Apple held its annual iPhone conference at the end of September and launched the iPhone 16 series for the first time. Much of the presentation was dedicated to showcasing all of the smartphone’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. While future AI upgrades are certainly impressive, are the iPhone 16 upgrades enough to warrant the new $1,000+ payment?
Plus: Why I recommend the standard iPhone 16 over the Pro this year (and I’m not alone)
As an iPhone 14 Pro Max user, I don’t believe in the new AI features iPhone 16 Pro Worth upgrading. However, USB-C charging, action buttons, or new camera features might make the upgrade worth it. If you’re trying to make a decision, read on to learn why you should upgrade, or why it’s worth holding off until the iPhone 17.
Specification
| feature | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| starting price | ||
| exhibit | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| weight | 199 g (7 oz) | 206 g (7.3 oz) |
| processor | Apple A18 Pro | Apple A16 |
| Memory | 8GB | 6GB |
| storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 3,355 mAh | 3,200 mAh |
| camera | 48MP wide angle | 12MP telephoto | 48MP Washington | 12MP selfie | 48MP wide angle | 12MP telephoto | 12MP University of Washington | 12MP selfie |
You should buy an iPhone 16 Pro if:
1. You want Apple Intelligence
Apple’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, aptly named Apple Intelligence, is currently available on the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 Pro models, but it won’t be coming to the iPhone 14 Pro. Although the iPhone 14 Pro supports iOS 18, it lacks the hardware to run the latest Apple Intelligence features. If you want to keep up with the latest AI features or already use other AI tools in your daily life, the iPhone 16 Pro may be a worthwhile upgrade.
Also: iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence is now available. Try these 5 AI features first
To run smoothly, the Apple Intelligence feature requires an A17 chip or newer and at least 8GB of RAM, but the iPhone 14 Pro comes with an A16 chip and only 6GB of RAM. The iPhone 16 Pro comes with an A18 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, making it a good device to run Apple’s AI features.
2. You want to use a larger screen
Apple has reduced the bezels of the iPhone 16 Pro to a minimum and extended the displays to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches on the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max Pro models respectively. This gives users more screen real estate to watch videos, play games, view and edit documents, and read from the shared screen in video conferencing.
Also: iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Consider these 5 reasons before upgrading
The larger smartphone also means the iPhone 16 Pro has a larger battery than the 14 Pro, at 3,355 mAh compared to the 3,200 mAh of the iPhone 16 Pro. But even without the welcome battery upgrade, the new Pro models support faster charging than ever before. The iPhone 16 Pro supports 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe charging, so if you find that your iPhone 14 Pro is charging slowly, it might be time to upgrade.
3.You like to take beautiful photos
The iPhone 16 Pro has some of the best camera enhancements, including an improved ultra-wide-angle camera. The UW camera has been brought in line with the larger and improved Sony sensor, so it goes from a measly 12MP to 48MP.
Plus: We tested the iPhone 16 Pro camera system, and it’s wildly underrated — with a tragic flaw
If you enjoy taking photos with your smartphone, the camera upgrade alone may be enough to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro. The optical zoom is now 5x, an upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro’s 3x zoom. The iPhone 16 Pro will also feature Apple’s new capture button, which lets you control the camera with gestures, such as moving your finger and tapping the touch button.
You should buy (or keep) an iPhone 14 Pro if:
1. You’d rather wait for a bigger upgrade
Even with the Apple Intelligence feature, the iPhone 16 appears to be an incremental design change rather than a revamp. The design and functionality are not fundamentally different from the iPhone 14 Pro. If you’re happy with the look, feel, and performance of the iPhone 14, buying an iPhone 16 Pro probably won’t feel like a huge upgrade, especially since many of the AI features will arrive a few months after you get the device.
Also: iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Which is the smarter budget choice?
Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 may have more eye-catching design and feature updates, making it worth the jump. Additionally, the cost of upgrading after two generations can be high, which brings me to my next point.
2. You just paid off your loan
One of the biggest reasons for delaying an upgrade is financial. The iPhone 14 Pro started at $900 when it was released, which is not cheap. Most buyers choose 12, 18 or 24-month financing options on new iPhones through their carrier or Apple. If you’re one of them and have just paid off your iPhone 14 Pro and don’t feel like you’re financially ready to commit to another payment plan, it might be worth giving up on the new iPhone 16 Pro.
Plus: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model, and here are our top buys for 2024
As an iPhone 14 Pro Max user, I remain very satisfied with the iPhone’s performance, battery life, and charging time. While USB-C charging would be convenient, I don’t think I’ll like the new iPhone 16 Pro, although I may choose it after the iPhone 17 launches.
