iPhone 14/Plus Would you upgrade your iPhone 14 or lower for Apple Intelligence?

[Ruggy]

I haven't looked into Apple intelligence but ChatGPT does everything in the cloud so you don't need to use a powerful machine to use it.
I suppose if you are doing something sensitive and are worried about your data, then having something kept on your phone will be for you but also you can either disable data sharing or use the temporary setting in which case everything is deleted as soon as you close the chat
I will have to upgrade the phone as it's an XS max but I won't be doing it for Apple intelligence.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I am still waiting on Siri to be able to do simple things like “close the music app”. She should be able to follow simple instructions to control the phone.

Bixby has done that and a whole lot more since the Galaxy S8. My work phone is a Z Flip 4 and it's quite nice to say 'Bixby, call X' or 'Bixby, Clear notifications' or 'Bixby, open Play Store and install Apple Music.' Best thing, you don't even have to open the phone or unlock it to do all those commands.

But for some reason, the internet mob despises Bixby. Google's Assistant or their new 'Gemini' can do none of the above but people seem to favor it over Samsung's actual assistant that's far more capable.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Bixby has done that and a whole lot more since the Galaxy S8. My work phone is a Z Flip 4 and it's quite nice to say 'Bixby, call X' or 'Bixby, Clear notifications' or 'Bixby, open Play Store and install Apple Music.' Best thing, you don't even have to open the phone or unlock it to do all those commands.

But for some reason, the internet mob despises Bixby. Google's Assistant or their new 'Gemini' can do none of the above but people seem to favor it over Samsung's actual assistant that's far more capable.

Sorry but anything with Google is not an option for me.

 

[Dc2006ster]

No.

Last fall I upgraded my 2017 iPad for an Air M2 and this fall will likely upgrade my 2020 iPhone SE for an iPhone 17 but Apple Intelligence was not and will not be a consideration.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

No. I have no interest in Apple Intelligence. I am on an iphone 16e, but, I have never once used Apple Intelligence.

 

[EugW]

No. I have no interest in Apple Intelligence. I am on an iphone 16e, but, I have never once used Apple Intelligence.

Not even any interest in Photos Clean Up?

Requirements to use Clean Up in Photos - Apple Support (CA)

Learn what you need to use the Clean Up feature in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

support.apple.com

You don't need Apple Intelligence active but you do need AI support in order to use Photos Clean Up. It's a killer Photos feature IMO.

 

[goldmac2006]

I am still waiting on Siri to be able to do simple things like “close the music app”. She should be able to follow simple instructions to control the phone.

That is the missing piece that Apple withheld from us.

Onscreen awareness.

And the contextual awareness that we seen in the earlier ads of Apple intelligence when iPhone 16 Pro launched.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

Not even any interest in Photos Clean Up?

Requirements to use Clean Up in Photos - Apple Support (CA)

Learn what you need to use the Clean Up feature in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

support.apple.com

You don't need Apple Intelligence active but you do need AI support in order to use Photos Clean Up. It's a killer Photos feature IMO.

I've never used Clean Up that much, outside of a few times, I don't really seem to use a lot of features anyway.

 

[EugW]

I've never used Clean Up that much, outside of a few times, I don't really seem to use a lot of features anyway.

Well, if you've used Clean Up, you've used Apple Intelligence. It's not supported on any iPhone that doesn't support Apple Intelligence.

The good news though is that it's only a portion of AI so you don't have to download all the AI data to make Clean Up work.

 

[Just_Kevin]

No. If I upgrade this year, it will most likely be because my wife wants a new phone due to degraded battery life on hers. If I were not to upgrade at the same time, then we’d require Lighting & USB cables in our vehicles. Yes, that would annoy me enough to upgrade mine.

 

[Dc2006ster]

I am on my iPad for much of the day and wanted to see if Apple Intelligence was adding anything so I turned it off. After a week I can honestly say it has made no difference. My iPad is no less effective, efficient or enjoyable to use on a daily basis. So, no, Apple intelligence will not be a factor.

 

[EugW]

I am on my iPad for much of the day and wanted to see if Apple Intelligence was adding anything so I turned it off. After a week I can honestly say it has made no difference. My iPad is no less effective, efficient or enjoyable to use on a daily basis. So, no, Apple intelligence will not be a factor.

One thing I really like even if ChatGPT related stuff is unused is the Photos Clean Up tool.

You don't actually have to download the full Apple Intelligence to use the Photos Clean Up tool, but it has the same system requirements as Apple Intelligence, since it is supposedly partially powered by Apple Intelligence. (If you don't have Apple Intelligence turned on, when you first run the Clean Up tool, it downloads the required AI software to activate the Clean Up tool. It's a separate download from AI though so even with the Clean Up tool active, AI will stay off if you don't want it.)

Requirements to use Clean Up in Photos - Apple Support (CA)

Learn what you need to use the Clean Up feature in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[1rottenapple]

I've never used Clean Up that much, outside of a few times, I don't really seem to use a lot of features anyway.

that been a google photos feature for the last few years no intelligence needed just desire by google to add this and apple being apple

 

[Homme]

IMO in regards to the 14 and the 14 Pro there are better reasons to upgrade them besides Apple Intelligence

The main ones are

USB-C

1000 cycle counts ( especially for the 14 Pro in regards as the A16 destroys its 500 cycle counts battery ( worst battery in history) much quicker compared to 1000 cycle counts ala iPhone 15 in which not only is the battery technology newer but the A16 can handle it better)

Longer software support ( assuming the non pro 15 gets another major OS Upgrade compared to the 14 Pro because of its release date)

 

[Iwavvns]

Would I upgrade my phone for Apple Intelligence? Absolutely not. I didn’t need Apple Intelligence 50 years ago and I’m doing just fine without it today.

 

[Homme]

I would not. I haven't seen any reason to upgrade off my 14pro. I put a new battery in it in September and am holding it on iOS 17. Can't see any reason to bother with 18, eventually there will be some remote vuln that'll require updating to it, though. I suppose I need to start thinking about upgrading to 18 before releasing iOS 26 makes it impossible.

There was no reason to upgrade off my 12pro, but I was seduced by the new shiny. I miss my 12pro, dynamic island is just annoying.

Yes there was absolutely no reason at all to upgrade from the 12 pro to the 14 Pro. If you could have gotten the 15 Pro it would have been a much more rewarding experience for you

 

[EugW]

Yes there was absolutely no reason at all to upgrade from the 12 pro to the 14 Pro. If you could have gotten the 15 Pro it would have been a much more rewarding experience for you

Yeah, 12 Pro to 14 Pro seems like a waste of money in most cases. I’m still using my 12 Pro Max, but will likely finally upgrade to the 17 Pro Max this year.

 

[Just_Kevin]

I originally had not planned on upgrading. Some of the newer features that have been announced have me reconsidering my options. Particularly the Maps and Calendar features.

 

[Homme]

Yeah, 12 Pro to 14 Pro seems like a waste of money in most cases. I’m still using my 12 Pro Max, but will likely finally upgrade to the 17 Pro Max this year.

Especially since there are only 3 lightning iPhones which use the redesign since the 12 series. The 12 and 13 lineup is perfect. The 14 not so much and then USB C for the 15 lineup is the icing on the cake

 

[PPCmike]

I’m one of those folks who went ahead and got the latest iPhone for Apple Intelligence. I wasn’t just doing it for that reason, though. I had an iPhone XR that I knew wouldn’t work with iOS 26, so I figured it was time to upgrade during the holidays.

The 15 Pro is a real treat. It has the action button, Dynamic Island, better cameras, and even faster performance. The XR would have been a bit of a hot potato, even if it wasn’t wireless charging or playing games on public iOS versions.

Funny I needed a cheap phone to get a esim as my 12 Pro is still with ARS and switching to the XR is like a step back in time this is just to tide me over until my phone comes back and then I will get a 15 pro max 1TB or a 16 pro.. not at all sold on the AI I still think Google has a lot more of a lead in that area.

 

[SalisburySam]

Two iPhone13minis in our home, didn’t update to the 14s, 15s, or 16s. Most likely won’t go to the 17s either but reserving judgment. AI just not a factor so far…maybe later after I see some (any?) value.

 

[goldmac2006]

Funny I needed a cheap phone to get a esim as my 12 Pro is still with ARS and switching to the XR is like a step back in time this is just to tide me over until my phone comes back and then I will get a 15 pro max 1TB or a 16 pro.. not at all sold on the AI I still think Google has a lot more of a lead in that area.

Interesting, bro. You kept the iPhone XR as a backup iPhone right?

When you are getting the iPhone 15 PM?

 

[PPCmike]

Interesting, bro. You kept the iPhone XR as a backup iPhone right?

When you are getting the iPhone 15 PM?

I ordered it "renewed" on Amazon last night my 12 Pro had a Psim so my service provider offers me to transfer to esim and yeah I got about 1 min of non stop flood of texts coming in from work..

About the 15 PM I'm still unsure how it would be in use daily, last large phone I had was the 7+ and why I went back to a smaller size was the phone not fitting in cup holders, but I don't know I kinda feel like I want to get the 16 Pro (I think the PM is overpriced) just so I would have some type of protection.

Oh and yeah I heard the 16 does better with heat management?

 

[goldmac2006]

I ordered it "renewed" on Amazon last night my 12 Pro had a Psim so my service provider offers me to transfer to esim and yeah I got about 1 min of non stop flood of texts coming in from work..

About the 15 PM I'm still unsure how it would be in use daily, last large phone I had was the 7+ and why I went back to a smaller size was the phone not fitting in cup holders, but I don't know I kinda feel like I want to get the 16 Pro (I think the PM is overpriced) just so I would have some type of protection.

Oh and yeah I heard the 16 does better with heat management?

I never had a big iPhone before. Cos it will be too big to fit in my pocket. It’s great if I prefer larger screen to view my Apple fitness+ workout videos on it easily but I don’t think getting the larger screen just for that would make sense.

Had you thought bout getting MagSafe stands/mounts for your iPhone?

 

[PPCmike]

I never had a big iPhone before. Cos it will be too big to fit in my pocket. It’s great if I prefer larger screen to view my Apple fitness+ workout videos on it easily but I don’t think getting the larger screen just for that would make sense.

Had you thought bout getting MagSafe stands/mounts for your iPhone?

IMHO I don't think the magsafe magnets are strong enough for me which is why I would never get some type of wallet thing on the backside of it. I've tried before and the vibration caused the phone to fall. I ended up changing my mind again and instead of the 15 Pro Max I went with the 16 Pro 256GB