iPhone XS vs. iPhone 14 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade

[MacRumors]

If you've been holding on to your iPhone XS and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro when it launches later this year, check out our list below for a recap of the many new features and changes to expect. The list includes major new features added since the iPhone 11 Pro, as well as rumored features for the iPhone 14 Pro.

Have another iPhone model? Check out our iPhone X vs. 14 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro vs. 14 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro vs. 14 Pro comparisons.

iPhone XS vs. iPhone 14 Pro:

• Much faster A16 chip: The A15 chip in the iPhone 13 Pro is already around 1.8x faster than the A12 chip in the iPhone XS, according to Geekbench 5, and performance should improve even more with the A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro.
  
• Larger display: iPhone XS is equipped with a 5.8-inch display, while the 14 Pro is expected to have a 6.1-inch display.
  
• Much brighter display: Compared to the iPhone XS, the 14 Pro's display will have at least 375 nits higher peak brightness for standard content.
  
• No more notch: Rumors suggest Apple will replace the notch with a pill-shaped cutout and a hole for Face ID and the front camera on the iPhone 14 Pro.
  
• Heavier: iPhone XS weighs 0.39 pounds, while the iPhone 13 Pro weighs 0.45 pounds.
  
• 3D Touch removed: On the iPhone 11 Pro and newer, Apple removed the 3D Touch feature that allowed you to press deeply on the screen to pop open menus or other "hidden" features. 3D Touch was replaced with Haptic Touch, which is more limited and relies on a press-and-hold gesture instead of a deep press.
  
• Faster Face ID: Face ID is 30% faster on the iPhone 11 Pro and newer.
  
• ProMotion: Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother appearing content and scrolling.
  
• Always-on display: Rumors suggest the iPhone 14 Pro will feature an always-on display mode that shows the time, date, and iOS 16's new Lock screen widgets.
  
• Ceramic Shield: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple said the Ceramic Shield front cover increased drop performance by 4x compared to previous models.
  
• Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 13 Pro gets 22 hours of video playback vs. 14 hours for the iPhone XS, and rumors suggest that iPhone 14 Pro models could feature even larger battery capacities.
  
• Triple-lens rear camera system: While the iPhone XS has a dual-lens rear camera system, the iPhone 11 Pro and newer feature a triple-lens rear camera system with an added Ultra Wide lens for zoomed-out photos.
  
• 12-megapixel front camera: The front camera on the iPhone XS is a 7-megapixel lens, while the iPhone 11 Pro and newer have a 12-megapixel front camera.
  
• Night mode: Introduced on the iPhone 11 Pro, Night mode allows for greatly improved low-light photography in the Camera app.
  
• Increased optical zoom: On the iPhone 13 Pro, you can zoom in up to 3x on photos without any blurriness, compared to up to 2x on the iPhone XS.
  
• Numerous other camera improvements: iPhone XS users upgrading to the 14 Pro will get a slew of other camera upgrades, including a rumored 48-megapixel Wide lens with support for 8K video recording, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, sensor-shift image stabilization, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, ProRAW photos, ProRes videos, Photographic Styles, Night mode portraits, and more.
  
• Flat edges: While the iPhone XS's stainless steel frame has round edges, Apple has switched to flat edges with the 12 Pro and newer.
  
• 5G: While the iPhone XS is limited to Gigabit LTE, the iPhone 14 Pro will support 5G for faster cellular data speeds.
  
• Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 14 models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which extends Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz band, in addition to the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
  
• MagSafe: iPhone 12 and newer models feature MagSafe, a system that lets you magnetically attach accessories to the back of the iPhone, such as Apple's own MagSafe Charger, MagSafe Wallet, and MagSafe Battery Pack.
  
• Up to 2x faster wireless charging: iPhones with MagSafe can wirelessly charge at up to 15W speeds with Apple's MagSafe Charger, while wireless charging on the iPhone XS is limited to up to 7.5W speeds.
  
• U1 chip: iPhone 11 Pro and newer models are equipped with Apple's U1 chip for spatial awareness functionality. For example, users can hold a U1-equipped iPhone near a HomePod mini to hand off music playback, or precisely track the location of an AirTag using the Precision Finding feature.
  
• Increased storage: iPhone XS started with 64GB of storage, but the 14 Pro should have at least 128GB of base storage.
  
• LiDAR Scanner: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, the LiDAR Scanner is situated next to the rear camera and offers faster augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus by 6x in low-light photos and videos, according to Apple.
  
• Improved water resistance: Apple says the iPhone XS has water resistance up to a depth of two meters for up to 30 minutes, while the 12 Pro and newer have water resistance up to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes.

Article Link: iPhone XS vs. iPhone 14 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade

 

[Killbynumbers]

I'll probably still wait another year. Nothing wrong whatsoever with my XS Max still on it's original battery.

 

[jav6454]

It’s incredible that even though there is 3 CPUs between them, the A12 is still sturdy enough for day to day tasks vs an A15/14.

 

[Baby12]

I use XS as a daily driver since 2018 and I loe this phone! I remeber when it came out people were saying very minor improvments over regular X. Today, newer iOS versions are fully taking advantage of its chip and you miss very few features in iOS itself. Don't ypu think that XS will last reallly, really long time like 6S did?

But this year it is time for upgrade

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Dang! This is a nice show-down. All these articles bring back so many good memories and flashbacks.

I have always admired the back glass of the iPhone XS. The rounded edges, the champagne color, and the astonishing wallpaper. Apple definitely nailed it with the iPhone XS. 🫡

 

[darngooddesign]

Now do one for the iPhone 4.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Now do one for the iPhone 4.

Jokes aside, this is the last comparison we are posting. We went as far back as the iPhone X. Anyone with an iPhone 7 or older… JUST UPGRADE!

 

[AppleTO]

Still running my XS. Needs a new battery, but I’ll probably still run at for at least another year.

 

[gaximus]

I would have upgraded from the round body to the square body, even if the internals were exactly the same. I love the shape of the new iPhones.

 

[ChittagongBoy]

Still running my XS. Needs a new battery, but I’ll probably still run at for at least another year

Same here, however 6hours on light usage is bugging the heck out of me, I guess I have to go toward the 14.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Jokes aside, this is the last comparison we are posting. We went as far back as the iPhone X. Anyone with an iPhone 7 or older… JUST UPGRADE!

You guys should do it for the Apple Watches

 

[decimortis]

Anyone with an iPhone 7 or older… JUST UPGRADE!

As an owner of an iPhone 7+ that still does everything for me it's always done, and still does it really well, what is a legitimate reason I should upgrade? Not being able to install iOS 16 does not bother me; iOS 15 is good enough.

 

[Benny L]

It never ceases to amaze that the appleheads will keep pounding into your brain here at macrumors that your old apple iphone is a pos, that your a moron for not upgrading to the latest and greatest and you MUST get the new release or the world as you know will end- lol
wonder how much macrumors leaders get from apple to keep the drumbeat up on upgrading every new product cycle?
YOU HAVE THE SENIOR NEWS REPORTER TELLING YOU JUST UPGRADE - lol
and my hand me down 7 is still doing great for my nephew !

 

[Killbynumbers]

As an owner of an iPhone 7+ that still does everything for me it's always done, and still does it really well, what is a legitimate reason I should upgrade? Not being able to install iOS 16 does not bother me; iOS 15 is good enough.

The XS Max is still the iPhone Take with me daily BUT I still have a SIM card in my 7+ and have fun using it everyday at home. I do occasionally take it with me though. The 7+ works great with CarPlay.

 

[IzzyMandelbaum]

So iPhone 11,12,13 - Don't bother.

 

[darngooddesign]

You guys should do it for the Apple Watches

I doubt anyone is upgrading from an Apple Watch to the iPhone 14.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

It never ceases to amaze that the appleheads will keep pounding into your brain here at macrumors that your old apple iphone is a pos, that your a moron for not upgrading to the latest and greatest and you MUST get the new release or the world as you know will end- lol
wonder how much macrumors leaders get from apple to keep the drumbeat up on upgrading every new product cycle?
YOU HAVE THE SENIOR NEWS REPORTER TELLING YOU JUST UPGRADE - lol
and my hand me down 7 is still doing great for my nephew !

I'm being totally tongue in cheek about "JUST UPGRADE." Do what you want! If you are happy with your current iPhone, fantastic. It doesn't make a difference to me and our stories have zero input from Apple.

Do you actually think I get paid by Apple to promote upgrades or for any other reason? I don't. Apple probably doesn't even like us that much for publishing constant rumors lol. Two days ago in my iPhone X vs. 14 Pro story I wrote that the iPhone X is "still a very capable smartphone."

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I doubt anyone is upgrading from an Apple Watch to the iPhone 14.

I meant to say Apple Watch Series 7 or 6 v/s upcoming Apple Watch Series 8.

 

[Shirasaki]

No more notch: Rumors suggest Apple will replace the notch with a pill-shaped cutout and a hole for Face ID and the front camera on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Still have a functional notch and the same screen area can’t be used anyways. No notch? Make top row seamless and front a complete sheet of glass.

deep press

Basically a long press. Duh.

Triple-lens rear camera system

I will believe it when I see its actual performance. Not from YouTuber, but from pictures I see.

12-megapixel front camera

Ok sure. -_-

Numerous other camera improvements:

-_- again, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Up to 2x faster wireless charging

Irrelevant for me cause I use wire to charge. And what matters more is faster wired charging.

Increased storage

For someone eyeing on 512GB, I don’t think this matters at all.

Improved water resistance:

-_-

All in all, sounds attractive but iOS 16 doesn’t feel missing out much to me on my iPhone XS Max. Obviously apple doesn’t need to “convince me” to upgrade, just like I don’t need to give a **** on Apple’s ad and promotion.

We will see in a few months.

 

[darngooddesign]

It never ceases to amaze that the appleheads will keep pounding into your brain here at macrumors that your old apple iphone is a pos, that your a moron for not upgrading to the latest and greatest and you MUST get the new release or the world as you know will end- lol
wonder how much macrumors leaders get from apple to keep the drumbeat up on upgrading every new product cycle?
YOU HAVE THE SENIOR NEWS REPORTER TELLING YOU JUST UPGRADE - lol
and my hand me down 7 is still doing great for my nephew !

Some people might say it in jest, but no one is actually doing that.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Still waiting for this one. 😄

 

[huges84]

I think the more applicable comparison is from these older phones to the regular (non-pro) 14. Presumably someone waiting a long time to upgrade is more cost conscious and likely won’t go for the higher cost of the pro.

That’s not to say that they shouldn’t go for the 14 Pro (or 13 Pro). If you value the better cameras, I would rather have a 13 Pro than a 14 non-pro, if the rumors are accurate.

 

[dtmoy]

This water resistance is BS. I dropped my beloved XS in my hot tub for maybe two seconds...it died. Was time to upgrade though as the battery wasn't lasting too long...

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

It's absolutely crazy that they went heavier casually over time, XS was heavy but the size was perfect.

 

[decimortis]

This water resistance is BS. I dropped my beloved XS in my hot tub for maybe two seconds...it died. Was time to upgrade though as the battery wasn't lasting too long...

This may just be anecdotal but my sister dropped her XR in her hot tub for just a few seconds and it didn't survive either. Maybe the heat of the water affects the seals differently, or maybe the X series just has some jank water resistance.