Compared: iPhone 14 Plus vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple's annual event has concluded, launching new iPhones, AirPods Pro 2, Apple Watch Series 8, and a brand new product with Apple Watch Ultra.

The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max share size, connectivity, and RAM. However, they diverge when it comes to rear cameras, colors, battery life, and of course, price. This year, only the iPhone Pro line received an upgraded processor, with the regular models keeping the A15 Bionic chip from 2021.

Apple introduces new features first in the Pro models, such as the Dynamic Island that will surely come to all iPhones in the future.

Specifications

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Physical Dimensions

The iPhone 14 Plus is the first model since the iPhone 8 Plus to bring back the "Plus" moniker. At the same time, Apple dropped the iPhone mini from the line, so there is no iPhone 14 mini.

The iPhone 14 Plus is just a hair wider than the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 3.07 inches, likely due to the difference in material, aluminum versus stainless steel. The most significant factor here is weight, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max coming in at 8.47 ounces.

Again, this is a physical material difference, but also due to the larger battery and extra camera within the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Displays

Both models share the same 6.7-inch Super Retina Display but slightly differ in resolution. The iPhone 14 Plus resolution of 2778 by 1284-pixel resolution of 458 PPI, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max is 2796 by 1290-pixel resolution of 460ppi. It's unlikely that people will notice a difference between the two.

A new feature Apple introduced in this area is the always-on display found on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Enabled by a new 1Hz refresh rate and multiple power-efficient technologies, it utilizes the new Lock Screen widgets in iOS 16 to keep the information always at a glance.

The iPhone 14 Plus display has 800 nits max brightness with typical usage and reaches 1,200 nits of peak brightness when displaying HDR content. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has 1,000 nits max brightness with regular use, 1,600 nits of peak brightness to display HDR content, and 2,000 nits peak brightness when a person is outdoors.

During the keynote, Apple said the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro Max is comparable to the Pro Display XDR monitor when it comes to brightness.

This monitor has a sustained brightness of 1,000 nits for any high-definition image when using the display in specific environments. The peak brightness measures 1,600 nits up to 39 percent of the screen area when the remaining portion is 500 nits or black. When viewing standard-definition content, the brightness achieves 500 nits.

The other new feature inside the iPhone 14 Pro line is Dynamic Island. This replaces the notch at the top of the screen that the iPhone X debuted in 2017. Apple designed new user interface animations that use the Island. It adapts in real-time to show essential alerts, notifications, and activities.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Cameras

Apple has brought a new Wide camera to the iPhone line since the introduction of the 12-megapixel camera in the iPhone 6s. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have a stunning 48-megapixel camera sensor.

The quad-pixel sensor combines every four pixels into one large quad pixel equivalent to 2.44 m, resulting in improved low-light capture but keeping photo size at 12MP. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max achieve 48-megapixel photos using Apple's ProRAW format.

In addition, a new Photonic Engine takes computational photography even further with better mid- to low-light performance in photos across all cameras.

The iPhone 14 Plus keeps the 12MP lens for the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras and lacks the 12MP Telephoto lens found on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

A new feature found on all iPhone 14 models is Action Mode. It lets videographers take smooth videos that adjust to shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when a video is being captured in the middle of the action. As a result, some iPhone 14 users may find that they no longer need specific third-party equipment such as a gimbal.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Processors

Apple kept the A15 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 14 Plus that it introduced in 2021, likely due to supply constraints, problems with assembly lines, freight costs, and overall slowdowns as COVID-19 still rages around the world.

Therefore, the company has reserved its new A16 Bionic chip for the iPhone Pro line. It powers the Dynamic Island and the model's all-day battery life. The 6-core CPU is up to 40 percent faster than competing Android phones at all price points. In addition, a new 16-core Neural Engine found within the device is capable of nearly 17 trillion operations per second.

The iPhone 14 Plus keeps the A15 Bionic chip introduced with the iPhone 13, but that's not bad. The maturity of Apple Silicon within iPhones means that the chip is more than capable for all tasks.

Only during intense gaming sessions and hardcore photography and videography will some users notice a difference. This is because the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and image signal processor work together to achieve up to 4 trillion operations per photo.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Connectivity

The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max share the same connectivity features, with 5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 6, and Ultra Wideband that uses the U1 chip introduced in the iPhone 11 product line. In addition, apple upgraded Bluetooth capabilities, with both models featuring Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.0 in older iPhones.

A new feature found in all iPhone 14 is an emergency satellite connection. It combines custom hardware components and software called Emergency SOS via Satellite to let iPhone antennas connect directly to a satellite. It's perfect for adventurers in the wilderness who get lost or injured and are outside of Wi-Fi and cellular ranges.

The iPhone 14 line displays pre-chosen messages that people can select for a faster response from emergency services. Choose among situations such as crime, a vehicle issue, fire, a person being lost or trapped, and other categories to give rescuers all the necessary information.

This saves vital time since connecting to satellites 100+ miles into space and traveling at 15,000 miles or more per hour is difficult for devices.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Power

The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max have impressive battery life. The iPhone 14 Plus can achieve up to 26 hours of local video, 20 hours of video streaming, and 100 hours of audio.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro Max reaches up to 29 hours of local video, 25 hours of video streaming, and 95 hours of audio, an interesting decrease from the iPhone 14 Plus.

Using a 20W or higher charging adapter, both models can reach up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes. All smartphones in the iPhone 14 product line keep the Lightning port, and all can charge via MagSafe or Qi wireless charging.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Other Features

Apple is removing the physical SIM card slot on all iPhone 14 models, switching over to eSIM-only. It's a notable move that will likely cause headaches early on for some people, but ultimately everyone will get used to the change.

Specifically, Apple billed this as a privacy feature during the keynote, saying that thieves who steal an iPhone won't be able to swap the SIM card anymore.

Another new feature coming to the iPhone 14 product line, as well as the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, is Crash Detection. New Apple devices can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.

This is an emergency feature that utilizes a new dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs, as well as a new high dynamic range gyroscope. In addition, the barometer can detect cabin pressure changes, GPS notes additional input for speed changes, and the microphone recognizes loud noises typical of severe car crashes.

Advanced motion algorithms trained with over a million hours of real-world driving and crash record data further increase accuracy.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - Storage, Color, and Price

People can purchase the iPhone 14 Plus in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The iPhone 14 Pro Max adds a more significant 1TB option to the line.

Colors for the iPhone 14 Plus include Midnight, Starlight, Purple, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED. Apple continues to limit the iPhone 14 Pro Max color range, available in Silver, Gold, a new Space Black shade, and Deep Purple.

Impressively, despite rumors claiming price increases for new iPhones in 2022, they remain the same as the iPhone 13 product line. The iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099.

iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 14 Pro Max - What to Buy

As usual, deciding which new iPhone to buy depends on multiple factors. For example, the 48MP sensor will attract photographers and videographers to the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the motion-reducing video feature of Action Mode.

Likewise, a faster chip and 1TB storage option appeal to some customers eyeing the iPhone 14 Pro Max. In both models, emergency features such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite can potentially attract everyone, regardless if they are a new iPhone buyer or existing customers.

The iPhone 14 Plus seems to focus on those who like the big screen of the iPhone Pro Max models but don't want to pay the Pro price. Most people won't notice a difference in the processor or camera.

Apple's iPhone is a mature product. The last few product lines, including the iPhone 14 series, have been primarily incremental because they're already excellent devices on all fronts.

But, not everybody is doing an every-year update. In fact, most aren't.