Apple's newest iPhone generation includes the iPhone 13 and the more affordable iPhone 14. If you're planning to upgrade your phone or buy a new iPhone after several years, it's essential to know the differences between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 to make an informed decision.
Below is a breakdown of the specifications and features of both models:
Display
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. The screen resolution, brightness, and colors are the same, with a 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, HDR display, and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical). However, the iPhone 14 lacks the ProMotion display available in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which allows for up to 120Hz refresh rates.
Design
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 feature a similar design as the iPhone 12, with aluminum flat edges, edge-to-edge displays, and a glossy finish on the back. The iPhone 14 is slightly thicker and lighter than the iPhone 13, but the overall dimensions are almost identical.
Performance
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have the same A15 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. However, the iPhone 14 has an extra GPU core and 6GB of RAM compared to the iPhone 13's 4GB of RAM.
Connectivity
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have 5G connectivity, with support for mmWave 5G in the United States and sub-6GHz 5G in other countries. However, the iPhone 14 sold in the United States doesn't feature a physical SIM card slot, only an eSIM.
Camera
The iPhone 14 offers improved rear and front camera technology compared to the iPhone 13. The rear camera has a new computational photography feature called the "Photonic Engine," which offers a "giant leap for mid- to low-light performance in photos across all cameras through a deep integration of hardware and software." The front camera on the iPhone 14 has an ƒ/1.9 aperture that enables better low-light performance for photos and video and auto-focus for the first time.
Battery Life
One area where the iPhone 14 edges out the iPhone 13 is in battery life. The iPhone 14 offers slightly longer audio and video playback times, with up to 80 hours of audio playback and 20 hours of video playback, compared to the iPhone 13’s 75 hours of audio playback and 19 hours of video playback. However, both devices offer similar fast charging and wireless charging capabilities.
Pricing and Storage
The iPhone 14 is slightly more expensive than the iPhone 13, with a starting price of $799 compared to the iPhone 13’s starting price of $699. However, the iPhone 14 also comes with 128GB of storage, while the base model of the iPhone 13 offers only 64GB of storage. Both devices offer options for up to 512GB of storage.
Colors and Accessories
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 come in several color options, although the specific colors available differ slightly between the two models. Additionally, neither device comes with headphones or a charging brick in the box, so you may need to purchase these separately.
Which Should You Buy?
Ultimately, the decision between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 comes down to personal preference and budget. While the iPhone 14 offers slightly better performance and camera upgrades, the differences between the two devices are relatively minor. If you already have an iPhone 13 or 12, it may not be worth upgrading to the iPhone 14. However, if you’re in the market for a new iPhone and have the budget for it, the iPhone 14 is the more advanced device with longer battery life and more storage.