Which iPhone 14 Model Should You Choose? (Buying Guide 2022)

The much-rumored iPhone 14 is now a reality. Apple announced its release on September 7, 2022, stating that its pre-order would begin from 5:30 PM IST on September 9. Expectant buyers may, however, have to wait till September 16, when it will get to the market to purchase it.

This flagship, unarguably Apple’s best to date, comes in 4 models; iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. If you are not a first-time Apple phone user, you can tell which will be the most and least expensive. Selecting which to purchase is, however, not that easy. While you want to get the best naturally, you also have other factors to consider.

Of course, for most people, their budget is usually the most significant determinant when considering whether to buy anything. We will start from this critical consideration and expand to other things, such as the features of the models, to help you make an informed choice. So, straight to business.

First Thing First: Your Budget

No matter how compelling other considerations are, your budget comes first. Smartphones are important, but perhaps other life essentials such as health, food, and education are also competing for scarce resources. If this is true, you must stay within what you can reasonably afford.

Interestingly, Apple kept the prices the same as those of the iPhone 13 last year. See below the price ranges for each model.

Features Consideration: Screen Size & Display

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro have a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max have a 6.7-inch screen. Assuming that budget is not an issue, you can settle for the big screen options if you are a heavy media user.

You get a Super Retina XDR display regardless of which model you choose. The Pro and Pro max gets Apple’s always-on display, allowing you to see information at a glance without unlocking your phone. Its refresh rate, as low as 1Hz, also reduces the tendency of battery drainage.

This feature makes the Pro models better for gaming. So, the Pro model will be best for you if you are a game freak. Although these don’t sound like a big deal to you,  you can opt for the iPhone 14 or the larger iPhone 14 Plus, which are better alternatives in terms of display technology.

Features Considerations: Camera

iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have two rear cameras, the main wide angle and the ultra-wide angle of 12MP. They both have a front-facing camera of 12-megapixel and an HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60fps. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus both possess a similar quality of a 12-megapixel primary lens with a faster aperture which tends to be great for motion capture.

Conversely, iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come with the main wide-angle of 48MP,  ultra-wide-angle, and 3× telephoto camera of 12MP, respectively, which can be helpful for portraits and optical zoom.

The iPhone 14 Pro comes with a 48-megapixel camera, Pro Video, and Cinematic modes, which can record as far as 4K and 24 frames per second. iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max has a pixel density of 460ppi, while iPhone 14 Plus has a 458ppi pixel density.

Features Consideration: Processors

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have an Apple A15 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max possess an Apple A16 Bionic processor.

Going for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is a no-brainer regarding camera quality. If you enjoy photography, this is best for you as it has the features of; a 3× telephoto camera and 48MP main camera with quad-pixel technology, which triggers a significant improvement to cinematic mode.

Features Consideration: Battery Capacity

Apple’s official estimate in battery capacity is 23 and 29 hours of video playback for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, respectively. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 plus should have 20 and 26 hours of video playback, respectively.

So, if you are looking for the best model in terms of long battery life, go for the iPhone 14 Pro Max or the iPhone 14 Plus, as its battery capacity seems close to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

iPhone 14 has a battery capacity of 3,279mAh; iPhone 14 Plus has a battery capacity of 4,325mAh; the iPhone 14 Pro has a capacity of 3,200mAh, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a battery capacity of 4,323mAh.

Other Features

iPhone 14 series showcase features like the new Emergency SOS via Satellite, which guarantees a free two-year subscription. It replaced sim trays and the idea of physical Sims with eSim compatibility, which is now available only on US variants.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduced the reduced notch and dynamic island tag, which expands and shrinks to accommodate notifications. It also gets access to direct connections to nearby satellites to get connected to the world in remote locations without a network.

The iPhone 14 offers a good balance in performance and price, and if you are looking for a smaller device in the series, this would be a good offer. iPhone 14 Plus would have great worth for lovers of large phones who don’t need the extra features that the Pro Max has.

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max would benefit the power users as they enjoy the new A16 chip, the always-on display, the Display Island, and a better camera. Whatever your choice, you can make a good decision with this guide.

Bottom Line

All the models on the iPhone 14 series are top-notch, with the A16 Processor in the Pro and Pro Max versions being the most significant difference. Barring financial incapacitation, the Pro and Pro Max models are the first port of call for heavy phone users.

Remember to get a protective case for your choice to shield it from scratches, dents, and dust.