Comparison test: iPhone 14 pro vs iPhone 13 pro in photo/video

SO The iPhone 14 Plus is the most recent version of the famous smartphone, he surpasses the luxury model that is The iPhone 13 Pro Max ? No, but extremely little. Concretely, the premium model of Apple only comes out of it thanks to its Small additions in the photo, whose additional objective, as well as its screen with a Better refresh frequency, offering a much more fluid display. If the iPhone 14 Plus has an advantage, it is its more attractive price and its news, which can offer a longer support over time on the part of the manufacturer.

What is the best smartphone between iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 13 Pro Max ?

Each year, Apple serves us a new version of its iPhone, always with several different models. Ranging from classic to premium, changes are sometimes anecdotal, other times, they can greatly change the use of use. In this comparison, we will put face to face The iPhone 14 Plus, model just above the basic one, and The iPhone 13 Pro Max, The premium reference of this range. Here is All differences To find out which you are turning to.

Comparison table of iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 13 Pro Max

The differences between smartphones

A more fluid screen

The iPhone 14 Plus is a more recent model than The iPhone 13 Pro Max. Nevertheless, the latter is a much higher -end version. So let’s see the differences between the two.

Moon of the biggest differences between smartphones is the screen. The two have a 6.7 -inch screen in OLED and FULL HD+, but the difference is played on the refresh frequency. While the iPhone 14 Plus has a conventional 60 Hz display, the iPhone 13 Pro Max gives access to a adaptive frequency up to 120 Hz. This greatly contributes to improving the fluidity of the screen for a better experience.

A more interesting camera and more features

Pro Max models are used to offering a more interesting photo module than other versions of its range and this is always the case with the model of our comparison, even facing the iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has the advantage of having an additional sensor, being a 12 Mpx telephoto lens, whose utility is especially in the clichés of small objects. Also, the Pro Max model can access portraits in night mode. On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Plus is equipped with the new engine for rendering shots, being the Photonic Engine. The difference in quality is therefore thin, but it is present and can change the situation if you have a very particular attraction for the photo.

We can also mention a few more features for the iPhone 14 Plus, which can for example detect car accidents or display compatibility with the satellite connectivity.

What a smartphone stands out of this duel ?

SO The iPhone 14 Plus is the most recent version of the famous smartphone, he surpasses the luxury model that is The iPhone 13 Pro Max ? No, but extremely little. Concretely, the premium model of Apple only comes out of it thanks to its Small additions in the photo, whose additional objective, as well as its screen with a Better refresh frequency, offering a much more fluid display. If the iPhone 14 Plus has an advantage, it is its more attractive price and its news, which can offer a longer support over time on the part of the manufacturer.

If you want to know the differences between several other popular smartphones, Know that we offer several other comparisons, whether with iPhone or not:

• iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14
• iPhone 12 pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 vs samsung s22
• iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 vs iPhone 11 pro

The iPhone 14 Plus versus the iPhone 13 Pro Max is ultimately a Titan duel, as the differences are weak, but that they could be used to switch the balance for some. Regardless of the model that interests you, it is possible to obtain them in reconditioned, all at a very attractive price !

*Prices noted at the time of writing this article, likely to be modified.

Comparison test: iPhone 14 pro vs iPhone 13 pro in photo/video !

The iPhone 14 is no exception, hence the idea of This large comparison between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro in different conditions of light, exhibition, both on fixed and animated images !

So, revolution or evolution ? The answer. on video !

Photo: progress on all sensors

During the keynote, Apple has largely highlighted the main sensor of the aircraft and its 48MP, But the firm also wanted to advance all of its objectives, which remain three in number: great angle, ultra-large and telephoto lens.

On the other hand, and despite the Performance two to three times better in low light Shapes during the conference, we still lose the opening of 2 of the 3 objectives:

• 1.5 -> 1.78 (GA)
• 1.8 -> 2.2 (Aga)
• 2.8 -> 2.8 (TO)

Do not panic however, A better opening of an optics (a low figure in front of the famous ƒ) has value only for a defined sensor size. Clearly, even with a poor opening to ƒ4, our EOS R5 cannon will receive more light than a very small iPhone sensor at ƒ1.8.

A 48MP main sensor, 12MP photos

Apple has been capped at 12MP for many years (That dates from the iPhone 6S !), which is not necessarily a handicap for good photos, but competition has proven us in recent years that the increase in the number of pixels has nevertheless made it possible to gain in quality, especially since the photosites of smartphones have been increasingly wide.

This new sensor is 65% larger and therefore combines 48 million pixels distributed. To give you an order of magnitude, it amounts to going from a classic screen to a retina resolution. Each pixel measures 2.44 μm, against 1.9 µm on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You have read correctly, the pixels are therefore larger and more numerous, which allows not to lose details for the same number of photosites given.

By multiplying the number of pixels per four, Apple also takes the risk of seeing the size of the quasi-quadrupler files, even though it still offers only 128GB at the entry level. Another concern, the lack of consistency between the 3 sensors (the other 2 remain at 12MP) would lead to several sizes of photos, depending on the lens chosen.

This is probably why The images, even taken at 48MP, are finally reduced to 12MP, Thanks to the Pixel Binning technique, in other words, the combination of 4 physical pixels to form only one logical pixel at output. Interesting in low light to avoid digital noise, The technique loses its day attraction, where every detail can be captured by a maximum of photosites. Via this process, we therefore necessarily lose as a maximum possible quality and much more clearly with a compressed and destructive format like the JPG for example.

Fortunately, Apple authorizes the exploitation of the native 48MPs, but only in the Proraw format. For what ? Mystery. Because in practice, it is better to avoid checking the option: each image thus oscillates between 45 and 100MB per cliché ! On an iPhone 14 pro from 128GB, so do not expect to store more than 2000 photos in this format (without anything else on board). It is all the more unfortunate that once compressed in JPG, the same file weighs less than 5MB (level 6 compression under Photoshop)

Visually, the difference is also striking once you zoom in in the photos. Below, we can clearly see the detail in the leaves or in the buildings, where the same shot brought back to 12MP will be much less precise. For a printing, a large wallpaper or a simple zoom, it is really a shame to lose so much information.

Only consolation in compressed mode, it is possible to zoom in the sensor: Apple will select the 12MP centered on 48MPs, which allows you to have a 2x zoom without loss. But with a sensor necessarily smaller.

Unfortunately, This 2x zoom is not very interesting in front of the 3X telephoto lens, more efficient on all levels. On an iPhone 14 (without optical zoom), it would have already made sense, but the device remained in 12MP this year.

Another change that will impact your shots, We go from an equivalent 26mm to a 24mm. Clearly, the field widens and you will have to approach slightly from its subject to find the same shots as before.

With this new sensor, even in 12MP, We gain in contrasts, in detail, It’s very clear here on rose petals in particular:

But In broad daylight, the difference with the 13 pro is often minimal. Look here, the texts appear quite similar, even a little less clear, the fault of the expansion of the field.

Even more surprising, Apple sometimes applies a fairly violent smoothing, As here on our van, which was not as much the case on the 13 pro:

Eventually, The really notable differences appear rather at night. The iPhone indeed recovers certain textures, as here on the trunk of the tree:

By night, The 48MPs made it possible to discern (and to keep) some stars, Where the 13 pro certainly considered that these were parasitic lights:

And in the background, The trees also find their leaves on our iPhone 14:

A portrait mode stagnating

With the 48MP, I hoped that the portrait mode would gain in precision. As a reminder, this totally artificial system makes it possible to simulate a good depth of field on devices with a lens and a sensor unable to produce such a rendering naturally.

Unfortunately, The difference does not jump out. I think the portrait mode is made After pixel reduction, and that’s a shame. Besides, the Proraw (48MP) is not proposed in portrait.

It is always Enough for Instagram and Facebook, But a little disappointing if you want to print it or just zoom in a little in the image.

A more homogeneous flash

Apple has completely revised its flash, a device that has not changed much in recent years. Not really more powerful, it is especially more homogeneous, at least in our shots.

Flash rendering is often abandoned on smartphone, Because the image has too much aberrations (immaculate face, “flat” image, exposure differences between the plans. ) But it helps out in complicated situations: if your subject moves in the dark or is in the dark.

Disappointing break times

In general, The more the sensor is growing, the less it requires being exposed for a long time in light To capture a scene. Here, even in the evening, Apple does not really seem to lower its exhibition times, no doubt history to improve nighttime shots, while remaining in acceptable waiting times.

On all our shots, The exposure durations are always almost identical between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro. Amazing, no ?

A telephoto lens. by night

At Keynote, Apple announced the color: The telephoto lens would capture twice as much light in the darkness ! This promises for evening photos.

During our tests, Even during the day, progress is very clear. Failing to gain zoom, we win here in quality. Look at the details of the necklace or chain, much sharper on the iPhone 14 Pro:

On this shot, we finally see The details of the roses on the dress of Sylwia, from which we even distinguish the grain of the fabrics !

Logically, These improvements are also found at night, as here in the more visible wood ribs, where the iPhone 13 applies a smoothing of bad days. Note that the flag is also a little clearer, thanks to a slightly reduced break time:

If the opening unfortunately does not improve on this perspective, We will also regret not having a more efficient zoom and more pixels, A 48MP would allow you to have a kind of X6 optical zoom for example, without too much loss during the day.

An ultra-large disappointing angle ?

Three times better in low light ! , The qualifiers during the keynote did not fail for this sensor, often abandoned in low light, because too poor.

The problem is that with a clearly behind opening, and despite a larger sensor size, the final gain is quite low, even non -existent. Proof during the day, here on the motorcycle, which does not manage to come out better on the 14 pro than on its precedent:

Apple has also not improved the prospects, As you can see, this deformation of the lens making the subjects unattractive and the buildings seem to lean dangerously !

At night, we still recover some details, Like here on the roses of the dress:

But The comparison is often zero, As here on the trees, whose rendering does not improve:

A more precise macro mode

Apple quickly mentioned a more precise macro (which appeared on the iPhone 13), but the difference is not always obvious. Here with shells, it’s quite kif-kif:

In reality, The focus seems more effective on certain objects, Like here with these particularly hairy plants 🙂

The front camera finally progresses !

Too often abandoned by Apple, The front camera brings two new features Notables this year:

– a better opening (ƒ2.2 -> ƒ1.9)
– A autofocus

The effect is immediate: look on the skin and hair, The image is much more detailed, less smoothed . You will not necessarily be more beautiful, but the image will already seem more faithful to reality -minus the filters used.

On this night shot, the details of the pendant and the dress are also much better defined:

Finally, consequence of the arrival of the autofocus, The image seems less flat, with the appearance of a slight background blur. Not always very elegant, it however allows the foreground to be clearer, as we have seen just above.

Video: Full of news !

Video progress on the iPhone for 2-3 years is spectacular. So much so that sometimes I prefer the image out of Apple’s phone to my big cannon box which however cost 2 to 3 times its price. The most impressive concerns The arrival of HDR10 (Dolbyvision), which allows you to film backlight like no other market box (yes almost) -You need very expensive cameras to achieve similar results.

The natural bokeh of the iPhone is starting to become interesting !

The iPhone is not good everywhere : he finds it difficult to capture sound at the slightest breeze, he is fragile, not easy to stabilize in hand and very mediocre in low light. Its lack of depth of field (despite the kinematic mode) still leaves some attractions to professional boxes and their big sensors, their beautiful optics, but their chip from another age, which are difficult to see in front of an A16 for example.

In the evening, the image loses its dive, despite the HDR

No 8K, it’s a real disappointment this year : a 48MP sensor nevertheless allows access to this resolution. As for the 48MP in JPG, we do not understand this clamping (a priori software) of Apple). Is it to avoid having 4K sensors and others in 8K ? So as not to shoot autonomy or video performance ? I would rather lean for a segmentation of models with the arrival of the iPhone 15 next year. The 8k is not essential on a phone, but practice to crop an image or capture as many details as possible in a video.

Another grievance, it is not Still not possible to change the sensor during a filming in 4k60fps ! Only at 30FPS, as. On the iPhone 8 ! Come on Apple, the power is sufficient now ! This year, with the 48MP, we win on the other hand a very practical X2 zoom, and usable in 4k60: you can zoom without loss, and it’s really cool !

A 4K cinematic mode !

The kinematic mode had impressed us a lot during the iPhone 13 keynote, But we quickly disillusioned. The effect is nice, but not crazy once on the big screen because limited to 1080p. The aberrations and the vagueness of the clutch make the image not flattering in production, and seems quite false even on social networks.

On the iPhone 14 pro, it is possible to film in 4K kinematics, Against 1080p previously, which makes it possible to gain clearly in detail and in sharpness:

It’s already better for Instagram use, but too imperfect to integrate it into professional box images for example. Try to film a person for more than 4 seconds or even a vehicle, and despite post-Prod retouching efforts, the film is often unusable.

Stabilization and action mode !

New gyroscope, accelerometer and new generation by sensor displacement, The iPhone 14 Pro is to be more stable. In practice, I did not see any real difference on foot, on the stairs or by surfing the wave on a jetski. Perhaps certain complicated situations will be more flattering, but the great angle was already very well stabilized on the 12 and the 13th, at least on the main sensor.

The problem is rather on annexed angles (UGA and telephoto), which deserves a real stabilization comparable to that of the main sensor: a well stabilized zoom would avoid crop in the sensor in a software way, while losing a piece of the image. Same thing for wide fields, very useful for filming vehicles or sports for example.

To overcome these issues, Apple created the famous action mode that we have already been able to test in jetski And that works wonderfully. Do not hesitate to consult our video, we really wet the jersey to produce these images to you and the result is quite impressive !

We tested the “action” mode of the iPhone 14 pro in jetski !

In reality, This mode (which requires being activated beforehand) is mainly made to film someone who runs, an animal, a vehicle or a sportsman on a bicycle. In short, nothing too extreme, but the option has the merit of offering a nice rendering. Without optical stabilization, the crop is quite violent, we go from 4K to 2.8k, which remains sufficient, but less good than GoPro and its 24MP sensor for example.

The effect is visible in our video located at the start of the article

Amazing, Apple did not carry the action mode on the iPhone 13 Pro. A strange choice, because the iPhone 14 has it, however, with the same chip !

So real progress ?

After a short week with these iPhone 14 pro, progress is undeniable in photo and video. Enough to change from an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 13 ? Not really, at least for the general public, who will only see subtleties. If you come from an X, XS or even an 11, then yes, the gap of the years hollows out the gap between the generations, and the arrival of the HDR, the high brightness (2000 nits in crest) or still macro mode offers these devices very appreciable versatility on a daily basis.

On the other hand, The iPhone is increasingly used by professionals : small corporate films, television channels, weddings. For these media, agencies and other independent, any progress is good to take, especially as soon as it is low light or increase in the level of details. For our part, we sometimes shot (like here for the megane) 100% to the iPhone, and each improvement counts !