IPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro
While Apple is constantly innovating in the smartphone market, a question most people would likely ask is: Is it really worth upgrading from an iPhone 13 Pro to an iPhone 14 Pro? Though they share a similar design, for the new iPhone 14 Pro, Apple has added new features like Dynamic Island, a 48MP camera, and the A16 Bionic chip. Just how massive are these changes, and is it worth upgrading?
This full comparison will cover the key differences in performance, camera, display, design, battery life, and price to thoughtfully decide which model will best fit your needs in 2024.
1. Design and Build Quality: Familiar but Refined
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro both sport a stainless steel frame with flat edges and Ceramic Shield glass. These make them extra-premium and durable-feeling devices. But Apple's subtle improvements in the iPhone 14 Pro have made most of the apparent differences in user experience.
Key Design Differences:
- Notch vs. Dynamic Island:
The most major design difference is the inclusion of Dynamic Island off the front-camera cutout on the iPhone 14 Pro, instead of the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro. Dynamic Island is an interactive-cutout display that shows notifications, music controls, and real-time updates. This provides more functionality and better multitasking. - **Color Options:
- iPhone 13 Pro: Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue
- iPhone 14 Pro: Space Black, Gold, Silver, Deep Purple
Verdict: In design, the two phones largely look identical, but the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro infuses some new life into an already perfected design. This may make the iPhone 14 Pro feel more modern if you like newer aesthetics.
2. Display: ProMotion and Always-On Technology
Both models feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology, enabling adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. However, the iPhone 14 Pro introduces Always-On Display for the first time in the Pro series; hence, it maintains the screen on at all times when the phone is on, at minimal extra battery cost.
Features Comparison: Display
- iPhone 13 Pro:
- 120Hz ProMotion
- 1000 nits brightness (typical)
- iPhone 14 Pro:
- 120Hz ProMotion + Always-On Display
- 1000 nits brightness (typical), **2000 nits peak outdoor brightness
Verdict: If you enjoy looking at notifications or widgets without unlocking your phone, the Always-On Display of the iPhone 14 Pro brings more convenience to you. You can also easily use the phone in direct sunlight outdoors as it reaches greater brightness.
3. Performance: A15 vs. A16 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 14 Pro has the A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 13 Pro features an A15 Bionic chip. Both chips are capable, though A16 offers some slight bumps in the performance and power efficiency fields.
Performance Benchmark Comparison:
- A15 Bionic - iPhone 13 Pro:
- 6-core CPU
- 5-core GPU
- 16-core Neural Engine - A16 Bionic (iPhone 14 Pro):
• 6-core CPU (higher efficiency)
• 5-core GPU (50% more memory bandwidth)
• 16-core Neural Engine
Both the iPhones are quick and snappy for everyday use, but if you do a lot of gaming with high-resolution graphics or edit a lot of videos, the A16 chip inside the iPhone 14 Pro does better on graphics performance and battery efficiency.
Verdict: Apart from incremental improvements, the A16 Bionic does little in terms of distinguishing it from its predecessor. Daily phone users won't even notice much of a distinction between the two processors, either. For the power users, though, the improved GPU and memory bandwidth would make the iPhone 14 Pro the better alternative.
4. Camera System: 48MP vs. 12MP Main Sensor
Where the iPhone 14 Pro sees the most significant upgrade is in the camera system. For the first time, Apple introduced a 48MP primary sensor to shoot higher resolution photos with better low-light performance. loh
Camera Comparison:
- iPhone 13 Pro:
- 12MP main sensor
- 12MP ultra-wide
- 12MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
Night mode, Photographic Styles, ProRAW - iPhone 14 Pro:
- 48MP main sensor-quad-pixel technology
- 12MP ultra-wide with improved macro mode
- 12MP telephoto - 3x optical zoom
- Photonic Engine for better low-light performance
With the 48MP camera on the iPhone 14 Pro, it captures considerably more detail, particularly in ProRAW mode, making it very friendly for photographers. It also does much better in low-light conditions, courtesy of the Photonic Engine that improves image quality across all lenses.
Verdict: If photography is a priority, then the iPhone 14 Pro is a clear winner. It's well worth an upgrade from the iPhone 13 Pro with its 48MP sensor and better low-light performance.
5. Battery Life and Charging: Small but Noticeable Improvements
Both these phones will provide decent battery life, but the iPhone 14 Pro will see slight bumps upward due to the better efficiency of the A16 chip.
Comparison of Battery:
- iPhone 13 Pro: Up to 22 hours of video playback
- iPhone 14 Pro: Up to 23 hours of video playback
Both models support:
- MagSafe wireless charging (15W)
- Fast charging (50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter)
While it is similarly rated in terms of battery capacity, the Always-On Display on the iPhone 14 Pro is optimized to use the minimum amount of power, not really affecting the battery life significantly. -----
Conclusion: The battery life improvement is minor, and the iPhone 14 Pro does a bit better in terms of power efficiency-which heavy users will appreciate.
6. Software and Features: iOS 17 on Both Devices
The pre-installed latest version of iOS 17 is available on both the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro. However, the iPhone 14 Pro supports some exclusive software features enabled by its newer hardware.
- Dynamic Island (available on iPhone 14 Pro only): Provides a new interactive experience for notifications and live activities.
- Action Mode: The iPhone 14 Pro provides enhanced stabilization for videos, making it the ideal device for creators on-the-go.
Decision: Both phones will be able to deliver the same overall iOS experience, while the iPhone 14 Pro is marginally better because of its hardware-driven software enhancements.
7. Price Comparison: Which Offers Better Value in 2024?
By 2024, the iPhone 13 Pro is no longer sold from Apple directly, but it is available from third-party retailers for around $800-$850, whereas the iPhone 14 Pro has seen price drops as low as $850-$900.
For the marginal difference in price between the two models, the iPhone 14 Pro is much better value; it boasts newer hardware and longer software support.
- Which One Should You Choose?
Choose the iPhone 13 Pro if:
- You already have the iPhone 13 Pro, and the newer features don't impress you.
- You need a much cheaper option without losing too much performance.
- You're not particularly interested in the Dynamic Island or the 48MP camera upgrade.
Choose the iPhone 14 Pro if:
You want to upgrade from an older generation iPhone, such as an iPhone 11 or earlier. You are interested in photography and/or low-light performance. You want the latest design and features such as Dynamic Island and Always-On Display. You want better performance and future-proofing with the A16 chip.
Whether or not one needs to upgrade from iPhone 13 Pro to iPhone 14 Pro will come down to personal needs. The upgrades to Dynamic Island, 48MP camera, and A16 chip are meaningful but may not be worth changing from the iPhone 13 Pro.
But if you're upgrading from an older model or just really value camera quality and having the newest features, then the iPhone 14 Pro is a better investment. With better performance, longer software support, and only marginally more expensive, it's a steal in 2024.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does the iPhone 14 Pro have heavier weight than the iPhone 13 Pro?
Both of the phones are about the same in terms of weight, with the iPhone 14 Pro a couple grams heavier.
Q2: Can the same MagSafe accessories be used with both models?
Yes, all MagSafe Accessories work with both the iPhone 13 Pro and the