iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: How Apple's latest iPhone compares to its predecessor in price, battery life, and more (2024)

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Relative to past iterations of the iPhone, the year-over-year changes in the standard iPhone 14 aren't groundbreaking. In fact, Apple's latest base model is incredibly similar to its predecessor, the iPhone 13.

If you own an iPhone 13 and are considering an upgrade to the latest model, or don't have either and aren't sure which one to buy, here's a full guide comparing the two phones on price, size, features, and more.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Specs at a glance

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Sizes and screens

When it comes to size, both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 are nearly identical.

Both phones have a 6.1-inch OLED screen, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. They're both 5.78 inches tall and 2.82 inches wide. They're also both made out of water- and dust-resistant aluminum, with a ceramic screen.

The only slight differences are in weight and depth, as the iPhone 13 weighs 6.14 ounces with a thickness of 0.30 inches, while the iPhone 14 weighs 6.07 ounces with a thickness of 0.31 inches.

Additionally, the iPhone 13 is available in a few more colors. You can buy the iPhone 13 in green, pink, blue, Midnight black, Starlight white, and (PRODUCT) red. The iPhone 14 only comes in blue, purple, Midnight black, Starlight white, and (PRODUCT) red.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Camera

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 both have three cameras: One selfie camera above the screen, and two cameras on the back.

Those back cameras are pretty much the same across both models. Both models have 12-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras, each of which has 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom.

The difference is that the iPhone 14 adds a "Photonic Engine" — an extra processing step that helps your photos look crisper — and an "Action mode" that automatically stabilizes shaky videos.

The iPhone 14's front selfie camera also now has autofocus, which helps you take clear photos even when you're capturing different subjects at different distances.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Internal hardware

Probably the most notable similarity between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 is their internal Bionic chip.

Both phones run using Apple's A15 Bionic chip. This chip contains the iPhone's CPU, graphics card, image processor, and AI neural engine.

Although they both use an A15 chip, the iPhone 14's chip comes with some slight upgrades. The iPhone 14 version has a 5-core GPU, compared to the iPhone 13's 4-core — this lets games and videos look better while taking less power.

In comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use a new A16 Bionic chip, which is more powerful than either version of the A15. Despite this, the A15 is still one of the best "system on a chip" designs on any smartphone.

They also both still use Face ID, and can both connect to 5G signals.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Battery

The iPhone 14's upgraded A15 Bionic chip also lets you get more performance out of every battery charge. According to Apple's tests, the iPhone 14 can last about an hour longer than the iPhone 13 when in constant use playing videos — 20 hours of battery life compared to 19 hours.

Both iPhones support magnetic MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, as well as fast Lightning cable charging from a 20W adapter.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Durability and longevity

In terms of exterior durability, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are essentially identical in what they offer.

Both phones feature the same external components: a Ceramic Shield glass front and an "aerospace-grade" aluminum body. In our testing, the Ceramic Shield glass is highly effective at preventing damage like scratches, and there's no difference between the glass front of the two phones. Both phones also have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, so either can be submerged at a depth of 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

If you're upgrading from an iPhone older than the iPhone 11, and you're looking to get a similarly long lifespan out of a new phone, you should opt for the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13 at this point. The additional $100 spent on the newer device is easy to justify when considering the long-term value in the greater longevity of its battery.

And from a hardware standpoint, the best way to ensure the durability and longevity of a new iPhone is to invest in a quality case. Our recommended clear cases for the iPhone 14 can protect your phone while showcasing its new design and color.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Other notable features

There are a few new features introduced on the iPhone 14 that iPhone 13 users won't have.

The first is emergency satellite SOS connections. When you buy an iPhone 14, you get a free two-year subscription for Apple's "Emergency SOS via satellite" program, which lets you send text messages to emergency services even when you don't have a cell signal. It does this by connecting to satellites flying in space, which then relay your messages and locations to emergency responders back on Earth.

The iPhone 14 also includes a built-in force sensor that can detect when you've been in a car crash. If the sensor detects a crash, it'll automatically offer to call emergency services — if you don't or can't respond, it'll call them without your input.

Lastly, the iPhone 14 doesn't use physical SIM cards. Instead, you'll need to install an electronic SIM card, also called an eSIM. You don't need to pay extra for this, or even have a Wi-Fi connection to install it — all you need is to have an account with a cell carrier that supports them.

For more details, check out our guide to the best new features the iPhone 14 line is packing.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Price

The price of your iPhone will change depending on how much internal storage you want it to have. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 offer the same storage options — 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB — but they cost different amounts.

In general, the iPhone 14 is $100 more than the iPhone 13 at every price point. Here's a chart breaking it down:

*This chart doesn't include taxes, shipping fees, or extra carrier costs.

Insider's takeaway

If you already own an iPhone 13 and it's still working well, there's little to no reason to buy an iPhone 14. They offer nearly identical performance and have nearly all the same features. The only improvements you'll get on the iPhone 14 are a better camera and two features you probably won't use in the emergency satellite SOS and car crash detection.

That said, if your iPhone is breaking down or a few years older, the iPhone 14 is worth the investment. It's only $100 more than the iPhone 13, has an improved and more dynamic camera, and offers greater battery life and longevity.

If you're new to the iPhone, though, you can't go wrong with either the iPhone 13 or the iPhone 14, which we named the two best overall iPhones currently available.