iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13: What's the difference?
The arrival of the new iPhone 14 lineup doesn’t mean that the iPhone 13 is gone. As Apple has done with previous iPhone releases, the company kept some of the year-old iPhone models in its lineup as a more affordable option.
This year, Apple kept the $699 iPhone 13 and $599 iPhone 13 Mini, giving iPhone users the option of purchasing either of those or picking up the new $799 iPhone 14 or $899 iPhone 14 Plus.
There have never been two iPhone models that mirror each other in features and capabilities as closely as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 do, and they’re both among the best phones you can buy. Because of that, deciding which iPhone is right for you has gotten even more difficult this year. Below we’ll walk you through the key differences in an effort to help you decide which iPhone is right for you.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13 at a glance
iPhone 14 iPhone 13 Display 6.1-inch or 6.7-inch 5.4-inch or 6.1-inch Processor A15 Bionic A15 Bionic Storage 128GB / 256GB / 512GB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB Battery Up to 20 hours of video playback Up to 19 hours of video playback Rear cameras 12-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide 12-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide Front camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera Connectivity 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Safety features Emergency SOS via satellite, Crash Detection Emergency SOS Colors Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, Product Red Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, Green and Product Red Price From $799 From $599
You should get the iPhone 14 if…
You want Apple’s biggest iPhone but don’t need a Pro Max
Apple
Apple replaced the smallest iPhone with the iPhone 14 Plus. The 6.7-inch display dwarfs the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini and gives iPhone owners the option to go big without the requirement of paying a premium for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is the same size as the iPhone 14 Plus.
The larger display is nice, but so is the battery life that a larger phone allows for. In fact, that’s why I’ve preferred the Pro Max models with every new iPhone release. Battery life on the bigger phones is better by several hours and is good enough to get through long travel days where I’m constantly streaming music and using Maps, Uber and TripIt for travel-related activities.
With previous iPhone launches, if you wanted a 6.7-inch iPhone model, you’d have to go with the iPhone Pro Max — a device that starts at $1,099. The iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 for 128GB of storage. The only downside? You’ll have to wait for it — the iPhone 14 Plus is currently available to preorder but won’t start shipping until Oct. 7.
Having the newest safety tech is important to you
Apple
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus come with two new safety features. With Crash Detection, all iPhone 14 models can now detect when you’re in a car crash and call for help. And in November, Apple will launch its Emergency SOS via satellite feature that will allow iPhone 14 owners to send emergency messages using satellites to summon help. It’s a fantastic feature for someone who often goes hiking or travels through areas without cellular coverage.
Emergency SOS via satellite will be free for the first two years. Apple hasn’t said what it expects the cost to be after that.
You want the best possible camera
Mike Andronico/CNN
Finally, the iPhone 14’s camera setup is better than the iPhone 13’s. For the average user, the differences won’t matter much, but for someone who wants to take better photos and videos, the iPhone 14’s camera system is where it’s at.
There’s a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and now the front-facing camera has autofocus to improve your selfie game. Where the real improvements are found is in how the iPhone 14 processes images, capturing more details and more accurate color.
iPhone 14 (left), iPhone 13 (right) Mike Andronico/CNN
And, finally, the iPhone 14 camera has a new video trick called Action mode. When recording video in Action mode, the camera stabilizes the video and removes nearly all shakiness. It’s designed to be used in scenarios where stabilizing the camera isn’t really possible, such as when running.
You should get an iPhone 13 if…
You don’t need Apple’s latest and greatest
Jacob Krol/CNN
When you look at the spec sheet and compare the iPhone 13 to the iPhone 14, they’re practically the same exact device. Granted, the sizes don’t exactly match up, with Apple getting rid of the iPhone Mini model, replacing it with the iPhone 14 Plus.
Outside of that, however, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 use practically the same A15 Bionic processor. The lone difference between the chip that powers either model is the iPhone 14’s processor has one more GPU core than the iPhone 13. That results in boosted graphics performance (and some slightly higher scores on our benchmark tests), but in everyday use the difference is negligible.
Both models use the same display tech and have two-rear facing cameras, 5G connectivity, Face ID and the same storage capacities.
Apple estimates battery life on the iPhone 14 to be 20 hours, while the iPhone 13 is 19 hours of constant video streaming. That’s not all that big of a difference, and we’ve found both phones to be similarly long-lasting in our own testing.
You want a small phone
Jacob Krol/CNN
The iPhone 13 line is now limited to just the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, and the smaller 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini. For some, the iPhone 13 Mini’s smaller overall footprint is more manageable and easier to use, especially one-handed, when compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 or even the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus.
With the iPhone 13 Mini, you’re still getting the same features, performance and reliable camera that you’d get with the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 13 Mini’s only potential weak point is battery life, as a smaller phone means a smaller battery. However, the 13 Mini only tapped out about 30 minutes before the standard 13 in our tests, so you won’t be making too big a sacrifice on Apple’s smaller phone.
You don’t like the iPhone 14 colors
iPhone 13 Best Buy
With so many similarities between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, the decision may very well come down to which color you prefer. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are available in pink, blue, Midnight, Starlight, green and Product Red.
The iPhone 14 comes in a different shade of blue, purple, Midnight, Starlight and Product Red. In addition to slightly different colors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have a more muted color palette — outside of the vibrant Product Red offering. The iPhone 13, however, is brighter and, in my professional dad opinion, a lot more fun, especially for teens and tweens.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: How Apple's new iPhone compares to last year's model in price, battery life, and more
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The standard iPhone 14 is slightly more powerful than the iPhone 13, but otherwise doesn't add many features.
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 run on an A15 Bionic chip, which is among the best in any smartphone.
The biggest difference is that the iPhone 14 has a better camera, satellite connectivity, and can't use physical SIM cards.
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Every year, Apple reveals at least four new versions of the iPhone, each with its own exciting new features. But compared to past years, this year's standard iPhone 14 isn't very groundbreaking — in fact, it's incredibly similar to the older iPhone 13.
If you own an iPhone 13 and are considering an upgrade to the newest model, or don't have either and aren't sure which one to buy, here's a full guide comparing both on price, size, features, and more.
Note: This guide compares the standard iPhone 13 to the standard iPhone 14, not the iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, or Pro Max. If you're wondering how each iPhone 14 model stacks up to one another, check out our guide comparing all four models.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Specs at a glance
iPhone 13 iPhone 14 Screen size 6.1 inches 6.1 inches Resolution 2532 x 1170 pixels 2532 x 1170 pixels Height 5.78 inches 5.78 inches Width 2.82 inches 2.82 inches Thickness 0.30 inches 0.31 inches Weight 6.14 ounces 6.07 ounces Colors Green, pink, blue, Midnight black, Starlight white, (PRODUCT) red Blue, purple, Midnight black, Starlight white, (PRODUCT) red Cameras One 12 megapixel front camera, two 12MP back cameras One 12 megapixel front camera, two 12MP back cameras Camera features Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Ultra Wide capture Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Ultra Wide capture, Photonic Engine, Action Mode Internal chip A15 Bionic (4-core GPU) A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) Battery life 19 hours of video playback 20 hours of video playback Other notable features N/A Emergency satellite SOS messages, car crash detection Storage options 128 gigabytes, 256GB, 512GB 128 gigabytes, 256GB, 512GB Price $699, $799, $999 $799, $899, $1099
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Sizes and screens
When it comes to size, both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 are nearly identical.
Both phones have a 6.1-inch OLED screen, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. They're both 5.78 inches tall and 2.82 inches wide. They're also both made out of water- and dust-resistant aluminum, with a ceramic screen.
The only slight differences are in weight and depth, as the iPhone 13 weighs 6.14 ounces with a thickness of 0.30 inches, while the iPhone 14 weighs 6.07 ounces with a thickness of 0.31 inches.
Additionally, the iPhone 13 is available in a few more colors. You can buy the iPhone 13 in green, pink, blue, Midnight black, Starlight white, and (PRODUCT) red. The iPhone 14 only comes in blue, purple, Midnight black, Starlight white, and (PRODUCT) red.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Camera
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 both have three cameras: One selfie camera above the screen, and two cameras on the back.
Those back cameras are pretty much the same across both models. Both models have 12-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras, each of which has 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom.
Both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 have two cameras on the back. Apple
The difference is that the iPhone 14 adds a "Photonic Engine" — an extra processing step that helps your photos look crisper — and an "Action mode" that automatically stabilizes shaky videos.
The iPhone 14's front selfie camera also now has autofocus, which helps you take clear photos even when you're capturing different subjects at different distances.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Internal hardware
Probably the most notable similarity between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 is their internal Bionic chip.
Both phones run using Apple's A15 Bionic chip. This chip contains the iPhone's CPU, graphics card, image processor, and AI neural engine.
Although they both use an A15 chip, the iPhone 14's chip comes with some slight upgrades. The iPhone 14 version has a 5-core GPU, compared to the iPhone 13's 4-core — this lets games and videos look better while taking less power.
In comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use a new A16 Bionic chip, which is more powerful than either version of the A15. Despite this, the A15 is still one of the best "system on a chip" designs on any smartphone.
They also both still use Face ID, and can both connect to 5G signals.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Battery
The iPhone 14's upgraded A15 Bionic chip also lets you get more performance out of every battery charge. According to Apple's tests, the iPhone 14 can last about an hour longer than the iPhone 13 when in constant use playing videos — 20 hours of battery life compared to 19 hours.
Both iPhones support magnetic MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, as well as fast Lightning cable charging from a 20W adapter.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Other notable features
There are a few new features introduced on the iPhone 14 that iPhone 13 users won't have.
The first is emergency satellite SOS connections. When you buy an iPhone 14, you get a free two-year subscription for Apple's "Emergency SOS via satellite" program, which lets you send text messages to emergency services even when you don't have a cell signal. It does this by connecting to satellites flying in space, which then relay your messages and locations to emergency responders back on Earth.
The iPhone 14 can connect to satellites above you. Apple
The iPhone 14 also includes a built-in force sensor that can detect when you've been in a car crash. If the sensor detects a crash, it'll automatically offer to call emergency services — if you don't or can't respond, it'll call them without your input.
Lastly, the iPhone 14 doesn't use physical SIM cards. Instead, you'll need to install an electronic SIM card, also called an eSIM. You don't need to pay extra for this, or even have a Wi-Fi connection to install it — all you need is to have an account with a cell carrier that supports them.
For more details, check out our guide on what new features the iPhone 14 line is packing.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Price
The price of your iPhone will change depending on how much internal storage you want it to have. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 offer the same storage options — 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB — but they cost different amounts.
In general, the iPhone 14 is $100 more than the iPhone 13 at every price point. Here's a chart breaking it down:
iPhone 13 iPhone 14 128 GB $699 $799 256 GB $799 $899 512 GB $999 $1099
*This chart doesn't include taxes, shipping fees, or extra carrier costs.
Insider's takeaway
If you already own an iPhone 13 and it's still working well, there's not much reason to buy an iPhone 14. They have nearly all the same features, they're the same size, and run the same apps. The only extras you'll get on the iPhone 14 are a slightly better camera, and two features you probably won't use in the emergency satellite SOS and car crash detection.
That said, if your iPhone is breaking down or a few years older, the iPhone 14 might be worth the investment. It's only $100 more than the iPhone 13, and comes with a fantastic camera and one of the best internal chips you can buy.
No matter what you pick, Apple will support both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 for years to come. There's no rush to buy either — since Apple won't reveal the iPhone 15 for another year, you've got some time to decide.
Apple iPhone 14 vs Apple iPhone 13: Should you upgrade to the newest base model?
Apple's new iPhone 14 series is now official and we got as many as four new models this year. But as we highlighted the difference between each iPhone in our iPhone 14 series explainer, the regular iPhone 14 doesn't bring a lot to the table compared to last year's regular iPhone 13. Is the new model actually any better than last year's iPhone? Let's find out in this iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 comparison.
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Apple iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13: Specifications
Here's a quick look at the specifications of each phone to find out what they bring to the table:
Specification iPhone 14 iPhone 13 Build Ceramic shield front
Glass back
Aluminum mid-frame
IP68 dust and water resistance Ceramic shield front
Glass back
Aluminum mid-frame
IP68 dust and water resistance Dimensions & Weight 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm
172g 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.6mm
174g Display 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Display
2532 x 1170p resolution, 460PPI
HDR
True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
800nits max brightness, 1200nits peak brightness
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Display
2532 x 1170p resolution, 460PPI
HDR
True Tone
Wide color (P3)
2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
800nits max brightness, 1200nits peak brightness
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating SoC Apple A15 Bionic
6-core CPU
2 performance cores
4 efficiency cores
5-core GPU
16-core Neural Engine Apple A15 Bionic
6-core CPU
2 performance cores
4 efficiency cores
4-core GPU
16-core Neural Engine Storage 128GB
256GB
512GB 128GB
256GB
512GB Battery & Charging Battery rated for up to 20 hours of video playback up to 16 hours of video streaming Up to 80 hours of audio playback
Fast-charge capable Up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging Battery rated for up to 19 hours of video playback up to 15 hours of video streaming up to 75 hours of audio playback
Fast-charge capable Up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately)
MagSafe and Qi wireless charging Security Face ID Face ID Rear Camera(s) Primary: 12MP f/1.5, sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.4, 120-degree FoV
Sapphire crystal lens cover
True Tone flash Primary: 12MP f/1.6, sensor-shift OIS
Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.4, 120-degree FoV
Sapphire crystal lens cover
True Tone flash Front Camera(s) 12MP f/1.9, autofocus with Focus Pixels 12MP f/2.2, autofocus with Focus Pixels Port(s) Lightning connector Lightning connector Audio Stereo speakers Stereo speakers Connectivity 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave) with 4×4 MIMO
4G LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
Wi-Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.3
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Dual eSIM support (U.S. models are not compatible with physical SIM cards) 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave) with 4×4 MIMO
4G LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
Wi-Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.3
Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness
NFC
Dual SIM support Software iOS 16 iOS 16 Other Features Barometer
High dynamic range gyro
High-g accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Dual ambient light sensor Barometer
High dynamic range gyro
High-g accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Dual ambient light sensor
Design and display
Apple iPhone 14 in Starlight colorway.
The iPhone 14 and the iPhone 13 have a lot in common and it all starts with the design. They both look the same, with the same flat aluminum rails and roughly the same dimensions. The new iPhone is a hair thicker and heavier than the last year's model, but you won't immediately notice it even while holding both phones side-by-side. They both are so identical that you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two if it wasn't for three new colors. The iPhone 14 comes in a new Blue, Purple, and a slightly lighter shade of Product Red. We reviewed both phones in Starlight color and they look exactly the same as you can tell by looking at the images.
Apple iPhone 13 in Starlight colorway.
While the iPhone 14 looks identical to the iPhone 13 from the outside, there's one fundamental design difference between the two. As revealed by iFixit's teardown, Apple has entirely redesigned the internal architecture of the iPhone 14, making it easier to remove the back glass back for repairs. This makes the iPhone 14 the most repairable iPhone to date. This isn't going to change the way you use the phone on a day-to-day basis, but it makes the new iPhone that much easier to hold on to for a long time. The internal design differences don't affect the durability, so they both use the same materials and carry the same IP68 rating.
Apple iPhone 14 display.
The design is not the only thing that's similar in this comparison because the iPhone 14's screen -- for all intents and purposes -- is identical to iPhone 13's display. This means it's still a 6.1-inch OLED panel with a 2532 x 1170p resolution and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The 60Hz refresh rate isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, especially if you're coming from an older iPhone, but it's definitely an area in which the iPhone is overdue for an update. So if you were expecting to get a higher refresh rate display with the new iPhone 14 model, then that's sadly not a part of the specs sheet. You'll still have to pony up for the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Apple iPhone 13 display.
Internal hardware and cameras
Both phones in this comparison are powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip, but they aren't exactly the same. The A15 Bionic used in the iPhone 14 is the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro, meaning it features an extra GPU core. The A15 Bionic inside the iPhone 14 may also benefit from the new internal design to dissipate heat better, so that's worth considering too. It is, however, not going to make a significant difference in day-to-day usage. You'll probably notice a slight difference in performance in benchmarking apps, but that's pretty much it.
There are a couple of hardware features in the iPhone 14 that are worth considering though. The first is Crash Detection which uses a new “high dynamic range” gyroscopic sensor and a high-g accelerometer to detect if you've been in a crash. This particular feature will trigger a prompt asking you if you’re okay and will call emergency services if you don’t respond in a certain amount of time. Since it takes advantage of the new sensors, it's unlikely that older iPhones would be able to support Apple's Crash Detection feature.
Also new to the iPhone 14 series is the Emergency SOS feature. It's essentially a service that'll help you get a message out to emergency responders by communicating via satellite. Apple says the iPhones use some custom internals and software to get the message out in areas without cell coverage. We don't expect this feature to work on older iPhones. These are some great features but are they enough to warrant the higher cost? That's something you'll have to decide for yourself.
Moving on to the battery life, Apple is quoting a small increase in iPhone 14's battery performance. According to the company, the new iPhone 14 will get up to 20 hours of video playback versus 19 hours on the iPhone 13. How does that translate to real-world usage? Well, the iPhone 14 delivered an all-day battery life when we tested it for our review. But that's also true for the iPhone 13, which lasted us an entire day when we tested that for our review last year. Just like the battery life, the charging speed on both phones is also the same and it's painfully slow. It'll take you roughly two hours to go from 0 to 100 percent using a 20W charger, so it's still nowhere close to matching the fast charging speeds offered by many Android phones.
As for the optics, the iPhone 14 brings some upgraded hardware compared to the regular iPhone 13 model. The new iPhone 14 borrows the iPhone 13 Pro's main camera, with a bigger sensor, larger pixels, and a faster f/1.5 aperture. The ultra-wide camera remains the same as the one found on the iPhone 13, but the selfie camera gets a wider aperture too. Pair these hardware changes with Apple's new Photonic Engine software trick, and you get better low-light camera performance. Are you going to see a drastic improvement in camera performance with the iPhone 14 compared to the iPhone 13? Probably not.
We don't have the same set of shots captured on both phones for a side-by-side comparison, but we're leaving the photo samples captured on both devices for you to get a better understanding of what to expect.
Apple iPhone 14 camera sample:
5 Images
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Apple iPhone 13 camera sample:
5 Images
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iPhones are known to deliver impressive video performance in general and that's true for both iPhones in this comparison too. All three cameras on both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 are capable of shooting 4K videos at 60fps. The iPhone 14, however, gets a couple of video features that we think are fun to play with. The Cinematic mode that debuted on the iPhone 13 is now available in 4K at 30fps and 4K at 24fps on the iPhone 14. Apple also added a new Action mode that lets you capture super-smooth hand-held videos.
All things considered, we think both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 deliver impressive photos and videos with their cameras. The addition of new features certainly makes the iPhone 14 more fun to shoot with but they're both on a level playing field when it comes to the overall quality.
Apple iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13: Which one should you buy?
Apple's iPhone 14 is priced at $800 in the US, and we think it's a great phone for the price. But it only brings a handful of upgrades over the iPhone 13, which Apple is still selling for $100 cheaper. So which one should you buy? Firstly, you should NOT upgrade to the iPhone 14 if you already have an iPhone 13. There is no compelling reason to do so as you won’t be missing out on anything major. You may also find some good deals for the iPhone 13, making it cheaper than it already is.
That's also true for those who are coming from an older iPhone or switching from an Android device for the first time. If you don't care about the new features like Crash Detection, Emergency SOS, and the very slightly better cameras, then we think you should save $100 and get the iPhone 13 instead. It's still an excellent phone that runs the same iOS 16 software and performs well. You also get to use physical SIM cards with the iPhone 13, which by itself is a compelling reason for many to pick the iPhone 13 over the new model in the US. Hence, to us, it makes greater sense to pick the iPhone 13 over the iPhone 14 and save yourself some money in the process. The latest is often not the greatest value, and the iPhone 13 and 14 are the best examples of this sentiment.
That's not to say the iPhone 14 is a bad phone though. If you're coming from iPhone 11 or older and want all the latest features, then we think you should consider buying the iPhone 14. It's an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 13, but it's worthwhile, especially when you consider the new features and refinements in the store. Both phones run Apple's iOS 16 software, but the iPhone 14 brings it out of the box and is likely to have slightly longer software support too. If you plan to hold your phone for three or more years, you also stand to benefit from the redesigned internals just in case you have to replace components like your battery or the back panel or display. The iPhone 14 costs $100 more but you can always stop by our best iPhone 14 deals page to see if you can save some money on your purchase and splurge on one of the best cases instead.
Apple iPhone 14 Apple iPhone 14 The iPhone 14 is an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 13, but it represents the best of what Apple has to offer. View at Best Buy
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So which iPhone are planning to buy in 2022? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below!
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