The iPhone 16 is popping out subsequent week, and I’ll order one of many 4 fashions as quickly as preorders go stay. I’ve been trying ahead to the iPhone 16 sequence, primarily for Apple Intelligence options. However loads of thrilling upgrades are coming my manner, together with the Seize button, which I’ll absolutely put to good use as soon as it comes out.
Nevertheless, I additionally notice there’s a case for protecting my iPhone 14 Professional for one more yr. The handset is sort of two years outdated, which implies it’s nonetheless an important cellphone that may rock a few years of updates. It’s the equal of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, fashions that can absolutely keep in Apple’s lineup for one more yr.
How lengthy do folks maintain their iPhones?
I received the iPhone 14 Professional when preorders began almost two years in the past. On the time, I used to be upgrading from a five-year-old iPhone X, which I bought as quickly because it got here out within the fall of 2017. As a reminder, the iPhone X was barely delayed in comparison with the iPhone 8 variations. Subsequently, the iPhone X didn’t attain its fifth birthday. However what I’m saying right here is that I’m not new to protecting iPhones for some time.
It’s not simply me. Smartphone customers maintain their gadgets for 2 to a few years, based on information from BankMyCell. However the common lifspan has dropped from 2.96 years in 2019 to 2.53 years in 2024. As for iPhones, they’ve a lifespan of 4 to 10 years.
After I transitioned to the iPhone 14 Professional, I spotted instantly that I might have bought a non-Professional mannequin with none points. I’d have misplaced the Dynamic Island design the iPhone 14 Professionals launched and the higher digicam module. However the base iPhone 14 mannequin would have met my wants.
Quick-forward to the current, and I’ve to say the iPhone 14 Professional continues to be an incredible gadget. It sustained no injury since I received and it didn’t want any servicing of any form.
It runs every part flawlessly, and the digicam continues to be adequate for many issues. However sure, it might do higher in low-light images. In the meantime, the iPhone 16 Professional will even function an ultrawide digicam and a tetraprism zoom digicam.
My iPhone 14 Professional is just too outdated for Apple Intelligence
I’ve been operating iOS 18 in beta since WWDC, and the iPhone 14 Professional had no points operating it. The one factor I can’t expertise is Apple Intelligence.
First, the iPhone 14 Professional has solely 6GB of RAM, which is inadequate for Apple’s AI. The chip’s Neural Engine won’t be sturdy sufficient, however the RAM is a bottleneck.
Secondly, Apple Intelligence isn’t obtainable within the European Union. It’ll take some time till Apple launches it right here. On that observe, the iPhone 16 will most likely not run any Apple Intelligence at launch. As a substitute, you’ll have to attend till October for the iOS 18.1 replace to start out utilizing Apple Intelligence.
Even then, not all of the AI options Apple unveiled at WWDC might be obtainable on the iPhone 15 Professionals and iPhone 16. Some will come out by way of successive iOS 18 upgrades. The checklist contains ChatGPT integration and the sensible Siri we noticed at WWDC.
If Apple finishes Its Intelligence deployment in early 2025, the EU will possible get the complete suite of options a number of months later. I’m solely speculating right here, however I might all the time await the iPhone 17 as an alternative.
Staying with the iPhone 14 Professional for one more yr can be equal to getting a less expensive iPhone 15 or iPhone 14 variant subsequent week. I might be in a non-AI world. That’s not an issue for iPhone customers who’re tired of AI. iOS 18 has loads of new options that don’t have anything to do with generative AI which are value profiting from.
The issues
The one factor that worries me at this level is battery life. After nearly two years, the iPhone 14 Professional is at 88% battery well being. In contrast to others, I’ve had nice battery life till I switched to iOS 18. The iPhone would final greater than a day with a whole lot of use. Each day charging is a should now.
The iPhone 16 telephones will all function bigger battery packs. Extra curiously, the iPhone 16 Professionals would possibly introduce new battery tech that might enhance battery life and battery well being.
I might all the time have my battery serviced as soon as it reaches 80% well being. I’d nonetheless get monetary savings in comparison with getting an iPhone 16 mannequin. On that observe, I’ll purchase a brand new Apple Watch even earlier than I order the iPhone 16. The battery well being of the previous is the rationale why.
Since I’m complaining, I’ve one other concern with my iPhone 14 Professional, which I maintain randomly experiencing when roaming in Europe. The telephones generally wrestle to hook up with a community, although carriers definitely have a task to play in that. The iPhone 16 ought to function newer modems. Hopefully, connectivity points will disappear.
That mentioned, I can’t ignore all the opposite iPhone 16 upgrades I’ll get as soon as I go away my iPhone 14 Professional behind. They don’t have anything to do with AI, although I need Apple Intelligence in my iPhone expertise, even when which means ready for it.
