Should I buy the new iPhone 14?

The iPhone 14 is a fantastic phone, with an excellent screen, great cameras, and plenty of power. But it’s not the right phone for everyone.

Below we’ve detailed five reasons you might want to buy an iPhone 14 and five reasons you might not – and in the latter case we’ve also suggested alternative iPhones that might be better for your needs.

So read on to see whether the iPhone 14 is the right handset for you, or whether you should consider another model instead.

Reasons to buy an iPhone 14

There are lots of reasons to buy an iPhone 14, but the five things below are among the top ones.

1. You want a 5G iPhone

Sure, the iPhone 14 isn’t the only 5G iPhone, but it does have 5G, and we’d argue that in 2022 you really shouldn’t be buying a phone that doesn’t – especially if it’s a moderately expensive one as the iPhone 14 is.

The presence of 5G means the iPhone 14 is equipped to make the most of the UK’s mobile networks, so you can experience the maximum possible data speeds. Even if there’s no 5G where you are now, there will be sooner or later, so it’s worth being prepared.

2. You want a relatively affordable flagship

The iPhone 14 could hardly be called cheap, but it is the most affordable model in the iPhone 14 range, undercutting the iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Plus, it’s an undeniably high-end phone, so while it doesn’t quite match those handsets, it’s still a stylish device with great specs across the board.

3. You don’t have an iPhone 13

The main issue with the iPhone 14 is simply that it’s very similar to the iPhone 13, so if you already have a phone in the iPhone 13 range then the iPhone 14 won’t feel like much of an upgrade.

But if you’re upgrading from an older handset or an Android phone then it will still feel fresh, new, and highly capable. So think twice before buying one if you have an iPhone 13, but everyone else can safely shop for an iPhone 14.

4. You want a compact phone

Apple hasn’t brought out a new mini model, so if you want a high-end compact iPhone then the iPhone 14 is arguably your best choice. It’s not as small as the iPhone 13 Mini, but it is newer, and with just a 6.1-inch screen it is more compact than most modern phones.

5. You want years of updates

Apple always supports its phones for years, ensuring they have up to date software for a long time. It’s one thing the company does better than Android phone makers, and with the iPhone 14 being a new model at the time of writing it’s among the iPhones that will have the most remaining support.

So if you don’t want to feel left behind on the software side for years to come then it’s an excellent choice of handset.

Reasons not to buy an iPhone 14

While there are lots of great reasons to buy an iPhone 14, there are also plenty of reasons you might not want to, including the following.

1. You want the best iPhone

The iPhone 14 is a great phone but it’s not the best iPhone. No, that’s the iPhone 14 Pro Max – or the iPhone 14 Pro if you don’t also want the biggest screen.

These offer more power, a new design and various other features and upgrades that are missing from the standard iPhone 14. Of course, they also cost more as a result, so consider whether you really need all their extra features.

2. You want big upgrades

As noted above, the iPhone 14 is not the best iPhone, and it’s also not a big upgrade over the iPhone 13.

The iPhone 14 Pro on the other hand has a newer, more powerful chipset, an extra camera lens, more megapixels for the main camera, a different design (with no notch), and a tweaked interface designed to make the most of the ‘Dynamic Island’ that houses the camera instead of a notch on this phone.

3. You want a budget iPhone

While the iPhone 14 is not the best iPhone, it’s also not the cheapest, as it sits towards the middle of Apple’s range.

So if you’re on a tight budget or just don’t want to spend big money on a phone, then the iPhone 14 isn’t an ideal option. Instead you should consider the iPhone SE (2022), which came out in the same year but sports an older design and slightly lesser specs, so it has a lower price. It still supports 5G though.

4. You want a big screen

The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch screen, which is fairly small by modern phone standards. For something bigger you should consider the iPhone 14 Plus, which is basically the same phone but with a larger 6.7-inch screen.

It costs a bit more as a result, but it’s still cheaper than an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max – the latter of which also has a 6.7-inch screen, for if you want a big iPhone that also has pro-grade specs.

5. You want a telephoto camera

The iPhone 14 has great cameras but what it doesn’t have is a telephoto camera – there’s just a main (wide), an ultra-wide, and a selfie camera.

So if you want to be able to zoom in closer to your subjects then you should consider an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max – both of which add a 3x optical zoom to the mix.