Assuming we’re taking about the Pros, the macro control button uses the ultra wide lens to take macro shots, and the ultra wide is much better than the 13, which itself was a big improvement over 12. It’s no longer a joke lens, this lens is a good camera in itself.

As a result, macro photos on the 14 are much better than the 13. Example.

The main camera lens is slightly better, with a 24mm focal length, so gets more of the scene into the frame. But it also requires you to use the ultra wide for close ups.

Ironically this is a physics issue you run into with better cameras — with more specialised lenses, you’ve to think about which lens you want to use … something DSLR fans have done for ages. Eg with a pic like this (macro taken with a 14 pro) the photographer needs to be able to decide if the focus is on the trees or the foreground.

Cameras can guess where you want to focus, but ultimately the human’s got to decide because it’s a subjective decision on the photographer’s part.

In the past, camera lenses were so shitty people never had to worry about this. Which is why “destroys minimum focus distance” is sort of a non-issue for people who care about the camera.

For people that don’t, I suspect mid-tier phones with their “jack of all trades” lenses + digitally retouched photos will work well. Or who knows, maybe future high end phones will have an additional lower-quality all-purpose lens.