The iPhone 14 offers us a solution to the query that Apple has been determining for years: how a lot of a distinction between the usual and Professional iPhones is required to make somebody spend extra?
Final 12 months we noticed the iPhone 13 Professional create extra separation with its 120Hz ProMotion show, earlier than that the reply has been a little bit extra finite: focussing on components like digicam capabilities whereas protecting some core specs the identical.
This time round, the selection appears to be barely extra nefarious, as Apple widens the hole and makes the selection of iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Professional a lot clearer by hampering any actual progress for the iPhone 14. That’s to not say it is a dangerous cellphone, however there are some issues you need to find out about if you deliver the iPhone 13 into the combo.
| Spec | iPhone 14 | iPhone 13 |
| Display dimension | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Refresh fee | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| CPU | A15 Bionic (present in iPhone 13 Professional) | A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Rear cameras | Twin 12MP cameras (vast and ultra-wide) | Twin 12MP cameras (vast and ultra-wide) |
| Entrance-facing cameras | 12MP TrueDepth digicam f/1.9 aperture | 12MP TrueDepth digicam f/2.2 aperture |
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Worth
The worth stays the identical with the iPhone 14 beginning at $799 (RIP $699 iPhone mini), which falls in keeping with the expectations set by the rumor mill. In the meantime, the bigger iPhone 14 Plus is available in at $100 extra with costs starting at $899.
Now you can pre-order the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus from Apple.com (opens in new tab), with the usual 14 launching on September 16 and the Plus dropping on October 7.
For extra, take a look at the greatest iPhone 14 offers.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Design
Whereas the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max profit from some design tweaks, the usual 14 offers you extra of the identical. Which means an an identical show notch to earlier generations, very comparable dimensions, and that very same diagonal digicam array structure on the bump.
In fact, one huge distinction (actually) is within the type of a bigger iPhone 14 Plus mannequin, which replaces the iPhone mini and gives a giant display mid-range different to the Professional Max.
So, it’s a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it” for the aesthetics of the iPhone 14, however after two generations of the identical look, we might have hoped for a minimum of some updates — perhaps the “pill-and-hole” design of the Professional to freshen issues up a little bit.
Dimensions are largely an identical too, with the iPhone 14 measuring in at 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches with a weight of 6.07 ounces — identical dimension however barely lighter than the outgoing iPhone 13 (6.10 ounces), which suggests it ought to match into your present case.
Clearly, the Max is bigger at 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches, and is heavier too at 7.16 ounces.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Show
Sticking rigidly to its weapons, Apple is protecting the identical 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR show that you simply noticed within the iPhone 13 — with 1,200-nit peak brightness, HDR, a large colour gamut, Haptic Contact, and the identical 60Hz refresh fee.
I get that because of the contact sampling fee and smoothness of the iOS graphical interface, that is the smoothest feeling 60Hz on the market, however with the trade hitting 120Hz in telephones far cheaper than this, that is getting past excusable.
In fact, the brand new entity is the iPhone 14 Plus, which comes with a 6.7-inch show — the identical because the Professional Max iPhone, however with that very same slower refresh fee.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Processor
The chipset has been a controversial speaking level for some time now, as rumors had circulated that Apple was going to remain the course with its pre-existing A15 Bionic chipset, whereas the Professional benefitted from the innovative A16 Bionic.
It seems the rumors have been just about true, making this the primary 12 months that new iPhone fashions are going to have completely different internals. Being trustworthy, I’ve bought blended emotions about this.
As you’ve seen over the previous 12 months within the likes of our iPhone 13 evaluation, the A15 Bionic is a monster of a smartphone chip — packing spectacular energy, graphical capabilities, and powerful energy administration.
Plus, that is the model of the chip you’ll discover within the iPhone 13 Professional, which means you get an extra GPU core and as much as 25% higher graphics efficiency.
However you possibly can’t assist feeling a little bit let down that you simply’re not getting the anticipated improve, particularly in telephones at this worth.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Cameras
The digicam setup stays largely an identical throughout the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13: twin 12MP sensors with a regular vast and ultra-wide lens. Identical sensor shift know-how on the principle, and the identical 100% focus pixels to get good, crisp photographs.
There are a few key variations although, which come all the way down to some small {hardware} tweaks and improved software program pictures. First, the principle digicam sensor sports activities smaller 1.9-micron pixels and an f/1.5 aperture — the identical because the iPhone 13 Professional. Translation: higher element and low gentle efficiency.
Second, the 12MP selfie digicam has been up to date with an f/1.9 aperture (identical once more because the iPhone 13 Professional), which permits for higher low gentle pictures.
And third, Apple is bringing over the Photonic engine tech that you simply noticed within the iPhone 14 Professional, which places the Deep Fusion course of earlier within the software program’s work when taking an image for as much as 2.5x higher low gentle efficiency.
I might have favored to see some improvement on this space, like the upper megapixel rely of the 14 Professional. As I mentioned up prime, nevertheless, Apple is eager to depend on that muted response to improve you to the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max.
Nevertheless, as is obvious from our evaluations, the digicam system Apple has created is stellar, paired with some spectacular software program pictures to provide nice photographs in most circumstances.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: Battery life
Nothing has been overtly confirmed by Apple and nothing ever will, as the corporate retains tight lipped about particular battery capability. However the will increase in use time touted within the occasion correlate with a small-but-welcome rumored improve to the battery capability — going up from 3,240mAh to three,279mAh.
In fact, with the bigger 14 Plus comes a far bigger battery than that, with an as much as 25% enhance in longevity over the iPhone 13.
We’ll have to attend for teardown movies to seek out out if its a huge battery, or whether or not it’s one other spectacular piece of software program optimization that’s maximizing each drop of battery life.
Outlook
This 12 months, greater than ever, the newest iPhone is a troublesome promote if you examine the specs. As a result of positive, there are some small iterative updates, however the checklist of similarities has grown fairly significantly with an identical CPU being within the combine.
The phrase “inflation” involves thoughts if you begin to ask why that is the case, however you possibly can’t assist however have a foul style in your mouth for what is actually a reskinned iPhone 13.
Sure, this can nonetheless be the iPhone to get for most individuals, however with no try to deliver some areas in keeping with what Android customers have loved for years in cheaper telephones (a 120Hz refresh fee, for instance), this one could sting.
