iPhone 14 vs iPhone 11: Is the upgrade worth it?

The release of new model iPhones is great news for iOS fans, but also means it’s an opportunity to look at whether you really need to upgrade to the new iPhone 14, or whether you can get by with a cheaper (but still great) Apple handset by opting for its 2019 counterpart.

Whatever your reasoning for ending up on this page, here's an easy-to-digest analysis of the official specs of the the iPhone 11 and iPhone 14 that should give you a sense of the similarities and differences between the two.

The iPhone 14 has finally been officially unveiled. While there's a lot to be excited about, the biggest shake-up to the formula was leaked ahead of time. The smaller form-factor offered by the iPhone Mini 12 and iPhone Mini 13 is being retired in favor of a more affordable plus-sized option called the iPhone 14 Plus.

Beyond that, the specs of the iPhone 14 (and iPhone 14 Plus) are largely what you'd expect. Compared to the iPhone 11, Apple's latest iPhone benefits from a number of design revisions plus the performance bump that comes with a newer processor.

As for the Pro and Pro Max face-off, it’s a similar story. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max offer a clear advantage over the the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max when it comes to specs.

Check out the table below for a a side-by-side look at the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

With the iPhone 14 lineup lacking when it comes to Mini-sized models, the standard iPhone 14 is the first cab off the rank. Pricing for the device starts at $1,399 for the 128GB model,$1579 for the 256GB or $1,899 for a whopping 512GB of on-board storage. The storage surcharge here works out to be $70 for the first upgrade and $320 for the second.

For comparison, pricing for the iPhone 11 (via Apple) prior to it being discontinued started at $849 for the 64GB model and $929 for the 128GB model. Essentially, you're looking at $70 to double the storage of the 2019-era hardware.

While the iPhone 14 being more expensive than its 2019 equivalent isn't exactly a huge surprise, the fact the former does come with a lot more on-board storage as standard which makes it more compelling in terms of everyday value for money and dollars per gigabyte.

The same goes for the displays involved. Whenever it comes to shopping for a new smartphone, it's worth remembering that the screen is the part of the package you'll spent most of your time looking at.

On this front, the newer iPhone 14 comes out ahead of the iPhone 11. While the standard iPhone 11 has a decent-enough 6.1-inch Retina HD display, the iPhone 14 benefits from display improvements made by the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. The most significant of these is the bump upwards to a Super XDR Retina OLED display with Ceramic Shield protection.

That baseline tech advantage also extends into the fine details. The iPhone 11’s resolution is 1792 x 828 (326 pixels per inch) whereas the iPhone 14 brings a resolution of 2532 x 1170 (460 pixels per inch) to bear.

After the display, the next important component of any iPhone is the processor.

While the iPhone 11's A13 Bionic is no slouch, the performance improvements seen in the two generations of silicon we've seen since suggest that the processor inside the iPhone 14 (the A15 Bionic) will have a clear lead on its predecessor. In addition, the hardware here comes augmented by an updated internal design that Apple says should allow for superior thermal efficiency over last year's iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

The same goes when it comes to RAM. Compared to Android smartphone manufacturers, Apple tends to downplay the random access memory that its iPhones are equipped with. Part of this is likely to do with the fact that Apple's devices typically have less RAM than the competition.

However, in fairness to Apple, the way that the company implements that memory is itself different enough that an apples-to-apples comparison (no pun intended) becomes a bit unfair towards them. Still, keeping our discussion within the iOS orchard, our understanding is that the iPhone 14 is kitted out with an extra 2GB over the 4GB found in the iPhone 11. 

When it comes to the camera side of the equation, the on-paper specs of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 11 hide what is likely to be pretty significant advantages for the former. The new Photonic image engine promises to give the former a massive bump when it comes to low-light photography.

The iPhone 14's rear camera also boasts a ton of tricks that the iPhone 11 can't match, such as Night Mode pics, improved HDR, including the option to shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision (at up to 30 frames per second).

In contrast, battery life is one area where the iPhone 11 might be able to pick up a win, albeit a short-lived one. Since the older device doesn't have 5G connectivity, it benefits from a bunch of 4G network optimisations that bolster the longevity of its everyday battery life.

Overall, though, the iPhone 14 come out ahead of the iPhone 11 on most of the fronts that matter. Outside of affordability, there's not many super compelling reasons to go for the older iPhone over the new model.

While standard-sized iPhones stick around for a year or two through official channels, Apple tend to discontinue more powerful models like the iPhone 11 Pro as soon as their replacements hit store shelves.

These days, if you try to buy an iPhone 11 Pro (or iPhone 11 Pro Max) through the Apple website, you’ll be rapidly redirected to iPhone 14 purchasing options. Still, retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks do have a few units kicking around and have adjusted their pricing to reflect the impending arrival of newer models.

Depending on the storage and condition, it's not uncommon to find an iPhone 11 Pro for as little as $700 or as much as $1000 these days. If the number on the price-tag is your prime consideration, that does put it well ahead of the hefty cost commanded by the more recent iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.

Beyond that, the story here is much as the standard iPhone equivalents of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 11. While a post-launch price-drop and clearance pricing is likely to make the iPhone 11 Pro is more affordable proposition than the iPhone 14 Pro, those savings come at the cost of a better A16 Bionic processor, additional RAM, a superior multi-lens camera system and more.

Otherwise, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro come in most of the same storage configurations (64GB, 256GB and 512GB vs 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB) and boast an almost-but-not-equivalent Super XDR Retina display.

When it comes weight and dimensions of the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, the differences between the two are similarly negligible. Feature-wise, both handsets are rated IP68 for water and dust resistance. 

However, the more recent iPhone 14 Pro does have a few tricks available to it that can't be found in the older iPhone 11. For instance, the new model features a unique Dynamic Island notch that can shrink, grow or animate depending on the situation.

Those who opt for the iPhone 14 Pro also have the option of enabling an always-on display, which incorporates the same variable refresh rate functionality seen on recent Apple Watches and can't be found in the aging iPhone 11 Pro.

All told, a up-close-and-personal comparison favors the more recent iPhone 14 Pro over the iPhone 11 Pro. The 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 14 Pro boasts a resolution of 2556 x 1179 (460 pixels per inch) and a refresh rate of 120Hz, which put it well ahead of the the iPhone 11 Pro's 60Hz screen.

As mentioned above, the iPhone 14 Pro comes kitted out with 6GB of RAM (which 2GB more than the 4GB found in the iPhone 11 Pro) and a more powerful A16 Bionic Processor.

The more recent Pro-grade iPhone also offers enhancements and refinements when it comes to photography, with 48MP rear camera sensor and Photonic image processing buffing out the rear-camera lens setup in a way that promises yield much better results than what the camera on the iPhone 11 Pro can offer.

Alongside the larger sensor, the iPhone 14 promises to offer better image stabilisation, low-light photography, tighter zoom functionality and the option to shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision at up to 30fps.

However, as with the iPhone 11, battery life is one area where the older iPhone might actually have something of an edge. Since it doesn't have 5G connectivity, the iPhone 11 Pro benefits from 4G optimisations that have yet to be apply to 5G-compatible handsets like the iPhone 14 Pro.

While real-world battery testing may give us a better sense of exactly what this differential looks like, we're going to tentatively give the iPhone 11 Pro the benefit of the doubt here as  we don't yet know how much of a difference the always on display will make when it comes to the iPhone 14 Pro.

Finally, there's the Dynamic Island. This newly-empowered take on the iPhone's notch promises to turn the crippling cutout into something of a killer app. The larger notch on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max can expand, shrink and animated depending on the situation. It's a neat hook, not to mention something that the older iPhone 11 Pro can't match.

Those who find themselves straining to reach the higher price demanded by Apple's latest flagship may find the iPhone 11 Pro to be a half-decent substitute, but we're still leaning towards the more recent iPhone 14 Pro overall.

While fans of last year's iPhone 12 Mini may be disappointed by this year's iPhone 14 lineup, those who prefer their iPhone bigger are poised to reap the benefits. This time around, Apple are fielding an additional Max-size iPhone. This device sits between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro in more ways than just the price.

The iPhone 14 Plus comes with the same processor, RAM, storage options and camera hardware found on the standard iPhone 14. A bigger battery and screen are the only major differences between it and this year's Pro Max. Still, these qualities may make it a slightly-less-than-exciting replacement or alternative to the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a much stronger substitute for the largest entry in Apple's 2019 smartphone roster. Like the iPhone 14 Plus, it's got a larger 6.7-inch display clocked at 120Hz. However, opting to go Pro here means getting access to the same larger 48MP rear camera sensor, Dynamic Island notch and an always on-display found with the iPhone 14 Pro.

As with the iPhone 11 Pro, those looking to pick up an iPhone 11 Pro Max this late into its life cycle will likely find themselves redirected towards more recent fare from Apple.

However, there's a decent chance you might be able to find either a new or refurbished version of the iPhone 11 through retailers like JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks. If you do, chances are that it'll cost you a lot less than a brand new iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Despite this, there's still a strong case to made that the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone Pro Max offer much better value for money. Since they're newer, they're much more likely to last you better over the long run.

While the iPhone 11 Pro Max may offer some advantages when it comes to battery life, it's got a clear shortcoming in the form of 5G connectivity - which it lacks. The gulf in processor performance and camera quality here is not nearly so large as it might be, but it's still fairly sizable.

Otherwise, all three devices are rated IP68 for water and dust resistance and are fairly close where the weight and dimensions are concerned.

It's no surprise that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a solid successor to its 2019 counterpart, but the degree to which the standard(ish) iPhone 14 Plus competes with the iPhone 11 Pro Max makes it a compelling option for iOS-oriented users who prefer a larger form-factor but don't necessarily want to the full Pro-grade package.

Whether you want an entry-level iPhone or a more expensive flagship version, the answer is iPhone 14.

In our opinion, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus both come out ahead of the iPhone 11. The same is true of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max versus iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

5G is the final factor that tilts the equation towards the newer models here. The iPhone 12 was the first model to include 5G connectivity as standard, so if you're keen to take the plunge and tap into the fastest network speeds available through your mobile provider then the argument for upgrading to the iPhone 14 becomes even stronger.

Despite still being available, the improvements offered by the iPhone 14 mean you should absolutely favour it over the older iPhone 11.

If you're buying an iPhone 14 outright, these are the most popular SIM Only plans you can buy today.