iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14: Apple phones compared

IS choosing between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 leaving you stuck? We’ve put them side-by-side to help you pick your winner.

We’ve compared everything from camera specs to price to help you decide which to spend your cash on – read on to find out more.

• Apple iPhone 13 (2021), £699 – buy from Amazon
• Apple iPhone 14 (2022), £764 – buy from Amazon

Those that have their eyes set on the latest iPhones will often find themselves stuck between the iPhone 13 or the iPhone 14.

Both series share the same chipset and appear identical – which comes as no surprise with their releases just a year apart in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

But with Apple just a couple of months away from revealing the newest generation of iPhone, it makes choosing between the two tough.

So we’re comparing both to help you make an informed choice, examining the features, cameras, price and more. Read on to find out more.

And for an expert verdict, be sure to read our tech editor Sean Keach’s hands-on iPhone 13 review and iPhone 14 review where he gives an in-depth breakdown of both handsets.

We’ve also rounded up the best iPhone deals on the market so you get the best deal on whichever model takes your fancy.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: at a glance

Similarities:

When you first see the iPhone 13 and 14 side by side, there are some glaring similarities between the two Apple handsets.

But that comes as no surprise, Apple recently revamped the iPhones design, moving the trajectory away from the rounder look and back to the squarer more premium look we knew and loved.

So we’re not surprised they look so similar just a generation apart.

They’re both base models for their generations and both feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) screen.

Theres no step up in the chipset either, both come with Apple’s latest A15 Bionic Chip.

Aside from that, the notch on both devices are identical, despite the 14-series offering the new Dynamic Isaland, you won’t find that on the base iPhone 14.

You’ll also get the same Ceramic Shield glass front and glossy back finish on both, and the same IP68 dust and water resistance too.

As is the case with all the latest Apple releases, both devices are compatible with MagSafe accessories and wireless chargers (though you won’t find a charger in the box these days).

Differences:

So if these iPhones are so similar, what sets them apart?

Well to start the iPhone 14 does come with some significant upgrades, not least its camera.

The 14 has an improved aprature across the board, meaning it will be better than the 13 at mid and low-light photography.

It’s also gained the Photonic Engine, the latest in AI tech from Apple which learns through use to improve the overall quality of your photos, especially in less than ideal lighting.

And while the iPhone 13 has a 4-core GPU, the 14 has stepped things up with a 5-core, which essentially makes it more efficient and gives it a longer battery life (but we’ll talk about that more later).

There are also some major safety additions to the iPhone 14 that the iPhone 13 missed out on.

First is the new ‘Crash Detection’ which will automatically contact emergency services if it detects you’ve been in a car collision.

Elesewhere, the Emergency SOS system that comes with all iPhones has been improved to work via satellite, something that’s not possible on other models.

This means if you’re lost or in need of help and don’t have a cellular connection, you can still access the Emergency SOS feature and get help.

We certainly welcome these improvements, but how useful they will be to the average user is something we will get into below, read on to find out more.

iPhone 13 vs 13 Pro: Camera

Some of the major differences between these two handsets are best displayed in their cameras.

Notably, the release of the iPhone 14 came with some significant camera upgrades, which may ultimately swing in its favour with some shoppers.

While both feature a dual-camera system, the 14s is ‘advanced’, most apparently in the improved low-light aperture and the addition of autofocus.

In fact, it’s the first time an iPhone has come with autofocus on a front-facing camera, so it’s certainly a welcome upgrade for those who love a selfie or two.

Along with these upgrades to the 14-series Apple introduced the Photonic Engine, which improves the overall quality of your mid and low-light photography.

So for you, that means (according to Apple) up to 2x better performance with all the improvements made with the iPhone 14s camera.

That being said, the iPhone 13s camera is by no means a poor one and you’ll still find the same 12-megapixel Main camera and front-facing camera.

Ultimately, the technical upgrades on the iPhone 14 result in improved photo quality and it is the better of the two, but those differences will be marginal to the average user.

It comes down to whether or not those improvements and the latest features are worth the higher cost for you.

iPhone 13 versus iPhone 13 Pro: Design

There haven’t been any major changes in design between the iPhone 13 and 14, and to be frank, they’re practically identical.

Both feature the Ceramic Shield glass front and glossy backs, with the same diagonal camera lens layout that came with the release of the iPhone 13.

You’ll get six colours to choose from with both handsets, including Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, Red, and the newest addition, bright Yellow on the iPhone 14.

While the iPhone 13 comes with a more subdued colour pallet with Starlight, Midnight, Pink, Blue, Green and Red up for grabs.

One thing to note is that while the rest of the 14th generation has the new Dynamic Island, the base iPhone 14 model keeps the cutout feature that we’ve become accustomed to with the iPhone 13.

But this may be welcome news to some readers as the island has proved to be more divisive than Apple may have predicted, so it will be interesting to see what they do with it on the release of the iPhone 15.

The deciding factor here is which colourways you prefer, as the 14-series delivers some more pastel options, while the iPhone 13 comes with its own unique colour options.

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iPhone 13 Pro vs iPhone 13: Features

We’ve touched on some of the features the iPhone 14 gained over the 13, but it’s safe to say Apple did step things up a gear when it released the 14-series.

One of the big selling points Apple wanted to drum home was the improved safety features on the 14-gen – most notably the addition of ‘Crash Detection’.

It’s a feature they admit they ‘hope you never use’ but it’s a great addition that will automatically call for emergency services when your iPhone detects a collision.

Another safety upgrade the iPhone 14 gained over the 13 is Emergency SOS via satellite, which will get users to help even if there is no cellular connection.

Elsewhere, the iPhone 14 also gained some noticeable camera upgrades, such as the new Photonic Engine and Action mode.

The latter is ideal for photography on the go as you’ll capture smoother hand-held video even if you’re moving around a lot.

On the other hand, the Photonic Engine isn’t something to enable, it’s a hardwired new addition that uses AI to learn and improve overall photo quality, especially in low light.

The iPhone 13 isn’t quite as advanced when it comes to these aspects, none the less you’ll still get an impressive camera and solid safety features.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Battery

We are used to seeing a slight boost in battery life with each new Apple edition, and things are no different here.

There have been boosts across the board on the iPhone 14, with Apple boasting the new 5-core GPU translates to 20 hours of video playback, up to 16 hours of streamed video and 80 hours of audio.

The iPhone 13 was certainly a step up from the 12th generation but is not as impressive as the 14 on paper.

It had a lower 4-core GPU, which gives it a battery life of up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 hours of streaming and 75 hours of audio.

As we will always advise any shopper, these are ballpark figures and will more often than not, perform poorer in practice than on paper – so don’t pin your decision on the battery life alone.

But both support MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, so you won’t be short of ways to get more life in the tank when you need to recharge.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Price

On its release, the iPhone 13 base model entered the market at £779 with 128GB of storage, while the same plan on its successor cost £849 during its release in 2022.

While both have seen their prices drop since then, the iPhone 13 naturally remains the cheaper option out of the two devices, coming in at £65 cheaper than the iPhone 14.

You’ll also find both currently on sale at Amazon, with prices likely to drop further once the iPhone 15 hits the market.

• Apple iPhone 13 (2021), £699 (save 7%) – buy from Amazon
• Apple iPhone 14 (2022), £764 (save 10%) – buy from Amazon

Those looking for a pay-monthly plan will also find more affordable options on the iPhone 13, but there isn’t a huge disparity.

You can pick the iPhone 13 up with 100GB data and no upfront cost for £35 on the Three network.

While you can pick the iPhone 14 up on the same network, with the same data plan for just £4 extra at £39 per month.

Here are all the retailers that offer both handsets:

• Affordable Mobiles
• Buymobiles
• Mobiles.co.uk
• Fonehouse
• Carphone Warehouse
• Vodafone
• Mobile Phones Direct
• Three
• Virgin

Should I buy an iPhone 13 or an iPhone 13 Pro: The verdict

We can see why choosing between these two devices can be a tricky business, as, despite the upgrades to the iPhone 14, the 13 remains a solid choice that may outrank its successor for some users.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you determine a winner between the two, but here is what we suggest:

Choose the iPhone 13:

• You want value for money
• A decent camera
• The look and feel of a flagship

Choose the iPhone 14:

• You have a bigger budget
• You want the latest safety features
• You want the camera upgrades