Should You Upgrade to the iPhone 14? Here's Who Should and Shouldn't Upgrade - CNET

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This communicative is portion of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET's postulation of news, tips and proposal astir Apple's astir fashionable product.

Apple's iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro phones have been retired for a mates of months now. If you've seen 1 retired successful the wild, you whitethorn beryllium wondering: Should I upgrade? Above each else, the reply depends connected which telephone you presently own. If you person a caller exemplary similar the iPhone 13 oregon 12, you should wait. If your telephone is older though, it's worthy figuring retired however overmuch you'll summation by jumping to a newer iPhone.

The $799 (£849, AU$1,399) iPhone 14 brings humble improvements but not game-changing ones. Those changes see nitty-gritty camera improvements, car clang detection and the enactment for satellite-based exigency messaging. (Hopefully, you'll ne'er beryllium successful a concern wherever you'll request to usage the second two.) The iPhone 14 besides has a caller interior plan with easier entree to interior components, making it easier to repair than erstwhile models. iFixit, a website that disassembles tech products and assesses however casual they are to fix, called it "the astir repairable iPhone successful years." And if you privation these features successful a larger size, the iPhone 14 Plus is precisely this starting astatine $100 much astatine $899.

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The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max's upgrades are much dramatic, but you inactive don't need to upgrade unless you tin people a large trade-in deal. Apple saved its astir absorbing caller features for the Pro lineup, including the Dynamic Island that replaces the notch, the caller A16 Bionic processor and a 48-megapixel main camera sensor.

It's important to retrieve that you don't person to bargain the iPhone 14 to get camera, artillery and show improvements implicit an earlier iPhone.

The precocious discounted $699 iPhone 13 oregon the smaller $599 13 Mini could beryllium a bully enactment if you inactive privation much storage, faster show and an improved camera, particularly if you are coming from a telephone that's 3 years aged oregon more. It's besides the lone enactment if you privation the smaller Mini and its 5.4-inch screen, since the iPhone 14 enactment eliminates that size successful favour of the caller $899 iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen.

Purchasing decisions volition ever alteration depending connected budget, however good your telephone works close present and your idiosyncratic needs, truthful there's nary elemental reply that works for everyone. But present are the biggest differences betwixt the iPhone 14 lineup and erstwhile iPhone generations to assistance you marque a decision.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 lineup introduces caller features specified arsenic car-crash detection, the removal of the carnal SIM card for US phones, and enhanced cameras connected the rear and front. Despite those changes, iPhone 14 isn't antithetic capable to warrant upgrading from the iPhone 13. And adjacent though Apple yet got escaped of the infamous notch successful the Pro models, the 14 and 14 Plus inactive person 1 -- it's the aforesaid smaller notch that debuted connected the iPhone 13 series. In fact, the iPhone 14 represents "one of the astir minimal year-over-year upgrades successful Apple's history," according to CNET's Patrick Holland, who reviewed Apple's latest phones.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus person the A15 Bionic spot from past year's iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 14's surface looks precisely similar the 1 connected the 13. Perhaps the astir salient alteration this twelvemonth is the instauration of a larger mentation of the iPhone 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch surface similar the Pro Max. That means you nary longer person to splurge connected Apple's astir costly iPhone if you privation the largest surface possible.

Of course, the iPhone 14 is inactive highly rated, but we urge redeeming your wealth and skipping the upgrade. If you've made up your caput to upgrade, we suggest going for an iPhone 14 Pro oregon iPhone 14 Pro Max if you tin spend it. These phones are expensive, but buys you entree to immoderate salient changes -- namely a high-refresh complaint display, Apple's caller Dynamic Island multitasking bar, an always-on show arsenic good arsenic amended cameras among different features.

The bottommost line: If you person an iPhone 13 oregon 13 Pro, don't upgrade. But if you are determined to get a caller phone, spell for the iPhone 14 Pro oregon 14 Pro Max, particularly if you indispensable person the Dynamic Island close now.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 12, 12 Pro

Even though the iPhone 12 lineup was released 2 years ago, it inactive shares galore similarities with Apple's latest phones. Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 14 enactment 5G, tally connected accelerated processors, connection large cameras and see MagSafe accessory compatibility.

Since the iPhone 14 is much of a refresh than a large upgrade, we urge hanging onto your iPhone 12 if it's inactive successful bully condition. You tin instrumentality vantage of the iPhone's latest bundle features specified arsenic fastener surface customizations, widgets and the quality to unsend substance messages by upgrading to iOS 16.

The iPhone 14 received a fewer notable camera upgrades, similar a larger sensor, a caller lens with a faster aperture, improved photograph processing and Action Mode which makes the movements successful videos look smoother erstwhile you grounds them.

But the iPhone 12's cameras stay fantabulous adjacent though they are 2 years old. The iPhone 12 has a 12-megapixel dual camera system, portion the iPhone 12 Pro includes a 3rd camera with a telephoto lens. Check retired our iPhone 12 review to spot however the cameras held up erstwhile CNET enactment them done the paces.

It's worthy remembering that you get much noticeable upgrades with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. These see everything that's caller successful the 14, arsenic good arsenic an upgraded main camera with a larger 48-megapixel sensor, an ultrawide camera that allows you to instrumentality Macro photos and a 3rd camera with a telephoto lens. If you tin get a bully trade-in woody that importantly knocks down the iPhone 14 Pro's price, upgrading from the regular iPhone 12 is simply a decent step-up.

The bottommost line: Hold onto your iPhone 12 for different twelvemonth since the iPhone 14 isn't dramatically different. However, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max bring much important changes that could beryllium worthwhile if you tin snag a bully trade-in deal.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 11, 11 Pro

If you're utilizing an iPhone 11, we urge upgrading to an iPhone 14 (or adjacent an iPhone 13). In the past 3 years, Apple has made capable changes to features including artillery life, performance, surface quality, cameras and durability to merit buying a caller iPhone.

Upgrading to the iPhone 14 volition get you 5G support, much retention (128GB astatine the basal level versus 64GB) a amended main camera with a wider aperture lens, caller video shooting options similar Action mode and Cinematic mode, a amended selfie camera with Night mode and Apple's Photonic Engine processing, compatibility with Apple's MagSafe accessories, longer artillery beingness and faster performance. That's successful summation to car-crash detection and Apple's caller exigency outer messaging feature.

Most of the photography and videography improvements are melodramatic changes compared to the iPhone 11. And the longer artillery beingness and further retention abstraction are welcomed upgrades that you'll announcement connected a regular basis.

As antecedently mentioned, if you spell for the 14 Pro instead, you get a caller 48-megapixel main camera, a person 3x optical zoom versus the 11 Pro Max's 2x zoom, the Dynamic Island alternatively of the notch and galore different upgrades similar an always-on display.

The bottommost line: The iPhone 14 lineup includes capable changes to warrant upgrading from the iPhone 11. But if your telephone is inactive successful bully information and you're satisfied with it, instal iOS 16 and clasp onto it for different year.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone XS, XS Max, XR

If you bought the iPhone XS, XS Max oregon XR astatine launch, that means your telephone is astir 4 years aged and whitethorn beryllium starting to consciousness sluggish. That unsocial makes a beardown lawsuit for upgrading, but there's plentifulness much to gain.

Compared to the iPhone XS, the iPhone 14 provides six hours of further artillery beingness (according to Apple's estimates). In summation to everything that's caller successful the iPhone 14 specifically, you'll besides get different upgrades Apple has added to the iPhone implicit the past fewer years.

Those see 5G support, much retention (again, you get 128GB versus 64GB), faster show and a amended camera. The iPhone XS procreation lacks Night mode for taking clearer pictures successful the dark, and it besides doesn't person Deep Fusion, which is Apple's sanction for its representation processing method that improves item and clarity successful darker environments. The XS's beforehand camera has a little 7-megapixel solution compared to the larger and newer 12-megapixel sensor connected the iPhone 14. If you're upgrading from an iPhone XR, you'll besides get an further camera with an ultrawide lens for taking broader radical shots for the archetypal time.

The iPhone 14 besides has a larger 6.1-inch surface compared to the iPhone XS' 5.8-inch show (the iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch screen, portion the XR's surface is besides 6.1 inches). The plan has besides changed rather a spot implicit the past 4 years; newer models person level edges, a somewhat smaller notch, antithetic finishes and a caller "squircle"-shaped camera module that replaces the pill-shaped rear camera cutout. So your telephone volition not lone consciousness much modern, but it'll look newer, too.

The bottommost line: If you person an iPhone XS, XS Max oregon XR, it's decidedly worthy upgrading. You get a noticeable boost successful camera quality, artillery beingness and show among different areas.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone X

The iPhone X is astir 5 years old, which means it astir apt feels dilatory and its artillery beingness isn't what it utilized to be. With an iPhone 14, you'll announcement a large upgrade successful some categories, arsenic good arsenic design, improved durability, connectivity and camera quality.

Let's commencement with performance. The iPhone X runs connected a overmuch older A11 Bionic spot that's present 5 years old, portion the iPhone 14 runs connected Apple's A15 Bionic processor. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max tally connected Apple's newer A16 Bionic chip. Both caller processors are mode up of the A11 chip, which lone has a two-core neural motor compared to the A15 Bionic's 16-core neural engine.

The iPhone's neural motor powers tasks that trust connected instrumentality learning and artificial intelligence, which are becoming a bigger portion of the iPhone experience. Things similar app suggestions successful the App Library and Apple's Translate app trust connected instrumentality learning to function, which indicates that the iPhone X whitethorn conflict to support up with newer capabilities.

The iPhone X besides has a dual-lens camera akin to that of the iPhone XS, meaning it's missing the iPhone 14's camera hardware improvements successful summation to Night mode, Deep Fusion and the quality to power depth-of-field and blur levels successful Portrait mode. Like the iPhone XS, you're lone getting a 7-megapixel beforehand camera compared to a 12-megapixel selfie camera connected Apple's newer phones.

Apple's five-year-old iPhone besides has shorter artillery life, with Apple estimating it should past for 13 hours erstwhile playing backmost video compared to 20 hours connected the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14's 6.1-inch surface is bigger than the 5.8-inch show connected the iPhone X, and it should besides beryllium brighter since it tin scope 800 nits of max brightness compared to the iPhone X's 625-nit screen.

The iPhone 14 supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio playback, portion the iPhone X conscionable has stereo playback. That's astir apt not a deal-breaker, but mightiness beryllium important if you ticker a batch of video connected your telephone without headphones.

And of course, there's the payment of getting car-crash detection, Apple's caller exigency SOS messaging via outer option, amended h2o absorption (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes versus 1 meter), 5G support, much retention space, Ceramic Shield for the display, a refreshed plan and the enactment to usage MagSafe accessories connected the iPhone 14.

The bottommost line: If you person the iPhone X, it's clip to upgrade. The iPhone 14 volition consciousness caller successful conscionable astir each way, from the camera to performance, artillery beingness and the mode it looks and feels.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 8, 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 procreation has Apple's bequest iPhone design, which is fitting for a telephone that's present 5 years old. If you person an iPhone 8 and are considering an upgrade, galore of the reasons to bash that are the aforesaid arsenic the reasons to upgrade from the iPhone X. The processor is getting old, which could marque it harder to usage newer iPhone features that trust connected instrumentality learning. The cameras are outdated and deficiency features similar Night mode (the smaller iPhone 8 doesn't person Portrait mode either, since it lone has 1 lens). By upgrading, you'll get much storage, importantly longer artillery life, enactment for 5G connectivity and MagSafe accessories, too.

But the biggest quality is successful the iPhone 8's design, which is overmuch much than conscionable an aesthetic upgrade. Phones with Apple's much modern edge-to-edge surface commercialized Touch ID for Face ID, which lets you unlock your telephone and authenticate payments conscionable by looking astatine your device. If you similar Touch ID implicit Face ID, particularly since it's hard to usage Face ID portion wearing a mask, you mightiness privation to astatine slightest see upgrading to the $429 iPhone SE, since it has the aforesaid processor arsenic the iPhone 13, 5G compatibility and plentifulness of photography improvements wrong a akin assemblage to the iPhone 8.

Upgrading to the iPhone 14 has a noticeably ample leap successful show size and quality. Since newer phones similar the iPhone 14 don't person a location button, there's much country for Apple to grow the surface without making the instrumentality consciousness cumbersome. The iPhone 14's surface is adjacent larger than the iPhone 8 Plus' 5.5-inch surface contempt the instrumentality itself feeling much compact. (And for much perspective, see that the iPhone 13 Mini has a 5.4-inch display). If you spell for the 14 Pro you get different large change: the Dynamic Island, which transforms the notch country into an country for viewing alerts, strategy notifications and apps moving successful the inheritance similar Spotify oregon Apple Music.

From idiosyncratic experience, switching from an iPhone 8 (which has a 4.7-inch screen) to the iPhone 12's 6.1-inch show makes reading, checking email and watching videos overmuch much comfortable. The surface isn't lone larger, but it's besides much vibrant with amended opposition since it uses an OLED show alternatively than LCD.

The bottommost line: The iPhone 14 is simply a immense leap from the iPhone 8. Everything astir this telephone volition consciousness accelerated and new: the overmuch larger and bolder screen, Face ID, the speedier processor, its longer artillery beingness and of people the substantially upgraded cameras. Of enactment however, if you truly privation to get a newer iPhone but support the iPhone 8's design, commercialized up to the existent 2022 iPhone SE.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 7, 7 Plus

If you person an iPhone 7, it's clip to upgrade. It is 6 years old, and it shows successful everything from the processor to the camera and retention space. The iPhone 7 doesn't enactment iOS 16, providing adjacent much inducement for acquiring a newer device.

While we mostly urge choosing the iPhone 14 Pro implicit the iPhone 14 successful astir cases, coming from a telephone this old, means you'll find plentifulness that's caller successful the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 7 runs connected an aging A10 Fusion processor, which doesn't adjacent person a neural motor and is years down Apple's latest technology. It has a single-lens camera without Portrait mode, portion the 7 Plus has 2 cameras. But those cameras deficiency galore modern features similar Night mode and Portrait Lighting, which adds circumstantial lighting effects to your portraits.

Similar to the iPhone 8, the iPhone 7 bid includes Touch ID and comes successful either 4.7- oregon 5.5-inch surface sizes. But since the iPhone 7 is simply a twelvemonth older than the iPhone 8, it's besides missing wireless charging, which means you indispensable plug it successful to charge.

If you've owned an iPhone 7 for respective years, it's astir apt bursting astatine the seams since it has substantially little retention space. The entry-level iPhone 7 lone came with 32GB of space, which is simply a 4th of capableness disposable connected the cheapest iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 brings large gains successful astir each aspect. The modular exemplary has a larger, bolder and brighter bezel-free 6.1-inch surface that inactive feels compact since it doesn't person a location button. It runs connected Apple's A15 Bionic processor, which is amended equipped to grip newer iOS features. And it has a drastically improved dual-lens camera with a larger main camera sensor and precocious features similar the caller Cinematic mode for video and Night mode. Plus, Apple's estimates bespeak it'll connection 7 hours of further artillery beingness during video playback, which is simply a immense bump.

The bottommost line: If you're inactive holding onto your iPhone 7, there's nary question that you're owed for an upgrade. A amended screen, compatibility with iOS 16, longer artillery beingness and much precocious cameras are conscionable a fewer of the gains the iPhone 14 has to connection implicit the iPhone 7. And akin to my proposal with the iPhone 8, if you truly privation to support the location fastener and prevention immoderate money, see the iPhone SE. It gives you much caller show upgrades portion keeping a akin telephone style.

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