iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13: Is it worth upgrading?

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 which is worth your money?

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Comparing iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 – which is the better option? Are the changes in the iPhone 14 worth the additional money over the older model?

Apple chose an interesting time to revamp its iPhone line-up. The California tech giant released the iPhone 14 series at a time when everyone is trying their best to avoid spending unnecessary bucks. 

With Apple’s new direction with the iPhone 14, the company created a dilemma for fans considering upgrading their old iPhones. Getting a year-old iPhone costs less, which shares the same design, a similar chipset, and most of the features as the latest 14 series, while there are a few key differences. But do these differences justify an upgrade? We are here to find out.

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iPhone 14 cameras vs iPhone 13 cameras

The biggest difference between the iPhone 13 and 14 lies in the cameras, so let’s start with them.

The iPhone 14 has two rear cameras, similar to the iPhone 13. They even look the same. But the latest model is equipped with a faster f/1.5 aperture than the older f/1.6. The iPhone 14 also has a larger sensor, improving low-light shooting.

The iPhone 14 also comes with the new Photonic Engine computational system. It helps to snap photos in more detail in low-light conditions. Apple has also added the new Foreground Blur in Portrait Mode. So, the shots captured in low-light conditions with the iPhone 14 are more detailed and preserve shadows better than the iPhone 13. 

Apple has also added an Action Mode to shoot videos to the iPhone 14. It is actually a stabilization mode that improves the stabilization of the video recording while moving. It is an excellent feature that made an impact, whereas the iPhone 13 has Cinematic Mode, which wasn’t well received.  

The iPhone 14 has a better front camera as well. The TrueDepth camera, used for FaceTime and Face ID, has been upgraded on the latest iPhone and gained features such as autofocus, wider aperture, and improved low-light performance.

If your primary focus is photography, there are multiple reasons to choose the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13. 

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 processor 

iPhone 14 and 13 share the same A15 Bionic chip, but there are differences. The A15 Bionic on the iPhone 14 has additional GPU cores and is equivalent to the A15 from the iPhone 13 Pro, performance-wise, so better than the standard iPhone 13. Benchmarking also proved that the A15 Bionic on the iPhone 14 beats the A15 in the iPhone 13 Pro in some tests.

Still, this difference isn’t always significant in real-life performance: the additional GPU cores will come to work if you play demanding games on your iPhone or use it for other graphically intensive works, otherwise, you won’t notice any difference at all. 

So the processor in the iPhone 14 is better, but in a lot of cases you won’t notice a significant improvement compared to the iPhone 13. 

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 storage & memory 

The iPhone 14 and the 13 have the same three storage variants. The base model starts with 128GB, then 256GB, and the top variant is 512 GB. 

However, iPhone 14 is equipped with 6GB memory, while the iPhone 13 comes only with 4GB memory. 

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 weight & size

Design-wise, the iPhone and the iPhone 13 are the same, with a few minor differences. The rear camera looks the same from afar, but Apple changed it slightly. The cameras on the back of the iPhone 14 are slightly more protruding. The button on the sides has also been shifted slightly. 

Here are the dimensions and weights of the two iPhones:

• iPhone 14 dimensions: 146.7 mm x 71.5 mm x 7.80 mm; Weight – 6.07 oz/172 g
• iPhone 13 dimensions: 146.7 mm x 71.5 mm x 7.65 mm; Weight –  6.10 oz/173 g

iPhone 14 screen vs iPhone 13 screen

Both iPhones use a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 2532 x 1170 resolution at 460ppi, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 800 nits max brightness, and 1200 nits peak brightness (HDR). The notch is also identical. 

In short, there’s no real difference between them.

iPhone 14 battery vs iPhone 13 battery & charging

In terms of battery life, iPhone 14 beats the year-old iPhone 13. According to Apple, the iPhone 14 can deliver up to 20 hours of video playback, whereas the iPhone 13 can only take 19 hours. 

The Geekbench tests also paint the same result. An extra hour of battery life doesn’t sound exciting at all, but it can make a significant difference in real-life. Suppose you are coming home from work late, and your iPhone is about to die. In this situation, an extra hour is a difference between your iPhone dying and almost dying.

Lastly, both iPhones can charge up to 50% within 30 minutes using a 20W adapter and support MagSafe Qi wireless charging. 

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 price 

The iPhone 14 is currently selling at $799 in the United States. It is a good price for a phone of its caliber, but the 14 only brings a few upgrades over the iPhone 13, which is currently selling for $100 less than its original price i.e. $699. 

iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 : Final Word

So in the battle of iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13, which to pick? Should you upgrade from iPhone 13 or not? 

The iPhone 14 received generous camera upgrades over the iPhone 13, meaning if your goal is photography, you should probably go for iPhone 14. Otherwise, we don’t see a reason to upgrade, especially if you already own an iPhone 13. Even if you haven’t yet bought either device, the $100 saving on the iPhone 13 is nothing to be sniffed at (and you may find it further reduced online).