The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are the two most searched-for refurbished iPhones, and it's natural to be torn between them: on the outside they're almost identical. The real question is whether the 14's improvements justify the price difference. Spoiler: for most people, not really.
What they have in common
- Display: 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, 60 Hz on both.
- Design and size: practically the same; even cases fit in many cases (check, as the camera bump changes slightly).
- Chip: both use the A15 Bionic. The iPhone 14's has one more GPU core, but you won't notice it in WhatsApp, social media, photos or browsing.
- Port: Lightning on both (not USB-C).
- Storage: from 128 GB, a good starting point on both.
The differences that matter
Low-light camera
The iPhone 14 improved the main sensor and image processing, which shows mostly at night or indoors. The 14's front camera also has autofocus, handy for selfies and video calls. In daylight the difference is small.
Crash Detection
The iPhone 14 can detect a severe car crash and call emergency services if you don't respond. The iPhone 13 doesn't have this feature. If you drive a lot, or the phone is for an older relative, it's a point in the 14's favour.
Battery
According to Apple, the iPhone 14 offers up to 20 hours of video playback versus 19 hours on the iPhone 13. In practice, with a refurbished phone the battery health of the specific unit matters far more than that one hour. Always check the guaranteed capacity: we explain how in how to check battery health.
Years of updates
The iPhone 14 came out a year later, so in principle it will get iOS updates for a little longer. If you plan to keep the phone for 4 or 5 years, it's worth considering.
Comparison table
| iPhone 13 | iPhone 14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) |
| Rear cameras | 12 + 12 MP | 12 + 12 MP (improved main sensor) |
| Low-light photos | Good | Better |
| Crash Detection | No | Yes |
| Battery life (manufacturer) | Up to 19 h of video | Up to 20 h of video |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Our verdict
- Choose the iPhone 13 if you want the best value for money. It's what we'd recommend to most people.
- Choose the iPhone 14 if you take lots of low-light photos, want Crash Detection or plan to keep it for many years and the price difference is small.
- If you can stretch a little further, also look at the iPhone 15: it brings USB-C and a 48 MP camera.