iPhone 14 Pro Starting to feel like iPhones are not worth the money anymore

[BotchQue]

I'm happy with my 2021 SE v2. If it ever gets lost or stolen, I'll be switching back to Android, unless Apple brings back the SE line. I almost refused to pay the $399 for what I have (the ecosystem is convenient).
However, I don't surf/bank/purchase/transfer funds with my phone, just calls and texts (I'd use Apple Maps if it were reliable).

 

[boswald]

The 14 Pro series is NOTORIOUS for battery degradation issues, and bad battery life in general, stemming from poor thermals.

I don't think it's fair to say an entire product line is "not worth it anymore" solely because you lost 11% battery health in a year, on a specific device known for having this issue. An issue that doesn't apply to the 16 Pro or 17 Pro.

Which is a real shame because I love the Deep Purple color of mine. I do notice battery drain since iOS 26, but I can live with it.

 

[Zwhaler]

I am hearing and seeing quite a few cases of the 14 pro models experiencing relative poor battery life, and that was also the year when Apple debuted the always-on display. I wonder if that is the chief reason for battery running out so quickly (in contrast, my 13 pro max still lasts fine).

Always On Display made a big hit in my 14 Pro battery life. I disabled it within days.

 

[eyoungren]

Always On Display made a big hit in my 14 Pro battery life. I disabled it within days.

I have a Pixel 3a XL that has AOD. When it was my primary phone that was off precisely because of the reason you gave for your phone.

 

[Parowdy]

Your phones battery degraded and iOS 26 is an inefficient mess ≠ iPhones aren’t worth their money anymore

 

[joshwithachance]

Which is a real shame because I love the Deep Purple color of mine. I do notice battery drain since iOS 26, but I can live with it.

I personally haven't been having or noticing any battery issues with iOS 26.1 beta 2. May wanna give it a try...

 

[Hicksmat1976]

two things that are undeniable.

1) innovation has plateaued - most likely the Air and the Folding phone are where Apple are going to bet big.
2) software innovation has also stalled - they seem to have run out of ideas, now they are messing with accessibility of iOS itself with liquid glass and I cant understand who came up with that concept - baffling - not good if you have any sight issues. not only that, iOS 26 IS also riddled with bugs.

 

[boswald]

I personally haven't been having or noticing any battery issues with iOS 26.1 beta 2. May wanna give it a try...

Ok, thank you.

 

[brilliantthings]

How much free storage space is there on your phone?

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Anyone else feeling the same?

No, I do not feel the same. After many years of hard usage I am quite satisfied with the iPhone Pro, MacBook Pro and Apple Watch Ultra. I strongly recommend those devices to others.

 

[Abydos]

if it doesn't do it for you, then don't do it. simple enough

 

[Ignacio Russo]

Hello,

I’m starting to feel like iPhones just aren’t worth the money anymore.

I bought the iPhone 14 Pro (1TB) as soon as it launched, and went for AppleCare+ with theft and loss cover. I wanted something that would last a few years, as upgrades aren’t worth it every year, or even every couple of years, now.

In November last year, I accidentally stood on it and cracked the back. I used AppleCare+ for the repair and they replaced the battery at the same time, which I was surprised by.

11 months on though, I’ve already lost 11% battery health & iOS 26 seems to be hammering it even more. I’m regularly down to around 20% by the time I get home from work, even with Low Power Mode on. I’ve just switched on Reduced Motion to see if that helps, but haven’t had a chance to test it properly yet. That setting makes the phone feel like a budget Android from 2007 — not exactly what you expect from an almost £2k device.

It’s frustrating. I shouldn’t be thinking about replacing the battery already.

My Apple Watch Series 6 — which I also bought at launch — and my second-hand MacBook Pro (over six years old now) are still going strong. I’ve no urge to upgrade either of those because they still work to my expectations.

iOS has become increasingly buggy over the years. It’s been on the decline ever since Scott Forstall left in 2012/2013, if you ask me. Now it feels like they’re more focused on flashy features like “Apple Intelligence” just to have something new to shout about or subscription services, rather than fixing bugs and making things “just work”. I shouldn’t have to enable reduced motion to try and conserve battery life because of the buggy software update.

For the first time since I started using iPhones, I’m genuinely considering jumping ship.

Anyone else feeling the same?

No ship to jump to. Same sh*t all around +/- gimmicks.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I am hearing and seeing quite a few cases of the 14 pro models experiencing relative poor battery life, and that was also the year when Apple debuted the always-on display. I wonder if that is the chief reason for battery running out so quickly (in contrast, my 13 pro max still lasts fine).

I haven't experienced such issues with 14 Pro, perhaps for the following reasons (?).

a. The latest iOS update is 18.7.1, and if any other updates it will be to iOS 18.

b. I don't even know it I can install Apple AI, but even if this is possible I don't need to use AI because it will use memory and additional battery power to operate.

c. What I did to avoid reducing the battery's capacity was to deselect all the settings that have nothing to do with with the what I need to do with the iPhone. All of the information relating to prolonging the battery life is available on YouTube and a great number of places online. For example, Analytics, tracking, and several other settings, use battery power. I turned a great number of settings off, including these above.

d. Swipe off any active apps from the display, unless you are constantly using them (Maps, Message, and so on).

iOS 18.3x:

 

[AlaskaMoose]

iOS 26:

 

[Ctrlos]

I’ll take a few glitches in iOS over Google Pay actually failing to work about 50% of the time on a Pixel 8, 8a, Galaxy S23 and a Nothing 2a. This was not an isolated incident on one piece of hardware.

The grass isn’t greener over there, more a shade of brown.

 

[antiprotest]

There's talk that they are FINALLY replacing Tim Cook. But this could make things either better or even worse. I hope the new CEO has the right prioritize and gets Apple back on track. 🤞

 

[teh_hunterer]

I always had poor battery life on my 14 Pro Max. Same with my 15PM. Was quite baffling as my 13PM was really solid in that department.

 

[grammatica]

There aren't many reasons to upgrade. Since iPhone 11 Pro, some reviewers at The Verge, said that if the camera is the sole reason for upgrading, you might as well get an actual camera. (I think it was Nilay or Dieter.)

 

[Kjabean]

Obviously these phones shouldn’t cost a grand… they should be like maybe three or four hundred, but it obviously didn’t cost a grand to make a phone.. it is about how much people are willing to pay. You can get a good phone for $300 easily so how important is it to have the best tech?

 

[bembol]

iPhone has never been worth the money especially when Apple made 32GB the base storage.

This is coming from someone who has pretty much bought every iPhone. I started with 3, didn't buy X and 16.

I also believe Apple has used this Battery Health to their advantage. We've never thought about our phone's charging cycles, health, etc. at least I don't.

I posted before my mother's 11 is down to 77%and doesn't complain. Why? She has no clue and clearly just uses and charges her iPhone whenever.

Take your average user like my friend who's obsessed with Battery Health he either spends the money to replace the battery or upgrade.

 

[zonai]

I bought the iPhone 14 Pro (1TB) as soon as it launched, and went for AppleCare+ with theft and loss cover. I wanted something that would last a few years, as upgrades aren’t worth it every year, or even every couple of years, now.

In November last year, I accidentally stood on it and cracked the back. I used AppleCare+ for the repair and they replaced the battery at the same time, which I was surprised by.

11 months on though, I’ve already lost 11% battery health & iOS 26 seems to be hammering it even more. I’m regularly down to around 20% by the time I get home from work, even with Low Power Mode on. I’ve just switched on Reduced Motion to see if that helps, but haven’t had a chance to test it properly yet. That setting makes the phone feel like a budget Android from 2007 — not exactly what you expect from an almost £2k device.

It’s frustrating. I shouldn’t be thinking about replacing the battery already.

How about we talk about some facts and not just vibes? How many battery cycles do you have on your 14 Pro? I'm shocked that no one has brought up the fact that Apple made a significant change to iPhone battery lifespan between iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. Every iPhone from iPhone 1 through iPhone 14 has a battery designed to hold 80% of original capacity for 500 cycles. Starting with iPhone 15 and beyond, every iPhone has a battery designed to hold 80% of original capacity for 1000 cycles. Apple Watch and MacBooks are designed to hold 80% of capacity for 1000 cycles. Apple literally tells you on their website iPhone 14 and earlier have a battery that lasts half as long as an Apple Watch or MacBook, but you chose to ignore that and come here to rant.

 

[alFR]

iOS 26:

Ah yes, the idiots from Payette Forward who make a video every year telling people to turn off almost all the features on their phones thus crippling the functionality to save an undefined amount of battery life. Great advice for almost no-one.

Obviously these phones shouldn’t cost a grand… they should be like maybe three or four hundred, but it obviously didn’t cost a grand to make a phone..

I’m willing to bet that (like me) you actually have literally no idea how much it costs.

 

[NotApplicable]

Hello,

I’m starting to feel like iPhones just aren’t worth the money anymore.

I bought the iPhone 14 Pro (1TB) as soon as it launched, and went for AppleCare+ with theft and loss cover. I wanted something that would last a few years, as upgrades aren’t worth it every year, or even every couple of years, now.

In November last year, I accidentally stood on it and cracked the back. I used AppleCare+ for the repair and they replaced the battery at the same time, which I was surprised by.

11 months on though, I’ve already lost 11% battery health & iOS 26 seems to be hammering it even more. I’m regularly down to around 20% by the time I get home from work, even with Low Power Mode on. I’ve just switched on Reduced Motion to see if that helps, but haven’t had a chance to test it properly yet. That setting makes the phone feel like a budget Android from 2007 — not exactly what you expect from an almost £2k device.

It’s frustrating. I shouldn’t be thinking about replacing the battery already.

My Apple Watch Series 6 — which I also bought at launch — and my second-hand MacBook Pro (over six years old now) are still going strong. I’ve no urge to upgrade either of those because they still work to my expectations.

iOS has become increasingly buggy over the years. It’s been on the decline ever since Scott Forstall left in 2012/2013, if you ask me. Now it feels like they’re more focused on flashy features like “Apple Intelligence” just to have something new to shout about or subscription services, rather than fixing bugs and making things “just work”. I shouldn’t have to enable reduced motion to try and conserve battery life because of the buggy software update.

For the first time since I started using iPhones, I’m genuinely considering jumping ship.

Anyone else feeling the same?

I am not feeling the same. I work with pixels, Samsungs, and other phones constantly. I have no desire to use anything other than an iPhone as my actual device. And there’s no question that the price is right, given the broader smartphone market.

I strongly urge you to spend a year with a Pixel or a Galaxy.

 

[macfacts]

I'd use Apple Maps if it were reliable).

Here's a apple maps feature no one asked for, the ability to turn off turn by turn navigation.

 

[JamesMay82]

I’ve never had issues with my iphones or ios.

However i do think that phones aren’t worth being upgraded every year or 2 and that we should be holding them for a minimum of 3 to get value for money… ive just set up an old 6s plus as an emergency spare phone and it works completely fine.. same thing for my dads 2016 iPad…

We are all wasting so much money upgrading so often..