Every year it’s the same thing, Apple announces a live event date, people come up with concept designs, and leaks start to surface. This year the Apple Event, for the release of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro series, was on September 7th. 

As the “new” phone was released, people began to notice that it wasn’t that new after all, especially the baseline iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. These two phones have the same chip and the same camera resolution (slightly wider aperture) as the iPhone 13 Pro. The iPhone 13 and 14 have the same design: flat edges and a glass back. 

So in the 14’s, what is new? In short, nothing, at least that the average person would use. Apple emphasized three main changes; A new “photonic engine” speeds up and improves photo processing for better colors, dynamic range, and clearer pictures. Also, the camera is a better stabilization mode for video and extreme shake. 

The next feature announced was crash detection. The Apple Watch has had fall detection since 2018, and now Apple has introduced the ability to detect car crashes. It is what it seems, has been third-party tested, and is proven reliable. 

The last emphasized feature in the presentation of the iPhone 14 was the ability to connect to satellites for the ability to contact emergency services in remote locations. Using alignment with satellites there is enough connection to send out short messages in case of an emergency. It can also ping your location for emergency services or loved ones to know where you are at. 

There are a few minor changes that the everyday user will not notice and will not be covered here but you can visit this link for more information (iPhone 14 and 14 Plus via macrumors.com).

The more significant release for Apple was the iPhone 14 Pro, if you are upgrading your phone then this is probably the one to go for. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max include all the same features as past pros and the iPhone 14 plus some. There are four main things to cover. 

The biggest change to the phone was the introduction of a higher-resolution main camera. The new camera has 48 megapixels, four times the resolution of any other camera that has existed in Apple’s lineup of smartphones. 

Another change made to the iPhone 14 Pro models was the move from the infamous notch to the “Dynamic Island.” The “Dynamic Island,” is a pill-shaped cut-out that replaces the notch and also has functionality rather than dead space. It allows for effective multitasking allowing you to control media and other utilities. To learn more about the “dynamic island” click here (Dynamic Island Information via 9to5mac). 

Alongside the addition of the “Dynamic Island,” a new display was introduced. It is up to two times brighter at peak brightness. It allows for more comfortable viewing in sunlight and an even more immersive HDR experience. 

With the introduction of a new display, Apple was able to create an always-on display. It is what it sounds like, when you lock your phone, your screen will dim, dropping the refresh rate down to 1 hertz (1 frame per second), but still providing you with essential information like time and notifications.

The iPhone 14 Pro is more worth the upgrade than the baseline 14 which is virtually the same as the 13 Pro. If you would like to learn more about the iPhone 14 Pro click here. (iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max via macrumors.com)

Now that you know the basics of the new iPhones, you may be wondering, should I really give Apple more money? Well, it gets a little complicated, so after some research, here is my opinion.

If you have the iPhone 13 Pro, the answer is no. Don’t upgrade, the 13 Pro is everything the 14 is and almost everything the 14 Pro is. If you have an iPhone 13, the answer is still probably no, however, if you need a little more processing power in your phone for gaming or other extensive tasks, get the 14 Pro, do not in any scenario get the 14. 

Now it gets a little more complicated with the 12 series. Personally, I have preordered a 14 Pro, upgrading from a 12 Pro. I did this for the newer camera. That being said if you are just a casual user, of music, messaging, social media, and gaming, the 12 Pro is still plenty for you.

The iPhone 12 is where it gets iffy. If your phone is starting to feel slow and outdated, probably time to upgrade. You are guaranteed improvements in every category, from the screen to the camera. If you are doing the bare minimum on your phone, or even just a little social media and gaming here and there, you could hold on another year. 

Lastly, the 11 series and below. To be completely honest with you, it’s time to upgrade, especially if you are a high school student and getting close to college. I guarantee most, if not all, of you, are doing more than Facebook browsing. Apps are getting more demanding and complex, if you want the best experience that you can get on an iPhone you should upgrade. 

With all that being said, as I do consider myself pretty knowledgeable about this topic, it’s up to you to decide. What are your priorities? What do you need in a phone? Do you have the money for it? In the end, educate yourself and understand the tradeoffs from one model to the next.