The iPhone 14 is here. This is the one you should buy

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro go on sale today (with one exception), which means a lot of people are wondering if it's time to upgrade, and if so, which one to buy. Obviously, that answer depends on a lot of things, like what phone you currently own and what features are most important to you.

This guide is designed to help you sort through and find the best iPhone for you:

iPhone 14

In some ways, the iPhone 14 suffers from the same issue I talked about with Apple's new MacBook Air M2, which is fantastic, but not so fantastic that it's an automatic recommendation by compared to the model it replaced. The iPhone 14 is one of the best smartphones you can buy, but it's not much better in the way people care than the model it replaces.

To be fair, the camera system is improved. Considering it's one of the most common things people do with their iPhones, it's a welcome update. And, it's not just the rear-facing cameras - the front-facing "selfie" camera also offers better low-light performance.

That said, there's very little that would make me recommend the iPhone 14 over its predecessor, unless you think you need the new collision detection or emergency services via features satellites. I sure hope you never need it meaning I can't really think of anyone it's the best option unless you just want the latest non Pro iPhone and don't care price. The iPhone 14 starts at $799.

iPhone 14 Plus

It's easy: it's an iPhone 14, but bigger. It's the same size, in fact, as the Pro Max version. Although it has the same drawbacks as the full-size version, it is much easier to recommend. If you want a big iPhone, the iPhone 14 Plus is probably the one you want (there's no iPhone 13 Plus).

In some ways, the iPhone 14 Plus is a much better value than the full-size version. In the past, if you just wanted a big screen, you had to go for the high-end Pro Max version, which came with a premium price tag. This is no longer the case. The iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899, which is $200 less than the Pro Max.

The one important thing to note about the iPhone 14 Plus is that while you can pre-order one today, they won't be available until October 7th. Apple hasn't said why, but it's probably because even the biggest company in the world isn't immune to the fact that processors and components are hard to come by these days.

iPhone 14 Pro

The iPhone 14 Pro is for people who want the best iPhone possible. And, this year, it is very good. The most immediately noticeable change is that it looks different. Gone is the notch, replaced by what Apple calls the Dynamic Island - a new notification area surrounding a small pill-shaped cutout for the camera and FaceID sensors. It's honestly one of the best pieces of software/hardware design Apple has given us in a long time, although there is still room for improvement.

Speaking of improvements, the Pro gets a better display, which makes it brighter. (It's also a few pixels larger, but not enough to notice unless you're comparing it to a previous version.) The screen also stays on all the time, showing your lock screen and any widgets you've configured. without having to pick up your device or tap the screen.

Finally, the camera system gets a major update, with a new 48MP main camera. It's very, very good. Apple isn't the first company to upgrade to a larger sensor,...