The iPhone 14 Plus has the UltraWide lens that the XS Max does not. Due to the UltraWide lens the 14 has a minimum focus distance larger than the XS Max, meaning, the 14 has to be farther away from the subject to be able to focus because the lens is wider to gather more light. With the 13 & 14 you have to back up a little farther to get focus and zoom in for a closeup.
The 13 & 14 Pro & Pro Max have a Macro feature that you can enable that will allow you to get a close up shot without having to move back then zoom in, but again, that is only on the Pro models.
perfectly_peculiar t1_j6582h6 wrote
Reply to 14 plus cannot take photos close up? Expected similar quality to XS max but at same distance (5”) photos insanely blurry… super frustrated, should/can I exchange from att for the pro max? :/ by PyxisNoir
The iPhone 14 Plus has the UltraWide lens that the XS Max does not. Due to the UltraWide lens the 14 has a minimum focus distance larger than the XS Max, meaning, the 14 has to be farther away from the subject to be able to focus because the lens is wider to gather more light. With the 13 & 14 you have to back up a little farther to get focus and zoom in for a closeup.
The 13 & 14 Pro & Pro Max have a Macro feature that you can enable that will allow you to get a close up shot without having to move back then zoom in, but again, that is only on the Pro models.