Apple‘s latest iPhone 14 series has two premium flagships – the Pro and the Pro Max. Deciding between these high-end powerhouses comes down primarily to size and battery life. But there are other factors at play too when choosing the best iPhone 14 model for your needs and budget.
This in-depth iPhone 14 Pro vs Pro Max comparison covers all the key differences, to help you make an informed buying decision.
Size and Design
The most obvious distinction is the sheer size. Let‘s look at some measurements:
iPhone 14 Pro:
- Height: 5.81 inches
- Width: 2.81 inches
- Depth: 0.31 inch
- Weight: 7.27 ounces
iPhone 14 Pro Max:
- Height: 6.33 inches
- Width: 3.05 inches
- Depth: 0.31 inch
- Weight: 8.47 ounces
As you can see, the Pro Max is noticeably taller, wider and heavier than the regular Pro. The height and width differences seem subtle on paper, but make quite an impact in hand.
The Pro Max dimensions place it closer in size to a small tablet, while the Pro has a more wieldy footprint that resembles a traditionally-sized smartphone. For those who routinely carry their phone in pockets or small bags, the pocketable Pro has obvious portability advantages over the Pro Max.
Both models have the signature premium stainless steel and glass build, with durable scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield on front and back. Available colors include Space Black, Silver, Gold and Deep Purple. The aesthetics and styling touches like the Dynamic Island cutout are consistent across both.
Verdict: The Pro is smaller in hand and more portable, while the Pro Max offers a more spacious viewing area but isn‘t as easy to carry.
Displays: Size and Quality Differences
The screen size difference of 0.6-inches may seem minor, but the impact on usability is significant:
iPhone 14 Pro display:
- 6.1-inch OLED display (2532 x 1170 resolution)
- 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate
- Up to 2000 nits max brightness
iPhone 14 Pro Max display:
- 6.7-inch OLED display (2796 x 1290 resolution)
- 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate
- Up to 2000 nits max brightness
Both phones have Apple‘s exceptional Super Retina XDR displays with super sharp clarity and excellent contrast. You get the same vivid colors, deep blacks and buttery-smooth ProMotion variable refresh rates topping out at 120Hz for fluid visuals when scrolling or gaming.
The Pro Max simply offers more real estate – its massive screen makes visual-heavy use cases like mobile gaming, web browsing or watching videos more immersive. For the growing number of people using phones as their primary computing device, the Pro Max display improves that on-the-go laptop-replacement experience.
It‘s worth noting that the iPhone 14 Pro Max display is only bested in size by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series when unfolded into tablet mode.
Verdict: The Pro Max has a markedly larger display for a more expansive viewing area – ideal for heavy multimedia users who consume a lot of content on their phone.
Cameras: Identical Optics and Performance
One area where there‘s complete parity between the two flagships is imaging capabilities:
Rear triple camera system
- Main: 48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture
- Ultra Wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture
- Telephoto: 12MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture, 3x optical zoom
Front camera
- TrueDepth 12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture
So whether you pick the 14 Pro or Pro Max, you get Apple‘s best mobile cameras to date, powered by the upgraded A16 Bionic chip. Image quality, detail and low light performance should be on par across both models.
You also have Apple‘s outstanding Photonic Engine across both variants to significantly improve low light shots. And the overall camera app interface, shooting modes and ProRAW functionality remain consistent too.
Simply put – neither phone has any camera hardware or software advantages over the other. It‘s a tie when it comes to mobile photography needs.
Verdict: No differences in image quality or camera capabilities – both deliver peak iPhone photography.
Performance and Power
The Pro and Pro Max share Apple‘s latest home-grown processor, though performance tuning differs slightly between the two chip variants:
iPhone 14 Pro chip
- Apple A16 Bionic (6-core CPU and 5-core GPU)
iPhone 14 Pro Max chip
- Apple A16 Bionic (6-core CPU and 5-core GPU)
On paper, both processors are equally matched. But since the Pro Max drives nearly 20% more pixels on its larger display, Apple has optimized the chip for greater power efficiency instead of all-out speed.
So benchmarks might show the smaller iPhone 14 Pro edging out the Pro Max slightly on scores. But remember – the Pro Max is designed to balance high performance with longer battery life rather than chasing benchmark numbers.
Rest assured the A16 Bionic has ample power for demanding workloads like gaming, content creation and productivity on the move. You should see minimal if any drop-off in real-world speed from the down-tuning compared to the Pro chip configuration.
Verdict: Essentially equivalent processors, but tuned differently based on display size priorities – peak performance versus power efficiency. Either way, expect super-fast responsiveness from both flagships.
Battery and Charging
Given its bigger chassis, the iPhone 14 Pro Max packs in a much larger battery capacity along with some battery life optimizations. Here‘s how the numbers compare:
iPhone 14 Pro battery
- Up to 20 hours video playback
- Up to 75 hours audio playback
- 2315 mAh rated capacity
iPhone 14 Pro Max battery
- Up to 25 hours video playback
- Up to 95 hours audio playback
- 4323 mAh rated capacity
Those battery runtimes tell a compelling story – the Pro Max handily outpaces the Pro, thanks to optimizations plus nearly double the physical battery capacity. In practical terms, the Pro Max can deliver almost a full work day‘s worth usage from a single charge if you‘re primarily watching videos or listening to music.
Both models support fast charging to juice up to 50% in around 30 minutes. So if you have regular access to chargers, shorter bursts of top-ups can keep both flagships powered on. But if you‘re frequently away from charging points for long stretches – say on international travel – the Pro Max has a decisive edge to keep you connected and productive.
Wireless charging support is consistent too at up to 15W with MagSafe or Qi chargers. No differences there.
Verdict: Faster charging helps offset lower battery capacity on the Pro model, but the Pro Max is in another league for battery lifespan if that‘s your priority.
Storage Options and Pricing
Apple retained the same four storage configurations across both iPhone 14 Pro models:
Storage capacities available:
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 512GB
- 1TB
The pricing does increase slightly as you go from the Pro to Pro Max. But importantly the difference stays constant at $100 regardless of capacity:
| Model \ Storage | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 Pro | $999 | $1099 | $1299 | $1499 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | $1099 | $1199 | $1399 | $1599 |
So you‘re looking at a flat Benjamin more for the larger Pro Max variant. For the additional display space, battery life, and premium fit-and-finish, $100 seems very reasonable. Of course absolute pricing is a more personal decision based on budget.
One advantage to buying more storage upfront is optimized performance – the available storagebandwidth doubles with each capacity jump. So heavy media users will benefit from choosing 512GB or better configurations if affordable.
Verdict: Reasonable $100 upcharge for Pro Max model regardless of storage tier – so capacity decisions can be independent of pricing considerations.
Which is the Better Buy? Key Facts to Help Decide
Here is a high-level recap of some key facts from our iPhone 14 Pro vs Pro Max comparison:
- The Pro Max is 0.52-inches taller and 0.24-inches wider than the regular Pro
- Pro Max display is 6.7-inches versus 6.1-inches on the Pro
- Identical triple rear cameras and selfie cameras on both models
- Apple A16 Bionic processor powers both, but tuned differently based on display size
- Pro Max battery life far exceeds the regular Pro
- $100 difference in price regardless of storage capacity
- Pro Max excels as an on-the-go media consumption device
- Pro is more pocketable and portable for everyday carry
For many shoppers, it is a toss-up between wanting the bigger screen and superior battery of the Max versus the easier portability of the smaller Pro. Think about which factors matter most in your daily usage:
Get the iPhone 14 Pro Max if you:
- Want the very best display and audio visual experience
- Regularly binge watch movies or play games on your phone
- Don‘t have regular charging access and need longer battery life
- Prefer using phone in lieu of tablet for content consumption
Get the iPhone 14 Pro if you:
- Value compact size and light weight for everyday carry
- Have charging options available through majority of day
- Don‘t need ultra-long battery runtimes away from power
- Want a premium flagship that’s still easily pocketable
As the storage and memory configurations match up across the line, it really is about deciding between portability and battery life. Of course if budget allows, the Pro Max gives you the best of both worlds!
I hope this detailed iPhone 14 Pro vs Pro Max comparison helps make that vitally important buying choice easier. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
