iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Should You Upgrade?

Every year, the same burning question arises among iPhone enthusiasts: Is the latest iPhone worth the upgrade? This time around, we’re diving deep into the nitty-gritty of iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15. From camera specs to battery life, we’re breaking it all down for you.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Spec Comparison

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15 Plus: Spec Comparison

iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Spec Comparison

iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Spec Comparison

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Reasons to Upgrade

New and Improved Displays

From the moment you look at the iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15, you’ll immediately notice a major difference. While the display sizes remain the same between this year’s and last year’s models, the biggest change comes in the arrival of the Dynamic Island. This first debuted on last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but is now available on both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, in addition to the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

Apple also upgraded the display itself, finally moving away from LCD panels in favor of the vastly superior OLED technology. With this, you’ll enjoy up to 2000 nits of peak brightness, which is double that of the iPhone 14 and makes it much easier to see in direct sunlight.

Incredible Cameras

Apple is well-known for offering one of the best camera experiences that a smartphone can offer, but we have to admit that the iPhone 14 fell a bit off track. There’s renewed excitement with the iPhone 15, as Apple upgraded the main camera to a 48MP lens, up from the old 12MP sensor.

Thanks to the technology that Apple uses, this 48MP can be “binned” to a slightly lower resolution in order to provide a 2x optical zoom. What makes this exciting is that it’s possible without Apple needing to add a third camera to the non-Pro iPhone 15 models. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about lower picture quality due to the way that the camera works in tandem with iOS.

More Power

In recent years, Apple has made a habit of “re-using” the Pro iPhone’s processor with the non-Pro models. This trend continues with the iPhone 15, as the Apple A16 Bionic debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

But the proof is in the pudding, as you’ll enjoy more power, better CPU and GPU performance, and vastly improved power efficiency. Plus, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus include other features such as Roadside Assistance with satellite, more RAM, and support for Wi-Fi 6E.

Different Design

One of the biggest complaints about all recently-released iPhone models is the design. For one, it’s been getting a bit long in the tooth with its iPhone 4-esque build. That’s being rectified with the iPhone 15, as the aluminum frame is slightly-curved. This, paired with the matte-textured back plate, means that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus should be easier to hold, without feeling like it’s going to slip out of your hands.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 15: Reasons Not To

Where’s ProMotion?

While we’re excited and happy to see Apple make the move from LCD to OLED and bring along the Dynamic Island, there’s one thing that the iPhone 15 is still missing. ProMotion is a key selling-point of the Pro iPhone models, so it kind of makes sense why it wouldn’t come to the non-Pro iPhone.

However, considering that Apple’s ProMotion technology is already in so many different products, we thought there would be a chance that the iPhone 15 would be the next in line. Instead, we’re stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate for another year, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max continue to enjoy the silky smooth experience of a 120Hz refresh rate.

iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Reasons to Upgrade

The Perfect Redesign

Thankfully, Apple didn’t save the design changes for just the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. As someone who owns and uses the iPhone 14 Pro Max on a daily basis, the design has been my biggest complaint. It’s simply too heavy and the “hard” edges dig into the palm of my hand. That should no longer be the case with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max as Apple has implemented edges that are slightly-curved.

Action Button

When you look at all of the different smartphones, the iPhone has remained one of the few holdouts to include a dedicated hardware mute switch. Well, that’s no longer the case with the iPhone 15 Pro models, as the Mute Switch has been replaced by an Action Button.

As you might suspect, this works essentially the same as the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra. The default action of the button will be to toggle “Silent” off and on, but the Action Button can also be used to perform different tasks such as open the Camera app or activate Shortcuts.

Titanium

We knew it was coming, but there’s finally an iPhone made from something other than glass and aluminum. Titanium has arrived on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, bringing a level of elegance that we could have only dreamed of. While there aren’t as many “fun” colors this time around, Apple makes up for it by providing the same screen sizes in a smaller footprint.

Another frustration that I’ve had with the past two Pro Max iPhone models is just how heavy they are. That’s being rectified thanks to the introduction of the Titanium frame, which Apple claims will reduce the weight down to 6.60 ounces on the iPhone 15 Pro and 7.81-ounces for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. For the sake of comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro weighs 7.27 ounces, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max comes in at 8.47 ounces.

It’s An Absolute Beast in Performance

There really wasn’t anything wrong with the A16 Bionic from the iPhone 14 Pro, but that didn’t stop Apple from introducing the Apple A17 Pro chip. This is the first mobile processor to be built on the 3-nanometer process, and despite featuring a six-core setup as its predecessor, the A17 Pro is said to be up to 10% faster in CPU performance.

As for the GPU, there’s an even bigger improvement, as the A17 Pro is said to be 20% faster than its predecessor. You likely won’t notice this too much, unless you play a lot of mobile games, as there is now hardware-accelerated ray tracing. To go along with this Apple announced several console and desktop games are being ported to the iPhone and will run natively.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Periscope Camera

Even with the higher-end models, the iPhone has trailed its competition in the Android space when it comes to the telephoto camera. That gap has now been closed, as long as you pick up the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is thanks to the all-new 5x periscope telephoto lens which lets you get closer than ever before.

The iPhone 15 Pro and its 3x zoom lens will still work just fine, but Apple definitely turned it up a notch with the Pro Max. You can even enjoy 25x digital zoom, whereas previous iPhone models were limited to 10x or 15x digital zoom.

USB-C

In a move that has been highly anticipated, Apple is finally ditching the Lightning cable for its latest iPhone models. This was expected due to the EU’s mandate that all smartphones must use USB-C by the end of 2024. However, instead of waiting until the iPhone 16, Apple got ahead of the curve and brought it to the iPhone 15 line.

Data transfer speeds for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are still limited, but that’s not the case with the Pro and Pro Max. Instead, the move to USB-C brings with it transfer speeds that are 20x faster than Lightning. So you’ll no longer have to wait around forever just to transfer big files back and forth between your iPhone and computer.

iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Reasons Not To

Price

On one hand, Apple didn’t actually change the pricing for any of its latest models. What the company did change is removing the 128GB as an option for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. So instead of paying $1099 for the base model, you’ll have to give Apple $1199 if you want the biggest iPhone. In return, you’ll get the most advanced iPhone ever, complete with 256GB of storage. But if you want more, then you’ll need to pony up as the 512GB model comes in at an eye-watering $1399.

You Aren’t Ready for USB-C Yet

If you’re already entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem, then you have probably already started to endure the transition to USB-C or Thunderbolt. Even still, you might have more Lightning cables around your house than you know what to do with and don’t want to contribute to e-waste by throwing them all away. It’s definitely something to consider if you’re looking to upgrade, but just know that there’s really no looking back from here when it comes to the charging cable for your iPhone.

You Prefer the Mute Switch

This one’s a bit more understandable, as not everyone is a fan of the Action Button from the Apple Watch Ultra. There’s really just something that’s nice about physically moving the switch from having the sound on to having everything on mute. It’s kind of like taking hand-written notes compared to using a digital notebook. But it might matter enough to keep you from upgrading just yet.

Conclusion

After dissecting every feature and comparing performance metrics, it’s evident that the choice between iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 boils down to individual needs and preferences. So, whether you’re a tech junkie always chasing the latest or someone who upgrades only when necessary, the decision is in your hands.