If you have been cynical about the specification gap between the pro and non-pro models of the iPhone previously, it is about to change.
Significantly departing from the usual annual upgrades to its all-powerful smartphone lineup, Apple has recently released the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro with a twist.
In an attempt to attract more users to the premium ‘Pro’ line, Apple made quite a bold move. It has made significantly lower (than usual) upgrades to iPhone 14 this year.
Whereas, the iPhone 14 Pro offers a considerably greater upgrade than its predecessor. As a result, the difference between the pro version and the non-pro version of the iPhone 14 has grown.
Regardless of how remarkable the pro models always have been, as of last year, we found it difficult to recommend them. The extra features were not always worth the extra cost.
This year, Apple has changed its game altogether. Even though many of the components in the two are identical, the Pro model has a few cool features setting it apart.
The following table shows a comparison of all the specifications of both phones.
Now, let’s have a closer look at the key differences.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Appearance and design differences
Both the pro and non-pro iPhone 14 have 6.1 inches screens and negligible differences in their physical dimensions. Yet, the very first difference that you’ll notice is in the appearance of both phones.
iPhone 14 has an aluminium frame with a matte finish, alongside a glossy back. The Pro, on the other hand, features a frosted glass back and a sleek stainless steel frame.
The stainless steel frame makes the iPhone 14 Pro weigh 7.27 ounces, which is significantly greater as opposed to iPhone 14's weight of 6.07 ounces.
In terms of design, iPhone 14 resembles the iPhone 13 from a year ago except for a narrower notch and diagonal camera lens arrangement.
However, it does seem that Apple devoted its efforts to the iPhone 14 Pro this year. The design from its back may be comparable to that of the iPhone 13 Pro with a larger camera module.
But, across the front, iPhone 14 Pro's notch is gone altogether. Instead, there is a large pill-shaped cutout that serves as the focal point of what Apple refers to as Dynamic Island.
With the help of this function, the cutout for alerts and notifications is expanded to better fit the additional screen space.
Considering the differences in design and appearance, iPhone 14 Pro strikes us as a much better choice. This one will help you finally ditch the notch after five years.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Camera differences
The camera module is another area in which the divergence is noteworthy. The iPhone 14 continues to use the same old, dependable, but outdated 12 MP sensor.
Apple did not make many changes to its hardware, aside from a few aperture adjustments and a larger sensor for enhanced low-light performance.
If it upholds its claims, you’ll now be able to enjoy up to “2x” improved low-light photography with iPhone 14.
The show's real star, however, is the brand-new 48 MP sensor provided under the iPhone 14 Pro's primary wide-angle lens.
By default, it clusters pixels into groups of four to produce 12 MP photographs in the same way as before, but with significantly improved light sensitivity and reduced noise.
You can capture 48 MP photographs with ProRAW for exceptionally fine detail, but while they do look great, post-processing them will require some skill.
Apple launched the "Cinematic Mode" last year, allowing for shallow depth of field in videos, but it was limited to 1080p quality and 30 f/ps. It can be done in 4K at 30 f/ps with the iPhone 14 Pro.
Anyone with a passion for photography will truly appreciate the less grainy and sharper images produced with the iPhone 14 Pro, regardless of what the lighting conditions may be.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Performance differences
Apple has used an interesting strategy of retaining the A15 Bionic chip (from the iPhone 13 models) for its new iPhone 14.
This has led to a misconception rapidly spreading that iPhone 14 users will see no improvement in performance compared to its predecessors.
The truth is Apple chose to make use of the slightly modified A15 chip that was used in the iPhone 13 lineup. Instead of having four, it has five GPU cores, which considerably improves graphics performance.
However, the Pro models of iPhone 14 feature the brand-new A16 Bionic chip, which boasts over 16 billion transistors. Technically, A16 and A15 both have a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU configuration, but the A16 Bionic performs faster due to its increased transistor density.
According to Apple, the A16 Bionic offers 50% greater bandwidth, which could greatly improve the speed of operations that require a lot of processing power, like playing games.
In order to produce significantly better images and videos, Apple also developed a new image signal processor (ISP) for the A16 Bionic.
This ISP works in conjunction with the new "Photonic Engine" as well as the enlarged 48-megapixel sensor for delivering the best results.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Display differences
As already mentioned above, the contentious notch has been changed to a pill-shaped cutout on all iPhone 14 Pro models.
However, Apple chose to leverage it very smartly. Rather than having the notifications and content flow around it, Apple has made the pill a significant component of its software known as the “Dynamic Island”.
The black pill may expand and stretch to display a variety of content. Not only is it convenient, but it appears to be a delightful feature transforming what would otherwise be an eyesore into a crucial component of the iOS 16.
For the very first time, Apple also features an always-on display for the pro models of iPhone 14. This enables you to view widgets like the time, incoming notifications, and other information without the need to wake the device.
In contrast to the non-pro iPhone 14, which is capable of achieving the maximum brightness of only 1200 nits outdoors, the pro models can reach a peak brightness of 2000 nits.
While this write-up may depict a greater focus on the display specifications of the iPhone 14 Pro, it is simply because the pro models have significantly more features worth the attention.
Conclusion
The iPhone 14 is a well-rounded gadget that offers all the key features that the majority of consumers demand, especially those upgrading from an older model.
It boasts excellent cameras, a potent processor, long battery life, and a wide array of features that will satisfy you for the foreseeable future.
For the majority of us, this is a reasonable option, especially when you consider the $200 price difference between the basic and pro devices, having the same amount of storage space and a negligible difference in battery life.
However, we cannot help recommending that you go pro this time since the upgrade you experience will be quite substantial compared to the price difference.
Avid gamers and content creators will, especially, find iPhone 14 Pro to be a genuinely remarkable handset.