This 12 months, Apple went all-out with the iPhone 16. Not solely does it are available in a few of the best-looking colours for telephones this 12 months, however it additionally boasts a two-generation leap in processor with the A18, the Motion button, and the brand new Digital camera Management button. It’s undoubtedly blurring the traces between the bottom mannequin and the Professional.
However what if you’re presently utilizing an iPhone 14? Is it price upgrading to the iPhone 16? Let’s break all of it down.
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: specs
iPhone 16
iPhone 14
Dimensions
147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches)
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm (5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
170 grams (6 ounces)
172 grams (6.07 ounces)
Show
6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED
Dynamic Island
2556 x 1179 decision at 460 ppi
1000 nits typical brightness
1600 nits HDR brightness
2000 nits peak outside brightness
1 nit minimal brightness
6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED
2532 x 1170 decision at 460 ppi
800 nits typical brightness
1200 nits peak HDR brightness
Colours
Ultramarine
Teal
Pink
Black
White
Blue
Purple
Yellow
Black
Starlight
PRODUCT(RED)
Processor
A18
A15
RAM
8GB
6GB
Software program
iOS 18
iOS 16
Assist
Minimal 5 years
Minimal 5 years
Apple Intelligence
Sure
No
Rear digital camera
48-megapixel Fusion, f/1.6
12MP ultrawide, f/2.2
.5x, 1x, 2x optical zoom choices
12MP fundamental, f/1.5
12MP ultrawide, f/2.4
.5x, 1x optical zoom choices
Entrance digital camera
12MP, f/1.9
12MP, f/1.9
Macro pictures
Sure
No
Spatial pictures and video
Sure
No
Newest-generation Photographic Types
Sure
No
Motion Button
Sure
No
Digital camera Management
Sure
No
Battery
3,561 mAh
3,279 mAh
Charging
USB-C 27W (50% in half-hour)
25W MagSafe charging
15W Qi2 wi-fi charging
4.5W reverse wi-fi
Lightning, 27W (50% in half-hour)
15W MagSafe charging
15W Qi wi-fi charging
Value
From $799
From $599
Evaluation
iPhone 16 evaluate
iPhone 14 evaluate
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: design
Digital Tendencies
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 16 each have the flat edges that Apple has used because the iPhone 12. Nonetheless, that’s the place the similarities principally finish. Whereas the iPhone 14 has a diagonal digital camera structure for the twin digital camera setup, the iPhone 16 has a brand new vertical structure that’s paying homage to the iPhone X and iPhone 12. It’s a delicate change, however a welcome one.
The iPhone 14 additionally nonetheless has a silent/ring swap, whereas the iPhone 16 replaces that with the Motion button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Professional final 12 months. One other massive {hardware} design change for the iPhone 16 is the Digital camera Management button situated close to the bottom-right fringe of the body.
The Apple iPhone 14 Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
Apple additionally changed the notch, which continues to be current on the iPhone 14, with the Dynamic Island on the bottom fashions beginning with the iPhone 15. The notch is static and takes up house to accommodate the TrueDepth front-facing digital camera and Face ID sensor. Nonetheless, the Dynamic Island additionally homes the TrueDepth digital camera, and it modifications dimension relying on what you’re presently doing and is interactive.
The iPhone 16 solely is available in 5 colours, however three of these are completely gorgeous: Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink. There’s additionally the usual black and white choices. The iPhone 14 is available in six colours: blue, purple, yellow, black, Starlight, and Product Pink.
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: show
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
Other than the swap to the Dynamic Island from the notch, the shows are similar to one another. They each have a 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show and a most 60Hz refresh fee. Nonetheless, the iPhone 16 does attain larger ranges of brightness at 1,000 nits typical use, 1,600 nits for HDR content material, and a pair of,000 nits peak outside brightness, whereas getting as little as 1 nit of minimal brightness. For the iPhone 14, it’s sometimes round 800 nits and solely goes as much as 1,200 nits for HDR content material.
Each telephones even have Ceramic Protect, although the iPhone 16 makes use of the most recent era, which Apple claims is “harder than any smartphone glass.”
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: software program and efficiency
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
When the iPhone 14 initially got here out in 2022, it shipped with iOS 16 out of the field. On the within, it has an A15 Bionic chip and 6GB RAM, and storage choices starting from 128GB to 512GB. Apple ensures a minimal of 5 years price of main iOS updates and safety patches, which implies the iPhone 14 ought to final by way of 2027.
Whereas the iPhone 14 may also get the iOS 18 replace, it gained’t be capable to totally assist all of the options. That’s as a result of iOS 18 is Apple’s first iOS replace that may usher in massive AI instruments with Apple Intelligence, and the minimal threshold requirement for that’s an iPhone 15 Professional with the A17 Professional chip. So once more, whereas the iPhone 14 can get new iOS 18 options like new house display and Management Middle customizations, RCS messaging and Ship Lter for Messages, a brand new Images app, and extra, it gained’t be getting any of the Apple Intelligence options.
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
The iPhone 16, however, is a base mannequin iPhone that’s constructed from the bottom up for Apple Intelligence. It ships with iOS 18 out of the field, although Apple Intelligence gained’t really seem till the iOS 18.1 replace. Apple additionally geared up the iPhone 16 with the A18 chip, which is a three-year leap in efficiency, and 8GB RAM. With Apple’s dedication to a minimum of 5 years of assist, the iPhone 16 ought to final by way of 2029.
To get a way of how a lot sooner the efficiency on the iPhone 16 is, check out the chips. Apple stated that the iPhone 16’s A18 chip is 30% sooner in CPU efficiency over the iPhone 15’s A16, and the GPU is 40% sooner. Contemplating that the iPhone 14 is from two years in the past with the A15, the increase in efficiency is sort of vital. The A18 can also be far more energy environment friendly, which interprets to higher battery life.
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: cameras
Andy Boxall / Digital Tendencies
The iPhone 14 is the final base mannequin iPhone with a 12-megapixel fundamental digital camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Because it doesn’t have a telephoto zoom lens, it solely will get as much as 1x optical zoom. The selfie digital camera can also be solely 12MP, although that doesn’t change with the iPhone 16 both.
For the iPhone 16’s twin digital camera setup, we now have a 48MP fundamental Fusion digital camera and 12MP ultrawide lens. Regardless of not having a telephoto zoom lens, the iPhone 16 has a 2x optical zoom by way of its fundamental lens, and is able to macro images, which is absent on the iPhone 14. It’s additionally in a position to take spatial pictures and video for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
Whereas the iPhone 14 nonetheless has Photographic Types, Apple improved the characteristic for the iPhone 16 line with the latest-generation Photographic Types. There are extra kinds to select from, and you may fine-tune the colour and tone much more to get the precise sort of fashion you need. And the most effective half? You may change the fashion used on a photograph after the actual fact, which wasn’t potential earlier than.
And because the iPhone 16 will be capable to have Apple Intelligence options, it would get the Clear Up device in Images. With Clear Up, you’ll be capable to take away undesirable objects or folks within the background of your pictures, much like Google’s Magic Eraser.
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: battery and charging
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
Apple solely lately converted to USB-C on the iPhone, beginning with the iPhone 15 line. So the iPhone 14 nonetheless makes use of the proprietary Lightning connector, whereas the iPhone 16 makes use of USB-C.
Contained in the iPhone 14 is a 3,279mAh battery, whereas the iPhone 16 has a 3,561mAH battery. If you mix the ability effectivity of the A18 chip over the A15, the iPhone 16 will certainly last more than the iPhone 14.
Nonetheless, although the iPhone 16 makes use of USB-C, Apple didn’t really enhance the wired charging pace. Each the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16 nonetheless cost at 27 watts wired, which implies about 50% cost in half-hour.
The iPhone 14 caps out at 15W for MagSafe and wi-fi charging speeds and doesn’t have reverse wi-fi charging. Alternatively, the iPhone 16 can stand up to 25W MagSafe charging, 15W Qi2-wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wi-fi charging.
iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 14: verdict
Joe Maring / Digital Tendencies
As of proper now, Apple nonetheless sells the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15, together with the iPhone SE and the remainder of the iPhone 16 lineup. If you’re seeking to purchase a model new iPhone, then truthfully, the iPhone 16 is the best way to go. It has acquired quite a lot of the earlier Professional-exclusive options (Dynamic Island and Motion button) and is available in some wonderful colours.
Those that are nonetheless utilizing an iPhone 14, effectively, it is best to in all probability improve in the event you can afford it. The iPhone 14 is already two years previous at this level, and whereas lots of people might not improve yearly, between two or three years is extra applicable.
Particularly think about the entire options. The iPhone 14 can technically get iOS 18, however you’ll be lacking half the options since it might probably’t run Apple Intelligence. Apple additionally massively improved the primary digital camera on the iPhone 16, and the brand new Photographic Types is certainly a enjoyable addition for photographers.
The Motion button and Digital camera Management are additionally very good {hardware} modifications which can be fairly helpful. In truth, with the iPhone 16, there’s really much less purpose to even think about the Professional fashions — that’s how good the bottom mannequin is that this 12 months.
