The iPhone 14 Pro brings some significant upgrades over its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro. With improvements to the camera, display, and overall performance, the latest Pro model seems enticing. But are those changes worth the extra cost to upgrade from the still-capable 13 Pro?
In this in-depth guide, we’ll compare the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro to reveal all the meaningful differences and help you decide which iPhone Pro model best fits your needs and budget.
iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Side-by-Side Specs
First, let’s overview the core hardware specs and features of each iPhone Pro model:
| Specification | iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion (10-120Hz adaptive), 2000 nits max brightness, Always-On | 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion (10-120Hz), 1200 nits max brightness |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 pixels | 2532 x 1170 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 10-120Hz adaptive | 10-120Hz adaptive |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear Camera | 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12 telephoto + LiDAR scanner | 12MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP telephoto + LiDAR scanner |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Battery Life (Video Playback) | Up to 23 hours | Up to 22 hours |
| Fast Charging | 50% in 30 minutes | 50% in 30 minutes |
| Wireless Charging | MagSafe and Qi wireless charging | MagSafe and Qi wireless charging |
| IP Rating | IP68 water/dust resistance (up to 6 meters, 30 minutes) | IP68 water/dust resistance (up to 6 meters, 30 minutes) |
| 5G Connectivity | 5G (sub‐6 GHz and mmWave) | 5G (sub‐6 GHz and mmWave) |
| Operating System | iOS 16 | Upgradable to iOS 16 |
As you can see from the table, besides a few improvements, the core specs are very similar between the two iPhone Pro generations. Now, let’s dive deeper into the meaningful differences.
Dynamic Island vs. Notch Design
Easily the most visually noticeable change coming to the iPhone 14 Pro is the new “Dynamic Island” at the top of the display. This pill-shaped cutout area replaces the larger “notch” housing the front camera and Face ID components.
By integrating the camera cutout into iOS 16 as an interactive software element, the Dynamic Island expands and morphs into different shapes and sizes based on which apps and alerts are in use. This provides more display real estate for content while enabling new ways to interact with notifications and status indicators.
In contrast, the iPhone 13 Pro retains the familiar wide notch we’ve seen since the iPhone X. While not as intrusive, the notch does occupy more horizontal space than the Dynamic Island.
So if maximizing viewing area is important to you, the iPhone 14 Pro certainly triumphs in terms of modernized, adaptive screen design. But otherwise, the notch versus island difference is mostly an aesthetic choice.
Brighter Display with Always-On
Although keeping the same 6.1-inch OLED panel size, the iPhone 14 Pro steps up display performance even further from the already excellent 13 Pro.
The newer model can achieve a maximum brightness of up to 2000 nits, delivering better outdoor visibility. More significantly, the 14 Pro introduces an Always-On display for the first time ever on an iPhone.
Taking advantage of the power efficiency afforded by ProMotion’s adaptive refresh rates, the Always-On feature keeps part of the screen active to show widgets, notifications, wallpaper and more while in sleep mode. This allows glancing essential info without needing to wake or tap your phone.
The iPhone 13 Pro still has best-in-class display quality with up to 1200 nits max brightness. But if you want the ultimate iPhone screen experience thus far, the 14 Pro wins out with its Always-On capabilities rounding out the package.
Upgraded A16 Bionic Outperforms A15 Chip
Driving increased performance across the entire iPhone 14 Pro is Apple’s latest proprietary chipset, the A16 Bionic. Built on an enhanced 5nm process compared to the A15’s 5nm node, benchmarks confirm the A16 has both faster processing and better power efficiency.
While still formidable with its 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, the A15 can’t quite keep pace with the improved silicon design implemented for A16 to optimize speeds and battery life. So expect snappier loading apps, switching between tasks, gaming visuals and so forth on the 14 Pro.
But truthfully, both processors have computing muscle to spare for typical phone use cases. Unless seriously pushing the limits via intensive creative workloads, the 13 Pro’s performance won’t leave most people wanting either.
48MP Main Camera Captures More Detail
The iPhone 14 Pro’s rear camera array retains the same 12MP ultrawide and 12MP telephoto lenses as before. Megapixels aren’t everything, and those secondary sensors still incorporate Apple’s best photography technology like sensor-shift optical stabilization.
However, the main wide-angle camera gets a major resolution boost, leaping from 12MP on the iPhone 13 Pro to a whopping 48MP sensor here. As a result, the 14 Pro camera can capture far more fine details, especially when shooting in full 48MP rather than standard 12MP with pixel binning activated.
The higher 48MP resolution enables sharper, more realistic images with finer texture definition. Digital zoom also looks cleaner by cropping from the extra megapixels. Ultimately, discerning photographers who value image quality over sheer megapixel count will appreciate what the 14 Pro’s camera can achieve.
But casual shooters may not notice huge gains in practice over the already superb photography delivered by iPhone 13 Pro. Video recording capabilities also stay mostly equal between generations.
Enhanced Crash Detection Safety
Among the newest health and safety capabilities introduced with the Apple iPhone 14 and 14 Pro line is improved Crash Detection. When driving, the phone can now sense severe auto collisions and automatically dial emergency services if you’re unresponsive.
This builds upon existing Fall Detection on previous iPhones that would similarly call for urgent help after dangerous falls. By adding instant crash notifications powered by motion sensors and AI analysis, Apple has further elevated their phones’ emergency alert usefulness.
Since launching after the iPhone 13 Pro, this model doesn’t get the advanced Crash Detection feature. However, if you drive often, upgrading to the 14 Pro provides additional peace of mind knowing you have that extra layer of collision protection and notification.
iOS 16 Software Similarities
Coming preloaded with iOS 16, the base operating system experience feels nearly identical between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro after updating. Most interface elements remain the same, besides some 14 Pro exclusive optimizations for Dynamic Island and Always-On display.
Both iPhones benefit from helpful iOS 16 enhancements like customizable lock screens, intelligent dictation via server-side processing, improved Apple Maps, and the useful Safety Check setting for domestic abuse victims.
Given Apple’s excellent long-term software update support, you can expect at least 4-5 more years of the latest iOS versions on either device. So OS functionality shouldn’t sway your buying choice much between two very capable smartphones.
Pricing: 14 Pro Costs More as Expected
With its recent September 2022 launch, the iPhone 14 Pro carries a higher starting price than predecessor models still on sale. Although stock clearance sales on the 13 Pro may happen for a limited time. Here’s how MSRP pricing compares between equivalently configured models:
- iPhone 14 Pro 128GB: $999
- iPhone 13 Pro 128GB: $999 (Now around ~$900 discounted)
- iPhone 14 Pro 256GB: $1099
- iPhone 13 Pro 256GB: $1099 (Now around ~$1000 discounted)
- iPhone 14 Pro 512GB: $1299
- iPhone 13 Pro 512GB: $1299 (Now around ~$1200 discounted)
- iPhone 14 Pro 1TB: $1499
- iPhone 13 Pro 1TB: $1499 (Now around ~$1400 discounted)
At full MSRP, iPhone 14 Pro models with equivalent storage cost the same as the preceding generation did at launch. However, as retailers liquidate inventory of the now discontinued 13 Pro SKUs, you can grab those at temporarily lowered prices in some cases.
Just keep in mind that special sales pricing won’t last forever before leftover 13 Pro stock sells out. So determine whether the iPhone 14 Pro upgrades merit paying full retail price for you, or if scoring a deal on the still very capable 13 Pro makes better overall value.
5 Key Differences Summarized
To recap the most important changes the iPhone 14 Pro brings compared to the previous iPhone 13 Pro:
- Dynamic Island display cutout replaces larger notch
- Brighter always-on OLED screen with 2000 nits peak
- Faster A16 Bionic chip improves performance
- 48MP main camera captures more detail
- Enhanced crash detection safety capabilities
Besides those highlights, much of the core experience stays similar between two top-tier iPhone models. So you can’t go wrong picking either one in 2023 based on your budget and desired features.
The Verdict: Which iPhone Pro is Better For You?
The iPhone 14 Pro stands out as the best iPhone available thanks to impressive upgrades like its 48MP camera and seamlessly integrated always-on display. For shoppers who simply want Apple’s latest and greatest device with few compromises, grabbing the 14 Pro is a no-brainer.
However, balancing price versus small feature differences, the iPhone 13 Pro remains an outstanding device as well. Power users upgrading yearly may appreciate the 14 Pro’s photography and display refinements. But average consumers coming from much older iPhones may not perceive huge real-world changes that justify paying premium pricing.
Ultimately, choose the iPhone 14 Pro if you:
- Want the newest iPhone innovations and best components
- Regularly capture important photos to print or edit
- Need maximum display brightness for outside viewing
- Find always-on screens convenient for quickly glancing notifications
But the iPhone 13 Pro still satisfies if you:
- Prefer saving money on clearance deals
- Mainly use your phone for chatting, browsing, navigation, media
- Don’t require ultimate iPhone performance and camera quality
- Are upgrading from a much older generation iPhone
Hopefully this detailed comparison has helped demonstrate the key pros and cons separating Apple’s latest iPhone Pro flagship from its previous generation. Analyze your personal smartphone needs and budget to pick which Pro model works smarter for you.
