.1-inch screen. The iPhone 14 Plus meanwhile, features a 6.7-inch display.
The iPhone 14 Pro also offers a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen. All four offer an OLED panel, along with True Tone, Haptic Touch and HDR support, though the Pro models do offer a bunch of extra features including power-efficiency modes that can dim the display more smartly.
The iPhone 14 Pro models again offer the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, though this time they have a lower minimum refresh rate than the iPhone 13 Pro models, clocking in at a tiny 1Hz. This is great for battery-saving.
Another big boost for the Pro models comes in the brightness department, where they get a huge jump up to 2000nits of peak brightness, which makes a difference when you're using your phone in bright light or sunshine.
The iPhone 14 Pro models also feature an Always On Display - something most Android phones offer, allowing you to see information without your screen being on and unlocked. This cleverly reflects what you have on your Lock Screen under iOS 16.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro specs
- iPhone 14/14 Plus: A15 chip, 128GB/256GB/512GB storage, up to 20hours/26 hours video playback
- iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max: A16 chip, 256GB/512GB/1TB storage, up to 20 hours/29 hoursvideo playback
The Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus run on the same chipset as the iPhone 13 Pro,which is the A15 with five-core GPU. For reference, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini also ran on the A15, but they have a four-core GPU.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, though, run on the A16 chip, which offers a performance boost on the A15 and therefore the standard iPhone 14 models. This is actually the first time Apple has used different chips in its iPhone models of the same series.
Storage options for the standard models are the same as the iPhone 13 models. That means you can choose from 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options. The iPhone 14 Pro models start at 128GB and there are also 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models.
Battery capacity is different between the standard iPhone 14 models and the iPhone 14 Pro models, as well as between the standard and Pro models themselves, with the Plus and Max variants offering larger batteries.
Apple typically measures this in hours rather than mAh, and from its comparison pages, if you take video playback as your chosen comparison you can expect 20 hours for the standard iPhone 14 and 26 hours for the iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 Pro will offer at least 23 hours, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max sits at around 29 hours.
We've tested the battery performance of all of the iPhone 14 models and the iPhone 14 Plus comes out on top, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max following behind. The iPhone 14 Plus is excellent in this department so if you're after big screen and big battery, it's a great option.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro cameras
- iPhone 14/14 Plus: Dual rear, 2x optical zoom, Digital zoom up to 5x
- iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max: Triple rear, 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, Digital zoom up to 15x
The Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus each come with a dual camera on the rear. You get a 12MP main wide camera and a secondary ultra-wide camera. These are the same resolutions as the iPhone 13, though the main camera has been upgraded to the same as the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning a slightly wider aperture of f/1.5 instead of f/1.6.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max meanwhile, got a big upgrade. There's a 48MP main sensor, along with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a wider aperture and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor.
The iPhone 14 Pro models are able to offer 3x optical zoom thanks to the telephoto lens and 15x digital zoom. The standard iPhone 14 models have 5x digital zoom but no optical zoom. The Pro models also offer ProRES, allowing you to shoot 48-megapixel raw shots.
There are similar features across all four models, with features like Portrait Mode with Depth Control, Night Mode, Photographic Styles and Cinematic Mode. You'll also find Action Mode on all four iPhone 14 models, as well as a Photonic Engine, said to improve low light images. All four models offer great results and while the Pro models are superior, the standard models still deliver great point-and-shoot images.
In terms of the front camera, all four models see an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera to include a wider aperture of f/1.9 and autofocus for the first time, which is hugely helpful for selfies and video calls.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro software
- iOS 16
All four of the Apple iPhone 14 models run on iOS 16. The user experience is therefore be pretty much identical across the four models, though as we mentioned, the iPhone 14 Pro models do get some extra features in the camera department, as well as Always On Display and Dynamic Island.
You can read all about iOS 16 and what features it offers in our separate feature on the operating system.
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Conclusion
There are a few differences between the standard iPhone 14 models and the iPhone 14 Pro models, including design, materials, chipset, storage options, battery capacities, display features and camera offerings.
There are also some noteworthy similarities too, like the flat edges, Face ID, iOS 16 software experience, front camera upgrades, and display sizes. On the whole, the iPhone 14 Pro models are more distinct than in previous years thanks to that Dynamic Island more than anything else.
For those who want the newest tricks that Apple has cooked up, the iPhone 14 Pro models are the devices you'll want to look at. For anyone looking for a great phone that costs less, the standard iPhone 14 options are still impressive - especially in the case of the iPhone 14 Plus - but with minimal differences compared to the iPhone 13 models, you could consider an iPhone 13 Pro to gain a few more features for the a similar price.
- Apple iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12: What's the difference?
Writing by Britta O'Boyle.
FAQs
Is Apple 14 worth it? ›
Overall, the iPhone 14 is a minimal year-over-year upgrade from last year's iPhone 13. The iPhone 14 comes with minor camera and battery upgrades, but no performance upgrade. However, new safety tools like Crash Detection makes the iPhone 14 worth considering.
What iPhone 14 should have? ›iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus introduce a new standard for photo and video capture with a new 12MP Main camera featuring a larger sensor and larger pixels, a new front TrueDepth camera, the Ultra Wide camera to capture more of a scene, and Photonic Engine for a giant leap in low-light performance.
What is the difference between 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max? ›Size matters, really
The only really major difference between the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max is the size of the two phones. No, really, the only differences that actually matter all stem from the different size.
At the very basic level, these two are fundamentally the same phone. The Plus is just... big. The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Plus has a 6.7-incher.
What is the iPhone 14 supposed to look like? ›3.5. The iPhone 14 looks identical to the iPhone 13, but there's a new 6.7-inch model called the iPhone 14 Plus. Under-the-hood improvements include 6GB of RAM, a 5-core GPU, Bluetooth 5.3, and multiple camera updates. Color options have been updated with (PRODUCT)RED, blue, purple, midnight, and starlight.
How much iPhone storage do I need? ›128GB and 256GB are the best options for most users.
Apps and photos are big enough now that you're going to be running out of space quickly. If you constantly use your iPhone for professional work — if you're a photographer, for example — or want it to be your main gaming device, then consider 512GB.
There's no question you'll see an improvement by upgrading to an iPhone 14 from an iPhone 11. Apple's processors have gotten faster and camera technology has improved. Instead, iPhone 11 owners are likely wondering how big are those improvements and will they justify spending at least $799 on a new phone.
Is iPhone 14 camera good? ›The bigger rear cameras on the iPhone 14. Between the updated main camera hardware and improved software, Apple says the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cameras have 2.5x better low light performance compared to the iPhone 13. Well, that's hard to quantify, but certainly the camera is very good.
Is iPhone 14 really different? ›On the back, the iPhone 14 features the same dual-camera setup as the iPhone 13 but now includes improved Main and Ultra Wide lenses. The new Main camera has an ƒ/1.5 aperture that allows 49% more light to enter every shot. The Main camera also benefits from a new workflow that Apple calls the Photonic Engine.
Do you get earphones with iPhone 14? ›As part of our efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max do not include a power adapter or EarPods. Included in the box is a USB‑C to Lightning Cable that supports fast charging and is compatible with USB‑C power adapters and computer ports.
Will there be an iPhone 15? ›
As there are no major design changes expected, Apple will likely continue to offer four models: The 6.1-inch iPhone 15, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Max, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Is Max or pro better? ›The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max also differ when it comes to battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro can deliver up to 17 hours of video playback, according to Apple. However, since the iPhone 12 Pro Max is much larger, it can accommodate a larger battery and therefore offer a longer battery life.
Is Pro better than Max? ›If you want a bigger display and longer battery life, our money is on the Pro Max despite the higher price. However, the regular iPhone 13 Pro delivers the same great cameras, ProMotion display and overall performance, so you're not sacrificing anything if you prefer a more compact design and smaller screen.
Should I upgrade to iPhone 14 Pro Max? ›It's worth remembering that you get more noticeable upgrades with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. These include everything that's new in the 14, as well as an upgraded main camera with a larger 48-megapixel sensor, an ultrawide camera that allows you to take Macro photos and a third camera with a telephoto lens.
Is 14 considered large? ›L means large and translates roughly to women's sizes 12 to 14.
Is 14 large or medium? ›| Global Size | UK | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 8-10 | 4-6 |
| Medium | 12 | 8 |
| Large | 14-16 | 10-12 |
| X-Large | 18 | 14 |
Seventy percent of women in the United States are a size 14 or above, and that's technically 'plus-size,' so you're taking your biggest category of people and telling them, 'You're not really worthy. '”
Do you really need 256GB phone? ›Overall, for most casual smartphone users 64GB phone memory is enough, although many people prefer to choose between 128GB and 256GB. Those who use their mobile phone to the absolute maximum should consider phones with storage of 512GB and 1TB to avoid running out of storage space and suffering with a slow phone speed.
Is 128GB enough for iPhone 14? ›All iPhone 14 models ship with 128GB as base storage, and that's enough for a lot of people. With that much storage, you can hold around 3,368 apps at an average size of 33MB.
Is 128GB enough in 2022? ›However, despite the factors mentioned above, 64GB of storage is enough for the average consumer. But if you sometimes go overboard with media files, 128GB should cover your needs. This is a sweet spot that balances out the price to value ratio and can give you peace of mind even if you're a heavy user.
Is iPhone 13 or 14 better? ›
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 run on an A15 Bionic chip, which is among the best in any smartphone. The biggest difference is that the iPhone 14 has a better camera, satellite connectivity, and can't use physical SIM cards.
Is the new MacBook Pro 14 in Worth It? ›The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is great for business use. It's an exceptionally well-built laptop that's also easy to carry around, and its battery lasts over 12 hours of light productivity. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, the touchpad is large and responsive, and the webcam captures a detailed image for video calls.
Is iOS 15 or 14 better? ›Bugs. iOS 14 has benefitted from a whole year's worth of gradual bug fixes, meaning that it is likely to be much more stable and reliable than iOS 15, which has only just been released.
Is Apple A14 Bionic good? ›Apple has a reputation as a top-tier chipset designer, offering blazing fast performance that has often put its Android competitors to shame. The Apple A14 Bionic is the company's latest chip, powering the entire iPhone 12 range.