IPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Full Comparison, Specs, and Size Differences

Key Points

• The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models feature a 48MP rear camera, compared to the standard iPhone 14’s 12MP camera
• The Pro models come with Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, offering a 7% higher CPU speed than the standard iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip
• The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a significantly larger battery, providing almost 14 hours of continuous internet browsing compared to the standard iPhone 14’s 9.5 hours

What would a new year be without a new model of iPhone to get excited about? The latest offering from Apple, the iPhone 14 range, brings a lot of changes since the previous models. The biggest of these is in the overall performance and camera, along with some nifty functionalities that it added in. But when it comes to choosing between the standard models and their Pro counterparts, it can be a tough decision to make. After all, splurging on a new smartphone isn’t exactly a small investment these days. To this end, come with us as we dive into a full comparison between the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, so you can choose the best device for your needs.

IPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Side-by-Side Comparison

Better and Brighter

Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, (PRODUCT) Red for T-Mobile (Renewed)

$549.00

• 6.1" Super Retina OLED display
• A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPIU
• New and improved main camera
• Available in Midnight, Starlight, Red, Blue and Purple colors

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

11/26/2023 07:01 pm GMT

IPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: What’s the Difference?

Design

Straight off the bat, we can see the dimensions of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are similar, and much more so than the Pro Max. This is what we’d expect since one of the main selling points of the Pro Max is a bigger display. In terms of thickness, it’s the same across all models, so it’s nice that the larger screen of the Pro Max hasn’t made the phone heftier in that regard.

We do see a notable difference in weight. There’s a 36-gram weight difference between the standard 14 and the 14 Pro and an identical contrast between the Pro models. Most of this extra bulk comes from the larger camera of the Pros, as well as the sturdier stainless steel frame. Since the 14 Pro Max has a bigger battery, this contributes to the additional weight.

When it comes to colors, you have the same options with both Pro models. Generally, the choices are more vibrant with the standard 14, with some primary color options (Red and Blue) and more classic alternatives (Midnight and Starlight, which are essentially glorified versions of black and white). Even the purple standard 14 is bolder than its Pro counterpart, with a deeper and more subtle shade of purple. The other Pro options are similarly muted, being Space Black, Silver, and Gold. This probably won’t be the feature that sways you, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Ultimately, the Pro models offer a more reliable design, and the Pro Max has a much bigger screen, but this comes at a cost. The Pro Max can be rather difficult to operate with one hand, so if a compact phone is more important to you than a big display, the standard 14 or 14 Pro would be the better choice. 

Display

One of the biggest factors when upgrading your phone is the size and quality of the display. It’s easy to see there’s no difference in this area between the 14 and 14 Pro, but the 14 Pro Max has a substantially larger screen. Putting size aside, all displays are Super Retina OLED, and the resolutions aren’t all that different. In addition, all models have the same peak brightness, typically 1,000nits, but up to 1,600nits HDR. Your decision basically comes down to how large you want your screen.

Camera

This is one area where the contrast between the models is greater. While all models have Apple’s Photonic Engine, which helps you take better photos in low light conditions, the Pro models have some more tricks up their sleeves. Both come with a 48MP rear camera, a significant improvement over the standard iPhone 14’s 12MP. The standard 14 also lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, so you’ll struggle to take a zoomed-in photo that has the same level of detail as the Pros. It’s worth mentioning that the camera functionality is identical between both the Pro models, which isn’t always guaranteed with iPhones but is very welcome.

In short, the biggest difference between the standard 14 and the Pro models will be apparent when zooming in to take a picture, or using the main camera. If you’re an avid photographer, then the Pro models are the clear winners here.

New and Improved Camera

Apple iPhone 14 Pro, 128GB, Space Black - Unlocked (Renewed Premium)

$1,029.99

• 6.1" Super Retina OLED display
• A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
• 48MP rear camera and 12MP telephoto lens
• Available in Silver, Deep Purple, Space Black and Gold colors

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

11/26/2023 07:01 pm GMT

Performance and Features

Aside from the camera and the display, performance and features are major points to consider when buying a new phone. Since the Pro models come with Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, rather than the standard 14’s A15 Bionic, you can expect some differences here.

Whereas the A15 chip is based on 5nm technology, the newer A16 incorporates 4nm technology. The faster cores in the A16 are the biggest driver of the increased performance, but this may be too subtle for casual users to notice. For most use cases, the power behind the standard 14 model is more than enough. The official line from Apple is that the A16 has a 7% higher CPU speed than the A15, which doesn’t equate to a drastic difference. Where you may notice more of a discrepancy is when it comes to power efficiency, as well as upload and download speeds.

Concerning connectivity, all models share the same capabilities – Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, and Apple Pay. The Pro models do feature ProMotion display technology, however, which smoothes out on-screen animations to a greater degree than the standard model. They also have Always-On display functionality as well as the Digital Island, which provides you with convenient notifications and ways to interact with software on the fly. Overall, this probably won’t be a huge dealbreaker for most users, but it’s a nice touch for those looking to maximize the use of their home screen.

Battery Life

As expected, the battery of the Pro Max is much larger than the other models. But, strangely, the battery of the 14 Pro is ever so slightly smaller than the standard 14. The difference isn’t too large, however, and the more efficient chip in the 14 Pro and its ability to change the refresh rate dynamically means it still pulls ahead of the standard iPhone 14. When continuously browsing the internet using cellular data, the standard 14 gives around 9 and a half hours of battery life, the 14 Pro gives just over 10 hours and the Pro Max beats the competition at almost 14 hours. This might not be too significant, especially if you don’t often find yourself without a charger for long periods, but for the outdoorsy types, gaining almost 5 hours of extra battery life is definitely a plus point of the Pro Max.

Price

Now we come to the all-important price. Depending on discounts and the availability of models, prices can fluctuate considerably, so it’s best to keep checking back with your favorite retailers for the best bargain. At launch, the 14 Pro came in around $100 cheaper than the Pro Max. However, as of the time of writing, the situation is quite different. Oddly enough, you can currently purchase a Pro Max for around $20 cheaper than the 14 Pro, so if you’re deciding between these two models, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re budget-conscious, the price of the standard 14 is nothing to sniff at, being almost $400 less if you go with a T-Mobile plan. It should be said these prices are based on the lowest storage 128GB models.

In reality, many will desire more storage than this, which does increase the price significantly. For example, the 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage will set you back $500 more than the 128GB model. But if storage is a priority for you, this could be money well spent.

Outstanding Battery Life

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, 128GB

$826.96

• 6.7-inch display
• 5G wireless access
• Apple A16 Bionic processor
• Excellent battery life

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

11/26/2023 07:01 pm GMT

IPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Must-Know Facts

• The screen size for the 14 and 14 Pro is identical, but the 14 Pro is around 30 grams heavier.
• The CPU speed of the Pro models is around 7% higher than the standard 14.
• There are more vibrant color options with the standard 14.
• The rear camera of the Pro models is a lot better than that of the standard iPhone 14, and the Pro models also have telephoto lenses for close-up shots.
• The battery life of the 14 Pro is around 1 hour longer than the standard 14, but almost 4 hours shorter than the 14 Pro Max.
• The standard 14 comes in considerably cheaper than the Pro models.
• All models share the same connectivity.
• The Pro models feature a stainless steel frame, whereas the standard 14 does not.

IPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Which Is Best?

All in all, the performance of all three models isn’t too dissimilar. The differences likely won’t be glaringly obvious to the average user. Where the Pros pull ahead is with battery life, on-screen functionality, and camera capabilities. In terms of design and color, the Pros are pretty much identical. If a bulky, potentially awkward phone isn’t an issue for you, the bigger display of the Pro Max is worth the price, especially if you can buy one for a price similar to or less than the 14 Pro. But if this size puts you off, it’s hard to recommend the iPhone 14 Pro over the standard 14 for the price, unless you’re passionate about taking the best possible close-up photos.

Considering day-to-day casual use, the contrast between the models isn’t huge. If you don’t take videos or photos that often, and 9 hours of battery life is enough for your needs, go with the standard 14. The much lower cost of the standard 14 is a huge selling point. If image quality is your priority, and you want as large a battery and screen as possible, the 14 Pro Max is your best bet. The 14 Pro could be a sensible choice if you want a good balance between camera quality and compact size, but only really if you can get a good deal.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ADRIAN3388/Shutterstock.com.