Preface
In September 2022, Apple's official website released the iPhone 14 series super-cup flagship, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which has more improvements compared with the previous-generation iPhone 13 series. Whether it is ultimately suitable for a user, however, still depends on individual circumstances. This time, Chongdiantou (the charging head network) conducted a simple comparison between the two generations' super-large-cup models, adding actual charging tests so users can clearly understand the battery life of these phones when they are out and about.
Product Description
Neither phone comes with a charger, so the packaging is thinner and lighter, and the damping sensation when unboxing is reduced—you can open it by simply lifting the lid. Both include the same USB-C to Lightning fast-charging cable, a SIM card pin, and the paperwork.
Both flagship phones use a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, saying goodbye to the long-standing 60Hz refresh rate. The biggest difference is that the 14 Pro series no longer has a notch but uses a Dynamic Island "pill" design. The position of the side buttons differs slightly from the previous-generation iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max, so personalized phone cases cannot be used universally.
A bar chart of battery capacity across the entire range from iPhone 3G to iPhone 14 shows that these two phones differ by about 29 mAh in battery capacity. Other charts show the full range of iPhone models that support fast charging.
Maximum Charging Power Comparison
Although iPhone fast charging has been surpassed by many domestic manufacturers, it still attracts much attention due to the influence of the product itself. Apple's fast-charging upgrades remind us that phone charging can still be squeezed—the power increases by a few watts each year, while still maintaining 50%–60% charge in half an hour.
As this year's super cup, the iPhone 14 Pro Max no longer comes with a standard charger; instead, a new original 35W charger is available. Testing shows the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports a maximum fast-charging power of about 27W. Last year's super cup, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, shows no difference in fast charging, also supporting a maximum of about 27W—both the highest charging power in the entire iPhone lineup.
Charging Comparison
The fast-charging power actually measured on a new phone is often higher than Apple's official nominal power. Should you choose Apple's officially recommended 20W fast charging, or higher-power PD fast charging?
iPhone 14 Pro Max: Summarizing the charging curves of Apple's 5W, 18W, 20W, 35W and 140W chargers, the measured maximum charging power is 27W. After turning off battery optimization mode, the 5W charger still keeps its original record. For chargers of 18W and above, the fastest charging rate occurs within the first hour with the 35W charger (or an original charger supporting the 9V3A gear); subsequent power declines steadily, and the overall charging time becomes comparable to that of the 20W charger.
iPhone 13 Pro Max: Looking directly at the PD fast-charging stage—at the half-hour point, 30W is slightly faster, charging to 49%; at the one-hour point, 96W is faster, charging to 84%; to reach a full charge, both 30W and 96W take the shortest time, about 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Summary
Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has been upgraded in fast charging compared with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max's battery capacity is 4352 mAh—29 mAh higher than the iPhone 14 Pro Max's 4323 mAh—both support about 27W fast charging in terms of power.
For charging time, the charger matters most. Setting aside non-PD fast charging, with PD fast charging a 20W charger can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max by 46% in half an hour and an iPhone 13 Pro Max by 43% in half an hour—so 20W is really not enough for the iPhone Pro Max. To reach 50% in half an hour, both phones need a 30W-or-above charger.
The comparison results are clear: for these two super-cup iPhone Pro Max models, PD fast-charging heads below 30W are indeed not enough. If you want a better charging experience, a 30W–35W charger is an extremely cost-effective choice.
