The standard iPhone 14 models are minor upgrades over their 2021 counterparts, and that might be a good thing for… iPhone 13 owners. Apple replaced the iPhone 13 mini with the larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, possibly hoping to attract users who wanted a bigger screen and bigger battery in a non-professional phone, but one analyst believes the strategy has failed as early data shows most buyers are gravitating towards the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus appear to be heated versions of the iPhone 13. They have the same A15 Bionic chip under the hood instead of the faster A16, which is based on a newer manufacturing process. They also didn’t get the Dynamic Island cutout for Face ID technology and the front-facing camera and new 48MP shooter.
This is not to say that there is nothing new at all. The phones get a new sensor on the main camera and autofocus on the front camera. They also get features like car crash detection and satellite connectivity and also have more RAM than their predecessors, but that’s about it.
Apparently, even though Apple has stamped the names “iPhone 14” and “iPhone 14 Plus” on the new standard phones, it is well aware that these are actually upgraded versions of the iPhone 13. Chinese site MyDrivers reports that the latest beta version of Xcode revealed that the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus carry similar machine IDs to the iPhone 13, iPhone14.7 and iPhone14.8 respectively, to be specific.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, have been assigned new device codes – iPhone15.2 and iPhone15.3.
Is that you, iPhone 13S?
Considering the iPhone 14 costs $799 and the Plus starts at $899, you might be better off opting for the discounted $599 13 mini or $699 iPhone 13 instead.
Regardless, those budgeting for the iPhone 14 may feel disappointed that the iPhone 14 is more of an iPhone 13S. iPhone 13 owners, on the other hand, have a lot to be happy about.
Part of the reason Apple smartphones are considered some of the best is that they get the longest support of any phone, with some being supported for up to 7 years.
Now that the iPhone 13 family and non-Pro iPhone 14 models share the same chip, Apple will have to support the 2021 phones and even the iPhone SE 3 for the same amount of time, making them great buys.
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