iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Should You Upgrade?

Apple released four new iPhone models this year: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. But, the company also decided to keep two phones from last year: iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. So, if you’re considering an upgrade from iPhone 13 or looking for a new iPhone for the first time in a few years, you probably want to know the differences between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models to see which one is the best option for you. To help you make the right choice, we’ll walk you through the main features by comparing all the models in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 lineups available at the moment in Apple stores.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Specifications

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Size, Display, and Design

The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 look almost identical. They both have the same height (5.78 inches) and width (2.82 inches) with only slight differences in their depth (0.31 inches for the iPhone 14 and 0.30 inches for the iPhone 13) and weight (the iPhone 14 weighs 6.07 ounces, while the iPhone 13 weighs 6.14 ounces). Also, both phones have the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a 2532 x 1170 pixels resolution. And they both have a Ceramic Shield on the front glass, and their cases are made of aluminum. In regards to color, both models come in blue, midnight, starlight, and red (product), with the iPhone 14 also available in purple and the iPhone 13 in green and pink.

When it comes to the sizes of the other models in the iPhone 14 lineup, the iPhone 14 Pro has similar dimensions as the standard iPhone 14, whereas the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max are a bit bigger. This year, there is no iPhone 14 mini since Apple decided to replace the mini version of its iPhone with a bigger Plus version. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, and the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max have a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display. All three models offer a much better resolution than the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 13.

The iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus still have the notch on their display. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max have a pill-shaped cutout called the Dynamic Island – one of the most hyped and significant design changes Apple has made to the new iPhone 14 series, but exclusive to the Pro models. Also, the iPhone 14 Pro models have an Always-On display that shows the clock and other information on the screen, even when locked and not in active use. Furthermore, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are made of stainless steel and come in different colors than the other models: deep purple, gold, silver, and space black.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Cameras

The camera system is one of the key areas where there are noticeable upgrades in the iPhone 14 lineup, even though the most significant improvements can be seen (again) in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, not the standard iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus. Both iPhone 13 models, iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have three cameras: two 12MP cameras on the back, main and ultra-wide, and one front 12MP TrueDepth camera. On the other hand, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, besides the front camera, have three rear cameras: a 48MP main wide angle (the first-ever 48MP camera on an iPhone), a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP telephoto camera.

All four iPhone 14 models have several new features that enable better photos and videos, with the Photonic Engine and Action Mode being among the most impressive ones. The Photonic Engine feature improves low-light camera performance, while the Action Mode feature stabilizes videos taken on the go and eliminates nearly all shakiness. Also, the front camera of all iPhone 14 models has the Autofocus feature, which means the users can take better and clearer selfies. In addition, the cameras on all iPhone 14 models have a faster aperture and advanced sensors than the ones on the iPhone 13.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Performance

A new iPhone typically means a new chipset, but that’s not the case this year for all models. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus didn’t get a new processor, and they are powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, just like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. However, the internal chip has some minor upgrades: it includes a 5-core GPU (which can be found in the iPhone 13 Pro), not a 4-core GPU (like the regular iPhone 13), so these two iPhone 14 models can perform slightly better than the iPhone13 and its mini version.

Although the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have upgraded internal chips, the actual upgrade, as expected, can be found in the new Pro models. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip with two high-performance and four high-efficiency cores. The A16 Bionic chip with a new 6-core CPU is up to 40% faster than the other chipsets, and it also features an accelerated 5-core GPU with 50% more memory bandwidth – which is great for graphics-intensive games and apps. It also uses less power than the A15 Bionic, which helps the battery life of the Pro models.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Battery Life

On the subject of battery life, the iPhone 14 offers almost the same battery life as the standard iPhone 13. According to Apple, the iPhone 14 can last for up to 20 hours of video playback and up to 16 hours of video streaming, which is an hour longer than the iPhone 13 (up to 19 hours of video playback and up to 15 hours of video streaming). While the iPhone 14 has marginally more battery life than the iPhone 13, the other three models in the iPhone 14 series come with impressive battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus can manage up to 26 hours of video playback (up to 20 hours of video streaming), the iPhone 14 Pro up to 23 hours of video playback (up to 20 hours of video streaming), and the iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 29 hours of video streaming (up to 25 hours of video streaming).

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Safety Features

Apple has introduced some significant changes to the iPhone 14 lineup regarding safety features. All four iPhone 14 models have two new safety features: Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection. The groundbreaking Emergency SOS via Satellite feature enables users to connect with emergency services via satellite while outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. According to Apple, this service should be free-of-charge for the first two years after activating a new iPhone 14 model. The Crash Detection feature can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services. Hopefully, you will never have to use these features, but they can make a big difference if you ever find yourself in an unfortunate situation, like getting lost on a hike or being in a car accident.

Final Thoughts

There have never been two iPhone models as similar in design, features, and performance as this year’s standard iPhone 14 and last year’s standard iPhone 13. That’s why it’s so difficult to decide whether or not it’s worth upgrading from the iPhone 13.

After all, the iPhone 13 is still an excellent phone. Sure, the iPhone 14 is slightly more powerful than the iPhone 13 and has some new features, but this year Apple saved some of its most innovative and exciting solutions for the high-end Pro models.

In the end, everything depends on your budget, personal needs, and the current condition of your iPhone. It’s safe to say that the standard iPhone 14 is a great choice if you are upgrading from iPhone 11 or older, if your phone is running too slow, or if having the new safety features is important to you. On the other hand, if you want Apple’s latest and greatest, the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max is the way to go.