After halfway through the year, there is a question I get asked a lot: “Should I wait for the iPhone 16 to be released or should I buy an older model?” Possible price drops on models already on the market, uncertainty about new developments in the next generation (Apple is not exactly known for over-innovating every year).

I will share the advice I usually give on a personal level. It is possible to save a significant amount of money if we put aside the impulse and choose the most rational purchase.

The first thing I came up with is which iPhoneThe first point we need to clarify before making recommendations is about the model we are coming from. The update cycle of an iPhone is generally much higher than that of an Android phone (although there are exceptions).

Keeping the battery in good condition (which can be replaced at Apple without paying too much money), the life cycle of the iPhone generally corresponds to the update cycle: about five or, to put it briefly, six years.

If we are one of those who pay as much as possible for the purchase, moving to any relatively modern model will be a change that is too noticeable. On the other hand, if we change our phones frequently, we will almost certainly have to move to the latest model to notice any significant changes.

iPhone Pro or not Pro. The second aspect is one of the most classic questions: is it worth betting on Pro models or not? From my point of view and experience, for the majority of users the answer is a clear no. Pro models are aimed at users who shoot in RAW, want a more capable zoom and are sure that their phone runs all the functions that Apple provides (a clear example of this is that the iPhone 15 Pro has Apple Intelligence and the iPhone 15, No).

The “non-Pro” iPhones that store these profiles have pretty much everything the average user could possibly need. They’re noticeably cheaper, the power gains are usually not noticeable, and if you’re in a hurry, it’s almost impossible to notice the difference in the camera by recording the zoom. Our benchmarks are a good testament to that.

When it comes down to it, wait or don’t wait. Taking into account which model we come from and whether we are going to bet on the Pro model, we have to answer the question: the latest iPhone, the previous iPhone or the iPhone from two years ago. When asked if it is worth buying the latest model, the answer is usually no, unless there are rumors of an extraordinary change (Face ID under the screen, a major design change, a significant jump in the camera, etc.).

In my particular case, I value zoom a lot and rumors are telling us about an iPhone 16 Pro with 5x zoom (like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 16 Pro Max before it). Waiting for the new model will be reason enough. If there is a feature that you want to enjoy no matter what, wait. If you are a user with simpler needs, forget about the new model.

Switching to the previous model is often the best decision: historically there have been no major differences between the latest model and the previous one. In fact, most of my circle will not be able to distinguish the iPhone 14 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro. Nobody will shoot at 48 megapixels or measure the millimeters that the new frames measure.

Compared to models from a few years ago, they’re generally a smart buy. While there are notable differences in photo quality and power over these two-year jumps (more relevant in the medium term than the short term), they’re not far off from the latest models. Buying an iPhone 14 Pro today is a great option: it still has three or four years of updates left.

The important thing here is the price difference. Can you get the model just before the new one for a good price? Buy. Is the price out of your budget and is the model from two years ago noticeably cheaper? Buy.

Are iPhones Falling in Price? Yes, but not that muchiPhones depreciate less than Android phones, and you only need to look at their price history to see the evidence.

This graph shows us the price evolution since the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro. It is a phone that was launched for 1,219 euros. Today we can buy it from Amazon for 1,069 euros. If we opt for refurbished models, it is very easy to find them for around 900 euros. This is still a lot of money, but much less than the 1,219 euros it cost.

But what about lower priced models like the iPhone 14?

Price development of iPhone 14.

Keepa’s graph here is not so accurate, because the 128 GB version never cost 1,000 euros: it was launched for 859 euros. Almost two years later, the new price is 745 euros; that’s only 100 euros less after 24 months. A similar situation occurs with the iPhone 14 Pro. If we want a new one, we will have to pay the original price. Stocks are running low and the product does not lose the value that many expect.

In short, my answer to the question “Should I wait for the iPhone 16 or should I buy the 15?” is: Always buy the newest model right beforeif you do not expect any significant innovation in the new generation (an advance advertisement for something:this won’t happen).

Image | Xataka

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