5 causes I am nonetheless sticking with the iPhone 14 Professional in 2025

A number of of my associates just lately upgraded to the

iPhone 16 Pro
, and it received me fascinated by choosing one up, too. I had the iPhone 16 Professional sitting in my cart on Apple’s web site and was very near testing till I finished myself. Why? I nonetheless have an

iPhone 14 Pro
that appears nice and runs like a appeal. I used to be foolish even to think about the iPhone 16 Professional within the first place.

Certain, the iPhone 16 Professional has an

Action Button
,

Camera Control button
, and

USB-C
, all of which the iPhone 14 Professional would not characteristic. However is all that actually value $1,000 for a brand new cellphone? Upon reflection, no, not likely in any respect. I have been utilizing my iPhone 14 Professional because it launched in 2022, and it is undoubtedly one of the best cellphone I’ve ever had, and one I am not able to let go of. Listed below are 5 causes the iPhone 14 Professional nonetheless holds up effectively in 2025, and why upgrading is not crucial.

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5

Battery life is not a problem

I can simply get via a day

I assess smartphone batteries utilizing an easy take a look at. If I can get up at 7am, use my cellphone intermittently all through the day, and nonetheless have battery life left at 10pm, then I am a cheerful camper. My iPhone 14 Professional is sort of two years previous and simply passes this take a look at with flying colours. I might be aggravated if the battery could not final all day, however that has by no means occurred with my iPhone 14 Professional.

After I verify my battery well being, it exhibits that my iPhone 14 Professional has a most battery capability of 87 %, indicating that it has declined by 13 % since I bought it. Whereas it is disappointing to see it lower that a lot, I am actually nonetheless impressed by how effectively it performs regardless of that. For reference, the iPhone 14 Professional incorporates a 3,200mAh battery, which is smaller than the iPhone 16 Professional’s reported 3,582mAh battery. A failing battery is without doubt one of the high causes I see folks improve their telephones, however fortunately, that is not the case with my iPhone 14 Professional.

Moreover, in contrast to previous iPhones I’ve owned, I’ve by no means encountered any points with the Lightning port on this cellphone. With my iPhone 12 Professional, I wanted to improve it primarily as a result of the charging port was not connecting to cables correctly, even after extensively cleansing it. My iPhone 14 Professional’s Lightning port nonetheless works completely, which has been a reduction.

1:44

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4

The show seems nice

It has a surprising 6.1-inch OLED display, with ProMotion assist

Even after utilizing the iPhone 14 Professional every day for 2 years, I am constantly impressed by its show. I’ve the common iPhone 14 Professional, not the Professional Max, so it incorporates a 6.1-inch OLED Tremendous Retina XDR show with a decision of 2556 x 1179 pixels. For watching YouTube movies, films, or TV exhibits, this show continues to impress, and the HDR seems gorgeous.

In distinction, the iPhone 16 Professional has a barely bigger 6.3-inch OLED Tremendous Retina XDR show with a 2662 x 1206 pixel decision. Regardless that it is the most recent iPhone, not a lot has modified display-wise, apart from the elevated measurement. I choose smaller handsets, so the iPhone 14 Professional’s show wins over the 16 Professional in my books.

I might be remiss if I did not additionally point out that the iPhone 14 Professional options ProMotion assist, which gives a buttery clean 120Hz adaptive refresh price. The 16 Professional has the identical refresh price, so there are not any positive aspects to be made there both. Additionally, the iPhone 14 Professional has Dynamic Island, not a notch, so appearance-wise, there may be hardly any distinction from the most recent iPhones.

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3

Efficiency hits the mark

The A16 Bionic chip continues to be snappy

My iPhone 14 Professional has by no means stuttered or lagged throughout use, which is a testomony to Apple’s outstanding software program with iOS 18 (and former variations) and its custom-built silicon. The iPhone 14 Professional options an A16 Bionic chipset. Whereas it is not as highly effective because the A17 Professional chip discovered within the iPhone 15 Professional or the A18 Professional within the iPhone 16 Professional, it handles primary duties like looking the online, checking my e-mail, and doomscrolling social media with ease and nonetheless feels extraordinarily snappy.

I am not a lot of a cell gamer, so I am unable to actually touch upon the A16 Bionic’s gaming efficiency. If I performed extra cell video games, I is likely to be tempted to improve solely for the sooner chipset, however since I do not, it isn’t one thing I’ve ever thought-about. As a testomony to the A16 Bionic chip’s energy, Apple even integrated it into the most recent entry-level

11th-generation iPad
, so it stays in use to this present day.

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2

A digicam that also impresses

Images look sharp and detailed

The digicam is without doubt one of the most talked-about options of any iPhone. In 2025, the iPhone 14 Professional’s digicam continues to be a powerful contender. All through my intensive travels with this cellphone over the past two years, I stay regularly impressed by the implausible photographs it has captured throughout my adventures. The iPhone 14 Professional boasts a f/1.8 48-megapixel foremost digicam, a f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide digicam, and a f/2.8 12-megapixel telephoto lens providing 3x optical zoom, all of which nonetheless maintain up excellently.

Whether or not I am engaged in macrophotography, taking portraits, capturing gorgeous landscapes whereas on trip, or photographing know-how, the iPhone 14 Professional’s digicam constantly exceeds my expectations. Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional has interesting enhancements, reminiscent of a brand new f/2.2 48-megapixel ultra-wide digicam that captures extra element than the 14 Professional’s 12-megapixel ultra-wide, it isn’t sufficient to persuade me to change over. Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Professional’s rumored

8K video capabilities
may change my thoughts.

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1

No Apple Intelligence

Not lacking out on a lot

One of many main promoting factors that Apple highlights for the iPhone 16 sequence is Apple Intelligence, its array of AI options. The iPhone 14 Professional doesn’t assist Apple Intelligence, however actually, in 2025, this isn’t a big concern.

At present, Apple Intelligence is underwhelming and lacks most of the options that Apple showcased at WWDC 2024, reminiscent of on-screen consciousness and Siri’s cross-app performance. Apple itself has acknowledged that it requires extra time to refine these options,

postponing their release
to “the approaching yr.” At this level, Apple Intelligence will not be a considerable promoting characteristic for the iPhone except you are significantly excited about AI writing instruments, and even Apple has scaled again its advertising and marketing efforts resulting from these delays.

If, like me, you are not invested in AI, the absence of Apple Intelligence within the iPhone 14 Professional can truly be seen as a bonus somewhat than an obstacle. In a yr or two, as Apple Intelligence evolves right into a extra sensible software, it would persuade people like me, who nonetheless use older iPhones, to improve. Nonetheless, that point hasn’t arrived but. I’ve by no means discovered myself considering, “I want I had Apple Intelligence proper now.” Even when I owned an iPhone 16 Professional immediately, I might disable Apple Intelligence.

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