Apple launched the iPhone 14 series in September 2022, and while all the excitement is around the bigger iPhone 14 Plus and the flagship iPhone 14 Pro Max, we wanted to guide the people who're in the market for a compact iPhone.

You have two options: the standard iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro, both coming in similar sizes. So, here is a detailed comparison of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro to help you make an informed decision.

Price

We'll kick things off with the real deal, shall we? As a general rule of thumb, the Pro models usually tend to have better features than the standard iPhone. The only thing that really holds you back is the price difference. Here's a quick look at how much you'll be paying for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

Despite rumors of an increase in prices, Apple has stuck to the same prices as the iPhone 13 series, at least in the United States. The iPhone 14 starts at $799, while the iPhone 14 Pro retails at $999 for the lowest 128GB storage option. So what does that extra $200 get you? Let's find out below.

Design

If you put both the models side by side, you'll barely notice any significant size difference, but upon a closer look, you'll see that the iPhone 14 Pro is ever so slightly taller than the standard iPhone. What's really different is the build and the front design.

The iPhone 14 Pro has a stainless steel frame, which makes it heavier than the standard iPhone 14 with its light aluminum build. Power on the displays, and you'll immediately notice that the iPhone 14 Pro has ditched the notch on the front, replacing it with a pill-shaped cutout that Apple calls "Dynamic Island."

The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro is all the hype in the tech industry right now, as it seems to be the only significant design change Apple has made to the new generation of iPhones.

Flip both the phones around, and you'll notice a massive difference in the cameras, a pattern traditionally followed by previous iPhone lineups. The standard 14 has a dual-camera setup placed diagonally, while the iPhone 14 Pro has three lenses with a larger camera module. It's pretty easy to tell both the models apart due to this, even from a distance.

Color

The iPhone 14 comes in five colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and (PRODUCT) Red. The iPhone 14 Pro has a slightly smaller yet completely different range with four color options: Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple.

To sum it up, the iPhone 14 comes in fun primary colors, while the iPhone 14 Pro has a neutral, muted palette. If you're someone who prefers a polished, professional look for your phone, the colors for iPhone 14 Pro may be a perfect fit for you. Still confused? We can help you decide which iPhone 14 Pro color is best for you.

Display

There are quite a few similarities and differences when comparing the displays of both models. Both phones feature a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, nearly identical resolutions, HDR display, and Haptic Touch. But that's where the similarities end.

The iPhone 14 Pro features ProMotion technology with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz—twice the refresh rate of the standard model. This means smoother animations and more fluid scrolling.

However, if you test the two iPhones together, you might struggle to notice the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz right away. However, once you get used to a high refresh rate screen, you'll never want to go back to a standard 60Hz display.

The iPhone 14 Pro's display can also deliver a peak brightness of 2,000 nits outdoors and 1,600 nits while viewing HDR content. In contrast, the standard iPhone 14 can only reach a maximum brightness of 1,200 nits for HDR content.

Camera

The camera is, perhaps, the only feature that never fails to get an upgrade with the launch of every iPhone series. This time was no different. There are physical and functional differences in the cameras of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. We'll first discuss the features of each model separately and then interpret what the differences mean for a user.

The iPhone 14 has a dual 12MP camera system with a main and ultra-wide lens, similar to the one on the iPhone 13—although it uses the iPhone 13 Pro's main lens. As for the Pro model, you still get three lenses like last year's Pro models: main, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses.

However, the iPhone 14 Pro model gets the biggest camera upgrade in several years, with a new 48MP primary sensor that uses pixel binning to let in more light. It also offers digital zoom up to 15x, which is three times greater than iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 Pro also unlocks night mode portraits, macro photography, and Apple ProRAW support. Thankfully, the front cameras on both phones are identical and can take 12MP photos with autofocus, so your selfies will look the same no matter what iPhone you buy.

Processor

There's a considerable difference in performance between the two models, and here's why. Unlike previous years, Apple packed the older A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14—the same one that powered the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple decided to reserve the cutting-edge A16 Bionic chip for the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro, and although it's not a huge leap over the A15, it makes the iPhone 14 less ideal for long-term use. But would you sacrifice that to save an extra $200?

Battery Life and Storage

The iPhone 14 packs a slighter bigger battery than the iPhone 14 Pro, but that's not good enough to beat the more expensive phone in the battery department. Thanks to the adaptive ProMotion display and the efficiency of the A16 chip, the iPhone 14 Pro can last three hours longer than the iPhone 14 for video playback.

Thankfully, both models support 15W MagSafe charging and can also fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher. Both models also come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, but Apple reserves the coveted 1TB variant for the iPhone 14 Pro.

Is the iPhone 14 Pro Worth the Extra Money?

For only $200 more, the iPhone 14 Pro offers a lot more, giving more value for your money. Whether it's the Dynamic Island, the 120Hz display, the A16 Bionic chip, or the 48MP camera, you have your own reason to lean towards the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro.

However, if you think neither of these models is suitable for you, you can always look into the other two models of the iPhone 14 lineup—the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max—and find your perfect fit.