Should You Buy an IPhone 14 or 14 Pro?
It came as no surprise to anyone that Apple announced the highly anticipated iPhone 14 lineup during a big event on September 7th. As expected, we have four new iPhones, two “standard iPhones” and two “Pro” ones. While it’s always hard to pick a new phone, it’s especially hard this year. Which iPhone 14 to buy?
What’s new in iPhone 14 and 14 Plus?
Let’s start with the “standard” iPhones: Apple dropped the “mini” variant this year, which is disappointing. Obviously, this means the iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini didn’t sell as well as Apple had hoped, but it was great to see an option for people who didn’t want a huge smartphone to carry everywhere they went.
However, this is a compromise. Although we have lost the ability to scale, we have gained the ability to scale. We now have the regular 6.1-inch iPhone 14 as well as the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus. This iPhone is the first iPhone to offer a larger form factor in a consumer device. That’s why Apple brought back the “Plus” moniker for this iteration (RIP my iPhone 8 Plus).
Let’s talk more about these displays. Like last year, they are both OLED. The iPhone 14 has a resolution of 2532 x 1170 at 460 pixels per inch (ppi), while the 14 Plus has a resolution of 2778 by 1284 at 458 ppi. Both of them typically reach 800 nits, but when watching HDR content, the brightness can reach 1200 nits.
Apple is quick to tout the 14 Plus’s battery life, calling it “the best battery in an iPhone” with up to 26 hours of video playback. In comparison, the Model 14 provides 20 hours of video playback. Apple is Apple, we don’t get numbers like mAh, or even total screen time, but I’m sure reviewers will be hard at work in the coming weeks to give us those stats.
However, when it comes to performance, Apple has taken a controversial approach with the 14 and 14 Plus. These devices use the A15 Bionic chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 13 lineup. This is a first from Apple. Even when the new iPhone seems identical to the previous year, the chip has always been new. You could buy the latest iPhone knowing it was faster than the previous model, and the new hardware was the reason. This is what you pay for.
This year, however, that’s not the case, which makes the 14 an interesting sale – if you’re rocking the iPhone 13, it’s not a tempting offer. If your iPhone is older than this, it might seem better to buy the cheaper 13. It could very well be, but let’s take a look at some of the other new features first before we make that call.
While the A15 chip may be the same, the cameras are improved. The 12-megapixel main camera has a larger sensor than last year, with an af/1.5 aperture that lets in 49% more light. 14 also comes with the Photonic Engine, which launches Deep Fusion earlier than ever. This means that it receives more data, which it then uses to create more detailed images. Apple has also improved low-light performance, which is always welcome.
However, my favorite addition to the camera is the selfie camera as Apple has finally added autofocus. We used to be stuck with fixed focus on all iPhones, but now the TrueDepth camera can follow focus when paired with an f/1.9 aperture lens. My second favorite camera addition is Action Mode, a new video stabilization feature that looks great, at least in Apple’s demos. If it works the way they say it will be a game changer for home cinema and filmmakers alike. Speaking of video, cinematic mode now supports 24 frames per second.
In a move I didn’t expect, Apple killed the SIM tray, and with it, the SIM card. Now everything is eSIM, which, as we said , is good.
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also come with Crash Detection, a new Apple feature that uses a high dynamic range gyroscope to detect when you’re in a crash. Crash Detection communicates with emergency services, reports your location and alerts your emergency contacts on your behalf. This feature is also new to the Apple Watch Series 8, and if you have an iPhone 14 and Series 8, they will work together to give you the help you need.
Another great safety feature is Emergency SOS via satellite, which fires your emergency SOS via satellites instead of cell towers. This is huge in areas with little or no cell coverage. It will even tell you where to point your phone so you can always target the satellite.
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus start at $799 and $899, respectively, and are available in five colors: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red. They are not cheap, and they certainly represent an iterative upgrade. You might call them iPhone 13S if Apple still made “S” phones, but even the iPhone S had new chips every year.
However, there are new features here. Photos and videos will look better on the 14th and you won’t have to spend $1,099 on a 6.7-inch iPhone anymore.
iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are the best phones
The benefits this year are great. Not only do they have most of the great features mentioned above, but they improve upon them as well. Well, you would expect them to if Apple decides to stick the “Pro” name on them. That’s what makes these new iPhones work.
The biggest change right away is in the TrueDepth camera. The recess is no more. We now have a “Dynamic Island” ( so Apple), which is a tablet cutout that takes up less screen real estate. At least until you switch to different alerts and notifications.
I won’t lie: I really like this feature. Of course, it would have been nice to do without the notch, but to be fair, Apple has done a great job implementing these dynamic alerts. The notch widens and narrows depending on what’s happening on your iPhone: playing music, GPS direction, changing audio sources, whatever you have. In addition, if required, Dynamic Island can be split into two areas, giving you even more information at a glance.
Like the 14 and 14 Plus, the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max feature 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The 14 Pro has a resolution of 2556 x 1179 at 460 ppi, while the 14 Pro Max has a display with a resolution of 2796 x 1290 at 460 ppi. These displays are bright , typically hitting 1600 nits and a whopping 2000 nits with HDR content. Don’t forget to wear sunglasses.
Apple has finally added an Always-On display to the Pro this year. This technology takes advantage of the very low refresh rate displays of these iPhones, allowing iOS to leave data on the display without draining the battery too much. This AOD is pretty good too, not only does it show the time, notifications, and iOS 16 difficulties, it also shows your wallpaper. Basically, the entire display stays on, just dimmed.
Battery life is also great, according to Apple’s odd video playback figures of course at 23 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro and 29 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Max score is odd considering it’s three hours longer than the 14 Plus, but Apple calls the latter the best battery in an iPhone. Maybe it’s because Apple rates the Plus at 100 hours of audio playback and the Pro Max at 95? Who knows. This is just more proof that we need independent reviewers to test the batteries on these things.
Oh what is it? A new iPhone with a new chip? Well, isn’t that just… okay. Yes, only professionals will get the A16 Bionic chip this year, but it’s a worthy upgrade. This chip is made up of 16 billion transistors and is the first Apple chip to be made using the 4nm process. In short, things are on fire. As with every new Apple silicon chip, this is the best SoC ever in an iPhone.
But it’s in the cameras that these Pro iPhones really shine. The 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max feature a 48 MP main camera with an ƒ/1.78 aperture and a quad sensor. This sensor is 65% larger than the 13 Pro, allowing Apple to add a 2x zoom option with what they call “optical quality”. You can now select 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom on both the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. Apple ProRAW is now also available at 48MP. Judging by the Apple samples, professionals take bad photos.
Don’t forget that, aside from the obvious iPhone 14 feature, the Pro comes with all the great options I mentioned above, including the action mode and photon engine.
The 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max start at $999 and $1,099 respectively, which is actually worth considering. There have been rumors that Apple has raised the prices of the Pro this year, but thankfully that’s not the case. The 14 Pro starts at the same price as the iPhone X in 2017, $1,207.49 (inflation-adjusted). They are also available in four color options: Deep Purple, Gold, Silver and Space Black.
So which new iPhone should you choose?
I generally recommend the cheapest iPhone you can stomach. Even the cheapest iPhones do most of what you want from your iPhone, and your wallet will thank you. And that mindset is still true here: The iPhone 14, as it is, will serve you well. It has a great display, fantastic cameras, a fast (if only a year old) A15 chip, and will be a solid iPhone for the money. However, I must say, the positives this year are good. Really good. They may cost more, but you get more for the money. You get a new chip, even better cameras, even brighter displays, and a new Dynamic Island (not a major feature, of course, but it’s so cool ).
If your budget allows, I would cautiously point you to the 14 Pro, but only if your budget allows. If you only have $800 to spend on an iPhone, the 14 would be a great choice. However, if that’s still too much, I suggest dropping 14 and finding a good deal on 13. It’s the same chip, after all, so it’ll probably be supported until 14 and you’re bound to save some serious money.
So these are my initial thoughts based on these phones on paper . It’s worth waiting for hands-on experience from reviewers before making the last call yourself. If possible, go to your local Apple Store or tech store and try the phones for yourself when they’re available. Of course, this can be tricky to do if pre-orders start in just two days, but I trust in your patience.