iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Think of the iPhone 14 Pro Max as the next take on the iPhone 13 Pro Max: same idea, updated hardware. Scoring each area separately, the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes out on top 3 times out of 5. Its lead is sharpest in display.
At a glance
- Display iPhone 14 Pro Max wins
- Performance iPhone 14 Pro Max wins
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera iPhone 14 Pro Max wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price Tie
- Display4.2
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera1.0
- Battery & Charging3.8
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage2.8
- Camera1.4
- Battery & Charging4.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera
The iPhone 14 Pro Max doesn’t just edge this one; 48 MP against 12 MP is a lead you’ll feel. More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
-
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has 67% higher peak brightness
Big gap, real consequences. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 2,000 nits versus the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 1,200 nits changes how the two compare in daily use. Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
-
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a newer 4 nm chip process
Not a big gap, but a consistent one. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 4 nm beats the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 5 nm. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s chip is built on a more advanced process. That usually points to efficiency gains, though chip design matters just as much.
-
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has an always-on display
For anyone who wants an always-on display, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is out of the running. It’s a small convenience you use many times a day, and on efficient panels the battery cost is modest.
Design & Size
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6.33 in × 3.07 in × 0.30 in
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 6.33 in × 3.06 in × 0.31 in
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max take up almost exactly the same space. The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max weigh almost the same.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.33 in |
| Width | 3.07 in | 3.06 in |
| Thickness | 0.30 in | 0.31 in |
| Weight | 8.47 oz | 8.47 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Display
iPhone 14 Pro Max leads
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the clear pick if display is what you care about most. The iPhone 14 Pro Max makes its case with 67% higher peak brightness. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility. The takeaway: on display, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the stronger phone.
Peak brightness
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 1,200 nits iPhone 14 Pro Max: 2,000 nits If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
Always-on display
iPhone 13 Pro Max: no iPhone 14 Pro Max: yes With the iPhone 14 Pro Max, a glance at the table tells you what’s new; the iPhone 13 Pro Max needs a tap or a lift to wake up.
Performance
iPhone 14 Pro Max leads
The performance numbers lean toward the iPhone 14 Pro Max, not dramatically but consistently. On the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you get a newer 4 nm chip process. A finer process node generally lets a chip do the same work with less power, which can mean cooler running and better battery life. That makes the iPhone 14 Pro Max the natural choice for buyers focused on performance.
Process node
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 5 nm iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4 nm Process numbers are partly marketing labels these days, so read this as a hint about efficiency rather than a verdict.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
Neither pulls ahead on memory & storage; the numbers are close throughout. The takeaway: memory & storage is not where these two differ.
Camera
iPhone 14 Pro Max leads
This section belongs to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. In camera, it leads the iPhone 13 Pro Max by a margin that’s hard to ignore. The iPhone 14 Pro Max brings a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer. Anyone shopping mainly on camera should start with the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Main camera
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 12 MP iPhone 14 Pro Max: 48 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
This is a tie in all but name. On battery & charging, both deliver about the same. Bottom line for battery & charging: it’s a wash.
Software & Updates
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max row by row in the table below.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7 in | 6.7 in |
| Panel type | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2796 x 1290 |
| Pixel density | 458 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits | 2,000 nits (winner) |
| Always-on display | No | Yes (winner) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A15 Bionic | A16 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 4 nm (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 48 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Optical zoom | 3× | 3× |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 3 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 Dolby Vision | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 28 h | 29 h |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 15 | iOS 16 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.33 in | 6.33 in |
| Width | 3.07 in | 3.06 in |
| Thickness | 0.30 in | 0.31 in |
| Weight | 8.47 oz | 8.47 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 13 Pro Max | iPhone 14 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,099 | $1,099 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Neither is cheaper at launch; the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max share the same price.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of September 2022. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 13 Pro Max if…
- you find the iPhone 13 Pro Max already covers everything you need
Choose the iPhone 14 Pro Max if…
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (48 MP vs 12 MP)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (2,000 nits vs 1,200 nits)
- you want a chip built on a finer process (4 nm vs 5 nm)
- you like checking the time and alerts without waking the phone
- you plan to keep it for a long time and want to start from the newer generation
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
For most people, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the stronger choice, unless you already own the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Is the iPhone 14 Pro Max worth it over the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
The iPhone 14 Pro Max makes a solid case for upgrading, with a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera, 67% higher peak brightness and a newer 4 nm chip process over the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Which has better battery life, the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
The official battery figures don’t separate them; the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max land in almost the same place.
Is the iPhone 13 Pro Max bigger than the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
They’re practically the same size. The difference between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Pro Max is too small to matter.
Which is faster, the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
On paper, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the stronger performer, with a newer 4 nm chip process.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
Going by the hardware, the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes out ahead: a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera.
Executive Summary
Successors are tricky: some change a lot, while others mostly change the paint. I wanted to see where the iPhone 14 Pro Max lands against the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Honestly, a higher-resolution 48 MP main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro Max does a lot of the persuading for me. There’s a bonus as well: the iPhone 14 Pro Max has 67% higher peak brightness.
In my head, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the the things a spec sheet can’t capture pick and the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the display pick.
My pick: if it were my money, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but I wouldn’t upgrade from the iPhone 13 Pro Max without a specific reason.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.