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Key Takeaways

  • Apple offers the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models at $599 and $699, respectively.
  • The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 have the same design and processor, but the latter has minor camera and battery improvements.
  • You can buy both iPhone models at discounted prices from third-party retailers.

Older iPhones don't go out of style as quickly as their Android counterparts, and the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are still some of the best smartphones you can buy today if you're on a budget. Let's compare the two and find out which is better for you.

Price Difference

Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 launched at $799, just like the iPhone 15 did in 2023. However, you can now get the 128GB variant of iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 for just $599 and $699, respectively, directly from Apple Store Online. The company has discontinued the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro series, but the base models are still available at the time of writing.

Note that Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 mini, given its poor sales, although we did find it remarkable for its size in our iPhone 13 mini review. The iPhone 14 Plus is still available for $799 alongside the base iPhone 14.

So, what do you get for the extra hundred bucks on the iPhone 14? Well, let's find out below.

Design and Colors

The iPhone 14 comes in five colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, (PRODUCT)RED, and Purple. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 has six color options, including Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Pink, Green, and (PRODUCT)RED.

Midnight and Starlight are the only two colors in which you will find both models, as the Blue and (PRODUCT)RED variants of the iPhone 14 are deeper and darker than those found on the iPhone 13. Can't decide? We can help you choose the best iPhone 14 color for you.

Surprisingly, there's not much to talk about when it comes to design differences. The iPhone 14 looks almost exactly the same as the iPhone 13. Both models sport a ceramic shield front and an aluminum body with a glossy back. The rear cameras are positioned similarly, and the notch remains the same size.

However, it's worth noting that the iPhone 14 is barely an inch thicker than its predecessor. Despite the slight increase in depth, the iPhone 14 is a little lighter than the iPhone 13. However, in the general gist of things, these minor differences do not amount to much and are primarily insignificant when weighed against each other.

One significant difference you will see is the absence of SIM trays in the iPhone 14, as the newer generation is not compatible with physical SIM cards anymore and only has dual eSIM support.

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 have identical 6.1-inch OLED displays, supporting HDR with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. So, you can rest assured that the display of the iPhone 13 will look and feel precisely the same way as the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 features the notch we're familiar with instead of the Dynamic Island like on the iPhone 14 Pro. So, if you want a slightly more modern-looking display, you may want to upgrade to the iPhone 15 instead of the iPhone 14.

Processor and Performance

While the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 offer chart-topping benchmark scores, most people won't notice these performance improvements in day-to-day use.

The A15 Bionic chip in the older iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models can still handle almost any task you throw at it without breaking a sweat. However, it's worth noting that the A15 chip in the iPhone 13 is not the same as the one in the iPhone 14. The latter sports the A15 that powered the iPhone 13 Pro models, which comparatively has a roughly 20% graphics boost due to the 5-core GPU instead of a 4-core unit.

That said, if you use your device for basic tasks like calling, texting, using social media, and internet browsing, you won't feel any meaningful difference. So, unless you plan to play graphically demanding games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, go for the iPhone 13 and save yourself some money.

Camera Hardware

purple iphone 14
Apple/YouTube
 

Camera quality is another department where the iPhone 14 has a slight edge over the iPhone 13. On paper, you'll see that both the models have the same dual 12MP camera system, with a main and ultra-wide lens placed diagonally. However, let's address what has changed:

There is a slight difference in the apertures of the standard main lens, with the iPhone 14 sporting an ƒ/1.5, just like 2021's iPhone 13 Pro models. Don't know what this means? It's easy enough. The lower the f-stop, the more light enters the camera lens, which means the iPhone 14 lets in slightly more light than the iPhone 13.

All these hardware improvements, coupled with Apple's Photonic Engine, contribute to greater detail and improved low-light performance and nighttime photography.

If we look at the front camera of the iPhone 14, it has a smaller aperture (ƒ.1.6 compared to iPhone 13's ƒ/2.2). It also gets an autofocus feature, just like the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro models, which should add a little depth to your selfies.

Besides all the software features introduced with the iPhone 13, like Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 4, Cinematic mode, and more, the iPhone 14 offers Action Mode to add much better stabilization to videos with some cropping.

Battery Life, Charging, and Storage

iPhone 13 being charged using MagSafe
Framesira/Shutterstock

Apple rates the iPhone 14 for up to 20 hours of video playback, 16 hours of video streaming, and 80 hours of audio playback. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 offers up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 hours of video streaming, and 75 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 14's battery size is also slightly larger to deliver these numbers.

Be careful when buying a refurbished or pre-owned iPhone, though, as the batteries in them may no longer be at their peak capacity, especially the iPhone 13. So, you shouldn't expect them to last as long as the advertised figures.

Fortunately, the charging speed remains the same, as Apple claims up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher for the iPhone 13 and 14. Both models also support MagSafe wireless charging, and they come in three storage options: 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.

Why the iPhone 13 Is a Better Buy Than the iPhone 14

Identical designs, displays, processors, and cameras make it hard to justify the iPhone 14's $100 higher price tag in 2024. It appears to be mostly a repackaged iPhone 13, and you'd be better off spending $200 more on an iPhone 15 instead. For the extra cost, you get the Dynamic Island, a much brighter display, the A16 chip, USB-C, and a 48MP primary camera.

Considering all these factors, we strongly believe the iPhone 13 offers more value than the iPhone 14. In fact, many retailers are now selling renewed iPhone 13s for under $400 on Amazon, and that's an offer you shouldn't avoid.