iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Detailed Comparison

Top phones stay afloat for many years: let's contrast iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max to find out what they have in common and what sets them apart.

Key differences

Of course, a new smartphone will always be better than the last, but are the distinctions really essential? The 14 Pro Max differs from its younger brother with new display features - it introduces Dynamic Island and Always-On display, as well as the best main camera with 48 MP. In addition to this, the model has received an upgraded chip and faster memory. However, there are aspects that haven't changed - the smartphones share the same battery life, identical charging time and speed, and dimensions. Let's take a closer look at all these similarities and differences.

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iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro specs

Design and Size comparison: almost nothing new

Distinguishing the smartphones from the back is practically impossible. Both devices feature a similar camera setup, flat steel frames, and a panel made of matte glass. If liken the iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max size, gadgets are also similar.

About the front side, you can at once distinguish the new iPhone from its last year's model - there is no notch at the top of the display. Instead, there is a neat functional area called Dynamic Island. 

Compare screens: 13 Pro Max loses a little

In terms of screen comparison, the difference between iPhone 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max is not that essential, but it does exist. Let's start with the fact that both smartphones have the same large 6.7-inch Retina display. The resolution differs lightly in favor of the 14 Pro Max. Both devices support refresh rates from 1 to 120 Hz. This means you can save smartphone battery power when displaying wallpapers, while games and browsing will be exceptionally smooth.

In addition to the Dynamic Island mentioned earlier, the 14 Pro Max can also boast an Always-On display. For Android users, this feature is not new, but it arrived at the iPhone for the first time with the 14th phones. Additionally, the 13 Pro Max falls short in brightness compared to its older sibling - 1200 nits versus 2000 nits in sunlight.

Battery life estimates: analogous capacity, analogous autonomy

The battery capacity difference between iPhone 13 Pro Max versus iPhone 14 Pro Max is quite negligible. However, the top model of the 14 series has a slightly smaller battery capacity but slightly better autonomy, according to tests:

• In web surfing, the 14 Pro Max lasted without recharging for 15 hours and 2 minutes, whereas the 13 Pro Max lasted 7 minutes less;
• in video tests, the difference was almost an hour in favor of the 14th;
• in gaming, the 13 Pro Max unexpectedly surpassed its counterpart, running for 7.5 hours compared to 7 hours.

Charging speed: full parity

There are no differences in charging speed either. Both devices equally support fast charging capabilities with a power of 27W and wireless charging at 7.5W. In 35 minutes, as claimed by the manufacturer, smartphones reach 50% charge. To fully charge the battery, it will take 1 hour and 46 minutes for the 13 Pro Max and 1 hour and 52 minutes for the 14 Pro Max.

Speaker test: 14 Pro Max is a little louder

iPhones have always been known for their high-quality sound, and finding an advantage has always been challenging. Typically, larger models tend to have better sound, and in devices with similar form factors, there are minimal distinctions. The only notable distinction is that the newer smartphone, in testing, turned out to be louder than its younger brother - 89 dB compared to 80.2 dB.

Performance: newer chip, more RAM and processing speed

In terms of performance, the 14th has an advantage over the 13 model. Apple introduced the new A16 Bionic chip at the time of the gadget's release, as well as a more recent type of RAM - LPDDR5, compared to LPDDR4X. The RAM capacity remains the same at 6 GB.

In the AnTuTu benchmark comparison, the 14th showed a 10% increase in performance, and in GeekBench 6, it was 11% faster. In GPU performance tests, the 14th model was also faster - scoring 9848 vs to 9444 points.

However, it's important to note that the 13 Pro Max is still a very powerful and capable phone.

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max camera contrast

The most noticeable improvements have occurred in the camera department. The 12 MP sensor of the main camera in the 14 Pro Max has been replaced with a larger 48 MP sensor. By default, the smartphone continues to capture 12-megapixel shots, but it combines 4 pixels into one, resulting in more detailed and less noisy images. While you can shoot in 48 MP as well, keep in mind that such photos will take up much more storage.

In addition, the 14 Pro and Pro Max have received a new Photonic Engine processing technology designed to further enhance the quality of photos, especially in inadequate light. The ultra-wide lens and telephoto lens remain the same, and both smartphones support the Deep Fusion technology.

There are also differences in the video. The Cinematic mode on the iPhone 14 can shoot in 4K, whereas the 13 can only shoot in 1080p.

Price and availability: at the start of sales and now

In the liken of iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max price, there is no champion. At the time of announcement, with a one-year difference, the cost of both smartphones started from $1099 for the minimum storage version. As for other storage options, their prices were as follows:

• $1199 for 256 GB,
• $1399 for 512 GB,
• $1599 for 1 TB.

Last year, immediately after the announcement of the iPhone 14, the top versions of the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max were discontinued. The same fate befell the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max this year. It is a standard practice in Cupertino aimed at supporting the sales of new devices. However, you can still purchase these smartphones on various marketplaces.

Conclusions: 14 Pro is better, but how much?

Determining a definite champion in the battle of Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max vs 13 Pro Max is not straightforward. If you already own an iPhone 13 Pro Max, the updates are not that good enough to warrant purchasing the 14th. The smartphones share the same design, a similar screen, and identical battery life.

But if you need the best power and camera features, then the 14 Pro Max is suitable for you.