Technologies

IPhone 14: Is It a Smart Decision to Upgrade Now?

It depends. This comparison guide should help you determine whether to upgrade to the iPhone 14 lineup or wait it out for a future iPhone.

This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2023, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Apple’s most popular product.

Apple’s iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro phones are the latest from Apple’s stable — and make for a tempting upgrade. But trading up to the hot new iPhone lineup doesn’t make sense for everyone, for a number of reasons. Above all else, the answer depends on which phone you currently own. If you have a recent model like the iPhone 13 or maybe even 12, it would be wise to wait. If your phone is older though, it’s worth figuring out what you stand to gain by jumping to a newer iPhone.

The $799 (£849, AU$1,399) iPhone 14 brings modest improvements but not game-changing ones. Those changes include nitty-gritty camera improvements, car crash detection and the support for satellite-based emergency messaging. (Hopefully, you’ll never be in a situation where you’ll need to use the latter two.) The iPhone 14 also has a new internal design, with simpler access to internal components, making it easier to repair than previous models. iFixit, a website that disassembles tech products and assesses how easy they are to fix, called it «the most repairable iPhone in years.» And if you want these features in a larger size, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $100 more, at $899.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s upgrades are more dramatic, but you still don’t need to upgrade unless you can score a great trade-in deal. Apple saved its most interesting new features for the Pro lineup, including the Dynamic Island that replaces the notch, the new A16 Bionic processor and a 48-megapixel main camera sensor.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to buy the iPhone 14 to get camera, battery and performance improvements over an earlier iPhone.

The recently discounted $699 iPhone 13 or the smaller $599 13 Mini could be a good option if you still want more storage, faster performance and an improved camera, especially if you’re coming from a phone that’s 3 years old or more. It’s also the only option if you want the smaller Mini and its 5.4-inch screen, since the iPhone 14 line eliminates that size in favor of the new $899 iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen.

iPhone 14 deals

$900 at Best Buy

Purchasing decisions will always vary depending on budget, how well your phone works right now and your personal needs, so there’s no simple answer that works for everyone. But here are the biggest differences between the iPhone 14 lineup and previous iPhone generations, to help you make a decision.

iPhone 13 leaning against surface — The iPhone 13.

Patrick Holland/CNET

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 lineup introduces new features such as car-crash detection, the removal of the physical SIM card for US phones, and enhanced cameras on the rear and front. Despite those changes, iPhone 14 isn’t different enough to justify upgrading from the iPhone 13. And even though Apple finally got rid of the infamous notch in the Pro models, the 14 and 14 Plus still have one — it’s the same smaller notch that debuted on the iPhone 13 series. In fact, the iPhone 14 represents «one of the most minimal year-over-year upgrades in Apple’s history,» according to CNET’s Patrick Holland, who reviewed Apple’s latest phones.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have the A15 Bionic chip from last year’s iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 14’s screen looks exactly like the one on the 13. Perhaps the most prominent change this year is the introduction of a larger version of the iPhone 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus, which has a 6.7-inch screen like the Pro Max. That means you no longer have to splurge on Apple’s most expensive iPhone if you want the largest screen possible.

Of course, the iPhone 14 is still highly rated, but we recommend saving your money and skipping the upgrade. If you’ve made up your mind to upgrade, we suggest going for an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max if you can afford it. These phones are expensive, but buys you access to some salient changes — namely a high-refresh rate display, Apple’s new Dynamic Island multitasking bar, an always-on display as well as better cameras among other features.

The bottom line: If you have an iPhone 13 or 13 Pro, don’t upgrade. But if you are determined to get a new phone, go for the iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max, especially if you must have the Dynamic Island right now.

The purple iPhone 12 — The iPhone 12.

Sarah Tew/CNET

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 12, 12 Pro

Even though the iPhone 12 lineup was released two years ago, it still shares many similarities with Apple’s latest phones. Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 14 support 5G, run on fast processors, offer great cameras and include MagSafe accessory compatibility.

Since the iPhone 14 is more of a refresh than a major upgrade, we recommend hanging onto your iPhone 12 if it’s still in good condition. You can take advantage of the iPhone’s latest software features such as lock screen customizations, widgets and the ability to unsend text messages by upgrading to iOS 16.

The iPhone 14 received a few notable camera upgrades, like a larger sensor, a new lens with a faster aperture, improved photo processing and Action Mode which makes the movements in videos look smoother when you record them.

But the iPhone 12’s cameras remain excellent even though they are 2 years old. The iPhone 12 has a 12-megapixel dual camera system, while the iPhone 12 Pro includes a third camera with a telephoto lens. Check out our iPhone 12 review to see how the cameras held up when CNET put them through the paces.

It’s worth remembering that you get more noticeable upgrades with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. These include everything that’s new in the 14, as well as an upgraded main camera with a larger 48-megapixel sensor, an ultrawide camera that allows you to take Macro photos and a third camera with a telephoto lens. If you can get a good trade-in deal that significantly knocks down the iPhone 14 Pro’s price, upgrading from the regular iPhone 12 is a decent step-up.

The bottom line: Hold onto your iPhone 12 for another year since the iPhone 14 isn’t dramatically different. However, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max bring more significant changes that could be worthwhile if you can snag a good trade-in deal.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 11, 11 Pro

If you’re using an iPhone 11, we recommend upgrading to an iPhone 14 (or even an iPhone 13). In the last three years, Apple has made enough changes to features including battery life, performance, screen quality, cameras and durability to merit buying a new iPhone.

Upgrading to the iPhone 14 will get you 5G support, more storage (128GB at the base level versus 64GB) a better main camera with a wider aperture lens, new video shooting options like Action mode and Cinematic mode, a better selfie camera with Night mode and Apple’s Photonic Engine processing, compatibility with Apple’s MagSafe accessories, longer battery life and faster performance. That’s in addition to car-crash detection and Apple’s new emergency satellite messaging feature.

Most of the photography and videography improvements are dramatic changes compared to the iPhone 11. And the longer battery life and additional storage space are welcomed upgrades that you’ll notice on a daily basis.

As previously mentioned, if you go for the 14 Pro instead, you get a new 48-megapixel main camera, a closer 3x optical zoom versus the 11 Pro Max’s 2x zoom, the Dynamic Island instead of the notch and numerous other upgrades like an always-on display.

The bottom line: The iPhone 14 lineup includes enough changes to justify upgrading from the iPhone 11. But if your phone is still in good condition and you’re satisfied with it, install iOS 16 and hold onto it for another year.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone XS, XS Max, XR

If you bought the iPhone XS, XS Max or XR at launch, that means your phone is roughly 4 years old and may be starting to feel sluggish. That alone makes a strong case for upgrading, but there’s plenty more to gain.

Compared to the iPhone XS, the iPhone 14 provides six hours of additional battery life (according to Apple’s estimates). In addition to everything that’s new in the iPhone 14 specifically, you’ll also get other upgrades Apple has added to the iPhone over the past few years.

Those include 5G support, more storage (again, you get 128GB versus 64GB), faster performance and a better camera. The iPhone XS generation lacks Night mode for taking clearer pictures in the dark, and it also doesn’t have Deep Fusion, which is Apple’s name for its image processing technique that improves detail and clarity in darker environments. The XS’s front camera has a lower 7-megapixel resolution compared to the larger and newer 12-megapixel sensor on the iPhone 14. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone XR, you’ll also get an additional camera with an ultrawide lens for taking broader group shots for the first time.

The iPhone 14 also has a larger 6.1-inch screen compared to the iPhone XS’ 5.8-inch display (the iPhone XS Max has a 6.5-inch screen, while the XR’s screen is also 6.1 inches). The design has also changed quite a bit over the past four years; newer models have flat edges, a slightly smaller notch, different finishes and a new «squircle»-shaped camera module that replaces the pill-shaped rear camera cutout. So your phone will not only feel more modern, but it’ll look newer, too.

The bottom line: If you have an iPhone XS, XS Max or XR, it’s definitely worth upgrading. You get a noticeable boost in camera quality, battery life and performance among other areas.

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone X

The iPhone X is about 5 years old, which means it probably feels slow and its battery life isn’t what it used to be. With an iPhone 14, you’ll notice a major upgrade in both categories, as well as design, improved durability, connectivity and camera quality.

Let’s start with performance. The iPhone X runs on a much older A11 Bionic chip that’s now 5 years old, while the iPhone 14 runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic processor. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max run on Apple’s newer A16 Bionic chip. Both new processors are way ahead of the A11 chip, which only has a two-core neural engine compared to the A15 Bionic’s 16-core neural engine.

The iPhone’s neural engine powers tasks that rely on machine learning and artificial intelligence, which are becoming a bigger part of the iPhone experience. Things like app suggestions in the App Library and Apple’s Translate app rely on machine learning to function, which indicates that the iPhone X may struggle to keep up with newer capabilities.

The iPhone X also has a dual-lens camera similar to that of the iPhone XS, meaning it’s missing the iPhone 14’s camera hardware improvements in addition to Night mode, Deep Fusion and the ability to control depth-of-field and blur levels in Portrait mode. Like the iPhone XS, you’re only getting a 7-megapixel front camera compared to a 12-megapixel selfie camera on Apple’s newer phones.

Apple’s five-year-old iPhone also has shorter battery life, with Apple estimating it should last for 13 hours when playing back video compared to 20 hours on the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14’s 6.1-inch screen is bigger than the 5.8-inch display on the iPhone X, and it should also be brighter since it can reach 800 nits of max brightness compared to the iPhone X’s 625-nit screen.

The iPhone 14 supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio playback, while the iPhone X just has stereo playback. That’s probably not a deal-breaker, but might be crucial if you watch a lot of video on your phone without headphones.

And of course, there’s the benefit of getting car-crash detection, Apple’s new emergency SOS messaging via satellite option, better water resistance (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes versus 1 meter), 5G support, more storage space, Ceramic Shield for the display, a refreshed design and the option to use MagSafe accessories on the iPhone 14.

The bottom line: If you have the iPhone X, it’s time to upgrade. The iPhone 14 will feel new in just about every way, from the camera to performance, battery life and the way it looks and feels.

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus — The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Gabriel Sama/CNET

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 8, 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 generation has Apple’s legacy iPhone design, which is fitting for a phone that’s now 5 years old. If you have an iPhone 8 and are considering an upgrade, many of the reasons to do that are the same as the reasons to upgrade from the iPhone X. The processor is getting old, which could make it harder to use newer iPhone features that rely on machine learning. The cameras are outdated and lack features like Night mode (the smaller iPhone 8 doesn’t have Portrait mode either, since it only has one lens). By upgrading, you’ll get more storage, significantly longer battery life, support for 5G connectivity and MagSafe accessories, too.

But the biggest difference is in the iPhone 8’s design, which is much more than just an aesthetic upgrade. Phones with Apple’s more modern edge-to-edge screen trade Touch ID for Face ID, which lets you unlock your phone and authenticate payments just by looking at your device. If you prefer Touch ID over Face ID, especially since it’s difficult to use Face ID while wearing a mask, you might want to at least consider upgrading to the $429 iPhone SE, since it has the same processor as the iPhone 13, 5G compatibility and plenty of photography improvements inside a similar body to the iPhone 8.

Upgrading to the iPhone 14 has a noticeably large jump in display size and quality. Since newer phones like the iPhone 14 don’t have a home button, there’s more room for Apple to expand the screen without making the device feel cumbersome. The iPhone 14’s screen is even larger than the iPhone 8 Plus’ 5.5-inch screen despite the device itself feeling more compact. (And for more perspective, consider that the iPhone 13 Mini has a 5.4-inch display). If you go for the 14 Pro you get another big change: the Dynamic Island, which transforms the notch area into an area for viewing alerts, system notifications and apps running in the background like Spotify or Apple Music.

From personal experience, switching from an iPhone 8 (which has a 4.7-inch screen) to the iPhone 12’s 6.1-inch display makes reading, checking email and watching videos much more comfortable. The screen isn’t only larger, but it’s also more vibrant with better contrast since it uses an OLED display rather than LCD.

The bottom line: The iPhone 14 is a huge jump from the iPhone 8. Everything about this phone will feel fast and new: the much larger and bolder screen, Face ID, the speedier processor, its longer battery life and of course the substantially upgraded cameras. Of note however, if you really want to get a newer iPhone but keep the iPhone 8’s design, trade up to the current 2022 iPhone SE.

The iPhone 7 Plus and 7. — The iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7.

Sarah Tew/CNET

iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 7, 7 Plus

If you have an iPhone 7, it’s time to upgrade. It is 6 years old, and it shows in everything from the processor to the camera and storage space. The iPhone 7 doesn’t support iOS 16, providing even more incentive for acquiring a newer device.

While we generally recommend choosing the iPhone 14 Pro over the iPhone 14 in most cases, coming from a phone this old, means you’ll find plenty that’s new in the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 7 runs on an aging A10 Fusion processor, which doesn’t even have a neural engine and is years behind Apple’s latest technology. It has a single-lens camera without Portrait mode, while the 7 Plus has two cameras. But those cameras lack many modern features like Night mode and Portrait Lighting, which adds specific lighting effects to your portraits.

Similar to the iPhone 8, the iPhone 7 series includes Touch ID and comes in either 4.7- or 5.5-inch screen sizes. But since the iPhone 7 is a year older than the iPhone 8, it’s also missing wireless charging, which means you must plug it in to charge.

If you’ve owned an iPhone 7 for several years, it’s probably bursting at the seams since it has substantially less storage space. The entry-level iPhone 7 only came with 32GB of space, which is a quarter of capacity available on the cheapest iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 brings major gains in nearly every aspect. The standard model has a larger, bolder and brighter bezel-free 6.1-inch screen that still feels compact since it doesn’t have a home button. It runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, which is better equipped to handle newer iOS features. And it has a drastically improved dual-lens camera with a larger main camera sensor and advanced features like the new Cinematic mode for video and Night mode. Plus, Apple’s estimates indicate it’ll offer seven hours of additional battery life during video playback, which is a huge bump.

The bottom line: If you’re still holding onto your iPhone 7, there’s no question that you’re due for an upgrade. A better screen, compatibility with iOS 16, longer battery life and more advanced cameras are just a few of the gains the iPhone 14 has to offer over the iPhone 7. And similar to my recommendation with the iPhone 8, if you really want to keep the home button and save some money, consider the iPhone SE. It gives you more recent performance upgrades while keeping a similar phone style.

Technologies

Need Gift Ideas? Google’s Holiday 100 Shopping List Includes Switch 2, Home Movie Projectors

You can shell out hundreds for a new gaming console or spend less on classic games and backpack charms.

The spooky season has just ended, and Google is already turning its attention to holiday shopping. The search giant just released its annual list of 100 top holiday gift ideas based on the hottest trends of 2025.

The Google Holiday 100 list is an annual shopping guide compiled from searches for various products conducted between May and September. Using that data, Google creates a catalog of the year’s top trending gift ideas across various industries, including tech, toys, fashion and wellness. You can view the entire Google Holiday 100 list here.

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Nintendo Switch 2

This year’s breakaway technology hit was the Switch 2, Nintendo’s latest family-friendly video games console. Unsurprisingly, it appears on 2025’s Holiday 100 list. The console was released in June and has sold more than 10 million units thus far, with Nintendo hiking up sales expectations even among uncertain economic conditions and tariff pricing.

Google Pixel Watch 4

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is a standout wearable that made the Holiday 100 list. Its inclusion isn’t just Google stuffing its own product into a list. If you’re buying a gift for fitness-focused folks, CNET’s Vanessa Hand Orellana wrote that the latest iteration of Google’s smartwatch «hits a sweet spot between universally appealing design, seamless compatibility with the Android ecosystem, potentially life-saving safety features and robust health and fitness tracking.»

Red-light face masks

Your algorithm may have served you up a boatload of red light therapy content from health and beauty influencers this year. Search volume for red light masks has spiked in the past few months, so the LED masks have been included in the Holiday 100 buying guide this year. Just make sure to purchase one of the best FDA-approved masks.

Movie projectors to backpack charms

If you’re looking for gifts across other categories, Google has some top 2025 searches for big and small. Home theaters are apparently in this year, as searches for movie projectors spiked by a whopping 945%. Searches for backpack charms also hit an all-time high this year, so those are a safe bet for stocking stuffing for any young kids.

Checkers (the actual board game)

Even though many gifts given out at Christmas this year will surely be high-tech gadgets and accessories, the board game of checkers is also on the list. There’s always room for the classics.

As you prepare for the Herculean task of yearly holiday shopping, Google’s Holiday 100 is a good place to start. But if you’re looking to beat the crowd on the best tech deals around, CNET is already collecting pre-Black Friday deals.

Technologies

Look Up Tonight to Spot November’s Supermoon, the Brightest Moon of 2025

Has the moon been looking brighter and bigger to you for the past few days? Here’s why this month’s supermoon is even more super.

It’s already a great month for skygazers, with a trio of meteor showers and the return of the northern hemisphere winter constellations. On Tuesday night, it also features the second of four supermoons in a row. This month’s supermoon will happen on Nov. 4-5, and November’s beaver moon is special because it’ll be the brightest full moon of 2025.

In addition to being a supermoon, November’s full moon is known as the beaver moon. There is some debate as to why it was named this way. Some believe that this was the best time of year in the old days to set beaver traps to get pelts for winter clothing. Others believe that it coincides with the busiest part of the year for beavers, who are now stocking their lodges with supplies for the upcoming winter.

Here’s what time it’ll look its biggest and brightest, and what else you need to know about the November supermoon.

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The brightest supermoon: When’s the best time to see it?

The moon will reach peak illumination at 8:19 a.m. ET on Nov. 5, making the evening of Nov. 4 and the morning of Nov. 5 the best times to view the moon.

Since moon phases shift slowly, the moon will appear almost full for nearly a week. If you are unable to view the full moon on its best night due to weather or other reasons, you can still see a mostly full moon at any point from Nov. 3 to Nov. 8.

For all of those days, the moon will be measurably brighter in the night sky compared to any other full moon in 2025. The reason for this is because of the moon’s elliptical orbit. Since it’s not a perfect circle, the moon’s 27.3-day journey around the Earth brings it closer to us on some days, a phenomenon known as perigee. If there is a full moon during this time, it’s branded as a «perigean full moon,» which you may know better as a supermoon.

Not all supermoons are equal, and November’s will be a little more special than others. According to The Farmer’s Almanac, the beaver moon will be a scant 221,817 miles away from Earth, making it the closest full moon of the year. That means it’ll be the biggest and brightest of the year.

In practice, the differences are fairly minor and likely won’t be visible to the naked eye when compared side by side to other supermoons. A supermoon is only about 7% larger than a regular full moon. According to NASA, the biggest difference is when comparing a supermoon to a micromoon, where a supermoon will be about 14% larger and 30% brighter. So, if you notice that your backyard patio is lit up more than usual, it’s because of the supermoon.

Also due to the moon’s orbit, November will also bring a micro new moon, which means the moon will be as far away from the Earth as it can get — a phenomenon known as apogee. November’s new moon occurs on Nov. 20, but you won’t be able to see it.

Technologies

Stay Informed About Your Flights This Holiday Season With Your iPhone’s Tracker

Your iPhone is hiding a flight tracker. Here’s how it works.

Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away and if you plan on flying during the holiday season, keeping up-to-date on changes to your flights is crucial. Airports can be hectic during any holiday, but with the government shutdown continuing, flights are liable to change or be cancelled more often.

Luckily, it’s never been easier to get up-to-date information about your flight. For starters, your airline probably has an app, and if not, you can check its website. If you’re in a hurry, you can Google the flight number. Or you can just use your iPhone’s built-in flight tracker that’s sneakily tucked away.

That’s right: Your iPhone has a flight tracker that you may have never known about. It’s there for when it’s needed. Below, we’ll show you have to access it in not one, but two places, so you never have to go hunting for your flight info elsewhere again.

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For more on the iPhone, check out everything Apple announced at WWDC 2025.

How to track your flight via iMessage

Before we start, there are a few prerequisites you must meet:

Make sure iMessage is enabled (it doesn’t work with SMS/MMS).
You’ll need your flight number somewhere in your text messages, whether you’ve sent that information to someone (even yourself) or it’s been sent to you.
The flight number must be sent in this format: [Airline] [Flight number], for example, American Airlines 9707.

Launch the native Messages app on your iPhone and open the text message thread that contains your flight information. You’ll know the flight tracker feature works when the text with the flight information appears underlined, which means it’s actionable and you can tap on it.

If your flight is still several months away or it’s already passed, you might see a message that says, «Flight information unavailable.» You might also see another flight that’s not yours because airlines recycle flight numbers.

You can check your flight status from Spotlight Search, too

If getting your flight information from Messages wasn’t easy enough, you can also grab the details right from your iPhone’s home screen by swiping down and adding your flight number into Spotlight Search. Even better, this works with Spotlight Search on your Mac computer, too.

How to access the hidden flight tracker

Although the airline name/flight number format highlighted above is the best way to go, there are other texting options that will lead you to the same result. So let’s say we stick with American Airlines 9707, other options that may bring up the flight tracker include:

AmericanAirlines9707 (no spaces)
AmericanAirlines 9707 (only one space)
AA9707 (airline name is abbreviated and no space)
AA 9707 (abbreviated and space)

I would suggest you keep the airline name spelled out completely and add a space between the two pieces of information — like in the previous section — because for some airlines, these alternative options may not work.

Real-time flight tracking

Once everything is set, tap on the flight information in your text messages. If the feature works correctly, you should see the following two options appear in a quick-action menu:

Preview Flight: View the flight’s details. Tap this to view more information about the flight.
Copy Flight Code: Copy the flight code to your clipboard (in case you want to send your flight details to someone else via text or email).

If you select Preview Flight, at the top of the window, you’ll see the best part of this feature: a real-time flight tracker map. A line will connect the two destinations, and a tiny airplane will move between them, indicating where the flight is at that exact moment.

Underneath the map, you’ll see important flight information: