Should I Buy an iPhone 13 in May 2022 or Wait for iPhone 14?

The question of whether to buy an iPhone 13 in May 2022 is a very valid one. With the iPhone 14 suspected to launch later this year, probably in September, it might be worth waiting to see what it might bring in terms of technical improvements, as every new iPhone tends to have better performance, features, and hardware.

That said, whether you should wait is a personal one, as it will depend on your current phone model and how much bang for your buck an upgrade to the latest iPhone will be. To make the decision easier, let’s dig into some of the specs for the iPhone 13 and all of the rumors pertaining to the iPhone 14 right now.

Should I buy an iPhone 13 now?

One of the main questions you should ask first is whether you’re interested in the iPhone mini series. Depending on which sales report you believe, the mini models only comprise somewhere between 3% to 5% of overall iPhone sales. Despite the lower cost of the mini, the iPhone 13 mini’s smaller display size at 5.4 inches compared to the standard iPhone 13’s 6.1 inches has been enough for many users to reject the mini model outright. This has led to rumors that there won’t be an iPhone 14 mini at all, so if you’re looking for a smaller iPhone, you’ll want an iPhone 13 mini now rather than later.

Regardless of which version of the iPhone 13 you’re looking at — the mini ($699), the standard ($799), the Pro ($999), and the Pro Max ($1,099) — they all come with the fantastic A15 Bionic chip. Compared to the iPhone 12, they also all have longer battery life at around 1.5-2.5 extra hours depending on the model. On top of that, all of them feature a 12 MP TrueDepth front camera that can go into Cinematic mode, which automatically changes the focus depending on what object you’re pointing at. That’s incredibly helpful while shooting videos.

If you’ve got the extra budget, you may want to look into the Pro and Pro Max models. For around an extra $300, you’ll get a better rear camera, even more battery life, and enhanced graphics that is powered by an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

That said, in terms of value, you can’t go wrong with the regular iPhone 13. With the effects of the Covid pandemic lessening, supply chains around the world are slowly returning to what they were before, which means that finding an iPhone 13 — especially one on sale — is easier than ever.

Should I wait for iPhone 14?

Since last month, more rumors about the iPhone 14 have been added to the mix, especially in regards to its price point. If you believe one of the latest reports by LeaksApplePro on iDropNews, the iPhone 14 mini will not exist at all and be replaced by the iPhone 14 Max, which is rumored to have a 6.7-inch display. The iPhone 14 will apparently come in four models: iPhone 14 ($799), iPhone 14 Max ($899), iPhone Pro ($1,099), and iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,199).

According to that same report, the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 will simply be rebranded as the A16 Bionic chip, if just to allow the regular iPhone 14 to have the same price tag as its predecessor. The actual new chip, called the A16 Pro, will be used exclusively for the Pro versions of the iPhone 14.

The iPhone 14 Pro models will additionally have a titanium alloy chassis and an in-display Touch ID, according to an investor report from JP Morgan Chase. As opposed to steel and aluminum, titanium doesn’t corrode as easily and is more resistant to scratches. The Pro versions are also rumored to have a notch-less design with a cutout specifically for Face ID hardware and another cutout for the front camera, which has been said by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo to be a 48MP main sensor, an improvement over the iPhone 13’s 12 MP camera.

For more guides on Apple, you can check out whether you should buy an Apple Watch 7 or wait for the Apple Watch 8, and how to fix a broken iPhone 13 camera glass.