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Sooo I finally caved and upgraded my ancient iPhone X back in December (RIP lil buddy, you served me well for 5 whole years!). I’ve been rocking the iPhone 14 for about 3 months now, and omg I have THOUGHTS. With Amazon dropping the price to $699 right now, I figured it was the perfect time to share my real-life experience with anyone on the fence about grabbing this deal.
Why I Chose the iPhone 14 (Despite Newer Models)
Let’s be real – I was THIS close to getting the 15, but couldn’t justify the extra $$$. My bank account was already giving me side-eye about the upgrade. Plus, everyone kept telling me the 14 was basically just as good for most stuff.
Tbh I was mostly sold on the:
- Better battery (my X was dying by lunchtime lol)
- Wayyyy better camera
- That gorgeous deep purple color option (I’m basic, sue me)
I ended up paying $799 in December which kinda stings now that it’s $699 on Amazon?? But whatever, that’s how tech works I guess 🙄
First Impressions: How It Feels IRL
OK the unboxing experience was…exactly what you’d expect from Apple. Minimalist packaging, that satisfying slide when you open the box, etc etc. You know the drill.
The phone itself feels super premium, but like, in a subtle way? It’s not THAT different from my old phone at first glance, but you can tell the build quality is better. The buttons feel more clicky, the screen is definitely brighter, and everything just feels more…solid.
One thing that lowkey annoyed me – I was expecting it to be a bit smaller than it is?? It’s not HUGE or anything, but my tiny hands still struggle sometimes. I dropped it on my face while scrolling TikTok in bed more times than I’d like to admit 😅
The Camera: Actually Worth the Upgrade
Can we just talk about this camera for a sec??? Coming from my iPhone X, the difference is INSANE. Like, night and day. Literally – the night mode on this thing is crazy good. I took some pics at my friend’s birthday dinner in this super dark restaurant and they actually came out clear?!
The main camera is 12MP which I know isn’t the highest spec compared to some Android phones, but Apple’s processing magic makes everything look SO good. I went hiking last weekend and the landscape shots could legit be postcards.
Some random camera thoughts:
- Portrait mode is still hit or miss sometimes (it struggles with my dog’s fur lmao)
- Action mode for videos is actually useful when I’m trying to film my nephew’s soccer games
- Front camera is decent but like…I still need good lighting for selfies 🤷♀️
Battery Life: The Real MVP
The BATTERY on this thing!!! Omgggg. My old phone would be at 20% by 2pm even with barely using it. The iPhone 14 easily lasts me a full day of pretty heavy use. I’m talking:
- Constant texting
- Way too much TikTok scrolling
- Spotify playing during my commute
- Instagram posting for work
- A couple hours of Pokemon Go (don’t judge me)
And I STILL have like 30% when I go to bed. That alone makes the upgrade worth it for me. No more anxiety about being stranded without a charger!
Performance: Fast AF (Most of the Time)
The A15 Bionic chip is no joke. Apps open instantly, games run super smooth, and I can have a million tabs open in Safari without any issues. I’m not a huge mobile gamer, but I do play Genshin Impact sometimes and it runs perfectly.
That said, I have noticed some random glitches here and there:
- Instagram freezes for like 2 seconds sometimes when switching between accounts
- The keyboard occasionally lags when I’m typing super fast
- It got weirdly hot once when I was using Maps + Spotify on a road trip
Nothing major tho and usually fixed with a quick app restart. Just keeping it 💯
iOS Updates: The Good & The Annoying
I’m currently on iOS 17.4 and it’s mostly fine, but Apple keeps moving things around?? Like why is the search bar at the bottom now? And I’m still not used to the new control center layout.
Some updates I actually love:
- The customizable lock screen is dope
- The new widgets are actually useful
- Battery percentage is FINALLY back!
But also, some features feel half-baked. Like the new health tracking stuff – it’s cool but not as detailed as my Fitbit, so I still end up using both.
The Price: Is $699 Worth It in 2025?
So here’s the million dollar question (or $699 question I guess lol): Is the iPhone 14 worth buying in 2025 when there are newer models out?
If you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or older – DEFINITELY YES. The camera and battery improvements alone are game-changers. If you already have a 12 or 13, honestly, probably not worth the upgrade unless your current phone is having issues.
At $699 on Amazon right now (which is $100 off), I think it’s actually a really good deal for what you get. The iPhone 15 is still around $900, and the differences just aren’t that major for most people’s everyday use.
That said, there are some reasons you might wanna skip it:
- No USB-C (still stuck with Lightning cables ugh)
- Refresh rate is still 60Hz, not 120Hz like the Pro models
- If you’re really into photography, the 15 does have some camera improvements
Random Quirks After 3 Months
Some random observations after using it daily for 3 months:
- The speakers are actually really good?? I can watch YouTube videos without headphones and actually hear everything
- Face ID works WAY better than on my old phone, even in the dark
- The screen scratches pretty easily tbh (GET A SCREEN PROTECTOR DAY 1!!!)
- Battery health is still at 100% after 3 months which is impressive
- MagSafe is actually super convenient, especially for car mounts
Final Thoughts: Would I Buy It Again?
If I lost my iPhone 14 tomorrow, would I buy another one? At the current $699 price, yeah probably. It hits that sweet spot of having premium features without the premium price tag of the Pro models or the newer 15 series.
It’s not perfect, and it’s not the newest, but it’s a really solid phone that does everything I need reliably. Plus that purple color still makes me happy every time I look at it lol.
If you’re considering grabbing this Amazon deal, I’d say go for it! Just make sure you factor in the cost of a case and screen protector because this glass sandwich WILL break if you drop it (speaking from my friend’s very expensive experience 😬).
Anyone else have the 14? Lemme know your thoughts in the comments! Did I miss anything major about the phone? Are you waiting for the 16 instead?? I’m curious what other people think!
P.S. This was NOT sponsored by Apple or Amazon (I wish lol). Just my honest thoughts after spending my own hard-earned cash on this phone!
