The Features That Set the iPhone 14 Pro Apart

Worldwide, the iPhone is the best-selling smartphone of all time. This is due to Apple's ability to integrate powerful multimedia features in a user-friendly interface and sleek design. 

Since they first released the iPhone in 2007, Apple has continued to roll out new models (almost) every year. 

Both devices will come packed with features and upgrades that people have come to expect from the tech giant. But the iPhone 14 Pro has some upgrades that set it apart. Keep reading to find out what they are, so you can decide if it should be your next phone upgrade.

Size

In keeping with the past several versions, size options will include a standard (6.1-inch) for the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro display. A larger (6.7-inch) will be available for the standard iPhone 14 (“14 Plus”) as well as the Pro edition (“14 Pro Max”). In other words, there will be a regular and iPhone 14 Pro available in both sizes, giving your four choices total.

With the iPhone 12 and 13, Apple introduced the iPhone Mini option. These had a 5.4-inch screen, only a little larger than the SE and many other older editions. Citing lackluster sales, Apple will forgo offering this option in the iPhone 14.

Design Basics

We are not expecting big changes from the iPhone 13 to the look of this new model. Apple will keep the same basic flat-edge design.

There are a few minor exceptions. One is thicker camera bumps in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. Other than that, you can expect a similar look and feel as the iPhone 13.

Unfortunately, this will be enough of an alteration that iPhone 13 cases will not fit the iPhone 14. (On the flip side, it’s a good excuse for treating yourself to a new case!)

You can expect the same color options for the standard iPhone 14 as the 13: red, starlight, midnight, blue, pink, and green. For the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple is likely to roll over the same colors from the 13 as well: graphite, gold, silver, Sierra blue, and Alpine green. There are whispers that Apple may be adding purple to the mix.

Also, in past models, standard iPhones had an aluminum design, and the Pro versions had a stainless steel exterior. Apple will likely keep the aluminum for the iPhone 14 but may be replacing the steel with titanium in the iPhone 14 Pro.

Power and Performance

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Both iPhone 14s and 14 Pros will have 6 gigabytes of RAM, which is the same available in the iPhone 13 Pro models. One big distinction between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro is that the standard 14 will use the same A15 Bionic chip that Apple introduced in the iPhone 13 series. The Pro (and Pro Max) would come with an upgrade to the A16.

The A16 is being built using the same 5-nanometer (nm) process as the A15. This could mean limitations on the gaps in performance between the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, but you would still expect to see some noticeable gains.

This would be the first time that Apple has put different chips in the standard and Pro versions. The reasoning behind this could be that they want to keep pricing down for the standard version while offering the accelerated feature in its Pro edition.

Another big distinction between the iPhone 14 vs. the iPhone 14 Pro is a redesign of the FaceID sensor. The regular iPhone 14 will have the same FaceID notch that we have seen in the last few generations. The Pro will do away with the notch and replace it with a new round cutout for the front iPhone 14 camera paired with an oval one for the FaceID components.

Another big difference is that the ProMotion display will likely be available only on the Pro editions. These have refresh rates up to 120 Hz. Likewise, Pro versions will come with always-on displays, while the regular iPhone 14 devices will lack them.

All new iPhone 14s will have the same lightning connector charging that the last few versions have had. Apple has been exploring a portless charging design using MagSafe. However, it is unlikely they will move in such a drastic direction this go round.

Cooling

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One highly anticipated feature of the iPhone 14 is a newly developed “vapor chamber cooling system.” This technology is not new to the computing world, only to smartphones.

Due to the amount of computing power and faster 5G connections, newer phones create a large amount of heat. As the name suggests, vapor chamber cooling uses a small chamber filled with liquid to absorb heat and condense it into a vapor.

It is an aggressive technology that addresses overheating and is especially useful in high-powered devices running games or videos for extended periods.

We know Apple has been testing this new technology, which other manufacturers have already begun putting in their phones. It is very likely we will see it unveiled soon. It would be a huge upgrade to the iPhone 14 over previous models.

Camera

Almost every new iPhone includes some upgrades to the camera. The iPhone 14 will introduce Sony’s 48-megapixel Wide camera with Focus pixels. This is a major boost from the 12-megapixel Wide camera on the iPhone 13. Note that this upgrade is likely only for the iPhone 14 Pro and may not be available for the standard models.

The front camera will see some upgrades as well, with a wider aperture (f/1.9) and upgraded autofocus capabilities. This permits more light to pass through the lens to produce sharper images as well as a greater depth of field.

With the shift towards greater use of video technology during the COVID pandemic, this is a welcomed improvement, as it would apply to video imaging. You can expect much crisper imaging during your Zoom or FaceTime calls, in addition to better picture quality using the front camera.

The iPhone 14 also will see improvements to the Ultra Wide camera feature. There have been rumors since 2020 of a “periscope lens," which many smartphones on the market already have.

This feature refracts light on the sensor to yield much greater optical zoom capabilities. It allows between 5 and 10x zoom capacity without sacrificing any digital quality.

This is not otherwise achievable with a regular smartphone camera. You can expect this upgrade in the standard iPhone 14 models as well as the Pro versions.

Connectivity and Data Speeds

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The iPhone 14 will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X65 chip. This is the first 10-gigabit 5G modem that produces faster connectivity speeds.

The iPhone 14 will also feature WiFi 6E connectivity. This is a high-speed transmission that is necessary for many virtual reality and augmented reality platforms. It uses a 6 gigahertz (GHz) band, in addition to 2.4GHz and 5GHz ones, to increase bandwidth, limit interference, and increase performance.

One final change on the connectivity front we may see with the iPhone 14 is a shift from a physical SIM slot to an e-SIM design. Apple has already alerted major U.S. cellular carriers to this impending change. One potential drawback to this is that, while as many as 60 countries support eSIM, it is not available across the globe.

Other Features

Apple has been working on a vehicle-crash detection feature. This would expand the Apple Watch’s fall detection, using an accelerometer to measure the gravitational force that results from sudden impact.

It would prompt the phone to automatically call 911 and send messages to emergency contacts. 

Also, Apple is expected to introduce a new satellite emergency service. This would allow users to send texts in emergencies or alert loved ones to accidents even in areas where there is no cellular coverage. This would be a massively attractive feature for anyone who does recreational activities or travels in remote places.

Learn More About the New Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Now that you know what to expect out of the new iPhone 14 Pro, you can decide if it is the right smartphone for your lifestyle and technological needs.