Why should I buy it? You want a new iPhone, but you don't need the top of the line. Compared to older models, you get an improved camera and a bit more battery life (an extra hour's worth, compared to the iPhone 13, according to Apple). A storage option of up to 512MB exceeds some older models.
For most users, this represents approximately two years of use, which is why most people believe that the lifespan of a phone is two years. However when it comes to iPhones, you can expect between three to five years (maybe more) with proper care.
Four years is a good number because it's typically when things really start breaking: screens, batteries, etc. Sometimes you can squeeze a more life out but four years is a definite good rule of thumb if your budget conscious." And it doesn't always have to be new from Apple.
The sweet spot for most people should be two to three years. That'll give you enough time to save some cash and give Apple time to create the best iPhone ever.
While some years yield a bigger leap over its predecessors than others, my general rule of thumb with iPhone remains the same: don't buy a new iPhone every year, as you won't notice much difference over what you're used to. iPhone 14 is no exception.
About obsolete products
Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, with the sole exception of Mac laptops that are eligible for an additional battery-only repair period. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Find out which products are obsolete: Mac.
As a rule of thumb, your iPhone and your main apps should still work fine, even if you don't do the update. If you do find your apps slowing, though, try upgrading to the latest version of iOS to see if that sorts the problem. Conversely, updating your iPhone to the latest iOS could cause your apps to stop working.
This Is How Long an iPhone Should Last
You can expect somewhere between five and seven years of major iOS updates, plus potential security patches beyond that.
Depending upon the length of time between when the iPhone was made and when it is activated, your battery capacity may show as slightly less than 100%. A normal battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles when operating under normal conditions.
While the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G received two major iOS updates, later models have typically gotten software updates for five to six years.
Upgrading your phone every three years is appropriate for most people, but it might not be for you. For instance, a modern flagship phone is already future-proof enough to last you longer than five years—assuming that you don't care about having the latest software updates and can replace the battery later on.
The most likely reason your iPhone is slow is because it's running out of storage space, the battery is dying, or you're using old apps and outdated software. A slow iPhone can also be caused by fixable performance issues. Like any electronic device, iPhones also slow down over time.
Why install a five year battery inside a phone that will only be compatible with software for three years? Apple has proprietary five-point screws housing its processors and batteries so you can't replace them yourself. Conveniently, the battery lasts around the time it takes for a new iPhone to come out, anyway.
Go to Settings > Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. iPhone displays information about your battery's capacity, peak performance, and whether your battery needs to be serviced.
Shomes recommends charging your iPhone as it needs it. If you go to sleep and it has a 40 or 50 percent charge, leave it. Then charge it some time during the next day when it gets into the red. That way, the battery won't be stressed, and its health will last way longer than it will when overnight charging.
Whether you need a screen repair or other iPhone repair services, you won't regret having your phone fixed. Visiting an iPhone repair shop is a great alternative to buying an expensive new phone. It's also a way to keep all your data without having to transfer it to a new device.
Nonetheless, replacing your device every two years is still a good idea. Even if the phone functions well, the hardware and operating system are antiquated by the time the phone is two years old.
Apple is also likely to be supporting the device with software updates until 2025. So, we can expect iPhone 11 Pro to get iOS 19 or iOS 20 which is not bad for longevity. Apple is well known for keeping their phones relevant for a long time and in that sense, yes it is still worth it.
Software updates rejuvenate the experience
They're not the mundane bug fixes and security patches we see almost monthly. So even if you're not carrying the latest phone available, your device will look similar to it after the software upgrade.
The official explanation is that they do this to limit the effects of an ageing battery. Interestingly, users were never given a choice as to whether they would like their phone slowed down to conserve battery. This is a feature many flagship Android smartphones have.