Which iPhone 14 Should You Buy?

Apple just announced the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro lines, which means iPhone users have some thinking to do: to upgrade or to not upgrade, and to which model. After all, phones are expensive and you should do your best to make an informed decision before you part with your hard-earned money. Here we break down the differences between all the new iPhones to help clarify any confusion you might have. Note that we haven’t tested the phones yet, so these observations are based primarily on specs and what we’ve experienced with past iPhone models.

How Much Does the iPhone 14 Cost?

Price is one of the first factors you can use to narrow your choices. After all, budget restrictions can eliminate one or more models (or storage variations) from contention. Thankfully (and contrary to some rumors), Apple kept the prices the same as last year, which is helpful in a time of high inflation.

Starting with the iPhone 14, Apple debuted two models: the iPhone 14 and the larger iPhone 14 Plus. The smaller iPhone 14 starts at $799 for the 128GB model and runs as high as $1,099 for the 512GB configuration. The iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 with 128GB of storage and goes up to $1,199 for the 512GB version.

Moving over to the Pro models, the iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,099. You can spend up to $1,499 on the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro or an eye-watering $1,599 on the 1TB Pro Max.

If you mostly stream media online and use iCloud to store your stuff, 128GB should be sufficient physical storage. If you like to keep your music, photos, and video local, consider upgrading to one of the models with more storage.

Hands On With the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Lineup

How Are the iPhone 14 Displays Different?

Determining how much time you spend staring at your phone all day can help you decide which screen size is right for you.

Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro come with 6.1-inch screens, while the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature 6.7-inch screens. The larger screen size might be better for heavy media users.

You get a Super Retina XDR display regardless of which model you choose. However, only the Pro and Pro Max get Apple’s always-on display, which shows you information at a glance without touching or unlocking your phone. This is possible because the Pro and Pro Max screens can run at a refresh rate as low as 1Hz, which limits potential battery drain.

Moreover, the Pro and Pro Max have Apple’s ProMotion technology that dynamically changes the display’s refresh rate (up to 120Hz) based on what is on screen. This makes the Pro models better for gaming.

iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (right)
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)

The Pro and Pro Max also feature slightly brighter screens, with an outdoor peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which Apple says is twice as bright as the screen of the iPhone 13 Pro.

The final screen feature that makes the Pro and Pro Max stand out is the Dynamic Island, which replaces the notch on the iPhone 14. This pill-shaped area around the selfie and Face ID cameras provides notifications and other quick pieces of information while you use the phone.

The always-on and Dynamic Island features are a big selling point in favor of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, but if neither of those sound like a big deal to you, the base iPhone 14 or the larger iPhone 14 Plus are perfectly viable alternatives in terms of display technology.

How Big is the iPhone 14?

We have a lot of stuff to carry and only so many pockets in which to carry it. As such, the physical size of a phone is a necessary part of the decision process.

The base iPhone 14 measures 5.78 by 2.82 by 0.31 inches (HWD), while the larger iPhone 14 Plus comes in at 6.33 by 3.07 by 0.31 inches. Compared with the iPhone 13 (5.78 by 2.82 by 0.30 inches), the only real change is a slightly thicker chassis.

iPhone 14 (left) and iPhone 14 Plus (right)
(Credit: Tim Gideon)

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro measures 5.81 by 2.81 by 0.31 inches and the iPhone 14 Pro Max arrives at 6.33 by 3.05 by 0.31 inches. Last year’s iPhone 13 Pro (5.78 by 2.82 by 0.30 inches) and Pro Max (6.33 by 3.07 by 0.30 inches (HWD) were about the same size.

All of the new options are significantly larger than the iPhone 13 mini (5.18 by 2.53 by 0.30 inches).

The size (and weight) differences between this year’s and last year’s models are negligible across the board, so you should stick with whichever model felt comfortable to you in the iPhone 13 lineup (though iPhone 13 mini users need to make peace with a larger phone).

How Do the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Cameras Compare?

As is typical, Apple spent a lot of time discussing the cameras on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. In a surprise to no one, the company reserved the newest and best camera features for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

The Pro and Pro Max are getting the latest version of Apple’s Pro camera system, which features three lenses. The highlight is a 48MP main camera with quad-pixel technology that can deliver full 48MP RAW images and enables a new 2x optical mode. Both models also have a new 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 12MP telephoto camera. Apple cites improvements to all three, including up to three times better low-light performance on the ultra-wide camera and double the low-light performance on the main and telephoto cameras.

Although the Pro cameras beat those of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, Apple didn’t skimp on the more affordable phones. Those models still get improved processing for the 12MP wide and ultra-wide cameras.

iPhone 14 Pro
(Credit: Tim Gideon)

All models get Apple’s new Action Mode for video. This allows you to capture 2.8K 60fps gimbal-steady video without the actual gimbal. The Pro camera also sees improvements to Cinematic Mode, with both 4K recording at 24 and 30fps.

If you’re a photography junkie, getting the Pro or the Pro Max is a no-brainer: The 3x telephoto camera, 48MP main camera with quad-pixel technology, and improvements to cinematic mode are all appealing features. However, if you just want to capture nice-looking photos and don’t care about having the absolute best image quality, the iPhone 14 should be a perfectly solid alternative.

What’s the Battery Life of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro?

When we review the phones, we plan to put them through our usual battery tests, but for now, we can provide only Apple’s official estimates. For the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the company says to expect up to 23 and 29 hours of video playback, respectively. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus should get up to 20 and 26 hours of video playback, respectively.

If you’re concerned with getting every last minute of battery life from your phone, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is likely your best bet, though the iPhone 14 Plus isn’t too far behind. However, all models should offer noticeably better battery life than their predecessors.

Hands On With the Apple iPhone 14 Lineup

Which iPhone 14 Is the Most Powerful?

One major difference between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models is their chipset. Apple includes the new A16 chip in the Pro devices, while the regular models us an optimized version of the 2021-era A15.

The A16 chip features an accelerated 5-core GPU with 50% more memory bandwidth; Apple calls it the fastest chip available in a smartphone. If having the fastest speed and best performance is essential to you, we recommend shelling out the extra money for the Pro or Pro Max models. However, most users should be more than happy with the performance of the A15 chip in the iPhone 14 because it’s still very fast and runs iOS quite well.

What Else Is New With the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro?

Apple talked a lot about the iPhone 14’s new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, and, thankfully, all iPhone 14 models get access to it. Additionally, Apple is offering everyone who purchases the iPhone 14 a two-year subscription to these satellite features for free.

iPhone 14 Pro
(Credit: Tim Gideon)

Apple also described another change as a feature, though you might see it as a drawback: All US iPhone 14 models only support eSIM technology, which means you can’t use a physical SIM card with the new phones. If the lack of a physical SIM slot is a deal breaker for you, you should stick with the iPhone 13 lineup, which is still available for sale. Just keep in mind that you might have to make the move one day; eSIM seems to be the future of the cellular industry.

Which iPhone 14 Is Right for You?

The best iPhone 14 model is obviously going to vary from person to person. But generally speaking, the standard iPhone 14 appears to offer a good balance of performance and price. It’s also the logical upgrade for any iPhone mini owners, as it’s the smallest device in the new lineup. The iPhone 14 Plus looks to be a good value for fans of large phones who don’t need the extra features of the Pro Max. Of course, power users should opt for the Pro or Pro Max to get the new A16 chip, always-on display, Display Island, and better cameras.

Whichever you choose, stay tuned for our follow-up iPhone coverage and reviews over the coming days and weeks.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Event Supercut