5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a New Iphone

That new iPhone is expensive and will last for years, as long as you avoid these common pitfalls

- By Jason Cross

Thinking about buying a new iPhone? We have plenty of advice in our iPhone buying guide (fave.co/45E1bLu), but rather than just telling you which iPhone might be best for you, we thought it might be a good idea to review some common iPhone-buying pitfalls.

Whether you're switching to iPhone for the first time or replacing an older model, here are five ways to make sure you avoid the most common traps people fall into.

1. DON'T DISMISS THE HIGH-PRICED PRO MODEL

When you buy an iPhone, you have more to consider than whether you want the bigger size. The iPhone line is divided into the regular iPhones (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus) and Pro iPhones (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max). There's even talk of a future "Ultra" model that will be even more expensive and feature-rich.

The price difference is substantial about $200, or roughly 25 percent more. The additional features you get with the Pro models vary from year to year. But make sure to consider what they are. You might be giving up more than you think by saving a few bucks on the standard model.

Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro gives you a brighter display, always-on display, Dynamic Island (fave.co/3C2kO1V), 48-megapixel rear main camera, and 3x telephoto camera. Plus, it features the A16 processor, while the regular iPhone 14 has an A15.

The processor difference isn't huge (this year), but that's a lot of extra stuff for $200. And the iPhone 15 is expected to increase the gap (fave.co/3qeRidq) between the lines even more.

Carefully consider whether you really need all that Pro stuff or not. Your money may be better spent elsewhere, like on Apple Care+ or more storage.