iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Is the switch worth it?
The iPhone 14 Pro is finally here. In addition to the new A16 chip, Apple’s new flagship offers even more advantages compared to its predecessor. But is it worth switching from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro? We looked at the differences between the smartphones.
Design: Old look, but new colors
The back of the iPhone 14 Pro looks confusingly similar to that of the iPhone 13 Pro.
Image: © Apple 2022
Externally, there are few differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro. Both devices have about the same dimensions and are about the same weight. At 206 grams, the iPhone 14 Pro weighs just 2 grams more than its predecessor. And like the iPhone 13 Pro, the case of the successor is made of stainless steel and is glazed on the back. The camera modules also have the same look, but there was an update under the hood – more on that later.
So in terms of looks, there aren’t any big differences, except for the color variants. Both models are available in silver and gold. The colors alpine green, graphite and sierra blue are only available on the iPhone 13 Pro. The iPhone 14 Pro is available in dark purple and space black.
Display: Brighter and with Dynamic Island instead of classic notch
Outdoors, the display of the iPhone 14 Pro reaches a brightness of up to 2,000 nits.
Image: © Apple 2022
When it comes to the display, there are more differences between the iPhone models. Although both iPhones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (120 Hz refresh rate) and almost the same resolution, the devil is in the details.
The display of the iPhone 14 Pro can shine much brighter than that of its predecessor. With normal use, both displays reach a brightness of 1,000 nits. However, when playing HDR content, the iPhone 14 Pro achieves a whopping 1,600 nits, while the iPhone 13 Pro finishes at 1,200 nits. Outdoors, the iPhone 14 Pro can even reach a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The display of the new iPhone is therefore still clearly visible even in direct sunlight.
Another innovation compared to the predecessor is the always-on display. Android users have known this feature for a while. If the always-on display is activated on the iPhone 14 Pro, information such as the time, notifications or a pedometer can be seen continuously on the display. The other areas of the display are dimmed or switched off so that the power consumption is not too high.
The most obvious difference between the two iPhone generations is the so-called Dynamic Island. The “dynamic island” is an interactive element in which the pill-shaped punch-out for the Face ID sensors and the round cut-out for the selfie camera are incorporated. Basically, the Dynamic Island is a digital notch, but with useful functions. For example, it shows the charging status of paired AirPods, expands into a pill-shaped notification when a call comes in, or turns into a media player when playing music.
Hardware: New A16 chip and improved sensors
The new A16 chip is only available for the Pro models.
Image: © Apple 2022
There are also some differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and the hardware in terms of hardware iPhone 14 Pro. Apple’s new A16 chip is used in the Pro models this year. In the iPhone 13 Pro, its predecessor, the A15 chip, provides decent computing power. Both Apple chips look quite similar on paper: both have six CPU cores (two performance and four efficiency cores), five GPU cores and 16 cores for the neural engine. The big difference is in the architecture.
While the A15 chip is still based on 5 nm architecture, the A16 chip is manufactured using the 4 nm process. The 4 nm process makes it possible to accommodate even more transistors in a small area. Basically, more transistors ensure better performance and higher efficiency, writes tom’s guide. Apple itself even claims that the A16 chip is 20 percent more energy efficient than its predecessor, which should lead to longer battery life.
Apple does not provide comparative data on the performance differences between the A16 and A15. A first benchmark showed only a marginal performance increase of the CPU. Another benchmark with the AnTuTu tool, on the other hand, delivers significantly better values. According to the AnTuTu benchmark, the CPU performance is increased by 17 percent compared to its predecessor, and the GPU performance is even 28.2 percent higher.
In the event of a car accident, the iPhone 14 Pro can automatically make an emergency call.
Image: © Apple 2022
There are also innovations in the iPhone 14 Pro when it comes to sensors. While the iPhone 13 Pro still uses a 3-axis gyro sensor, the iPhone 14 Pro now has a dynamic gyro sensor. This should offer even more precise orientation and, in combination with the likewise new high-g acceleration sensor, also enables the detection of car accidents.
Also new to the iPhone 14 Pro is Bluetooth 5.3. This would at least theoretically allow the use of LE Audio, an energy-efficient audio codec. So far, however, Apple has not commented on whether the iPhone 14 Pro LE supports audio. The feature may be activated at a later date.
Battery: Slightly increased capacity and runtime
According to Apple, the iPhone 14 Pro also offers slightly longer battery life compared to the iPhone 13 Pro – at least when it comes to playing locally stored videos. The running time is now up to 23 instead of 22 hours. However, nothing has changed when playing streamed videos and music. The runtimes are still up to 20 or 75 hours.
Apple does not reveal how long the iPhone 14 Pro will last on average in everyday use. However, we assume that the runtime has improved slightly here as well. The reason for this could be the more efficient A16 chip and the slightly higher battery capacity. Although Apple does not officially provide any information on battery capacity, a Chinese regulatory authority has published values for all iPhone 14 models. Accordingly, the battery capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro is 3,200 mAh hours. That’s 105 mAh more than the iPhone 13 Pro.
When it comes to charging power, however, everything remains the same. Like the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro can also be charged quickly with 20 watts. The battery can be charged by up to 50 percent within 30 minutes. However, the 20-watt charger is not included in the scope of delivery.
Camera: Main camera with 48 megapixels
The 48-megapixel camera in combination with the pixel binning process should ensure pretty pictures even in poor lighting conditions.
Image: © Apple 2022
The iPhone has finally had a camera upgrade for a long time. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 48-megapixel main camera. Since the iPhone 6s, the resolution of the main camera has remained constant at 12 megapixels.
By default, photos that users take with the iPhone 14 Pro still have a resolution of 12 megapixels. This is related to the so-called pixel binning process, in which four pixels are merged into a single photo pixel. The technique makes it possible to achieve better image quality in poor light conditions. In ProRAW mode, however, photos with a full 48 megapixels are also possible.
With the other cameras, on the other hand, little has changed. The resolution of the ultra wide-angle sensor is still 12 megapixels like the iPhone 13 Pro. Here only the aperture size has been reduced from f/1.8 to f/2.2. The telephoto lens also has a resolution of 12 megapixels and still offers a triple optical zoom. There are also small innovations in the selfie camera. The resolution remains unchanged at 12 megapixels, but the aperture size is now f/1.9 instead of f/2.2 as on the predecessor. This ensures better photos in poor light conditions – and an autofocus is now also on board.
The “Photonic Engine”, which is also available for the standard models of the iPhone 14, is celebrating its premiere. This is a new photo technology that uses hardware, machine learning and software to enhance images. This should ensure even better quality, especially for photos that were taken under poor lighting conditions. The newly introduced action mode should ensure even better image stabilization when filming.
Conclusion: Is it worth switching from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro?
This question is not that easy to answer. Compared to the normal iPhone 14, the Pro version offers significantly more incentives to switch. Notable innovations include the A16 chip, the 48-megapixel main camera, the brighter display and innovative features such as Dynamic Island and accident detection.
However, a price of 1,299 euros for the cheapest variant of the iPhone 14 Pro quite a price. If you are toying with the idea of switching from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro, you should first consider whether the innovations justify the high price for you. An interesting option could be trading in your iPhone 13 Pro. Apple is willing to grant a credit of up to 690 euros for a model of the predecessor that is in good condition. This makes the purchase price of the iPhone 14 Pro much more attractive.
If you currently own an older iPhone – regardless of whether it’s a standard or Pro model – and would like to enjoy a real premium smartphone, the iPhone 14 Pro is definitely recommended. Provided the high purchase price does not deter you.
Reference-www.turn-on.de