How the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus compare to the Pro models — and the iPhone 13

It’s official: the iPhone 14 is here. After months of leaks and speculation, Apple formally announced the latest addition to its smartphone lineup during its “Far Out” event on Wednesday, where the company also gave us a glimpse of the rumored Apple Watch Ultra, a new Apple Watch SE, and the second generation AirPods Pro.

Apple’s new iPhone 14 series consists of iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Pre-orders for all phones will begin on September 9, with the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max scheduled to arrive on September 16. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Plus won’t be available until October 7.

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature a number of changes to the iPhone lineup, including emergency satellite messaging and better battery life, while retaining Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset. The premium iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, also tout the aforementioned satellite functionality, plus a new 48MP main camera, an always-on display, and even a notch replacement that shows real-time notifications.

However, since each phone differs so much in terms of features and prices (the entry-level iPhone 14 starts at $799), you may be wondering which model is right for you. To help you understand Apple’s crowded lineup, we’ve rounded up and compared the specs of each model (along with last year’s iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini). And while we haven’t formally reviewed the iPhone 14 just yet, we’ve posted our initial hands-on impressions if you want a closer look at Apple’s next flagships.

Photo by Allison Johnson/The Verge

New features, battery life and more

Regardless of which iPhone 14 model you buy, there are some changes and features that apply across the board. US models, for example, no longer have a physical SIM tray, instead using eSIM, which shouldn’t affect those from a major carrier, but could be a hurdle for some carriers. Plus, the entire iPhone 14 lineup runs on iOS 16 out of the box, so you’ll be able to, for example, edit sent messages and add widgets to your lock screen no matter which phone you buy.

All new phones will also support Emergency SOS via satellite starting in November. This will make it possible to send messages through communication satellites when you don’t have a cellular signal. While it is a premium service, those who purchase an iPhone 14 model will be able to use the feature for free for two years. Additionally, each phone in the iPhone 14 lineup, as well as the Apple Watch Series 8, offers the ability to automatically connect you to emergency services if it detects you’ve been involved in a car accident.

Image: apple

However, that is where many of the similarities end. Aside from price, all phones vary in terms of battery life and size. The iPhone 14, for example, starts at $799, but for $100 more you can buy the iPhone 14 Plus, which comes with a larger 6.7-inch screen and longer battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus offers up to 26 hours of video playback on paper, unlike the iPhone 14, which tops out at 20 hours. Interestingly, the battery in the iPhone 14 Plus even beats the battery life of the $999 iPhone 14 Pro, which reportedly offers a maximum of 23 hours of video playback. This means that the cheapest iPhone 14 Plus boasts a battery life second only to the $1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max, which offers up to 29 hours.

Image: apple

Similarities abound

In other ways, though, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus aren’t that different. Both use last year’s A15 Bionic chipset and share the same dual-camera system, consisting of a new ultra-wide camera and a 12-megapixel main shooter. Both also feature a new 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera with autofocus that can capture group photos from a greater distance. Apple also claims it’s improved low-light image quality by 49 percent and made night mode up to twice as fast, something we’ve yet to test in practice. Each phone in the iPhone 14 lineup also features Apple’s new Action Mode, which should stabilize video while you’re recording the same way a gimbal would. All models also feature a cinematic mode that can record in 4K resolution at 30fps and 4K at 24fps.

Photo by Allison Johnson/The Verge

However, if you’re looking for a more powerful camera system, look to the iPhone 14 Pro line. While the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro is lighter and smaller than the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, they offer the same three-camera system and 48MP main camera, which is the first time we’ve seen such a sensor on an iPhone. . Pro models are also equipped with Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip and a 1TB storage option, which is absent from the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. They also feature an always-on 120Hz high refresh rate ProMotion display that eliminates the notch. Instead, you’ll find a pill-shaped cutout called “Dynamic Island” that can move around and display various notifications, alerts, and activities in real time.

by the numbers

That’s just a glimpse of some of the main differences that separate each model in the iPhone 14 lineup. However, for a more comprehensive breakdown, we’ve rounded up all the relevant specs so you can compare for yourself in the chart below. We’ve even included the latest-gen iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini if ​​you’re thinking of upgrading from one of last year’s models. Although, keep in mind that the iPhone 13 Mini may be the last of its kind.

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