Smartphones
Have you found yourself asking the key question, “which iPhone 14 color should I get?” If so, you’re not alone. Although this is an older iPhone model, it's still a worthwhile investment, especially if you can get a refurbished one in the color you love. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in 6 finishes — Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Red, and Yellow — and the shade you pick matters more than you may expect. This is especially true when you start to consider factors like resale value, fingerprint visibility, everyday wear, and how each color looks in your hand. Since you likely need a little help on the color-picking front if you’ve come to today's guide, our team at Back Market will walk you through every standard color one after the other, including the darker iPhone 14 Pro palette, to help you choose the best one for your needs. Stick around, because there are real differences worth knowing before you buy.
TL;DR: Which iPhone 14 color should I get?
✨The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in 6 colors, and Midnight is our top pick for most people because it looks good with everything and holds its value better than the rest when you resell it. Starlight is the color to get if you hate seeing fingerprints on your phone. Blue and Purple are the softer lifestyle picks, while Red is the bold statement color. Yellow, on the other hand, is the newest of the bunch, added by Apple in 2023. And if you prefer the iPhone 14 Pro, that lineup swaps the pastels of the standard and Plus models for Deep Purple, Space Black, Silver, and Gold, with Deep Purple being the one that everyone was talking about at launch.
Why can you trust this iPhone 14 colors list?
Some people say we are overzealous at Back Market when it comes to our tech, and honestly, we take it as a compliment. This is the whole reason our refurbished iPhone 14s are worth buying.
Every refurbished iPhone available on Back Market is inspected, cleaned, repaired, and tested by professional refurbishers who know how important it is to deliver high-quality tech to our customers. They’ll look for everything under the sun, following a specialized checklist to determine what meets our standards and what doesn't.
And, when it comes to color specifically, professional refurbishers also check the finish and grade the product on cosmetic condition, so the color you see is the color you get. They’re also familiar with how each color holds up against visible wear and fingerprints, giving you the lowdown before you buy.
That, in short, is why you can trust this iPhone 14 colors guide and the refurbished phones available on Back Market. However, if you’re not yet sold on the model itself, you may want to circle back around to this guide after checking out ourrefurbished iPhone 14 review to learn more about the phone itself first.
The bottom line: iPhone 14 colors
With 6 color options for the regular iPhone 14, it’s understandable that making a decision can be difficult.
For those experiencing decision fatigue, we recommend Midnight. It's the most popular colorway in the lineup and for good reason, with its deep, near-black hue featuring a subtle blue undertone that suits any style. It also has the added benefit of being the easiest color to track down either new or refurbished, and it carries serious resale value if you ever plan to trade it in or upgrade in the future.
But we get it for some, Midnight is just… well, the color black. If you don’t see it as anything special, you may be drawn to Starlight, which also happens to be the best at hiding fingerprints. This is a warm off-white color with soft hints of gold, so not only does it look ethereal, but it also stays clean with barely any effort on your part.
However, if ethereal isn’t quite what you want and Midnight is too dark, consider Blue or the lilac Purple, which offer a subtle pop of color and are impressively lifestyle-friendly, matching most aesthetics. Purple in particular is eye-catching, and the signature launch shade still turns heads today.
Then, there are the two that make a statement. These are (PRODUCT)RED (yes, that is its name according to Apple), which is bold and elegantly glossy, and then the cheerful Yellow, which offers a unique, sunny look not often seen on phones. They are a bit out there, so be sure this is what you want before you buy.
And if you're shopping for the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max instead, you’ll have to accept that pastels were traded for a darker, more metallic set of 4 colors for these models. Your pick will come down to Deep Purple, Space Black, Silver, or Gold. Most prefer Deep Purple, but the choice is yours.
iPhone 14 color overview
Here's a quick iPhone 14 color comparison showing how easy each one is to find, how well it hides fingerprints, and who each color is best for.
Color | Availability | Best for | Fingerprints | Popularity |
Midnight | Widely available | Most buyers who want a safe, classic look | Shows some | 💙💙💙💙💙 |
Starlight | Widely available | Anyone who hates smudges | Most forgiving | 💙💙💙💙🤍 |
Blue | Common | Those who want a soft pop of color | Middle ground | 💙💙💙💙🤍 |
Purple | Common | Fans of a subtle, different shade | Middle ground | 💙💙💙🤍🤍 |
(PRODUCT)RED | Less common | Making a bold statement | Shows more (it’s glossy) | 💙💙💙🤍🤍 |
Yellow | Less common (newer) | The freshest, brightest look | Middle ground | 💙💙💙🤍🤍 |
Popularity reflects retail and community data along with our tech team's picks. Newer and bolder colors like Yellow and (PRODUCT)RED were sold in smaller numbers, so refurbished supply for them is more limited.
What colors does the iPhone 14 come in?
We know you’re excited to learn more about your color options when it comes to the iPhone 14, so here’s a detailed overview to get you started. We can’t wait to help you pick out one you’ll love after you’ve learned all you can about your color options.
Midnight is the safe favorite that goes with everything
✨ Midnight is the best-selling iPhone 14 color and the easiest one to find refurbished.
The safe, goes-with-anything pick.
Midnight isn't flat black, so don’t let the haters tell you otherwise. In fact, it “looks clean” according to one Redditor, and this is because of its aluminum frame and matte texture. It's quite dark, though, with just the tiniest smidge of blue you can only see when the light catches it in a certain way. It's quite popular among buyers, and that's because Apple knows what it's doing.
Every year, they release a near-black option because it's what most people reach for when they want a phone that pairs with just about any outfit or occasion. It's also the safest neutral choice, especially for those who are undecided on colors or worried they may regret getting a brighter hue like (PRODUCT)RED or Yellow.
The one trade-off, however, is that as a darker glossy finish, it's far more likely to show fingerprints and dust than lighter shades. This means you may find yourself constantly wiping it down, especially if you don't have a case to protect it.
Unfortunately, Midnight is one of the finishes our team notices fingerprints on most quickly during inspection. But on the plus side, after all this up-close and personal time with the color, we can attest to its stunning depth and color-shift capabilities.
Starlight is the one that hides fingerprints
✨ Starlight hides smudges and everyday wear better than any other iPhone 14 color.
The clean one that shrugs off smudges.
Starlight might sound like a silver color, but it's actually a warm, off-white cream shade that looks almost like champagne. One Redditor even said they chose Starlight “because the champagne borders with a clear case look sick.” So, it's safe to say that Starlight is the opposite of a stark white color.
Besides looking classy and sophisticated, the big draw for most is this color's practicality. Unlike darker shades, it's a superstar at hiding fingerprints and little marks that eventually show up on your phone. If you’re after the “spotless” look, this may be the perfect pick for you.
Our team at Back Market finds Starlight to be warmer in person than Apple’s cool product shots suggest, with the golden undertones more noticeable than the silvery press images imply. So, don’t be dismayed by any stock images you may have seen; in person, it's far prettier.
Blue is the soft, easygoing lifestyle pick
✨ Blue is a muted, gentle finish that adds color without shouting its presence for all to see, but it's admirable nonetheless.
A calm splash of color.
If you’re picturing a bright, punchy blue, stop. The iPhone 14 Blue colorway is softer and not quite baby blue, but definitely more pastel-leaning. To some, it looks like the color of the sky, and at Back Market, we agree. One Redditor even said it's the “best colour out of the bunch.” That's likely because it's definitely a noticeable color, but it's not too out there.
With that in mind, Blue is a great middle ground for anyone who wants a bit of personality without committing to something bold. It pairs beautifully with a clear case if you want the shade to be the star of the show, especially with its glossy glass back and matte aluminum edges.
If you’re struggling to picture what the Blue shade looks like, or if you're familiar with the previous Pro lineup, it resembles the Sierra Blue tone. Its pale blue coloring also hides fingerprint smudges fairly well, but its fun color may not be for the professionals out there.
Purple is the fan favorite with a subtle shift
✨ Purple is the soft lilac shade that helped define the iPhone 14 at launch.
Soft lilac with a little shimmer.
When it comes to a battle of the iPhone 14 colors, light Purple is often many people's favorite pick. In fact, one Redditor ranked light Purple as the standout finish of the whole lineup. This hue was the signature color for the iPhone 14 lineup, and it's a slightly different purple to what you might be remembering with the iPhone 12. If you’re curious about how the older shade compares, have a look at ouriPhone 12 colors guide.
At Back Market, we can attest to it also looking crisp and premium. It also has a glossy finish, but because it's a lighter color — you guessed it — fingerprints aren't quite as visible. The soft lilac also shows a faint shimmer when it catches the light, so it shifts between a cool lavender and something closer to silver depending on your surroundings.
Don’t expect in-your-face glitter even in direct light, however; in hand, our team finds it an incredibly subtle, but still pretty, shimmer.
RED is the bold statement color
✨ RED is the glossiest, most eye-catching finish in the standard lineup.
Bold, glossy, and made to be seen.
At the time of its release, Apple donated a percentage of (PRODUCT)RED purchases to a good cause. Apple itself said, “A portion of the proceeds from every (PRODUCT)RED purchase goes to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.” Color-wise, the Red hue is just as daring as this decision.
One Redditor said, “(PRODUCT)RED I feel is the only standout color…bright, vibrant, and flashy.” It's a courageous color with character, and it grabs attention, so it's perfect for daredevils who love the spotlight.
In hand, it's glossy and comes alive in the light, deepening to a rich cherry in daylight but looking darker and more muted at night. However, like the Midnight colorway, Red tends to show fingerprints, so a case suits it if you want to keep it looking its liveliest for years to come.
Yellow is the newest color, added in 2023
✨ Yellow is the freshest iPhone 14 shade and is a cheerful, bright pick.
The sunny newcomer of the lineup.
For some, the Yellow iPhone 14 color option came out of left field, but Apple has a little-known tradition of refreshing its premium flagship lineup with a new color in the spring after release. This Yellow color might not suit everyone, but it's highly saturated and bright, with the Apple logo on the back in a lighter shade of yellow.
With this colorway, the phone frame and camera bump are painted a similar hue, tying the look together. It's incredibly eye-catching, and those who love it really love it. One Redditor said, “I have the yellow 14, and it’s so pretty and bright, and I also had the yellow 11. The yellow 14 is more vibrant than the 11 was.”
Additionally, because this color arrived later (6 months later, to be exact), many assume it's rarer or harder to track down second-hand, and although that can be true depending on where you shop, Back Market carries it refurbished — just be sure to grab it as soon as you find it if you have your heart set on this color.
It's a cheery color that looks better than you might expect, even if you’re not usually a fan of yellow or bold colors… we promise. It's softer and more pastel in hand than the launch images let on, so don’t go thinking it's neon when it's far more mellow-hued.
What colors do the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come in?
If you’ve read this far, first, well done; second, you already know the 14 Pro and Pro Max models have a different color palette than the standard and the Plus models of this generation. One thing worth knowing before you decide between the standard iPhone 14 and the Pro is that the two lineups don't just differ in color, they differ in finish entirely. The standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a glossy glass back, which looks vibrant but picks up fingerprints more easily. The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have a matte glass back, which feels more premium and hides smudges better, meaning Space Black on the Pro is far more low-maintenance day-to-day than Midnight on the standard model, even though both are near-black shades. If fingerprint resistance is a priority, that distinction alone could tip your decision.
Apple described the Pro range as “four gorgeous new finishes,” covering Deep Purple, Space Black, Silver, and Gold. Deep Purple was the signature launch shade and the one everyone talked about. It’s a rich, muted purple that reads almost grey in some light and unmistakably purple in others.
Then, Space Black replaced the older Graphite finish, and Silver and Gold cover the classic bright and warm looks. All 4 of these finishes sit on the heavier stainless-steel frame that gives the Pro its more premium feel. So, if you’re considering an iPhone 14 Pro or an iPhone 14 Pro Max, these are your choices, and we often have them available at Back Market.
The same practical trade-offs apply here as on the standard models. Space Black shows fingerprints and micro-scratches on its stainless-steel edges more than any other Pro color, so it benefits most from a case. Silver hides smudges best of the four, making it the low-maintenance choice if you go caseless. On resale, Space Black holds value best thanks to steady demand, while Deep Purple, despite being the most talked-about at launch, can take longer to sell simply because it's less universally appealing than a neutral tone.
However, we know that the 14 Pro and Pro Max are a bit on the older side. So, if you’re weighing the Pro against a newer model, ouriPhone 15 vs. iPhone 14 comparison breaks down why the 15 might be a better option for your needs.
How can I get an iPhone 14 in my favorite color for less?
✨ Choose your iPhone 14 color based on how you use your phone day to day, then buy it refurbished to get the shade you want for far less than the price of new. Before you head out or open up your browser for a little shopping sesh, here are a few tips worth keeping in mind so you get an iPhone 14 in the color you actually want:
Buy for how you use your phone: Think about whether you go caseless and how much a stray fingerprint bothers you. If you never use a case, a lighter shade like Starlight stays cleaner, but if you always case your phone, the color underneath matters far less.
Weigh resale before you commit: Color affects resale value more than you might think. Midnight and the darker classics have the widest future audience, so they are the easy pick if you plan to upgrade and sell later.
Decide on bolder colors early: Shades like (PRODUCT)RED and the newer Yellow, along with the Pro's Deep Purple, sold in smaller numbers, so they are harder to find refurbished. If one of those is your dream shade, be ready to grab it the moment it appears.
Compare condition grades, not just color: A lower cosmetic grade in your favorite color is often the single biggest lever for savings, sometimes cutting the price by 30% or more compared to the top grade, with no difference in how the phone performs.
Our guide to cheap refurbished iPhone 14s, 13s, and more is a good starting point if you’re ready to shop with the tips above in mind but have a strict budget.
What does refurbished mean, and why is it worth it?
At Back Market, refurbished means the phone was professionally inspected and cleaned as well as repaired where needed. It then goes through a grading and testing process before going back on sale, ultimately costing less than the price of a new iPhone 14 even though it works up to the original benchmarks.
If you don't believe us, believe the math. According to retail pricing, the iPhone 14 launched at $799 and the iPhone 14 Plus at $899; you can get a refurbished model for more than 30% less than that original pricing. That's a significant chunk of change back in your pocket. You can also buy a lower-grade or earlier iPhone if you need to stretch your budget a little further, while still getting a phone that looks great and performs as it should.
Cost savings and impeccable conditions aren’t the only reasons refurbished is a good option. It's also worth considering because, unlike buying used from a seller on Facebook Marketplace, you get a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. That’s golden because it's peace of mind, and can you really put a price on that? We think not.
Save even more with our trade-in program
Do you want to save even more on a refurbished iPhone 14 in your favorite color? Who are we kidding…we know you do, and if you’re brave enough to agree, consider trading in your old tech. Ourtrade-in program is easy to use and the steps are super simple.
Fill out a form about your device and receive a quote from a refurbisher. Then, send us your tech for free; we evaluate it and offer you a credit towards an iPhone 14 in the color of your choosing or cash back in your account. This brings the price of a new device down even further or gives you a little extra money to put towards any other item you may want.
Not to mention, by engaging with our trade-in program, you are also doing your bit to keep working tech out of landfill. Nice, right?
What's the best iPhone 14 color to buy refurbished?
With 6 standard iPhone 14 colors to choose from, plus the darker Pro palette, the decision comes down to how you carry your phone day to day and which shade you love, with a little thought spared for how easy it is to keep clean.
For most people, Midnight is the safe, high-resale favorite, while Starlight is the low-maintenance option for anyone who hates smudges. Blue and Purple are softer picks with a bit of personality. (PRODUCT)RED makes a statement, while Yellow is the newer, more cheerful color. Then, of course, there are the Pro colors worth considering if you’re leaning that way, with Purple being our top choice… and maybe yours, too.
Whichever finish wins you over, buying it refurbished through Back Market gets you the same look for far less than the original price, backed by real testing and a warranty.
