Earlier this year, Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus as the successors to the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, featuring Emergency SOS via satellite, Crash Detection, longer battery life, a larger display option for the first time, and more. Instead of a "mini" device this year, Apple is offering a standard model with a 6.7-inch display for the first time – a display size previously exclusive to the high-end iPhone "Pro Max" lineup.
The iPhone 14 starts at $799 and the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899. Although the two phones share the vast majority of features, there are a small number of differences between the devices besides just screen size. Our guide highlights the differences between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you.
Comparing the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus share virtually all of the same key features. Both phones have the same OLED Super Retina XDR display, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, an "advanced" camera setup, and are available in the same selection of colors. More interesting is where the two devices differ:
Differences
iPhone 14 Pro
- 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2556-by-1179-pixel resolution
- 20-hour battery life (during video playback)
- 5.78-inch (146.7mm) height
- 2.82-inch (71.5mm) width
- 6.07-ounce (172 grams) weight
- $799, $899, or $1,099 for 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage
iPhone 14 Pro Max
- 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2796-by-1290-pixel resolution
- 26-hour battery life (during video playback)
- 6.33-inch (160.8mm) height
- 3.07-inch (78.1mm) width
- 7.16-ounce (203 grams) weight
- $899, $999, or $1,199 for 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage
Unlike previous iPhone models offered with different display sizes like the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, there are no additional camera improvements to be gained with the "Plus" larger model, meaning that there are no standablone features to be gained by buying the bigger device.
Final Thoughts
The most important decision point to weigh up when considering the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus is screen size, but comfort, pocketability, weight, and battery life are also important factors. The added $100 in price for the iPhone 14 Plus seems fair for the added display area and battery life, but it is important to weigh up these additional aspects for your personal use case.
The iPhone 14 Plus represents the most you can get out of a non-Pro iPhone model to obtain the best possible battery life, but that does not necessarily translate into a worthwhile purchase for all users. A larger and heavier 6.7-inch iPhone is not for everyone. Some may find the iPhone 14 Plus's size excessive or uncomfortably large to hold, while others will love the larger display for consuming media. Screen size is ultimately a matter of personal preference, and since the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus almost all features other than battery capacity, it comes down to individual taste.
