Are you an iPhone 12 user, wondering if switching to the brand new iPhone 14 would be worth the upgrade? Currently, the iPhone 12 is considered somewhat aged, but still very capable hardware. Where as the iPhone 14 is considered the latest and most capable hardware. But is the costly upgrade really something that can be justified? Our hope is that this article will help you make that decision!
Design
The body and build of the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 12 are quite different, and you can easily tell the two apart. The iPhone 14 boasts a 20% smaller notch when compared to the iPhone 12, which will make for a better experience when consuming content.
On the rear side is where we see another design difference between the two smartphones. First, the iPhone 14 opts for a diagonal camera setup vs the straight one on the iPhone 12. The iPhone 14 also has a way bigger camera lens.
Where the iPhone 12 does beat out its component in design is its thickness and weight. The iPhone 12 weighs 10 grams less– weighing in at 162g while the iPhone 14 weighs 172g. The iPhone 14 (7.8 mm) is also 4 mm thicker than the iPhone 12 (7.4 mm). This makes the iPhone 12 easier to hold and use, and slightly more comfortable to store in your pocket.
Battery
When it comes to battery life, there’s quite a difference between the two iPhones.
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 14 | |
| Battery Capacity | 2815mAh | 3227mAh |
| Charging Speed | 20W Lightning Charging | 23W Lightning Charging |
The iPhone 14 sports a 3227mAh battery, while the iPhone 12 comes with a rather low 2815mAh. When you pair that with its more efficient A15 Bionic chip, the newer iPhone comfortably outlasts the older one in every battery test.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 12 have the same charging speed, coming in at 20W, so both phones take the same amount of time to fill up. This is unfortunate given that the iPhone 12 is two years older than the iPhone 14. With that being said, battery capacity alone would not be reason enough to upgrade to the iPhone 14.
Camera
The camera system is where we see the biggest difference between the 14 and the 12, as the camera on the newer model is far superior to its predecessor. The iPhone 14 has a way larger sensor (1/1.7″), which will give you much higher quality pictures than the iPhone 12, whose sensor is just 1/2.55″.
The iPhone 14 offers a host of camera software upgrades as well. It gives you Apple’s new Photonic Engine that combs through every pixel when a picture is taken and improves each pixel’s quality. You also get an improved cinematic mode.
If cameras are your main concern, then the iPhone 14 is more than worth the upgrade.
Performance
| Benchmark (Higher Is better) | A15 Bionic (iPhone 14) | A14 Bionic (iPhone 12) |
| Geekbench | Single-Core Score 1735 Multi-Core Score 4811 | Single-Core Score 1600 Multi-Core Score 4058 |
| Antutu 9 | 707384 | 819569 |
From the table, you can see the iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip totally beats out the A14 on the 12. However, you’ll barely notice a difference between the two phones’ performance in daily usage, even if you put them side by side. So, unless you’re a gamer or a power user who needs every ounce of power from your phone, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading to the newest iPhone for performance alone.
Major New Features
- Crash detection is a feature that uses a gyroscope and other parts in the iPhone 14 to detect when a person has been involved in a car crash and will alert emergency services.
- When there is no cell service, the iPhone 14 can communicate via satellite. It’s only available in the US and Canada and it’s also a paid service with a free 2-year trial period.
These two life-saving new safety features are incredibly impressive. Are they enough to convince you to upgrade?
Verdict
Now it’s up to you! Review the points above and decide which device better suits your lifestyle.
If the iPhone 14’s cost is a little steep for your budget, you might consider purchasing a refurbished iPhone 12 here at SmartphonesPLUS. We offer a wide selection of iPhones varying in generation and condition. Visit our website for current pricing and availability.
On the other hand…if you ARE seriously considering an making the switch, did you know you can sell your used iPhone to SmartphonesPLUS for cash towards your upgrade? Learn more about our selling process.
