Specifications
| Features | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $999 | $500 unlocked |
| Display | 6.3-in Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.1-in Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Weight | 199 g (7 oz) | 206 g (7.3 oz) |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro | Apple A16 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | 3,355 mAh | 3,200 mAh |
| Camera | 48MP Wide | 12MP Tele | 48MP UW | 12MP Selfie | 48MP Wide | 12MP Tele | 12MP UW | 12MP Selfie |
You should buy the 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 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro models, but it will not 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’d like to stay up-to-date with the latest AI features or already use other AI tools in your day-to-day life, the iPhone 16 Pro is likely a worthy upgrade.
2. You’d like to get your hands on the bigger screen
Apple has thinned out the iPhone 16 Pro’s bezels to the bare minimum and stretched the Pro models’ displays to 6.3 and 6.9 inches for the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, respectively. This gives users more screen real estate to watch videos, play games, view and edit documents, and read shared screens on video conferences.
3. You love taking beautiful photos
The iPhone 16 Pro features some of the best camera enhancements, including the improved ultrawide camera. The UW camera moved to align with a larger, improved Sony sensor, so it’s going from a measly 12MP to 48MP. If you love taking photos with your smartphone, the camera upgrades alone may be enough to upgrade to an iPhone 16 Pro.
You should buy (or keep) the iPhone 14 Pro if…
1. You’d rather wait for bigger upgrades
Even with the Apple Intelligence features, the iPhone 16 seems to be an incremental design change rather than a revamp. The design and functionality aren’t a radical departure from the iPhone 14 Pro. If you’re content with the look, feel, and performance of your iPhone 14, getting the iPhone 16 Pro likely won’t feel like a huge upgrade, especially since many of the AI features will come months after you get the device.
2. You just finished paying it off
One of the biggest reasons to hold off on an upgrade is financial. The iPhone 14 Pro started at $900 at launch, which isn’t pocket change. Most buyers choose a 12-, 18-, or 24-month financing option through a carrier or Apple on a new iPhone. If you’re one of them and just finished paying off your iPhone 14 Pro and feel like you’re not financially ready to commit to another payment plan, it may be worth passing on the new iPhone 16 Pro.
Alternatives to consider
Conclusion
As an iPhone 14 Pro Max user, I’m not convinced that the new AI-enabled iPhone 16 Pro is worth the upgrade, but the USB-C charging, action button, or new camera features may make the upgrade worthwhile. It ultimately depends on your current iPhone 14 Pro needs and whether the new AI features or other upgrades resonate with you.
FAQs
- Q: Is the iPhone 16 Pro a significant upgrade over the iPhone 14 Pro?
- Q: How much does the iPhone 16 Pro cost?
- Q: Is Apple Intelligence available on the iPhone 14 Pro?
- Q: How does the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera compare to the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera?
