Apple released the iPhone 14 line toward the end of 2022, which consisted of an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Each of these brought improvements to previous models while introducing a lower-cost 6.7-inch Plus model in place of the iPhone 13 mini from 2021.
However, the line between the regular and Pro models blurred more here, with the Dynamic Island being exclusive to the 14 Pro and Pro Max, which replaced the notch in favor of an interactive area where apps could showcase information on it.
There was also a 48MP camera arriving in the 14 Pro and Pro Max, which could only be fully used when taking photos in .RAW format. However, the differences between the iPhone 13 Pro were substantial.
If your contract is almost up, or you want to treat yourself toward the Easter holidays, we’ve put together this short guide for you to help decide between the four best iPhones so far.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Breaking it all down
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The differences between the two models are small, but significant – as this comparison guide lays out for you.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max | iPhone 14/14 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Ceramic Shield front, Surgical-grade stainless steel | Ceramic Shield front, Aerospace-grade aluminum |
| Colors | Deep Purple, Gold, Space Black, Silver | Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT)RED |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Display | iPhone 14 Pro: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display; iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Display | iPhone 14: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display; iPhone 14 Plus: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Display |
| ProMotion | Yes | No |
| Back camera | Pro camera system: 48MP Main, Ultra Wide, Telephoto | Advanced dual-camera system 12MP Main Ultra Wide |
| Front camera | Advanced dual-camera system 12MP Main Ultra Wide | Advanced dual-camera system 12MP Main Ultra Wide |
| SOS emergency | Yes | Yes |
| Crash alert | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Island | Yes | No |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Battery (video-playback) | iPhone 14 Pro: up to 23 hours; iPhone 14 Pro Max: up to 29 hours | iPhone 14: up to 20 hours; iPhone 14 Plus: up to 26 hours |
| Always-On display | Yes | No |
| Size | iPhone 14 Pro: 5.81 by 2.81 by 0.31 inches; iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6.33 by 3.05 by 0.31 inches | iPhone 14: 5.78 by 2.82 by 0.31 inches; iPhone 14 Plus: 6.33 by 3.07 by 0.31 inches |
| Weight | iPhone 14 Pro: 7.27 ounces; iPhone 14 Pro Max: 8.47 ounces | iPhone 14: 6.07 ounces; iPhone 14 Plus: 7.16 ounces |
| Starting price | iPhone 14 Pro: $999; iPhone 14 Pro Max: $1,099 | iPhone 14: $699; iPhone 14 Plus: $799 |
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro share many similarities, such as the overall design, apart from Dynamic Island on the Pro models. There’s a Ceramic Shield front, water resistance that goes as deep as six meters for up to 30 minutes, 128GB storage options, and MagSafe charging.
Both models also include the new SOS emergency and crash detection safety features. However, the most significant differences are the display and camera options.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Display
Interestingly, the displays found on these four newest iPhones are the same despite the price differences. Each one has a Super Retina XDR display that uses OLED technology, however, some differences exist when it comes to pixels.
For example, the iPhone 14 comes with a 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display with a 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution of 460 PPI (Pixel Per Inch). Contrast this with the 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display on the iPhone 14 Pro, which has a 2556-by-1179-pixel resolution at 460 PPI.
Meanwhile, there’s the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus with a 2778-by-1284-pixel resolution at 458 PPI and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max with a 2796-by-1290-pixel resolution at 460 PPI.
Essentially, you’re going to get a great screen on all of these models regardless.
The iPhone 14 Pro series is the only one with an Always-On display and a Dynamic Island, alongside ProMotion, which allows the display to run at a faster and slower framerate, depending on how you’re using the device at any time.
The Dynamic Island is unique to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, where it’s at the top of the display, replacing the notch. This is also where the front-facing camera is also housed. Dynamic Island combines hardware and software to create a place where you will find alerts from your favorite apps such as Music, News+, and more.
The alerts are real-time and interactive, so if you want to skip to a different track in Apple Music for example, it’s just a tap away on the Island.
This is only available on the Pro series for now, with the regular iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still using the notch.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Cameras
One of the most significant differences over the years between the regular iPhone and the iPhone Pro models has been the cameras. That’s again on display when looking at the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. On the former, you’ll find a dual camera system with 12MP Main and Ultra Wide lenses. On the latter, Apple has included a next-generation “Pro” camera system with a 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto lens. It also offers second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
Apple has always been one to showcase its latest camera efforts in the newest iPhones, and it didn’t stop for the iPhone 14 models, the Pro ones in particular. While they’re essentially the same compared to the iPhone 13 with iPhone 14, it’s a different ball game when it comes to the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
There is now a 48MP Main camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, and a 12MP Telephoto lens – however, in order to take photos in 48MP, you have to switch the image type to the RAW format – otherwise, you’ll be getting the same 12MP shots as before.
The front-facing cameras on both series are much more similar though. You’ll find a 12MP TrueDepth camera with a Retina Flash and an all-new Photonic Engine across all four models, which means that you’ll be able to take better selfies in low-light environments.
When it comes to video, not much has changed here compared to 2021’s iPhone 13 line, surprisingly, while the regular iPhone 14 models don’t include ProRes video recording, which is only available on Pro devices.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Which should you buy?
The iPhone 14 line will be the best iPhone for most people, especially for those who have been waiting for the Plus model to make a return. They’re less expensive, come in brighter colors, and have many of the same excellent (and new) features found on the Pro models.
However, if you want the latest and greatest in Apple’s camera efforts, and you’ve long been hoping for the notch to disappear, you can’t go wrong with the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max.
iPhone 14 Pro review: The year of the Pro
A one-way trip to Dynamic Island.
For
- Blazing fast performance with A16
- 48-megapixel main camera with triple lens camera system
- Dynamic Island is a useful notch replacement
- Up to 1TB of storage space
- Finally has an Always-On display
Against
- Expensive
- Deep Purple could have been more…purple
iPhone 14 Review: A great phone that’s hard to recommend
Do you really need the 14 when the 14 Pro is available?
For
- + Improved A15 chip
- + Slightly better battery life
- + Improved cameras
- + Photonic Engine
- + Crash Detection and SOS via Satellite
Against
- – Limited upgrades over iPhone 13
- – Glossy back feels cheap and is a fingerprint magnet
- – Lacking in hardware over Android rivals
- – 60Hz display in 2023
- – Overshadowed by iPhone 14 Pro
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