The iPhone 14 lineup, released in September 2022, represents Apple‘s latest and most advanced iPhone models yet. As with previous generations, the iPhone 14 series includes four distinct models: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Each brings its own set of specs, features, and prices. This guide provides an in-depth comparison of all four iPhone 14 types to help you determine the best model for your needs and budget.
Overview of iPhone 14 Models
Before diving into a detailed feature-by-feature comparison, here is a high-level overview of the 2022 iPhone 14 series models:
iPhone 14 – The base iPhone 14 model succeeds last year‘s iPhone 13 with some incremental upgrades, including an improved A15 Bionic chip, longer battery life, and better rear cameras with Photonic Engine. The design remains largely unchanged from previous generations. Starts at $799.
iPhone 14 Plus – Identical to the base iPhone 14 but with a larger 6.7-inch display (up from 6.1 inches) for more immersive viewing and longer battery life. The Plus model also gets a higher price tag, starting at $899.
iPhone 14 Pro – Steps up to Apple‘s upgraded A16 Bionic chip, an always-on display, the pill-shaped "Dynamic Island" notch replacement, and a 48MP camera system that enables new features like ProRAW capture at 48MP and 2x optical zoom. Prices start at $999.
iPhone 14 Pro Max – Combines the best tech of the iPhone 14 Pro with an expansive 6.7-inch display. Expect all of the upgrades in the iPhone 14 Pro plus longer battery life in this larger size option. The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099.
Now let‘s compare these four iPhone 14 models across some key specifications and features.
Design and Display
The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus look virtually identical to the iPhone 13 series. They feature flat aluminum edges, a glass back, the wide notch at the top of the display housing the Face ID TrueDepth camera, an IP68 water resistance rating, and a Lightning charging port. They also come in the same set of five color options as their predecessors.
The Pro models represent Apple’s biggest design overhaul to the iPhone. They swap the wide notch for a unique pill + hole-punch cutout containing an advanced camera system as well as the TrueDepth sensor for securely unlocking the phone with Face ID. The outer aluminum frame also transitions to titanium for an even more premium feel.
Here’s how the displays, dimensions, and weights compare across the four iPhone 14 models:
iPhone 14: 6.1-inch OLED display (1170 x 2532 pixels), 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches, 6.07 ounces
iPhone 14 Plus: 6.7-inch OLED display (1284 x 2778 pixels), 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches, 7.16 ounces
iPhone 14 Pro: 6.1-inch OLED display (1179 x 2556 pixels), 5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches, 7.27 ounces
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6.7-inch OLED display (1292 x 2796 pixels), 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches, 8.47 ounces
The phones equipped with “Plus” and “Max” in their names naturally feature noticeably larger displays than their smaller counterparts. But screen technology still remains uniform across the iPhone 14 lineup, with all four models utilizing Apple’s exceptional Super Retina XDR OLED panels that showcase deep blacks, crisp details, HDR support, and excellent outdoor visibility.
However, only the Pro series benefits from Apple’s next-generation ProMotion technology with refresh rates up to 120Hz for buttery smooth scrolling, animations, and interactions. These remain fixed at 60Hz on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Another perk unique to the iPhone 14 Pro models is the new Always-On display mode. Using a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel and smart deactivation of individual pixels, the Pro’s screens can stay illuminated to always showcase glanceable widgets and notifications, all without excessively draining your battery.
Performance
Traditionally, Apple synchronizes significant performance leaps with its “Pro” and “Max” iPhones. The iPhone 14 series holds true to this cadence.
The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus continue utilizing the existing A15 Bionic system-on-chip first introduced with last year’s iPhone 13 generation. Both models come with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM. Still, thanks to further refinements and optimizations, everyday speed and fluidity see minor improvements over their predecessors.
In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max deliver more considerable performance jumps by employing Apple’s brand-new A16 Bionic processor created using a cutting-edge 4nm manufacturing process. The 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU push the boundaries of what’s possible on a smartphone today, enabling desktop-class power and buttery responsiveness across even the most demanding applications. Supporting the A16 is faster 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM that can transfer data at up to 51.2GBps.
For storage, iPhone 14 base models are available with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB capacities. But the Pro devices bump this up to 1TB for ample local space to store your growing photo libraries, 4K videos, and numerous productivity, work, finance, education, and entertainment apps.
As for connectivity support, all iPhone 14 devices contain a comprehensive selection of cellular and wireless radios:
- 5G mobile data (sub-6GHz and mmWave flavors depending on model)
- Wi-Fi 6 for speedy access up to 1.2Gbps on compatible home and office networks
- Bluetooth 5.3 for accessories and headphones
- NFC for Apple Pay transactions and door badge readers
- Ultra Wideband support for precise nearby interactions
- Dual eSIM + physical nanoSIM slots (eSIM only for US models)
Cameras
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus retain the familiar dual 12MP camera array carried over from previous iPhone generations. But thanks to continuous computational photography innovations like Smart HDR 4 and Apple‘s new Photonic Engine, these snap high-quality photos and videos that are extraordinarily rich and vibrant. You still get treats like Night mode, Deep Fusion processing, optical image stabilization, 100x digital zoom, and more across both rear sensors:
- Wide: ƒ/1.5 aperture, 1.9μm pixels, sensor-shift optical stabilization
- Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view
On the front above their displays sits a fast ƒ/1.9 aperture 12MP TrueDepth camera that leverages over 100 facial tracking points to power Face ID authentication and lovely-looking Portrait mode selfies. All lenses can capture photos in Apple ProRAW format for additional creative control during editing.
Over on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, mobile photography receives a momentous upgrade courtesy of a radically overhauled camera array. The main wide sensor resolves 12MP frames as standard but switches to output immense 48MP shots in a new mode aptly called ProRAW. This gives professionals and hobbyists alike tremendous overhead for cropping edits, noise reduction, and additional detail. Further, a quad-pixel sensor with ƒ/1.78 aperture pulls in plenty of light to keep noise low even in dark environments. The phones leverage pixel binning techniques to fuse data from multiple adjacent photodiodes on the sensor into one composite pixel. Clever processing then helps construct a final 12MP image with less noise and richer colors than otherwise attainable from smaller sensors.
Other rear cameras include a 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom for tighter shots and impressive-looking Portrait perspective effects and a 12MP, 120° ultra-wide option similar to other iPhone 14 models. Photonic Engine boosts all lenses’ low-light capture capabilities as well. Up front, you’ll find the same fast 12MP Selfie camera like on the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.
In terms of video recording, all iPhone 14 models can shoot HDR Dolby Vision content using any rear lens. But only the Pro series uses the advanced new A16 chip to bump this up to 4K resolution at 60 fps (versus 30 fps on the non-Pros) for noticeably cleaner motion quality. You can also edit this high dynamic range footage directly on device with Apple‘s built-in Photos app.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is another area where 2022 iPhone models demonstrate bifurcation between standard and Pro/Max variants:
iPhone 14: Up to 20 hours video playback
iPhone 14 Plus: Up to 26 hours video playback
iPhone 14 Pro: Up to 23 hours video playback
iPhone 14 Pro Max: Up to 29 hours video playback
Unsurprisingly, the largest iPhone 14 with its spacious internal chassis delivers the longest runtimes per charge. But variability aside, all four phones should easily deliver full-day endurance with typical mixed usage spanning web browsing, messaging, and on-demand entertainment streaming.
When it comes time to refuel, every iPhone 14 model supports 20W fast wired charging using USB-PD-compatible adapters and Apple‘s USB-C to Lightning cable. Wireless MagSafe charging hits 15W peaks. Reverse wireless charging is another handy feature whereby you can top up AirPods, an Apple Watch, or other Qi devices simply by placing them on the back of your iPhone 14.
Unique Features and Pricing
Let‘s recap some of the most intriguing capabilities that help distinguish iPhone 14 models as you shop:
iPhone 14: Crash Detection (which can automatically notify emergency services if you’re in a severe car crash), sturdy Ceramic Shield front glass, water/dust resistance. $799+
iPhone 14 Plus: Crash Detection, Ceramic Shield glass, water/dust resistance, superior battery life over base model. $899+
iPhone 14 Pro: Dynamic Island (interactive pill-shaped cutout), Always-On display, 48MP ProRAW photos, 4K HDR video up to 60fps. $999+
iPhone 14 Pro Max: Dynamic Island, Always-On display, 48MP ProRAW photos, 4K HDR up to 60fps, best battery life. $1,099+
When choosing your next iPhone 14, first consider whether you‘ll benefit more from the superior power, screens, and cameras found in the Pro tier or if the affordability and core feature set of the standard models suit your needs just fine. From there, decide if you value the additional screen real estate and endurance provided by Plus and Max models over their smaller equivalents. Let your budget guide you, as well, since incrementally ramping up sizes and capabilities adds anywhere from $100 to $300 to the iPhone 14 family’s baseline $799 starting price.
iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 Comparison
For those currently using an iPhone 13 wondering if they should upgrade to the iPhone 14, here’s a quick rundown of what’s new and improved:
- Faster A16 chip (Pro models only)
- Longer battery life
- Car crash detection safety capabilities
- New 48MP camera and always-on display (Pro models only)
- Dynamic Island cutout replacing notch (Pro models only)
More granularly, standard iPhone 14 models resemble last year’s iPhone 13 both externally and internally but gain a bit more stamina for getting through busier days away from outlets. Pro models showcase more compelling year-over-year enhancements like the Dynamic Island, Always-On display mode, upgraded selfie camera with autofocus, A16 processor, fast-charging brick now included in box, and major main camera resolution boost alongside other lens, sensor, and app-level photography enhancements.
So in summary:
- iPhone 14 -> Consider upgrading from iPhone 13 if you highly value better battery life, otherwise not a necessary year-to-year upgrade
- iPhone 14 Pro -> More compelling upgrades like the Dynamic Island and 48MP camera system make this a stronger upgrade coming from an iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 15 Rumors and Release Date
Looking ahead, rumors already swirl regarding a potential iPhone 15 series release around September 2023. This presumed next generation may deliver even more impactful changes if leaks bear out.
Early iPhone 15 reports indicate:
- The potential replacement of Lightning by a long-awaited switch to USB-C charging
- The death of physical volume and power buttons
- Minimum 256GB base storage configurations
- Expanding Dynamic Island and always-on displays to all models
- Further improvements to battery efficiency
- The possibility of an iPhone 15 Ultra trim above Pro Max
- Of course, the usual annual camera, power, durability, and connectivity enhancements
Until Apple‘s iPhone 15 keynote likely 12 months away, take the above gossip with skepticism. But if you need or strongly want upgraded iPhone capabilities right now in late 2022 and early 2023, the comprehensively improved iPhone 14 series makes a compelling case for ownership with its blend of enhancements paired with continued accessible pricing. Evaluate both standard and Pro models to discover the best balance of financial value, features, and longevity for your personal needs.
