Andrew Orr
Apple reintroduced the Plus iPhone descriptor at its fall event with the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus. Here's how it compares to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple's annual event has concluded, launching new iPhones, AirPods Pro 2, Apple Watch Series 8, and a brand new product with Apple Watch Ultra.
The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max share size, connectivity, and memory. However, they diverge when it comes to rear cameras, colors, battery life, and of course, price. Among other features with varying degrees of importance.
Apple introduces new features first in the Pro models, such as Dynamic Island which has proven to be quite popular with early adopters.
Specifications
| Specifications | iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone 14 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (starting) | $899.00 Buy at Verizon, AT&T | $1,099.00 Check prices | |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 | 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 | |
| Weight (ounces) | 7.16 | 8.47 | |
| Processor | A15 Bionic 5-core GPU | A16 Bionic 5-core GPU | |
| Storage | 128GB 256GB 512GB | 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB | |
| Display type | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR | |
| Resolution | 2,778 x 1,284 at 458ppi | 2,796 x 1,290 at 460 ppi | |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID | |
| Connectivity | 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave) Gigabit-class LTE Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.3 Ultra Wideband Emergency SOS via Satellite | 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave) Gigabit-class LTE Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.3 Ultra Wideband Emergency SOS via Satellite | |
| Rear Cameras | 12MP Wide 12MP Ultra Wide | 48MP Wide 12MP Ultra Wide 12MP Telephoto | |
| Video | 4K up to 60 fps 1080p up to 60 fps 720p HD at 30 fps 1080p Slo-Mo up to 240 fps Cinematic mode Action mode Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video | 4K up to 60 fps 1080p up to 60 fps 720p HD at 30 fps 1080p Slo-Mo up to 240 fps Cinematic mode Action mode Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video Dual optical image stabilization for video | |
| Front Camera | 12MP TrueDepth Autofocus | 12MP TrueDepth Autofocus | |
| Battery Size (video playback time) | Up to 26 hours | Up to 29 hours | |
| Colors | Midnight Purple Starlight Blue (PRODUCT)RED | Space Black Silver Gold Deep Purple | |
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Physical Dimensions
The iPhone 14 Plus is the first model since the iPhone 8 Plus to bring back the "Plus" moniker. At the same time, Apple dropped the iPhone mini from the line, and there is no iPhone 14 mini.
The iPhone 14 Plus is just a hair wider than the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 3.07 inches, likely due to the difference in material, aluminum versus stainless steel. The most significant factor here is weight, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max coming in at 8.47 ounces.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Displays
Both models share the same 6.7-inch Super Retina Display but slightly differ in resolution. The iPhone 14 Plus has a resolution of 2,778 by 1,284 pixels and a pixel density of 458 PPI, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 2,796 by 1,290-pixel resolution of 460ppi.
It's unlikely that people will notice a difference between the two screen sizes when held side-by-side, but other features set them apart.
A new feature Apple introduced in this area is the always-on display found on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Enabled by a new 1Hz refresh rate and multiple power-efficient technologies, it utilizes the new Lock Screen widgets in iOS 16 to keep the information always at a glance.
The iPhone 14 Plus display has 800 nits max brightness with typical usage and reaches 1,200 nits of peak brightness when displaying HDR content. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has 1,000 nits max brightness with regular use, 1,600 nits of peak brightness to display HDR content, and 2,000 nits peak brightness when a person is outdoors.
During the keynote, Apple said the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is comparable to the Pro Display XDR monitor when it comes to brightness.
This monitor has a sustained brightness of 1,000 nits for any high-definition image when using the display in specific environments. The peak brightness measures 1,600 nits up to 39 percent of the screen area when the remaining portion is 500 nits or black. When viewing standard-definition content, the brightness achieves 500 nits.
The other new feature inside the iPhone 14 Pro line is Dynamic Island, replacing the notch at the top of the screen that the iPhone X debuted in 2017. Apple designed new user interface animations that use the Island. It adapts in real-time to show essential alerts, notifications, and activities.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Cameras
Apple has brought a new Wide camera to the iPhone line since the introduction of the 12-megapixel camera in the iPhone 6s. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have a stunning 48-megapixel camera sensor.
The quad-pixel sensor combines every four pixels into one large quad pixel equivalent to 2.44 m, resulting in improved low-light capture but keeping photo size at 12MP. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max achieve 48-megapixel photos using Apple's ProRAW format.
In addition, a new Photonic Engine takes computational photography even further with better mid- to low-light performance in photos across all cameras. This new Photonic Engine changes how the photo is processed and applies Deep Fusion earlier on, creating a better photo. It is employed on both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 Plus keeps the 12MP lens for the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras and lacks the 12MP Telephoto lens found on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
A new feature found on all iPhone 14 models is Action Mode. It lets videographers take smooth videos that adjust to shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when a video is being captured in the middle of the action. As a result, some iPhone 14 users may find that they no longer need specific third-party equipment such as a gimbal.
Just as with the iPhone 13 series, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max support ProRAW photos and Apple ProRes video while the iPhone 14 Plus does not.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Processors
Apple kept the A15 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 14 Plus that it introduced in 2021, albeit with some small changes. For example, the A15 Bionic on the iPhone 14 Plus now has a five-core GPU, as does the iPhone 14 Pro's A16 Bionic.
That new A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro line powers the Dynamic Island and the model's all-day battery life. The 6-core CPU is up to 40 percent faster than competing Android phones at all price points.
In addition, a new 16-core Neural Engine found within the device is capable of nearly 17 trillion operations per second.
The iPhone 14 Plus keeps the A15 Bionic chip introduced with the iPhone 13, but that's not bad. The maturity of Apple Silicon within iPhones means that the chip is more than capable of all tasks.
In our CPU tests, iPhone 14 Pro Max shows minor single-core gains, going from 1722 on the iPhone 14 Plus to 1862 on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Both chips have the same number of CPU cores, so the multi-core results showed a minor uptick as well, going from 4349 to 4775.
Graphics we saw a better boost. The iPhone 14 Plus scored 12354 whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max scored 15424 in the Geekbench Compute Metal graphics benchmark.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Connectivity
The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max share the same connectivity features, with 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 6, and Ultra Wideband that uses the U1 chip introduced in the iPhone 11 product line. In addition, apple upgraded Bluetooth capabilities, with both models featuring Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.0 in older iPhones.
A new feature found in all iPhone 14 is an emergency satellite connection. It combines custom hardware components and software called Emergency SOS via Satellite to let iPhone antennas connect directly to a satellite.
It's perfect for adventurers in the wilderness who could get lost or injured and happen to be outside of Wi-Fi and cellular ranges.
The iPhone 14 line displays pre-chosen messages that people can select for a faster response from emergency services. Choose among situations such as crime, a vehicle issue, fire, a person being lost or trapped, and other categories to give rescuers all the necessary information.
This saves vital time since connecting to satellites 100+ miles into space and traveling at 15,000 miles or more per hour is difficult for devices.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Power
The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max have impressive battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus can achieve up to 26 hours of local video, 20 hours of video streaming, and 100 hours of audio.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro Max reaches up to 29 hours of local video, 25 hours of video streaming, and 95 hours of audio, an interesting decrease from the iPhone 14 Plus.
Using a 20W or higher charging adapter, both models can reach up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes. All smartphones in the iPhone 14 product line keep the Lightning port, and all can charge via MagSafe or Qi wireless charging.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Other Features
Apple is removing the physical SIM card slot on all iPhone 14 models, switching over to eSIM-only. It's a notable move that will likely cause headaches early on for some people, but ultimately everyone will get used to the change.
Specifically, Apple billed this as a privacy feature during the keynote, saying that thieves who steal an iPhone won't be able to swap the SIM card anymore.
Another new feature coming to the iPhone 14 product line, as well as the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, is Crash Detection. New Apple devices can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.
This is an emergency feature that utilizes a new dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs, as well as a new high dynamic range gyroscope. In addition, the barometer can detect cabin pressure changes, GPS notes additional input for speed changes, and the microphone recognizes loud noises typical of severe car crashes.
Advanced motion algorithms trained with over a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data further increase accuracy.
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Storage, Color, and Price
People can purchase the iPhone 14 Plus in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The iPhone 14 Pro Max adds a more significant 1TB option to the line.
Colors for the iPhone 14 Plus include Midnight, Starlight, Purple, Blue, and (Product)Red. Apple continues to limit the iPhone 14 Pro Max color range, available in Silver, Gold, a new Space Black shade, and Deep Purple.
Impressively, despite rumors claiming price increases for new iPhones in 2022, they remain the same as the iPhone 13 product line. The iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099.
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - What to Buy
As usual, deciding which new iPhone to buy depends on multiple factors. For example, the 48MP sensor will attract photographers and videographers to the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the motion-reducing video feature of Action Mode.
Likewise, a faster chip and 1TB storage option appeal to some customers eyeing the iPhone 14 Pro Max. In both models, emergency features such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite can potentially attract everyone, regardless if they are a new iPhone buyer or existing customers.
The iPhone 14 Plus seems to focus on those who like the big screen of the iPhone Pro Max models but don't want to pay the Pro price. Most people won't notice a difference in the processor or camera.
Apple's iPhone is a mature product. The last few product lines, including the iPhone 14 series, have been primarily incremental because they're already excellent devices on all fronts.
But, not everybody is doing an every-year update. Most aren't.
For new customers, getting the latest iPhone makes sense as long as the price isn't a concern. There are financing options such as Apple Card Monthly Installments to keep the pain down.
Existing customers already have a handle on financing options, and it's a matter of determining if the new features are worth the cost when the in-hand iPhone may still have some life left in it.
The Pro line continues to be the bleeding edge for new innovation, so new and existing customers may find the iPhone 14 Pro Max an attractive purchase.
Where to buy
Wireless carriers are incentivizing both the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with trade-in specials and installment offers. AppleInsider has rounded up the best iPhone deals across leading providers.
You can also jump to the corresponding carriers directly:
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
14 Comments
For owners of the iPhone 13 pro max with the Apple Upgrade program the shift to the iPhone 14 pro max is the same monthly charge, to the penny. So I’ll be upgrading for the cost of a new case. The camera and satellite are worth that alone.
The prices in the Netherlands are obscene. My guess is that with the economy as it is today, people will hold on to their phones longer.
These are prices with only 128gb of memory. Why do they even provide the option to give you what is essentially a crippled phone?
In comparison:
In my experience, the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max all too easily overheat when shooting video and shut down the display (going black). Hoping the 14 series doesn't behave this way.
once upon a time with I looked forward to the announcement of new iPhones... This Pro Max Plus business has become a satire of corporate lack of imagination or risk taking. It is another of Apple's mature products and showing the signs of middle age, just getting heavier, with feature overload.