The newiPhone 16is here, and for the first time in what feels like a long time, there’s a genuine reason to get excited about upgrading your iPhone. The reason being that the new iPhone 16 models all offer support for the upcomingApple IntelligenceAI features that are part of iOS 18. Unless you own an iPhone 15 Pro oriPhone 15 Pro Max, your current iPhone won’t support Apple Intelligence.
Is Apple Intelligence really the AI we’ve been waiting for, or just more noise?
Apple Intelligence brings AI features to iPhones, iPads, and Macs – but how well do these new features compare to competitors?
It feels like in the old days, there was always a compelling reason to upgrade to the latest iPhone, but in more recent years, the differences between models seem to have become far less obvious, with camera upgrades usually being the biggest change.
Is that really the case, however? I’m going to look back at how each new model of iPhone compared to the previous model and whether or not the new versions were always worth the upgrade from their predecessor.
Apple iPhone 16
This year’s iPhone 16 line blurs the line between the “Pro” and the base-level iPhone by offering a new camera button and the Action Button, alongside the A18 chip.
iPhone to iPhone 3G
The clue to the biggest upgrade was in the name
After the excitement of the very first iPhone, people were eager to see what Apple would do next. One of the key upgrades was support for 3G networks, which meant you could browse the internet on your iPhone twice as fast on the original iPhone when you weren’t connected to Wi-Fi. Apple was so proud of offering 3G connectivity, that it immediately ruined the iPhone number system forever by completely skipping the name iPhone 2, and instead opting for theiPhone 3G, which is about as good an example of feature advertising in a product name as you’re ever going to see.
Adding 3G support wasn’t the only change, though. The camera jumped from a measly 0.3MP to 2MP, GPS hardware was added, and the iPhone 3G saw the introduction of the App Store for the first time.
Was it worth the upgrade? 3G alone makes it worthwhile, but access to the App Store was the real clincher as iOS 2 couldn’t run on the original iPhone.
5 reasons I picked the iPhone 16 Pro over the standard iPhone 16
You probably don’t need to go Pro. But if you want these features like I do, you may want to consider it.
iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS
The first ‘S’ model added some useful upgrades.
Not content with ruining the numbering system by skipping the iPhone 2, Apple then proceeded to make things even worse by calling its next model theiPhone 3GS. It would become the first in a long line of ‘S’ upgrades for the iPhone that saw “new” iPhones with incremental upgrades that weren’t worth bumping the model number up a notch for.
Why is my iPhone not showing locations in Find My? 7 ways to fix it
Trying to track your Sims IRL? Chances are you or a friend have switched something off.
Still, some ‘S’ upgrades introduced significant new features. The iPhone 3GS was the first iPhone model that could record video, and the first to replace the fixed focus camera with a new autofocus system that allowed you to focus on a subject by tapping it on the iPhone screen, something we do without thinking these days. The camera also saw a bump to 3MP.
Another big leap was the addition of voice control. This was before the arrival of Siri but allowed you to use your voice to control your iPhone by holding down the Home button and then speaking commands such as “Call Mom, mobile.
Was it worth the upgrade? Video recording and autofocus made upgrading worthwhile, and voice control was a significant bonus.
iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4
The first big design changes were a triumph
The most obvious difference with theiPhone 4was how it looked. The curved edges of the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS gave way to a new, clean design with flat edges, resulting in what many still consider to be Apple’s best-looking iPhone.
I turned my iPhone into my car key fob – here’s how
If you have a compatible vehicle, you can unlock this major iPhone hack.
The new design wasn’t the only change, however. The iPhone 4 got a front-facing camera for the first time, ushering in the dawn the ofFaceTimecall, and there was a sexy new Retina display to boot.
Was it worth the upgrade? It was the first time people could tell in an instant that you had the newest iPhone and FaceTime was a big upgrade.
iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S
A voice assistant that was going to change the world, right?
Another ‘S’ upgrade, but this one added a significant new feature that’s still with us today: Siri. Siri started life as a standalone app from an independent developer, but Apple liked it so much that they bought the company and baked Siri into theiPhone 4Sand every iPhone since.
When Siri launched, it was a big deal, with the promise of changing how we interact with our phones. Sadly, Siri failed to live up to that promise, although theupdated Siricoming as part of Apple Intelligence may finally see her fulfilling at least some of her early promise. However, a better camera and 1080p HD video recording were the other big reasons to upgrade.
Was it worth the upgrade? Everyone wanted Siri and the iPhone 4S was the only official way to get her.
67 funny things to ask Siri if you’re in the mood for a giggle
Siri’s not the smartest virtual assistant but she may well be the funniest.
iPhone 4S to iPhone 5
The biggest iPhone yet with the smallest connector
Pick up an iPhone 4S now, and it feels tiny. TheiPhone 5was the first move towards the larger iPhone we have today. The iPhone 5 had a 4-inch display compared to the 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 4S, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, compared to the 3:2 aspect ratio of the previous model.
Apple’s base-level iPhone has secretly been a better buy than the “Pro” for years
There are countless editorials out there about how the base-level iPhone 16 is the better buy when compared to the iPhone 16 Pro (including even Pocket-lint). While this isn’t wrong, the regular iPhone has secretly been the better buy for years, starting as far back as the iPhone 14. For years, both devices have offered near feature parity, with the additional zoom lens and 120Hz ProMotion being the two key standouts. Now that the iPhone 16 features both the Camera Control Button and the Action Button, that gap has shrunk even more. The one thing I’d miss with the base iPhone 16 is the lack of a faster display refresh rate. If you don’t know what you’re missing, it’s easy to swallow a 60Hz screen, but once you’ve experienced the smoothness of 120Hz, it’s difficult to go back. It’s clear Apple kept ProMotion exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro because it helps differentiate the features both phones offer, but even Google offers a 120Hz refresh rate with its Pixel 9. With all of this in mind, if
The iPhone 5 was also the first time we waved goodbye to the huge 30-pin dock connector and said hello to the slim and unobtrusive Lightning connector. It would take thefull force of the EUto make Apple finally give it up. 4G support meant browsing away from Wi-Fi was even faster.
Was it worth the upgrade? More screens were an appealing offer, with faster connections to boot. Being able to ditch the horrible 30-pin connector was also a plus.
iPhone 5 to iPhone 5S
Biometrics land on the iPhone
Yet another ‘S’ upgrade, but this one added a genuinely useful feature that would last for several models until being usurped. Touch ID finally allowed iPhone users to unlock their phone with a fingerprint rather than a passcode and make purchases via iTunes just with a finger or thumb.
TheiPhone 5Swas also briefly the only 64-bit smartphone on the planet, although other smartphone manufacturers soon followed suit. Other upgrades were less impressive, although the True Tone flash was an improvement. The budgetiPhone 5Cwas also released at the same time, although it wasn’t a huge success.
Was it worth the upgrade? A new way to unlock your iPhone and verify payments was a big reason to upgrade, as was the 64-bit processor.
iPhone 5S to iPhone 6
Apple Pay arrives with the addition of NFC
The iPhone 5 had started the nudge towards larger iPhones, and the iPhone 6 really ran with it. The standardiPhone 6had a 4.7-inch screen, adding even more real estate, but if you really wanted to go large, Apple introduced a whole new category with the iPhone 6 Plus.
This behemoth had a 5.5-inch screen, and a feature that even modern iPhones can’t match. You could flip the iPhone 6 Plus on its side and view your Home Screen in landscape.
Even if you opted for the standard iPhone 6, you were still getting some significant upgrades, not least of which was the addition of the iPhone’s first NFC hardware, which allowed you to use Apple Pay for the first time.
Was it worth the upgrade? You could choose from a bigger screen or a massive one, and could use your iPhone for contactless payments, making upgrading a no-brainer.
How to set up and use Apple Pay across your devices
Apple Pay makes purchases more convenient with just a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch. you may also checkout online without digging out your wallet.
iPhone 6 to iPhone 6S
A brand-new way to interact that’s sure to take off
Yet another ‘S’ upgrade, but this one didn’t have so much going for it. Apple introduced a brand-new way to interact with your iPhone in 3D Touch, that lets you use different levels of pressure to produce different actions. It was a nice idea, and a lot of people lamented its passing when it was ditched for the iPhone 11, but it never really caught the imagination in the way that touch did on the original iPhone.
6 free must-have apps I always install on my iPhone
These iPhone apps are entirely free, and they’re installed on my iPhone at all times.
Other upgrades included the ability to record video in 4K, and the first time that you could summon Siri hands-free by shouting “Hey Siri,” at your iPhone, even when it wasn’t plugged into power.
Was it worth the upgrade? There’s a lot less to write home about with theiPhone 6Sand if 4K video wasn’t of interest, and 3D Touch wasn’t much of a reason to upgrade alone.
iPhone 6S to iPhone 7
Dropping your iPhone in the toilet is no longer terminal
TheiPhone 7could almost be considered a downgrade in some respects. That’s because, with the iPhone 7, we finally said goodbye to the headphone jack. No longer could you charge your iPhone and listen to music at the same time; the Lightning port was now the only way to connect your wired headphones to your iPhone.
Faster charging comes to the iPhone 16, but your old MagSafe gear won’t cut it
Sure, you can get faster charging on your iPhone 16 – as long as you’re willing to drop the extra bucks on some exclusive MagSafe accessories.
However, the new model did have some features that made up for this a little. The iPhone 7 added IP67 water and dust resistance and the iPhone 7 Plus featured a dual camera system and was the first iPhone that could take photos in Portrait Mode.
Was it worth the upgrade? If you want to use wired headphones, then the iPhone 7 is more of a downgrade than an upgrade. Water resistance is useful but not really much of a reason to buy an entirely new phone.
iPhone 7 to iPhone 8
Wireless charging and fast charging both arrive
With theiPhone 8it was finally possible to charge your iPhone without needing to plug it in. Wireless charging was already available on plenty of Android phones, but the iPhone 8 was the first iPhone to support it. The iPhone 8 also brought fast charging, meaning it was quicker than ever to charge your phone.
Does it still make sense to have a new iPhone come out every single year?
In a matter of days, Apple will unveil its next-generation lineup of iPhone 16 hardware to the world. Since the launch of the original iPhone back in 2007, the company has been on a consistent year-over-year release cycle for new iPhone generations, with seemingly no sign of slowing down. In the early years of the smartphone industry, yearly generational leaps were massive in scope. The second generation iPhone came at a much-reduced cost when compared to the original model, and jumping from the 3GS to the 4 felt like a revelation at the time. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, rapid mobile hardware advancements made every new hardware generation an absolute industry spectacle. Major gains in processor capabilities, screen resolutions, camera output, and more were par for the course, and made upgrading pretty easy to justify for many people. In more recent years, innovation and advancements within the smartphone sector have slowed down tremendously. This isn’t a bad thing per se – it
On the iPhone 8 Plus, you gained the ability to record 4K video at 24fps and 60fps for the first time.
Was it worth the upgrade? If you like the idea of just being able to put your iPhone down on a charging pad to top up your battery, then the iPhone 8 was definitely worth the upgrade. Faster wired charging was also a welcome addition.
