As usual, the launch of a new iPhone is not exempt from controversy, backward glances and of course comparisons, many comparisons. The annual successor of each iPhone is called to make notable improvements, however, it never rains to everyone's liking, and this iPhone 14 is surrounded by a halo of complaints from users who apparently demanded much more news.
We put the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 face to face to compare them and study if it is really worth changing devices. There are many more news than you can imagine behind the new iPhone 14 but… Will they be enough?
Design: A reasonable resemblance
Let's start by focusing on the design. The external measurements and the weight are practically identical, and it is that the iPhone 13 has dimensions of 14,67 × 7,15 × 0,76 centimeters, while the iPhone 14 has 14,67 × 7,15 × 0,78 centimeters. The weight barely varies, 173 grams for the iPhone 13 and 172 grams for the iPhone 14, which is slimmer despite introducing new features, curious.
In fact, differentiating them at a glance is going to be practically impossible considering that the camera module not only preserves the layout but also the size. So similar are they that the cases used for the iPhone 13 are fully compatible with the iPhone 14, something that will not happen, obviously, with the "Pro" models due to the dimensions of the camera module.
Both devices are made of aluminum for the chassis and glass for the back, thus allowing MagSafe wireless charging. As for the color range, the iPhone 14 is offered in white, black, blue, purple and red. For its part, the iPhone 13 also offers a green version, as well as the hue of some colors differs slightly.
The resistance level is identical, with IP68 protection, allowing immersion for 30 minutes up to 6 meters deep, accompanied by Ceramic Shield glass that promises maximum strength and durability on a smartphone screen.
Both iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 retain the same locations for buttons, speakers, microphones, cameras, and Lightning connection ports. On the front, we find a panel with exactly the same dimensions and an identical notch. We could say that the change on an aesthetic level is totally imperceptible.
Multimedia: They are twins
The two devices maintain the same quality standards on their screens, as well as the ratio and dimensions. They ride a 6,1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with support for Dolby Vision HDR technology.
- 6,1 inches resulting in 15,4 centimeters diagonally
- Resolution of 2.532 x 1.170 pixels resulting in 460 pixels per inch
In this way they maintain a maximum brightness of 800 nits typical and a peak in HDR of 1.200 nits, below the 2.000 nits offered by the iPhone 14 Pro. We have a wide color gamut (P3), True Tone technology to adapt to the environment, haptic response through software, as well as an oleophobic cover.
As we have said, all these features and functionalities of the screen are identical in both devices, that is, Apple has not invested at all in improving this section for the standard versions of the iPhone.
Cameras: The “big” jump
On paper very similar characteristics. We start with the iPhone 13 that mounts a main camera of 12 Mpx with aperture f / 1.6 and optical image stabilization by displacement of the sensor with an optical zoom out x2 and a digital zoom up to x4. For its part, the secondary camera, a 12 Mpx Ultra Wide Angle offers an f / 2.4 aperture.
On the other hand we have the iPhone 14, with a 12 Mpx camera system, only this time the main one of this model offers an f/1.5 focal aperture, while keeping the rest of the parameters impassive.
However, at the software level the iPhone 14 uses the Photonic Engine system to improve the quality of photos even in poor lighting conditions.
As for video recording, both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 have recording capabilities. 4K up to 60 FPS, 1080p slow motion up to 240FPS and stereo sound recording, while the only difference would be that in this case, in addition to the Cinema Mode, iPhone 14 software supports Action Mode to record steadier footage in repetitive motion situations.
Finally the front camera, where while the iPhone 13 mounts a 12 Mpx sensor with f / 2.2 focal aperture, the iPhone 14 offers the same 12 Mpx but compatibility with the Photonic Engine system and an f/1.9 focal aperture, allowing recording in Cinema mode up to 4K HDR at 30FPS, staying the iPhone 13 in 1080p at 30FPS.
Hardware and connectivity: Just a little more
Apple has decided to use the A15 Bionic processor from the iPhone 13 Pro in the iPhone 14, but considering that both offer six cores in total, with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, we understand that the only change is that the iPhone 14 has a 5-core GPU while the GPU of the iPhone 13 stays at "only" 4 cores.
Both employ the 16-core Neural Engine system, while the iPhone 14 has 6GB of RAM (like the iPhone 13 Pro), and the iPhone 13 keeps its 4GB of RAM.
On safety matter the iPhone 14 implements an accident detection system, a software solution that is not included in the iPhone 13. Curious, yes, that while the iPhone 14 implements a satellite connectivity system for emergencies, it lacks CDMA EV-DO connectivity, something that was present in the iPhone 13 The GPS, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth features are maintained, which in the case of the iPhone 13 it will be Bluetooth 5.0 while in the iPhone 14 it makes the leap to Bluetooth 5.3. Obviously, both devices are compatible with 5G networks.
The MagSafe wireless charging system with Qi standard is maintained, with a maximum limit of 20W per cable for both devices. According to Apple, the total autonomy of the iPhone 14 would have increased by about an hour, although the change is most likely imperceptible.
Most importantly, the price
The time has come to bear in mind that the 128GB base model of the iPhone 13 starts at 909 euros, that is, it maintains its official launch price. For its part, the starting model of the iPhone 14, that is, the 128GB one, will start at 1.009 euros, which represents an increase of at least 100 euros, maintaining storage of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB depending on our needs.
Now it's up to you to decide if it's really worth paying one hundred euros more given the news and the fact that it's practically impossible to differentiate one model from another, what do you think?
