Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup could be imminent, and keeping this in mind before upgrading your iPhone may help you save some money—or avoid experiencing some serious buyer’s remorse.
In general, it’s not a good idea to buy a new iPhone just before the next model comes out. Even if you don’t necessarily want the latest and greatest technology, there are good reasons to wait. If you wait, you’ll have a better sense of whether it’s worth upgrading to the latest model or if you’re better off grabbing the previous generation iPhone for a little less money.
Apple never talks about new products before they’re announced, so it’s impossible to know the company’s future plans for the iPhone. However, in the past, Apple has unveiled new iPhones in mid-September, and they were available starting the week after the company’s launch event.
Here’s a closer look at Apple’s typical product release schedule, what to expect from the iPhone 16, and more.
Read more: iPhone 16 design rumors: New buttons and larger screens
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The best time to buy a new iPhone
The price of the iPhone does not change significantly throughout the year.
There’s actually no “best” time to buy a new iPhone. Apple doesn’t change its pricing structure very often, and carriers and retailers typically offer similar trade-in discounts throughout the year.
However, fall is usually a good time to buy an iPhone, and waiting until the new version comes out will help you make an informed decision about whether it’s worth upgrading or whether you want to keep your current phone for another year.
In general, we usually recommend upgrading if your phone is older than two generations, but also keep in mind that the new features Apple just announced as part of Apple Intelligence will only be available on iPhones with new chips, like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
If you’re upgrading to the latest iPhone, you should wait until it’s been out for a few weeks or months if possible. This will make it easier to get the color and storage capacity you want, as demand is usually high right after the iPhone launches. If you wait, you’ll also make sure you’re aware of any potential bugs or issues before upgrading, such as iOS 17’s overheating issue that first affected some iPhone 15 Pro units last year.
The worst time to buy a new iPhone
The iPhone 15 will be unveiled at Apple’s iPhone launch event in 2023.
While there’s no best time to buy a new iPhone, there’s definitely a worst time: late July to early September. In other words, don’t buy an iPhone just before Apple releases a new one.
New iPhones typically include camera upgrades, a new processor (especially on the Pro models), and other features like Dynamic Island, which debuted on the Pro in 2022 but made its way to the regular iPhone 15 in 2023. If you buy the current model just before Apple launches a new model, you’ll miss out on these improvements for virtually the same price you’d pay for the next-generation iPhone.
Maybe you don’t care if you have the latest iPhone. Maybe your current phone is four years old and you just want to upgrade to a device that feels faster and has better battery life. Either way, you should wait. Apple typically discounts models from previous years when it launches new iPhones, as it did with the iPhone 14 in 2023, which now retails for $699. The two-generation-old iPhone 13 is now selling at Apple for $599, which is $200 cheaper than its $799 starting price when it launched in 2021.
It’s also worth noting that Apple allows returns within 14 calendar days from the date you received the product. If Apple changes the price of a product, you can also request a credit for the price difference as long as you do so within 14 days of the change. However, Apple’s policy requires that you have received the product within 14 calendar days of the price change.
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What to expect from the iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 (not pictured) is expected to launch in September.
With that in mind, you might be wondering if the iPhone 16 is worth waiting for. It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect until Apple announces the next iPhone, but rumors and reports suggest that the following changes could be coming to Apple’s next iPhone series:
- Larger screen sizes on the Pro models, according to Bloomberg, MacRumors and analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Ross Young.
- According to Bloomberg and MacRumors, there will be a dedicated camera button, probably only on the Pro models, and the action button on the regular iPhone 16 models.
- A tetraprism 5x telephoto camera in the iPhone 16 Pro, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. This type of camera is currently only found in the larger and more expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- A new processor, probably called A18 or A18 Pro.
What you should consider when buying a new iPhone
iPhones on display in an Apple Store.
There are several factors to consider when buying a new phone. Your budget is the most important factor as it will determine your options. Other than that, you need to decide what you want from your new phone.
Do you use your phone a lot for photo and video projects and need the best possible camera in an iPhone? If the answer is yes, the Pro models are the way to go. Screen size is also important. If you have a desktop computer and a phone but nothing in between, like a personal laptop or tablet, you might want a phone with a large screen for reading email and watching videos. If that’s the case, consider the Plus or Pro Max model. (In fact, two analysts predict that Apple will discontinue the Plus model after the iPhone 16 Plus is released.)
Then there are last year’s models. Buying last year’s phone can be a worthwhile option if you want a bigger screen and don’t want to shell out an extra $100 for the latest Plus model. For example, Apple is currently selling the iPhone 14 Plus for $799, the same price as the standard iPhone 15. Apple typically supports its phones with software updates for about five years, so an iPhone that’s a generation back should get you quite a while. But keep in mind that you won’t get access to some of Apple’s new software features that are part of Apple Intelligence.
Overall, when buying a new iPhone, avoid shopping close to the new model’s release and consider your priorities and budget. We’ll provide more advice as soon as we learn more about what to expect from the iPhone 16.
