iPhone 16: Should you upgrade from an older model?

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Apple announced the iPhone 16 series in September, and for many, it prompts the question of whether you should upgrade. 

We haven’t fully tested the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro models yet, but we can make confident assertions on whether you should upgrade to an iPhone 16 model based on a decade of experience testing and reviewing iPhones. As with most new iPhone generations, the answer is tied to the age of your current iPhone and whether it can keep up with your daily use. 

However, Apple is throwing a new consideration into the mix with its new Apple Intelligence AI features. Outside the iPhone 16 series, only the iPhone 15 Pro models support Apple’s upcoming AI tools and features. If you don’t own an iPhone 15 Pro model, the prospect of missing out on Apple’s new AI features weighs more heavily than on the usual array of year-over-year upgrades, like new processors, new cameras, or new features like the Action and Camera Control buttons. 

Below, we assess the relative worth of upgrading from older iPhones to an iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence and the new series’ distinct features. We also outline other upgrade options among newly discounted previous-generation iPhones. 

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 16 for Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence gives the iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 Pro models powerful new abilities. Among several new features, Apple Intelligence can compile notes into full text, summarize emails and meeting notes, create images based on prompts, and find photos and send them to contacts via the Messages app. Siri also promises to be dramatically improved. 

However, Apple Intelligence is only available to the public in beta form. As we assess the beta on the iPhone 15 Pro models, we’ll reserve our definitive assessment of its benefits until we can officially test the new phones upon Apple Intelligence’s official release with the iOS 18.1 update in October.

Indeed, Apple Intelligence won’t be available in its official form when the first iPhone 16 units land in people’s hands on September 20. And when the AI suite does become officially available in October, it won’t be a finalized version. As with any new and existing feature, more Apple Intelligence features are expected to roll out over time after October.

So, with that in mind, we can’t say it’s worth upgrading to the iPhone 16 for fear of missing out on Apple Intelligence. Those with an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max (the only previous compatible models) also need not upgrade just to get the AI software. Our tune may change if Apple Intelligence turns out to be amazing, but we have to fully test it out first.

What if you’re not interested in AI and Apple Intelligence?

Apart from Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 16 series comes with fairly typical upgrades we see year over year for new iPhone generations. If Apple Intelligence isn’t part of your buying decision, the iPhone 16 series won’t likely present a meaningfully better experience than the iPhone 15, iPhone 14, or iPhone 13 series. At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you want to upgrade if your iPhone still works perfectly well.  

For those who like the “shiny new thing,” there’s unlikely any reason not to upgrade to the iPhone 16 series. We haven’t tested the iPhone 16 phones, but we expect them to be superb, as usual, based on our year-over-year experience reviewing iPhones. 

Plus, the potential cost of upgrading continues to be incredibly low with trade-in offers. Verizon, AT&T, and Best Buy offer trade-ins for up to $1,000 off a new iPhone 16 model, while Apple offers up to $650 off for trade-ins.

What are the iPhone 16 series’ upgrades?

Apart from Apple Intelligence, the new Camera Control button is the biggest upgrade common to all iPhone 16 models.

The Camera Control button enables several control functions from the Camera app based on press, tap, and swipe combinations. For example, a simple press pulls up the camera app, and another press takes a photo. A long press opens the camera app in video mode, ready to take a video. A light touch while in the camera app presents zoom control, and you can swipe the Camera Control button to zoom in and out. A double light touch brings up extended controls, like depth of field and exposure, with the same swiping gestures on the Camera Control button to adjust each function.

Users of any iPhone 16 model will also enjoy stronger display glass, bigger batteries, and faster MagSafe charging.

For the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, the biggest upgrades include:

• The Action button carried over from the iPhone 15 Pro models.
• Improved focus and photo quality on the 12MP ultrawide camera.
• The new A18 processor to accommodate Apple Intelligence. 
• A new oval camera design. 

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max received more notable upgrades, including: 

• Larger 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays compared to the previous 6.1 and 6.7-inch displays.
• Both iPhone 16 Pro models come with a 5x zoom camera, whereas only the iPhone 15 Pro Max had a 5x zoom in the previous generation.
• A new camera sensor that eliminates shutter lag to capture clearer shots of subjects in motion.
• 4K video recording at 120 frames per second (fps).
• The new A18 Pro processor.

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 16 if you have an older iPhone?

Upgrading makes the most sense if your current iPhone is older, as the iPhone 16 can offer several meaningful upgrades in one go. The list of upgrades gets shorter and shorter the closer it is to the iPhone 16 series.

The two charts below compare the previous five iPhone generations (entry-level and Pro models, separately) to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. Note that any qualitative assessments in the charts reflect our testing of previous models and are relative to what we anticipate for the new models based on specs and Apple’s claims, ahead of our full testing of the iPhone 16 series. 

Here’s how previous entry-level iPhones should compare to the base iPhone 16 models. 

Here’s how older generation models in the iPhone Pro line should compare to the iPhone 16 Pro models. 

The only thing that could make your current iPhone obsolete and necessitate an upgrade is whether it supports the latest version of the iOS operating system. On September 16, that will be iOS 18, and the oldest iPhone to support it will be the iPhone XS series and the iPhone XR. 

That means the iPhone X series, the iPhone 8 models, and earlier models won’t get as many security updates. Apple may patch major security flaws, but it won’t support regular security updates for those phones. We’d recommend an upgrade to anyone clutching onto the iPhone X (or older).

Terrible battery life on your current old iPhone could be another reason to upgrade to the iPhone 16. For the thriftiest folks out there, you may also be able to replace the battery for much less than the cost of a new iPhone. 

The iPhone 16 isn’t your only choice if you need to upgrade

Apple still sells older iPhone models that cost less than the iPhone 16, and they’re all viable options if you’d rather not spend a minimum of $799. 

There’s also the iPhone SE, starting at $429, which is the least expensive current iPhone we recommend in our guide to the best iPhones. However, unless you’re truly looking to spend as little as possible on a new iPhone, we don’t readily recommend it. Its small display, antiquated design, lack of 5G connectivity, basic features, and single camera are struggling to keep the iPhone SE relevant in 2024.