Now that the iPhone 14 lineup has been revealed, let’s take a look at iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro and how they compare.
The iPhone 14-series is positioning itself to be another paradigm change for the iPhone range, and it’s shaping up to be a very strong year for Apple. Instead of an iPhone tiny, Apple announced a bigger version of the normal iPhone, branded the iPhone 14 Plus. The crown jewels, however, are two different-sized versions of the same phone: the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro.
And this year, the two premium models have an advantage over their more cheap counterparts in the shape of several new unique features and functions not present on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. This year also represents Apple’s first physical distinction between premium and entry-level iPhones. Only the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro will use the new A16 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will use last year’s A15 Bionic.
There’s also a revised notch, this time in an i-shape, always-on display capabilities, and a new primary 48MP camera system that promises significantly better phone photography.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro will both be introduced on September 16, but how do they compare?
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro: Design and display quality
The only significant difference between the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max is their size. No, honestly, the only distinctions that matter are the size disparities. If you want the more compact size of the iPhone 14 Pro, you will have to compromise display and battery life, whereas splurging on the greatest new iPhone means you will have to get used to its bigger stature—and it will also cost more. Because of its big size, the iPhone 14 Pro Max pushes the boundaries of manageability, but the iPhone 14 Pro hits that sweet spot for most individuals.
If we ignore the size variations, we can see that the two phones are very similar in terms of design. Both adhere to the iPhone 12 design language, which reintroduced flat frames to the iPhone and, now in its third generation, is likely to shine the brightest. The two new iPhones are just as sturdy as previous models, thanks to a stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield glass.
The main difference here is that Apple’s high-end phones will include a new, i-shaped punch-hole in place of the now-standard iPhone notch. This gives the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max a more futuristic appearance and features Dynamic Island. This is essentially Apple adopting the punch-hole and attempting to integrate it into the iOS environment. By dynamically resizing the space around the punch-holes, Dynamic Island displays context-aware warnings, notifications, and current activities such as music playback, incoming calls, or AirDrops, and so on.
The latest iPhones are available in Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple. The Pacific Blue of the iPhone 12 and the Sierra Blue of the 13 Pro-series are noteworthy exclusions here, but be assured that Apple will most certainly renew the color range in early 2023. According to prior years, Apple usually adds a new color to their flagship iPhones a few months later. We already have Alpine Green for the iPhone 13 Pro-series in 2022, so let’s hope Apple adds another green or blue color to the forthcoming range in early 2023.
As previously stated, the primary distinction between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is their size and screen real estate. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display, identical to its predecessors, while the iPhone 14 Pro has the tried and proven 6.1-inch screen, which should be sufficient for most people.
Both displays employ 1-120Hz Super Retina XDR ProMotion panels, which provide excellent contrast, color reproduction, and motion. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max purportedly offer the brightest new screens on an iPhone, capable of hitting up to 2,000 nits in strong daylight circumstances, but only up to 1,000 nits when the brightness slider is manually adjusted.
And the Dynamic Island punch hole is quite unique, especially when compared to the regular notch seen on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The punch-hole has gained additional functionality as a result of the revised design, while still allowing access to the front camera and Face ID components. The proximity sensor has been placed beneath the display, which is most likely a foreshadowing of things to come.
The Always-On display, which makes full use of the minimal 1Hz refresh rate, is another intriguing new feature on both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Always-On display, as the name implies, keeps the lock screen faintly lighted at all times, presenting your lovely wallpaper, clock, and lock screen widgets, all of which are very configurable due to iOS 16. This capability is already available on the Apple Watch, so it only made logical to include it on the iPhone.
Face ID is still the primary biometric option for the iPhone 14 range. Despite the changes in notch design, both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will provide functionality.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro: Performance and software
The A16 Bionic chipset is used in the top-tier iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It is built on a 4nm node and has a tried-and-true six-core configuration with two performance and four efficiency cores. Apple does not provide exact performance data when compared to the Apple A15 Bionic from last year, but claims that its new CPU is 40% quicker than the competition.
In terms of memory, we anticipate 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM on both devices, but we’ll have to revisit that later because Apple seldom discloses RAM quantity on official specs pages. In terms of native storage, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max start at 128GB and can be upgraded to 256GB, 512GB, and even 1TB. When it comes to software upgrades, iPhones are well-known for their five- to six-year warranty. Keeping this in mind, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will very probably stay up to date until 2027 or 2028, which is the finest the mobile industry has to offer right now.
Both phones will feature 5G capability, and there are even suggestions that we may see satellite calling on the iPhone 14 series, with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max being the most likely candidates.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro: Camera
With the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple intends to make a significant photography paradigm change. Cupertino employs a considerably larger new camera sensor, a gigantic 1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor that uses pixel-binning to merge four pixels into one and eventually generate 12MP images, much like it does now but with improved dynamic range and light sensitivity in low-light circumstances. ProRAW allows you to capture full 48MP photos, but make sure you do it in excellent lighting. We don’t foresee any variations in overall quality between the two phones.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to include a triple camera system, identical to its predecessors: a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 3X 12MP telephoto lens for maximum versatility. However, there is a new 2X photography option that uses pixel binning to digitally zoom into the image without sacrificing quality. The FaceTime selfie camera has been updated with autofocus and a larger, f/1.9 aperture.
Many additional camera enhancements are on the way with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, including an adaptable True Tone flash, better computational photography capabilities like Night mode, Smart HDR 4, Portrait Lighting, Photographic Styles, and much more.
Despite the fact that the two new iPhones have 48MP sensors, there is no mention of 8K video recording, which is a good thing because it allows Apple to focus on the existing video-shooting capabilities of the two iPhones. A new Action mode for smooth video that supports shaking, jitters, and severe vibrations is available, as is Cinematic mode in 4K@30fps and 4K@24fps.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro: Battery life and charging
Let’s get one thing straight: we don’t know what the battery capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are. Typically, they are released only after the iPhones are sold and a disassembly exposes the sizes, but based on the overall proportions of the phones, the new iPhones should have batteries that are the same size, or somewhat smaller, than their predecessors owing to the increased footprint of the cameras.
The official battery usage times for both phones are as follows: the iPhone 14 Pro lasts up to 23 hours in video playback, up to 20 hours in streamed video playback, and up to 75 hours in audio playback mode, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts up to 29 hours in video playback, up to 25 hours in streamed video playback, and up to 95 hours in audio playback. In terms of battery life, this is comparable to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Apple provided 20W wired charging for the Phone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, as it did with the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13, respectively. Both phones offer 15W MagSafe wireless charging, but none has USB Type-C in 2022. However, due to law, next year’s iPhone crop will almost probably switch to the USB standard.
iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro: Specs
| Specs | iPhone 14 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 147.46 x 71.45 x 7.85 mm | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65 mm |
| Weight | 204g | 240g |
| Screen | 6.1″ OLED 120Hz Dynamic Island 19.5:9 |
6.7″ OLED 120Hz ProMotion i-shaped Face ID 20:9 |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A16 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR5 | 6GB LPDDR5 |
| Rear Cameras | Main: 48MP f/1.78 24mm Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.2 13mm Telephoto 3X: 12MP f/2.8 77mm Telephoto 2X mode: 12MP f/1.78 48mm |
Main: 48MP f/1.78 24mm Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.2 13mm Telephoto 3X: 12MP f/2.8 77mm Telephoto 2X mode: 12MP f/1.78 48mm |
| Front camera | 12MP Front with AF, f/1.9 | 12MP Front with AF, f/1.9 |
| Charging speeds | 20W wired charging 15W MagSafe wireless |
20W wired charging 15W MagSafe wireless |
| Price | from $999 for 128GB | from $1,099 for 128GB |
As can be seen in the table above, the main variations are in the size, display, and battery sectors. There may be some surprises, but we estimate the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max specifications to be 95% the same as the ones listed above.
Our Verdict
So, should you choose the iPhone 14 Pro or the iPhone 14 Pro Max? It all comes down to your personal size choices. If you’re interested in the Pro-series, you already know you’re getting the best of the best, so the changes between the two phones, aside from size, are small but significant.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max should be your first choice if you want the longest battery life and the biggest screen real estate. To be honest, if you can take its extra bulk and weight, you are unlikely to be dissatisfied. The price should also be considered; the Pro Max version is always at least $100 more expensive. This year, it may mean paying $1,199 for the entry-level iPhone 14 Pro Max, which could be a difficult pill to swallow.
Meanwhile, if you don’t need the larger battery and display and would rather have a more compact phone, it’s difficult to pass up the much more practical iPhone 14 Pro. The fact is that you’re unlikely to lose out on much with the smaller phone: after all, it’ll contain all of the new capabilities that the Pro Max has, but in a more manageable size. As an extra benefit, it will be at least $100 less expensive.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro. If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading some of our other articles, such as Comparison: iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max, or the notch makes way for iPhone 14 Dynamic Island feature.
