Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 14? How It Compares to Older iPhones
Apple's new iPhone 14 lineup is now on sale, except for the iPhone 14 Plus, which arrives Oct. 7. With a new generation here, you might be wondering if it's time to upgrade. The answer largely depends on which phone you currently have. If you have a recent model like the iPhone 13 or 12, you can afford to wait. If your phone is older though, it's worth figuring out how much you'll gain by jumping to a newer iPhone.
The $799 (£849, AU$1,399) iPhone 14 brings modest improvements that are appreciated but not game-changing, like nitty-gritty camera improvements, car-crash detection and the support for satellite-based emergency messaging. (Hopefully, you'll never be in a situation where you'll need to use the latter two).
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max's upgrades are more dramatic, but you still don't need to upgrade unless you can score a great trade-in deal. Apple saved its most interesting new features for the Pro lineup, including the Dynamic Island that replaces the notch, the new A16 Bionic processor and a 48-megapixel main camera sensor. If you prefer larger phones, you may want to wait until Apple releases the iPhone 14 Plus before making your decision.
It's important to remember that you don't have to buy the iPhone 14 to get camera, battery and performance improvements over an earlier iPhone. The recently discounted $699 iPhone 13 or the smaller $599 13 Mini could be a good option if you still want more storage, faster performance and an improved camera, especially if you are coming from a phone that's three years old or more. It's also the only option if you want the smaller Mini and its 5.4-inch screen, since the iPhone 14 line eliminates that size in favor of the new $899 iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen.
Purchasing decisions will always vary depending on budget, how well your phone works right now and your personal needs, so there's no simple answer that works for everyone. But here are the biggest differences between the iPhone 14 lineup and previous iPhone generations to help you make a decision.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
The iPhone 14 lineup introduces new features such as car-crash detection, the removal of the physical SIM card for US phones, and enhanced cameras on the rear and front. Despite those changes, iPhone 14 isn't different enough to justify upgrading from the iPhone 13. And even though Apple finally got rid of the infamous notch in the Pro Models, the 14 and 14 Plus still have one -- it's the same smaller notch that debuted on the iPhone 13 series. In fact, the iPhone 14 represents "one of the most minimal year-over-year upgrades in Apple's history," according to CNET's Patrick Holland, who reviewed Apple's latest phones.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have the A15 Bionic chip from last year's iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 14's screen looks exactly like the one on the 13. Perhaps the most prominent change this year is the introduction of a larger version of the iPhone 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch screen like the Pro Max. That means you no longer have to splurge on Apple's most expensive iPhone if you want the largest screen possible.
Of course, the iPhone 14 is still highly rated, but we recommend saving your money and skipping the upgrade. If you've made up your mind to upgrade, we suggest going for an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max if you can afford it. These phones are expensive, but buys you access to some salient changes -- namely a high-refresh rate display, Apple's new Dynamic Island multitasking bar, an always-on display as well as better cameras among other features.
The bottom line: If you have an iPhone 13 or 13 Pro, don't upgrade. But if you are determined to get a new phone, go for the iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max, especially if you must have the Dynamic Island right now.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 12, 12 Pro
Even though the iPhone 12 lineup was released two years ago, they still share many similarities with Apple's latest phones. Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 14 support 5G, run on fast processors, offer great cameras and include MagSafe accessory compatibility.
Since the iPhone 14 is more of a refresh than a major upgrade, we recommend hanging onto your iPhone 12 if it's still in good condition. You can take advantage of the iPhone's latest software features such as lock screen customizations, widgets and the ability to unsend text messages by upgrading to iOS 16.
The iPhone 14 received a few notable camera upgrades, like a larger sensor, a new lens with a faster aperture, improved photo processing and Action Mode which makes the movements in videos look smoother when you record them.
But the iPhone 12's cameras remain excellent even though they are two years old. The iPhone 12 has a 12-megapixel dual camera system, while the iPhone 12 Pro includes a third camera with a telephoto lens. Check out our iPhone 12 review to see how the cameras held up when CNET put them through the paces.
It's worth remembering that you get more noticeable upgrades with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. These include everything that's new in the 14, as well as an upgraded main camera with a larger 48-megapixel sensor, an ultrawide camera that allows you to take Macro photos and a third camera with a telephoto lens. If you can get a good trade-in deal that significantly knocks down the iPhone 14 Pro's price, upgrading from the regular iPhone 12 is a decent step-up.
The bottom line: Hold onto your iPhone 12 for another year since the iPhone 14 isn't dramatically different. However, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max bring more significant changes that could be worthwhile if you can snag a good trade-in deal.
iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 11, 11 Pro
If you're using an iPhone 11, we recommend upgrading to an iPhone 14 (or even an iPhone 13). In the last three years, Apple has made enough changes to features including battery life, performance, screen quality, cameras and durability to merit buying a new iPhone.
Upgrading to the iPhone 14 will get you 5G support, more storage (128GB at the base level versus 64GB) a better main camera with a wider aperture lens, new video shooting options like Action mode and Cinematic mode, a better selfie camera with Night mode and Apple's Photonic Engine processing, compatibility with Apple's MagSafe accessories, longer battery life and faster performance. That's in addition to car-crash detection and Apple's new emergency satellite messaging feature.
Most of the photography and videography improvements are dramatic changes compared to the iPhone 11. And the longer battery life and additional storage space are welcomed upgrades that you'll notice on a daily basis.
As previously mentioned, if you go for the 14 Pro instead, you get a new 48-megapixel main camera, a closer 3x optical zoom versus the 11 Pro Max's 2x zoom, the Dynamic Island instead of the notch and numerous other upgrades like an always-on display.
The bottom line: The iPhone 14 lineup includes enough changes to justify upgrading from the iPhone 11. But if your phone is still in good condition and you're satisfied with it, install iOS 16 and hold onto it for another year.
2022-09-17 00:22:02
