5 iPhone 14 Pro alternatives you can get in time for Christmas

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max production has been significantly hampered, causing a Christmas shortage

iPhone 14 Pro in all four colours
(Image credit: Apple)

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are widely regarded as two of the best iPhones that have ever been released. Such high praise pushed demand through the roof, causing a backlog to form right from the off.

Since then, issues with Covid-19 restrictions at the iPhone manufacturing facility in China have made getting hold of an iPhone 14 Pro before Christmas pretty much impossible. There are varying accounts of exactly how much production has suffered and how much value has been lost, but for consumers, the result is the same.

Thankfully there are a wealth of great phones available right now. If you can't wait for the iPhone 14 Pro, give on of these alternatives a try.

1. iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro product shot

(Image credit: Future)

If you want the closest like-for-like alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro, looks to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro. You'll miss out on a few things like Dynamic Island and the Always-On Display, but the bulk of the offering is the same.

When we reviewed the 13 Pro, we dubbed it the Goldilocks iPhone, because it is just right. You get an excellent camera, a processor capable of handling anything you throw at it, great battery life and a gorgeous display.

iPhone 13 Pro with 25GB of data just £63 a month on EE

iPhone 13 Pro with 25GB of data just <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=31423&awinaffid=103504&clickref=hawk-custom-tracking&p=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.ee.co.uk%2Fmobile-phones%2Fpay-monthly%2Fiphone-13-pro-5g%2Fdetails" data-link-merchant="ee.co.uk"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">£63 a month on EE
EE offer fantastic coverage with 5G, and with 25GB of data, you'll be able to keep on using it too! Pay £40 upfront and £63 a month, with unlimited text and calls, too.

2. iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 Plus review

(Image credit: Future)

Take the vanilla iPhone 14 and plump it up a bit... you've got the iPhone 14 Plus. Signalling Apple's first foray into a 6.7-inch non-Pro iPhone, the Plus was eagerly anticipated prior to its launch around three weeks later than the other iPhone 14 models.

It's a massively capable phone, with a spec sheet that fits nicely between the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro. You'll only get a two-sensor camera array here, though it's still capable of some phenomenal shots. Plus, that extra case size allows the Plus to house a bigger battery, meaning this should keep going even longer than the smaller Pro.

iPhone 14 Plus with 250GB of data for just £47 a month at Mobiles.co.uk

iPhone 14 Plus with 250GB of data for just <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=380&awinaffid=103504&clickref=hawk-custom-tracking&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobiles.co.uk%2Fapple-iphone-14-plus-128gb-blue" data-link-merchant="mobiles.co.uk"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">£47 a month at Mobiles.co.uk
250GB of data is more than enough for just about anyone, keeping you in touch with the world, even on the move. You'll pay just £49 upfront, too.

3. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review

(Image credit: Future)

If you're ready to give up Apple altogether, there's a wealth of brilliant Android phones waiting to take your pocket space. None are more recognisable than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Premium handsets from Samsung and Apple have gone head-to-head for as long as I can remember, and this is no exception.

The S22 Ultra is no slouch. The camera takes the best photos I've ever seen taken on a phone, while One UI 5 operates smoothly, with a good degree of customisation. It also comes with a stylus, if that's your bag.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with unlimited data for just £46.99 a month from Mobiles.co.uk

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with unlimited data for just <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=380&awinaffid=103504&clickref=hawk-custom-tracking&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobiles.co.uk%2Fsamsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-256gb-burgundy" data-link-merchant="mobiles.co.uk"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">£46.99 a month from Mobiles.co.uk
This deal may just steal the show – everything unlimited for less than £50 a month! It's via the ID Mobile network, which has great coverage, especially with 5G. Just £29 upfront too – this is a fantastic deal!

4. Google Pixel 7 Pro

Google Pixel 7 Pro review

(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

The Google Pixel 7 Pro has picked up several knockout reviews, thanks to a combination of form and function for a fantastic price. You'll find a superb camera system here, with some genuine wizardry going on under the hood. A process of re-mosaicing happens under zoom to remove grainy patches from your zoomed in images. The result redefines the standard for phone photography.

Couple that with a fantastic adaptive battery life, a beautiful looking display and an overall design that is distinctive and gorgeous, and you have a really great option. I'd always recommend the Hazel finish, too.

Google Pixel 7 Pro with unlimited data for just £33.99 a month at Mobiles.co.uk

Google Pixel 7 Pro with unlimited data for just <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=380&awinaffid=103504&clickref=hawk-custom-tracking&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobiles.co.uk%2Fgoogle-pixel-7-pro-128gb-obsidian" data-link-merchant="mobiles.co.uk"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">£33.99 a month at Mobiles.co.uk
Getting a brand new, flagship phone for just £33.99 a month is ludicrous – but getting a fully unlimited plan for that price is bonkers. With a £49 upfront cost, you can enjoy the best of Google's phone technology without busting the bank.

5. Nothing Phone (1)

Nothing Phone 1 review

(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

If you're looking for a great budget iPhone alternative, checkout the Nothing Phone (1). Sure, it wont have the bells and whistles of a more expensive flagship, but this is good at getting the basics done well, and will be more than enough for most users.

You'll get a phone with good specs and a decent operating system, a great camera for general use and a cool factor that is missing from so many handsets. The Glyph, a series of faux-neon lights on the back panel of this device, are bound to strike up conversation and have more functionality than you might think.

Given the extraordinarily low price of the Nothing Phone, your best bet might be to pick up the handset outright and grab a cheap SIM-only deal. I've attached a link to one of my favourite SIM only deals below.

Get an ID Mobile SIM with 250GB of data for just £7.50 a month at Mobiles.co.uk

If that doesn't work for you, the Nothing Phone is available exclusively through O2, so I've attached the best deal below.

Nothing Phone (1) with 20GB of data for £36.20 a month on O2

Nothing Phone (1) with 20GB of data for <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?awinmid=3235&awinaffid=103504&clickref=hawk-custom-tracking&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.o2.co.uk%2Fshop%2Fnothing%2Fphone-1" data-link-merchant="o2.co.uk"" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">£36.20 a month on O2
Snag the coolest phone on the block with an ample 20GB of data for just £36.20 a month. You'll pay just £10 upfront, and the O2 network is great for coverage.

Sam Cross
Staff Writer

Online news writer at T3.com, Sam has five years of experience in online and print journalism, with work featured in publications like Metro and Last Word on Sports. After years writing about music and football, Sam now turns his hand to bringing you news about new phones, smart home products, smart watches, laptops and TVs. Sam is a longtime fan and user of Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches.He’s also T3’s resident football expert, bringing you everything you need to know about the big games, including how to watch them. In his spare time, Sam is a keen guitarist, watch lover and (very) amateur golfer.