Apple iPhone 14 Vs iPhone 13 – Is 14 Luckier Than 13?

When Apple releases its newest iPhones at the end of summer, you know that summer is officially over. This year, the spotlight is on the iPhone 14, which improves upon its predecessor, the iPhone 13, in a number of ways. There are now two better lenses for the back camera, and a brand new Emergency SOS Over Satellite function. Still, if you already own a model from last year and this one looks and acts largely the same, is it necessary to shell out the money for an upgrade? Discovered via head-to-head evaluation of the brand new iPhone 14 and the tried-and-true iPhone 13.

Specs

Display, design and durability

If you’re familiar with the design of the iPhone 13, you’ll have no trouble visualizing the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 has the same squared-off edges as its predecessor and the same camera module with the two rear lenses arranged diagonally as its predecessor, suggesting that Apple has made no significant design changes this time around. Even though it doesn’t break any new ground, it still manages to look good.

The screen on the more recent phone is the same. With a screen size of 6.1 inches and Super Retina XDR OLED technology, it offers the same pixel density as the iPhone 13 (2532 x 1170). As a result, users can expect identical visual quality from either option, despite the fact that neither supports a 120Hz refresh rate (like the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro).

In addition, both tools are as long-lasting as one another. Each one is protected from the elements by a Ceramic Shield glass screen and has an IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water. There’s no need to guess that this match ended in a draw.

Winner: Tie

Performance, battery life, and charging

Once more, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 are so closely matched in performance that it will be difficult to choose between them. Both have 4GB of RAM and Apple’s A15 Bionic processor. Because the A15 is still a fast processor, both phones will do well in 99 percent of uses, but the new iPhone won’t be able to do anything the older one can’t.

Also standard is the same 128GB of internal storage space. For a supplementary fee, either phone can have its storage capacity increased to 256 GB or 512 GB. Neither supports microSD cards, so you can’t store a ton of media on them.

Apple says the iPhone 14’s battery life can last up to 20 hours during video playback. However, it isn’t disclosing the specific battery capacity of the new phone, so we can’t compare it to the iPhone 13 without first conducting a thorough review. We’ll have to wait and see if Apple’s claim that the iPhone 14 can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes is true.

Winner: Tie

Cameras

Things start to get interesting now. Apple has kept the same basic design for the dual-lens rear camera on the iPhone 14, but has made minor improvements to the lenses themselves. The iPhone XS Max’s main (wide) 12-megapixel lens has a larger sensor and slightly more pixels, as well as a wider f/1.5 aperture (compared to the iPhone XS’s f/1.6 aperture). Completing the package is a 12MP wide-angle camera (the same as the iPhone 13’s) and a new 12MP front camera with autofocus and low-light improvements.

It’s premature to say whether or not these minor upgrades significantly enhance photo quality, but they certainly don’t hurt. However, when using the primary wide-angle lens, Apple claims you’ll get “2.5x better” low-light photos, and when using the ultra-wide, you’ll get “2x better” photos. Still, we can’t verify this until we get our hands on the new gadgets.

Winner: Tie

Software and updates

iOS 16 is preinstalled on the iPhone 14, and it will be updated to the iPhone 13 very soon. Now they’re on even ground when it comes to software, thanks to iOS 16’s plethora of useful new features like lock screen customization and iMessage un-sending and editing.

The iPhone 14 will have one additional year of software updates compared to the iPhone 13. This difference isn’t going to affect most people, though, because Apple usually releases major software updates for its mobile devices for about six years after they’ve been released.

Winner: Tie

Special Features

It used to be difficult to tell the difference between a new iPhone and its predecessor in terms of the device’s special features. Although the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 are virtually indistinguishable in most other respects, this is not the case this time around. There is a brand new Emergency SOS Over Satellite feature built into the iPhone 14, allowing it to send messages in times of crisis even when there is no cell service (it uses satellites instead). A Crash Detection function is also included, which is activated by sensing sharp increases in G-force (and sounds associated with car accidents).

Even though the iPhone 14 lacks any other new premium features, it triumphs on the strength of these two additions, which could save the lives of a significant number of users.

Winner: iPhone 14

Price and availability

On September 9, you can begin placing your pre-orders for the brand new Apple iPhone 14. The base model is $799, with the 256GB version costing $899 and the 512GB version costing $1099. It will have widespread online distribution and support from all the major networks.

The iPhone 13 is still available for purchase from Apple, now with a reduced starting price of $699. It’s still widely distributed and supported by all networks.

Overall winner: Apple iPhone 14

Even though there isn’t much of a difference between them, I have to give the nod to the iPhone 14. It’s possible that its cameras and battery will be superior to those of the iPhone 13, and its two new emergency features may make a difference in the lives of at least some people. If you already have an iPhone 13, there’s not much of a point in upgrading because the two phones are essentially identical in terms of design, display, software, and performance.