Comparison
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14: Is There a Real Difference?
The iPhone 14 is a small step up from the iPhone 13, with a better main camera in low light, a front camera with autofocus, Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. The iPhone 13 is nearly the same phone.
Buy the iPhone 14 if you want Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, Action mode video and slightly better low-light photos. Buy the iPhone 13 if you want the same 6.1-inch screen, A15 Bionic chip and dual 12MP cameras.
You want Crash Detection and satellite SOS
You take photos indoors and at night
You want sharper selfies and video calls
You want to keep the phone a little longer
You want the lowest price on a reliable 6.1-inch iPhone
Your photos are mostly in daylight
You already have Lightning cables
It is a first phone or a phone for a teen
Skip both if: you want USB-C or Apple Intelligence. Neither has them. The iPhone 15 has USB-C and the iPhone 16 adds Apple Intelligence.
The short version
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 look almost the same. Both have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with a notch, at 2532 by 1170 and 60Hz. Both use the A15 Bionic chip, dual 12MP rear cameras, Face ID, MagSafe, Lightning and IP68.
The iPhone 14 adds a few real upgrades. Its main camera has a wider f/1.5 aperture and Apple's Photonic Engine for better low-light photos. Its front camera gets autofocus. Its A15 has a 5-core GPU instead of 4. It adds Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite and Action mode for smooth handheld video. Battery life is up by about an hour.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2021 | September 2022 |
| Screen | 6.1" OLED, notch, 2532 x 1170 | 6.1" OLED, notch, 2532 x 1170 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness | 800 nits typical, 1200 nits HDR | 800 nits typical, 1200 nits HDR |
| Chip | A15 Bionic (4-core GPU) | A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Main camera | 12MP, f/1.6 | 12MP, f/1.5, Photonic Engine |
| Ultra wide | 12MP | 12MP |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP with autofocus |
| Video extras | Cinematic mode at 1080p | Cinematic mode up to 4K, Action mode |
| Crash Detection | No | Yes |
| Emergency SOS via satellite | No | Yes |
| Video playback | Up to 19 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
| MagSafe | Up to 15W | Up to 15W |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Weight | 174 g | 172 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Apple Intelligence | No | No |
| Refurbished price | From $419.99 | From $459.99 |
Cameras
Both phones have a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultra wide.
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In good light, photos look very similar.
The iPhone 14 main camera has a wider f/1.5 aperture against f/1.6, and Apple added the Photonic Engine, which improves detail and colour in medium and low light. Indoors and at night, the 14 has a visible edge.
The iPhone 14 front camera adds autofocus, so selfies and video calls stay sharp even when you move closer or farther. Video gets better too. The 14 records Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR, while the 13 tops out at 1080p, and it adds Action mode for smooth handheld video while walking or running.
Safety features
The iPhone 14 can detect a severe car crash and call emergency services for you.
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It also has Emergency SOS via satellite, so you can text emergency services when you have no cell signal, for example on a hike or a remote road. The iPhone 13 has neither.
If you drive a lot or spend time outside cell coverage, these features are the best reason to choose the 14.
Battery and performance
Apple rates the iPhone 14 at up to 20 hours of video playback and the iPhone 13 at up to 19 hours.
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In real use, both get most people through a day.
Both use the A15 Bionic. The iPhone 14 version has a 5-core GPU, so games and graphics are a little faster. For apps, photos and video, you won't feel a difference.
Design and connectivity
The two phones have the same 146.7 by 71.5 mm footprint.
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The iPhone 14 is a little thicker at 7.80 mm against 7.65 mm and lighter at 172 g against 174 g. The camera bump is different, so cases usually don't carry over.
Both charge with Lightning and support MagSafe at up to 15W. The iPhone 14 has Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0 on the 13. Both have Wi-Fi 6. Both take a nano-SIM in Canadian models plus eSIM. All our phones are unlocked.
Software and the bigger picture
Neither phone supports Apple Intelligence, which needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
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Apple does not publish an end date for iOS updates, but the iPhone 14 is a year newer, so expect it to be supported a bit longer.
If you are spending a little more anyway, look at the iPhone 15. It adds USB-C, a 48MP main camera and the Dynamic Island. See our iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 comparison.
Price range
Refurbished, the iPhone 13 starts at $419.99 and the iPhone 14 starts at $459.99. Higher storage and better grades cost more. Prices on this page update live from our store.
Want a bigger screen? The iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen. Have an older phone? You can sell or trade it in.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
Apple no longer sells either phone new, so refurbished is the way to buy them.
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Every phone we sell is inspected and tested, unlocked, and backed by up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to learn more.
Still choosing? Our buying guides: best phones in Canada, best camera phones, best battery life and best phones for seniors.
FAQ
Is the iPhone 14 worth it over the iPhone 13?
If you want Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite and better low-light photos, yes. If not, the iPhone 13 is nearly the same phone.
Do the iPhone 13 and 14 have the same chip?
Both use the A15 Bionic. The iPhone 14 version has a 5-core GPU, one more than the iPhone 13.
Do iPhone 13 cases fit the iPhone 14?
Usually not well. The footprint is the same, but the camera bump and thickness are slightly different, so check that a case lists the iPhone 14.
Do the iPhone 13 and 14 have USB-C?
No. Both use Lightning. The iPhone 15 was the first standard iPhone with USB-C.
Which has better battery life?
The iPhone 14, slightly. Apple rates it at up to 20 hours of video playback against up to 19 hours for the iPhone 13.
Still choosing? Read our guide to which iPhone to buy.
See them side by side: compare every spec and today's prices by condition, or add a third phone.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 14 pre-owned from $459.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
