The iPhone 16 is one of the most comprehensive generation-over-generation upgrades Apple has served up in years. But is it enough to ditch the iPhone 14 Pro?
Apple’s smartphones are finally entering a new era — a phase where the software is driving as much innovation as the hardware. In fact, if one looks at the magnitude of changes that iOS 18 brings to the table with Apple Intelligence at the helm, the hardware enhancements pale in comparison. The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is at the forefront of that movement, thanks largely to the inclusion of Apple’s new AI, which is likely to become a core part of everyone’s iOS experience when it launches. But is there any merit in holding on to an older iPhone?
The iPhone 14 Pro is the focus for most buyers’ “keep or jump” dilemma. A remnant of the Lightning port era, the iPhone 14 Pro continues to prove its mettle as a reliable warhorse with a terrific camera. But the kind of comprehensive changes across screen, silicon, charging, and software perameters introduced by the iPhone 16 Pro also make it a candidate for an upgrade.
If you’ve been holding on tight to your iPhone 14 and aren’t sure if there are any meaningful advancements to warrant a spending spree, here’s a detailed breakdown to guide your upgrade decision.iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: specsiPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: design and display
There isn’t much to discuss here about any design overhaul, as the fundamental aesthetic language is identical. However, there are a few refinements that can only be felt when the two devices are held in hand. The iPhone 16 Pro is slightly taller and thicker than the iPhone 14 Pro, and a touch lighter too. That weight disparity predominantly has to do with the build’s material of choice. The latest flagship from Apple relies on titanium, which is lighter, more resilient, and better equipped to handle heat dissipation. The iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, has a stainless steel frame married to a matte glass shell.
Another crucial difference concerns the edges. The iPhone 14 Pro’s sides were quite sharp and the phone dug into the palm in quite an uncomfortable fashion. The iPhone 16 Pro takes a more rounded approach to the edges, making it cozier to hold, if not a day-and-night difference.
Apple has also slimmed down the bezels to accommodate a larger display on the phone. With the iPhone 16 Pro, you also get USB-C (Gen 3 port with Display Port support) with 10Gbps output as it ditches the Lightning Port (USB Gen 2) on the iPhone 14 Pro. In a nutshell, you get faster data transfer bandwidth and liberation from the dongle life.
The ingress protection is identical across both phones at an IP68 level, but the color options vary. The iPhone 16 Pro serves up a new Desert Titanium look that’s somewhat inspired by the gold trim on the iPhone 16 Pro, but the latter’s signature Deep Purple is gone. The rest of Apple’s latest options include silver, white, and black.
Another core difference, as mentioned above, is the display. The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch panel, up from the 6.1-inch OLED screen on the iPhone 14 Pro. The rest of the attributes, such as pixel density, peak refresh rate, and brightness output remain identical. Apple says the latest iteration of Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16 Pro is twice as strong, while the OLED panel’s brightness can drop to as low as 1 nit, which is technically great news from the lens of power efficiency.
Another crucial change is the introduction of two extra buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro that replace the mute switch on the iPhone 14 Pro. The Action button has already become a favorite of folks for folks looking to execute tasks or even shortcuts with the press of a button.
This year, we also get the Camera Control, a physical button with a capacitive side to it. It’s a camera shutter in spirit, but can do a lot more. Using slide gestures, it can also handle adjustments like ISO or zoom level, among other camera controls.iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: camera
For users deep into video capture and engaged in professional workflows, the latest from Apple offers plenty. Both phones rely on a mostly identical 48-megapixel main camera and a 12MP zoom camera, but the iPhone 16 Pro takes things up a notch by upgrading the 12MP ultrawide lens to a 48MP sensor.
