What are the "pros and cons" of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max compared to another? Is one the right iPhone for me?

Note that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are sold as new; the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have been discontinued. This Q&A has been updated with current iOS support details and more; it can be quite helpful to anyone considering one of these iPhone models whether new or used.

Whether the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max is the right iPhone for your needs is a personal decision, but objective pros and cons definitely can help.

Everyi.com also provides a complete iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max comparison for those who want a detailed review. For those who prefer a fast-to-read summary, the following can be perfect.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Plus)

iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Plus Pros:

• Expensive at the time of introduction, but less expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (and subsequently introduced models).
• 6 GB of RAM; same as the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Identical 5G cellular capabilities as the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Great battery life.
• Flat sides are easier to grip than some earlier iPhone models.
• Five attractive color options -- pale Blue, pale Purple (above), "Midnight" (black), "Starlight" (a warm gray), and red. A sixth option -- yellow -- was added March 7, 2023.
• Waterproof to six meters for up to 30 minutes.
• Fast, Face ID authentication makes security easy.
• Convenient integrated inductive (Qi) charging and "MagSafe" magnet charging.
• Quality dual lens rear cameras.
• Dual SIM/eSIM standard.
• Support for the current version of the iOS, iOS 18.

iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Plus Cons:

• Lower quality display than the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Somewhat awkward "camera notch" at the top of the display.
• Rear camera is not as high quality as the camera in the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models and support for the more professional ProRAW and ProRes formats is not provided.
• Storage tops out at 512 GB, which could be a limitation for heavy video users.
• No physical Nano SIM on models sold in the United States.
• Running iOS 18, these models do not support the Apple Intelligence (AI) feature.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max)

iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Pros:

• Beautiful, bright, high-quality, high-resolution Super Retina XDR with ProMotion OLED displays with an adaptive refresh rate and "Always-On" capability.
• Clever "Dynamic Island" replaces the "notch" and becomes part of the interface.
• Fast performance.
• 5G LTE.
• Excellent battery life.
• Flat sides are easier to grip than some earlier models and textured glass means easier handling than the cheaper iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.
• Four subdued, attractive color options -- dark "Deep Purple," Silver, Gold, and "Space Black."
• Fast, Face ID authentication makes security easy.
• Convenient integrated inductive (Qi) charging and "MagSafe" magnet charging.
• LiDAR capability.
• Waterproof to six meters for up to 30 minutes.
• Impressive, high-quality triple lens rear camera system with significantly improved low light performance compared to earlier models.
• Dual SIM/eSIM standard.
• The option of as much as 1 TB of storage.
• ProRAW and ProRes support.
• Support for the current version of the iOS, iOS 18.

iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Cons:

• Very expensive; the most expensive iPhone models at the time they were introduced.
• Relatively heavy.
• No physical Nano SIM on models sold in the United States.
• Running iOS 18, these models do not support the Apple Intelligence (AI) feature.

So, should I buy an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max?

Compared just to one another, and ignoring earlier and later models, it can be a difficult decision between the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. None of these models are especially small, so fans of smaller iPhone devices might prefer to stick with an earlier iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini.

There essentially are two "smaller" models with 6.1" displays -- the entry-level iPhone 14 and higher-end iPhone 14 Pro -- and two "larger" models with 6.7" displays -- the entry-level iPhone 14 Plus and higher-end iPhone 14 Pro Max. The "Pro" models in each size originally were US$200 more than the equivalent non-Pro option.

Of course, now that the "Pro" models are available used, the price has dropped, but at least comparing used models from both lines, the "Pro" options should remain a bit more expensive. The extra money for the upgrade to the "Pro" model of either size gets you (1) a stronger steel frame and textured glass for easier grip, (2) a substantially higher quality display, (3) a much more advanced rear camera with support for a more professional file format and video codec, (4) the clever "Dynamic Island" feature, (5) a bit more performance, and (6) and LiDAR support. At additional cost, you also have (7) the option of more storage.

Although the clever "Dynamic Island" feature is the most immediately noticeable difference between the "Pro" and the non-Pro models, for most people, it is a question of whether or not the (1) better display and/or (2) better camera are worth the extra money. The camera alone is well worth it for those who value photography, but for plenty of casual users, the non-Pro models are more than sufficient and represent an easy way to save a bit of money.

Of course, for those on a tight budget, any number of other used iPhone models are well worth considering, as well.

In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells used and refurbished iPhone models also with free shipping. On the other hand, if you need to sell an iPhone, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPhone with an instant quote and prompt payment.

Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.