You’re standing in the store, or more likely, scrolling through a checkout page at 2:00 AM, and you’re stuck. It’s the "Pro" dilemma. Apple didn't just give us phone colors with the 14 series; they gave us personal brand statements that, honestly, changed how the resale market looks years later.
Picking the right iPhone 14 Pro colours isn't just about what looks "cool" in the moment. It’s about fingerprints. It’s about how that physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating handles a drop on the pavement.
The Deep Purple Phenomenon
Deep Purple was the undisputed heavyweight champion of 2022 and 2023. Apple has this habit of introducing a "hero color" every year to make sure everyone knows you have the newest model. With the 14 Pro, it was this moody, shifting violet that looked almost black in a dim room but absolutely glowed under direct sunlight.
It wasn’t just purple. It was sophisticated.
Most people don't realize that the back glass on these is chemically strengthened through a dual ion-exchange process. That matte finish is great because it hides the greasy smears from your hands, but the stainless steel rails? That’s a different story. On the Deep Purple model, those rails are a magnet for smudges. If you’re the type of person who loses their mind over a single fingerprint, this color might actually drive you crazy unless you’re rocking a case 24/7.
Space Black vs. The Old Graphite
For years, we had "Graphite." It was fine. It was... gray. But when the iPhone 14 Pro colours dropped, Apple swapped it for Space Black. This was a massive deal for tech purists.
Space Black is significantly darker. It feels "stealth." If you’re into that Batman aesthetic, this is the one. The interesting thing about the Space Black finish is the durability of the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. Tech reviewers like Marques Brownlee have noted in the past that these darker finishes on stainless steel tend to hide micro-scratches better than the lighter versions.
Why? Because the scratch usually reveals the metal underneath. On a silver phone, it blends. On a dark phone, you’d think it would stand out, but the DLC coating is incredibly tough.
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Which iPhone 14 Pro colours hold their value?
Let's talk money. Because eventually, you’re going to want the iPhone 17 or whatever comes next.
Historically, the "hero" color—in this case, Deep Purple—holds a slight premium for the first 12 months. Everyone wants the one that looks "new." But as the years go by, the market shifts back to the classics. If you look at secondary markets like Swappa or Back Market today, Gold and Silver are the steady earners.
- Silver is the "safe" bet. It’s timeless.
- Gold has a specific niche, especially in international markets where it’s seen as a status symbol.
- Space Black is the universal favorite for corporate trade-ins.
People forget that the Silver iPhone 14 Pro actually has a white back glass. It’s the "brightest" phone in the lineup. If you use a clear case, the Silver model reflects the most light, which makes the whole device pop. It’s basically a piece of jewelry.
The Problem With Gold
Gold is polarizing. Some people think it’s tacky; others won't buy anything else. On the 14 Pro, the Gold is more of a "champagne" than a "Bling" gold. It’s subtle.
The weird quirk about the Gold model is the frame. Apple uses a high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) process to apply the color. It’s supposed to be more durable than the other finishes. In fact, some lab tests suggest the Gold coating is technically the most scratch-resistant out of all the iPhone 14 Pro colours.
It’s science, basically.
Texture and the "Hand Feel"
You’ve got to consider the friction. The matte glass back on all these colors is surprisingly slippery. If you’ve ever sat your phone on a slightly tilted couch cushion and watched it slowly migrate toward the floor like a glacier, you know what I’m talking about.
The color doesn't change the texture, but it changes how you perceive it. The darker colors feel "heavier" visually. The Silver and Gold feel "light."
Why Silver is secretly the best (and worst) choice
The Silver iPhone 14 Pro is a purist's dream. The back is a clean, surgical white. But the stainless steel edges are not PVD coated in the same way the others are. They are polished steel.
This means two things:
- It scratches if you even look at it wrong. "Micro-abrasions" are the bane of the Silver owner's existence.
- You can polish them.
You can literally take a bit of metal polish and a microfiber cloth to a Silver iPhone 14 Pro and buff out the scratches. You cannot do that with Deep Purple or Space Black. If you polish those, you’ll just rub the color right off and leave a permanent, ugly silver smear.
Real-world durability: A reality check
I’ve seen these phones after a year of "naked" use. No case. No screen protector. Just raw phone.
The Space Black holds up remarkably well, but the corners eventually start to show "silvering" where the black coating has chipped away from hitting keys in a pocket. The Deep Purple shows less of this, strangely enough. Maybe the pigment bond is slightly different, or maybe people who buy purple just treat their phones better? Who knows.
The Gold model is the sleeper hit for durability. That HiPIMS coating isn't just marketing speak; it genuinely stays looking "new" longer than the others if you’re brave enough to go caseless.
Matching your aesthetic
We live in the era of "setups." Your phone is part of your EDC (Everyday Carry).
If your desk is all walnut wood and Edison bulbs, Deep Purple looks incredible. If you’re a minimalist with a white desk and a mechanical keyboard, Silver is the only logical choice. Space Black is for the "tech-wear" crowd—black hoodies, black backpacks, black coffee.
It sounds silly, but you look at this thing 100 times a day. If the color clashes with your vibe, you’ll notice.
The Case Dilemma
Are you going to put a case on it? If the answer is "yes," and that case isn't clear, then the color of your phone basically doesn't matter.
Except for the camera bump.
That massive triple-lens array on the back of the 14 Pro is always going to peek through the cutout. If you buy a Deep Purple phone and put it in a bright red case, it’s going to look... interesting. Usually, people try to match or contrast.
- Deep Purple looks best with: Elderberry (Leather), Storm Blue (Silicone), or Clear.
- Space Black goes with literally anything. It’s the white t-shirt of phones.
- Silver looks amazing with bright, "pop" colors like Canary Yellow or succulent greens.
- Gold is tricky. Stick to Forest Green, Ink (Purple-Black), or Umber.
Common Misconceptions
People think the "Pro" colors change every few months. They don't. Unlike the standard iPhone 14, which got a mid-cycle Yellow release, the 14 Pro stayed with its original four. What you saw at launch is what you got.
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Another myth: "The darker colors make the phone get hotter in the sun."
While technically true that black absorbs more thermal energy than white, the internal heat dissipation systems and the glass sandwich design mean you’ll never notice a difference in performance based on color. Your phone will throttle because you're recording 4K ProRes video in the desert, not because it’s Space Black.
Actionable Insights for Your Purchase
If you are currently hunting for a refurbished or used model, here is the breakdown of how to choose:
- Check the edges first. On Space Black and Deep Purple, look for "nicks" in the color. If you see silver peeking through, that’s a permanent chip.
- Prioritize Gold for longevity. If you want the finish that stays looking pristine the longest under a microscope, the Gold HiPIMS coating is objectively superior.
- Go Silver if you’re a "buffer." If you like the idea of being able to polish your phone back to a mirror finish, Silver is your only option.
- Pick Deep Purple for the "Era." It is the definitive color of the 14 Pro generation.
Ultimately, these phones are tools, but they’re also $1,000+ investments. The iPhone 14 Pro colours were a peak for Apple’s stainless steel era before they made the jump to Titanium with the 15 Pro. There's a weight and a luster to these specific finishes that you just don't get with the newer, matte titanium models.
Before you buy, check the phone under a bright LED light. Tilt it. See how the color shifts. And remember: you’re going to be staring at that camera bump for at least two years. Make sure it’s a color you actually like, not just the one that was in stock.
Once you’ve picked your color, the next logical step is finding a case that actually complements the stainless steel rails rather than hiding them. Look for "thin-fit" cases or high-quality clear polycarbonate options that feature UV resistance to prevent yellowing, which is the number one way to ruin the look of a Silver or Deep Purple model within three months.