iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro: Unveiling the Best Choice for You

In this review, we will examine the comparison of the iPhone 14 vs 14 Pro, both released in 2022. Every year, Apple introduces new gadgets while simultaneously reducing the cost of the previous series. This is a good opportunity to upgrade, getting an excellent device at a reduced price. The only question is, which one to choose: is it worth paying extra for the Pro, or is it just a marketing trick by the company?

Apple iPhone 14 vs Apple iPhone 14 Pro Specs Comparison

Design and Size

The base model's body is constructed with a frame made of anodized aluminum. Meanwhile, in the Pro version, the company utilizes polished surgical steel. The material for the front and back panels maintains parity – ceramic glass Ceramic Shield is applied here.

Control buttons on the new devices are arranged identically; there was no need to change anything in design features. Volume control elements and the silent mode lever are located on the left side, with the lock button on the right. Speaker and microphone cutouts, as well as the Lightning port, are placed on the bottom edge.

In the top-left corner of the back panel, a camera module is situated. Here, a visual difference between the phones is immediately noticeable. The senior model is equipped with a triple camera setup, while the base model uses only two sensors. Another addition in the Pro version is the LiDAR scanner, which is absent in the iPhone 14.

In the comparison of iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro size, the distinction is slight. The Pro version is almost a millimeter taller, and the difference in width and thickness is practically indistinguishable. Regarding weight, the steel frame played its role, making the senior version noticeably heavier – 206 g compared to 172 g.

Traditionally, the base gadget can boast a larger variety of color options and more vibrant hues. The device is available in blue, purple, yellow, black, white, and red. For the Pro version, compared to the previous release, the number of color options has been reduced – from five to four. These include dark purple, gold, silver, and black. As we can see, blue and green from the 13 Pro have been replaced by a single color – rich purple.

Display Features

The fundamental differences between Apple iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro can be observed in the display section. Apple redesigned the TrueDepth face recognition system and placed it in a small notch called Dynamic Island. Now, the recognizable "notch" remains only in the base devices, while the Pro display features that very island. However, its feature is not limited to an oval shape. The company has cleverly integrated the notch into the UI.

Now, various widgets appear in the island. Let's consider the scenarios presented by Apple during its event:

• Call reception: When you receive a call, the call is displayed in the notch area. Upon a long press, the control menu opens—allowing you to decline the call or answer. When the call menu is collapsed, a regular tap returns to the phone app.
• Face ID: In iPhone 14 Pro, the Face ID animation emerges from the notch. The same scenario occurs when making a payment with a card and confirming an Apple Pay transaction through Face ID.
• Charging indicator: The notch appears when the smartphone has 20% battery left, and a notification about connected power also appears.
• AirDrop: Progress of file transfer via wireless technology, status of incoming or outgoing transfer, is displayed in Dynamic Island.
• Navigation: Next to the notch, you'll see information about the distance to the destination point, direction icons. Currently implemented in Apple Maps.
• Privacy: Information about the smartphone currently using the microphone or camera appears in the interactive status bar.
• Modem mode: When tethering is activated, you can control this function using the "Island." You can monitor the connection status in the new status bar.
• Pairing with accessories: If you connect the smartphone to headphones, you'll receive a notification and can also check the charge status of AirPods. An icon with an image of the accessory is displayed on the left, and the headphone name is available.
• Focus mode: When the smartphone switches to "Focus" settings, you'll see the status in Dynamic Island. This applies to the silent mode slider, and the notification appears next to the notch.
• Voice recorder and screen recording: Thumbnails indicating that recording has started have moved to the notch. A long tap on the notch opens the widget, allowing control of the process.
• Timer: The timer control widget opens if you "hold down" the notch, displaying the countdown time in Dynamic Island.

Thanks to its design features, the 14 Pro has an exclusive function unavailable to owners of the regular base gadget. How important is this function? Considering that Apple has opened access to the API for third-party developers, Dynamic Island becomes the main element of multitasking that few would want to give up.

But let's get back to the screen specifications. The iPhone 14 is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED screen, manufactured using OLED technology. The pixel density is 460 pixels per inch (ppi), and the resolution is 2532x1170 pixels. The maximum screen brightness reaches 800 nits, with a peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits. The display parameters of the iPhone 14 Pro are the same—matching matrix type, diagonal size, resolution, and pixel density. The declared maximum brightness is now 1000 nits, and the peak HDR indicator reaches 2000 nits. Another advantage is the support for ProMotion. The iPhone 14 Pro screen operates in a range from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, while the iPhone 14 is limited to a constant 60 Hz.

What does this mean in plain language? The Pro model outperforms the base iPhone in terms of higher brightness and screen refresh rate. The difference in parameters is significant, and when you add the design variations, it becomes clear what features owners of the base iPhone 14 are missing out on.

Camera Specs

Since the 7th lineup, the extended versions of the iPhone have featured one additional camera. This tradition continues to this day, but in this lineup, the camera arrays also differ.

The base model is content with only 12 MP on both modules. The main camera is a wide-angle with an f/1.5 aperture. The additional ultra-wide-angle camera has an f/2.4 aperture. The Pro Camera System resolution is 48 MP, featuring a wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/1.78. Also included are a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 and a 12 MP telephoto camera with an f/2.8 aperture. But the differences don't end there.

The main camera in the Pro versions of the iPhone 14 has a sensor that is 65% larger in area than that of the iPhone 13 Pro. When capturing images, the 14 Pro captures twice as much light, and the camera shutter operates faster than any other iPhone from previous releases. Adding a threefold optical zoom from the third camera, we get a significant upgrade in photography.

In the characteristics and capabilities of the iPhone 14 vs 14 Pro camera, the full extent is revealed. Both models support portrait mode with a blur effect and offer depth control. They include Night mode, Smart HDR 4, Portrait Light, Deep Fusion, and the Photonic Engine. However, the Pro version provides users with more:

• The ability to capture portraits in low-light conditions;
• True Tone flash, taking into account ambient lighting;
• ProRAW format shooting (uncompressed images with a large amount of information);
• Macro photography;
• LiDAR Scanner.

The conclusion here is only one: the additional camera features of the iPhone 14 Pro are definitely not necessary for everyone, but elevated mobile photography is an excellent support to choose the "Pro" model.

Performance and Hardware

In this series, Apple has changed the rules for releasing smartphones. In the iPhone 14 vs 14 Pro comparison, the versions differ in terms of the chip. The iPhone 14 sticks to the previous year's A15 Bionic processor. In contrast, the 14 Pro boasts a Performance Upgrade and the next-generation A16 chip. The chip is built using a 4nm process (Apple A15 is built on a 5nm process).

As for the chips themselves, here are their differences:

• Apple A16 Bionic — 4nm, 6 cores (2 at 3.36 GHz, 4 at 2.02 GHz), 16 billion transistors, support for LPDDR5 RAM at a frequency of 6.14 GHz;
• Apple A15 Bionic — 5nm, 6 cores (2 at 3.24 GHz, 4 at 2.02 GHz), 15 billion transistors, support for LPDDR4X RAM at a frequency of 4.26 GHz.

Due to a higher number of transistors, a higher RAM frequency, and an increased Neural Engine speed, the iPhone 14 Pro is 10-15% more powerful than its "younger sibling." The question arises: why buy the iPhone 14 if there is a similar iPhone 13 (13 Pro)? The thing is, the base iPhone 14 has an additional graphics core, now totaling 5 instead of 4, as was the case with the iPhone 13. Compared to last year's iPhone 13 Pro, the smartphone differs by having 6 GB of RAM (for example, the 13 Pro has 4 GB). By the way, the entire iPhone 14 lineup comes with 6 GB of RAM. Another significant advantage of the 14 Pro is a larger storage option with a 1 TB version.

The difference in performance between the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro exists, it's not colossal, but it will be noticeable in demanding tasks. How much power one needs in a smartphone is a decision each user makes for themselves.

Software and User Experience

Both models were released on the iOS 16 operating system with subsequent updates to the latest version. Considering that the company supports its devices for a long time, users still have 3-4 years of support ahead.

iOS is a closed system known for its enhanced optimization, security, and a simple and user-friendly interface. In terms of the user experience, there are no significant differences, except for the aforementioned Dynamic Island, which allows users to interact with the device in a new way.

Battery Life and Charging

Smartphone battery life from a single charge has been a challenge that manufacturers have been addressing for decades. With the unveiling of the new iPhones, Apple representatives once again promised improvements in autonomy. Moreover, the iPhone 14 Plus has become the smartphone with the longest battery life in history (among iPhones, of course).

To avoid empty talk, let's move on to the numbers and find out the difference between iPhone 14 and 14 Pro:

• The iPhone 14 is equipped with a 3279 mAh battery. This is sufficient for up to 20 hours of video playback, 16 hours of online video streaming, and approximately 95 hours of continuous music playback.
• The iPhone 14 Pro comes with a slightly smaller battery capacity of 3200 mAh. Despite the efficiency of the new chip, the offline video playback time does not exceed 20 hours, online video streaming is around 16 hours, and continuous music playback is approximately 80 hours.

Regardless of the model, both smartphones support fast charging (50% in half an hour) and wireless charging.

Price and Value

The starting price for the base model was $699, while the upgraded version cost $300 more for the minimum storage configuration.

The base model with 256GB could be initially purchased for $799, and the 512GB version for $999. For the upgraded phone, prices were $1099, $1299, and $1499 for 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, respectively.

The entry-level device is still available on the Apple website, but the premium model has been discontinued. However, it is still accessible through retailers, and refurbished units are also available for purchase.

Conclusion

What's the difference between iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro? The new Pro lineup certainly outperforms the base model in many aspects. It can be unequivocally stated that Apple has succeeded in releasing "Pro" models that significantly differ from the base ones. Now, users have a clear understanding of what they are paying extra for and what they will get in return. However, it is important not to forget that the base model iPhone 14 is a current smartphone with ample performance and long-term support.