I get the pro models are all the hype, and are definitely superior, so no dispute over that. But I hear a lot of people say that the 14 isn’t even worth buying because “it’s the same as the 13”. It may look like that from a first glance. But as I’ve started to look into it more, the 14 actually did receive some underrated enhancements over the 13, enough so that I would recommend spending the extra $100 for it.
The big notable things being:
- Extra 2GB RAM
- Upgraded camera module, the 14 essentially uses the 13 Pro’s camera as opposed to the 12 Pro Max from the 13 series
- Upgraded Qualcomm X65 modem. This is even superior to the 13 Pro’s modems which use the X60
- The regular 14’s now have heat shields installed in the phone, which aids in better performance and prolongs battery health
- After some iOS 16 updates, I’m also noticing the standard 14 is starting to pull slightly ahead in battery life tests over the 13 series and even 14 Pro
- Crash detection .. life is unpredictable and tragedy can strike any of us at any time. This is one more potential life saving tool that could come in handy if anyone were to encounter this situation
Granted, I think the 13 is still a great bargain now, but given these enhancements, I would still pay the extra $100 to consider the 14. Of course, if you already have a 13 or even a 12, I wouldn’t consider it. But, if you’re using an 11 series or under, I would definitely pick the 14 over the 13.
Some people do make the argument that the 13 Pro is a superior device to the regular 14, I guess it depends on which features you value the most. Keep in mind that:
The standard 14 is considerably lighter than the Pro models, and still have an upgraded X65 modem over the X60, and in most real world cases, does have a bit better battery life.
The 13 Pro has the 120hz screen and telephoto camera, which some people may prefer.
Just my 2 cents. Definitely not saying one is better than the other. I think it depends on what the individual gets the most out of it, but when you really lay out the improvements beyond a face value glance, it starts to make more sense. Maybe it still doesn’t feel like quite an “S” model upgrade, but still solid all around.
The big notable things being:
- Extra 2GB RAM
- Upgraded camera module, the 14 essentially uses the 13 Pro’s camera as opposed to the 12 Pro Max from the 13 series
- Upgraded Qualcomm X65 modem. This is even superior to the 13 Pro’s modems which use the X60
- The regular 14’s now have heat shields installed in the phone, which aids in better performance and prolongs battery health
- After some iOS 16 updates, I’m also noticing the standard 14 is starting to pull slightly ahead in battery life tests over the 13 series and even 14 Pro
- Crash detection .. life is unpredictable and tragedy can strike any of us at any time. This is one more potential life saving tool that could come in handy if anyone were to encounter this situation
Granted, I think the 13 is still a great bargain now, but given these enhancements, I would still pay the extra $100 to consider the 14. Of course, if you already have a 13 or even a 12, I wouldn’t consider it. But, if you’re using an 11 series or under, I would definitely pick the 14 over the 13.
Some people do make the argument that the 13 Pro is a superior device to the regular 14, I guess it depends on which features you value the most. Keep in mind that:
The standard 14 is considerably lighter than the Pro models, and still have an upgraded X65 modem over the X60, and in most real world cases, does have a bit better battery life.
The 13 Pro has the 120hz screen and telephoto camera, which some people may prefer.
Just my 2 cents. Definitely not saying one is better than the other. I think it depends on what the individual gets the most out of it, but when you really lay out the improvements beyond a face value glance, it starts to make more sense. Maybe it still doesn’t feel like quite an “S” model upgrade, but still solid all around.
