Every year, Apple releases a new iPhone series. In September 2022, Apple launched the much anticipated iPhone 14 series. With all the upgrades presented, this iPhone series has become undeniably expensive. Because of this, it is important to always ensure that what we are buying is worth upgrading to what we currently possess.
Usually, upgrading your phone depends on how much your budget is. However, given the pricing and specifications of the recent series, many iPhone enthusiasts are asking: “Is it worth upgrading to iPhone 14?”
iPhone 14 Review: What’s New?
Apple’s iPhone 14 series has four variants to choose from. These are the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and the iPhone 14 Plus. The iPhone 14 series, aside from its difference in size and number of cameras, is identical due to its flat edges, glass back that enables wireless charging, and aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure.
It also has a durable ceramic shield front cover, protecting the phone’s display from drops, and is also IP68 water resistant, making it withstand up to a depth of 6 meters for 30 minutes. Also, Apple’s iPhone 14 models offer a standard range of bright colors, including Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and (Product) Red.
? Improved Hardware
So what’s new with the iPhone 14 series? There are no significant upgrades for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. It still features the A15 Bionic Chip with an additional GPU core, which means it is way faster with fluid animations and has no performance “hiccups”. However, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max features the fastest chip ever in a smartphone – the A16 Bionic Chip.
The power efficiency, camera, and display are the primary areas the A16 bionic chip focuses on. This is Apple’s first chip developed on a state-of-the-art four-nanometer process, providing higher efficiency while delivering even in performance. The A16 bionic chip is the fastest chip ever in a smartphone, according to Apple.
Apple has improved the internal design of the latest iPhone model, where it can better manage the device’s heat. Meaning it could withstand high-intensive games for a more extended period without overheating. Which also brings longer gaming time for those who love to play online games while running another application.
? Revolutionary Safety Features
The most controversial feature of the iPhone 14 series is the Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. In this series, it has a dual-core accelerometer that can measure up to 256Gs and a high dynamic range gyroscope that can detect when you’re in a serious accident (like a car crash), and you are unresponsive. In such scenarios, it will automatically contact emergency services like 911.
It can also locate your current location, so the emergency service can quickly locate you whenever you are in an accident.
With the launch of iPhone 14, Apple also highlighted the lockdown mode, an extreme security measure that, when enabled, locks down the device to help keep you protected from targeted cyber attacks. This new mode shows up as a toggle. Enabling this mode actually limits your productivity with the other apps. This might be far from a necessary tool for an average user. Still, individuals at an extremely high risk of cyber attacks can use it to remain in communication while limiting their risk.
? The Launch of Dynamic Island
Another feature visible in the latest series, specifically the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, is the dynamic island. For the past few years, iPhone users have been requesting to remove the notch display since they find it to interfere with the user interface.
For iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, the notch display was replaced with the dynamic island. This new display is a new innovative way to receive notifications and activities. You can also make it smaller or expand it, depending on any notification, alarm, and alerts your phone may get, such as Airdrop status, battery status, and app notifications.
? Improved Camera
iPhones have been popular due to their camera quality. Hence, in the iPhone 14 series, the camera has been improved from f/1.6 aperture to f/1.9 aperture. It allows more light to enter the camera, thus making the photos clearer than in the previous series.
The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max also have the newest class of pro camera system– the 48 MP Main Camera on the iPhone, featuring a quad-pixel sensor and Photonic Engine where your photo accuracy and details are protected. Also, Apple added the Action Mode for the video quality, where you can take more stabilized cinematic shots, and it is designed to be used in bright outdoor light.
? Longer Battery Life
Battery life also improved in the latest iPhone 14 series. The battery of the basic iPhone 14 can last up to one hour longer than the previous iPhone series. Apple promised up to twenty hours of video playback and eighty hours of audio playback.
Should I Upgrade to iPhone 14 from iPhone 13?
Many iPhone 13 users, especially the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max users, wanted to know if is it worth upgrading to iPhone 14 from 13. The answer is, it depends.
The iPhone 14 starts at $799 while the iPhone 13 comes in at $699. Given the prices of the newly released series, they are almost equal in price, yet there are only minimal upgrades such as the ones that are mentioned above.
However, if you plan to upgrade from iPhone 13 Pro to 14 Pro or Pro Max, then the answer is yes, it is worth it. The A16 Bionic Chip will give users an extraordinary experience, especially those who are gamers, use heavy applications, and depend on their phones every day. Both the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max versions also have refresh rates of up to 120Hz compared to the other iPhones that have 60Hz. This upgrade makes scrolling through apps faster and smoother.
Now, let’s talk about the camera. Due to the newly launched 48 MP main camera, f/1.9 aperture, and additional action mode of iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, users who are into photography are given a deluxe experience to shoot clearer and more stabilized photos and videos.
If you are all about security features, crash detection, and emergency SOS via satellite are also plus points. Lastly, the innovative dynamic island completes the user experience.
Should I Upgrade to iPhone 14 from iPhone 12?
Some users also wanted to know, if is it worth upgrading from iPhone 12 to 14. Well, it really depends on your situation. iPhone 12 was released only 2 years ago and if your iPhone 12 is still in good condition, you can keep it for another year and wait for the next iPhone release. But if you want something new and it’s within your budget, then purchase the iPhone 14.
Comparing the two, iPhone 12 houses the A14 Bionic Chip, while the iPhone 14 series, which houses the A15 for iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, and A16 for the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. This means that processors of the iPhone 14 series are a new powerful platform for your Metal apps and games, with updates to the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and other user experience-enhancing technologies.
Also, the camera system upgrades a lot from iPhone 12 to iPhone 14, so if you are into photography, updating from iPhone 12 to 14 is worth it. Another upgrade from iPhone 12 to iPhone 14 is the longer battery life, which is a plus if you are a heavy user of your phone. You’ll also get a storage of up to 512GB with iPhone 14, which is a lot compared to iPhone 12’s 256GB maximum storage.
Should I Upgrade to iPhone 14 from iPhone 11 and earlier?
If you have a budget to spare and you want the latest model, you can buy the iPhone 14. Or, if you want a larger screen at almost the same price, you can have the iPhone 14 Plus. These models are good for those people who are already using iPhone 11 and older models.
The A15 Bionic Chip with an additional core and the camera upgrade on the iPhone 14 will make a deluxe experience for these users. The battery life is also improved, which is beneficial for users who rely on their phones all day long. Additional safety features are also added, which are mentioned above. What’s more? With iPhone 14, you can get a storage option of up to 512GB vs iPhone 11’s max storage of 256GB, and a 5G connection.
So, if you are owning an iPhone 11 or earlier models, you might ask: Is it worth upgrading to iPhone 14 from 11? Definitely yes.
Conclusion
Apple’s iPhone 14 series has been snatching the crowd’s attention since the day it was launched. Many users referred to it as the perfect phone due to its significant upgrades, especially on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. However, these upgrades and innovations don’t come for free. It costs hundreds of dollars to afford this series.
So before asking “Should I upgrade?”, maybe we should ask first the question “Is it worth it?”. If the upgrades fit your lifestyle, then maybe an upgrade is a must consider enjoying the latest Apple upgrades.
