Should I upgrade my iPhone?
Upgrade from an iPhone 13 or 14; keep an iPhone 16 or 17. What changes from each model, Apple Trade In values and the net cost of an iPhone 18 Pro in the UK.
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Upgrade in 2026 from an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, and keep an iPhone 16 or iPhone 17. The two older phones still run iOS 27, but they have Lightning ports, no ProMotion and no Apple Intelligence, while an iPhone 16 or 17 already has the features that matter and Apple security support to at least 2029.
The iPhone 15 sits in between: it has USB-C and a 48 MP camera but misses Apple Intelligence. The upgrade target here is the Apple iPhone 18 Pro at £1,199 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026); the full range is compared in Every iPhone compared.
| Current iPhone | Verdict | Why | Battery service instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | Upgrade | Lightning, no ProMotion, no Apple Intelligence; battery designed for 500 cycles | £85 |
| iPhone 14 | Upgrade | Same A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone 13, Lightning, no Apple Intelligence | £95 |
| iPhone 15 | Upgrade only for Apple Intelligence or zoom | USB-C and 48 MP already; support to at least September 2028 | £95 |
| iPhone 16 | Keep | Apple Intelligence; support to at least September 2029 | £95 |
| iPhone 17 | Keep | 120 Hz ProMotion, 30 hours of video; support to at least September 2030 | £95 |
What changes when upgrading from an iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17?
The biggest jump is from an iPhone 13 or 14: moving to the iPhone 18 Pro adds 14 to 15 hours of rated video playback, a 120 Hz ProMotion screen, USB-C, Apple Intelligence and a 48 MP 4x telephoto. Compare Electronic's upgrade table takes each figure from Apple's UK tech specs pages for the base model of each year.
| iPhone | Chip | Screen | Rear cameras | Video playback | Connector | Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | A15 Bionic | 6.1-inch, no ProMotion | 12 MP main, 12 MP ultra wide | 19 hours | Lightning | No |
| iPhone 14 | A15 Bionic | 6.1-inch, no ProMotion | 12 MP main, 12 MP ultra wide | 20 hours | Lightning | No |
| iPhone 15 | A16 Bionic | 6.1-inch, Dynamic Island | 48 MP main, 12 MP ultra wide | 20 hours | USB-C | No |
| iPhone 16 | A18 | 6.1-inch, no ProMotion | 48 MP Fusion, 12 MP ultra wide, Camera Control | 22 hours | USB-C | Yes |
| iPhone 17 | A19 | 6.3-inch, ProMotion up to 120 Hz | 48 MP Fusion, 48 MP Fusion ultra wide | 30 hours | USB-C | Yes |
| iPhone 18 Pro (upgrade) | A20 Pro | 6.3-inch, ProMotion up to 120 Hz | 48 MP variable-aperture main, 48 MP ultra wide, 48 MP 4x telephoto | 34 hours | USB-C | Yes |
The iPhone 14 is the weakest upgrade base: Apple fitted it with the same A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone 13, and its gains were Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite rather than speed. The iPhone 16 is the dividing line, because Apple Intelligence runs on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and every iPhone 16 or later, according to Apple UK, and not on the base iPhone 15.
Battery life is the change owners feel daily. Apple rates the iPhone 17 at 30 hours of video playback against 22 hours for the iPhone 16, an 8-hour jump in one generation, so an iPhone 17 owner gains only 4 hours from the iPhone 18 Pro. The Pro-against-Max choice is covered in iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max.
How much does an iPhone upgrade cost after Apple Trade In?
An iPhone 18 Pro costs £714 to £1,029 after Apple Trade In, depending on the iPhone handed over. Apple UK lists trade-in values of up to £170 for an iPhone 13 and up to £485 for an iPhone 17, and the iPhone 18 Pro costs £1,199 on Amazon UK, the same as Apple's UK launch price. Compare Electronic divides each net cost by the 5 years of Apple's minimum security support.
| Trading in | Trade In (up to) | iPhone 18 Pro net | Net per year of 5 | Battery service instead | What the upgrade adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | £170 | £1,029 | £205.80 | £85 | +15 hours video, ProMotion, USB-C, Apple Intelligence, 4x telephoto |
| iPhone 14 | £215 | £984 | £196.80 | £95 | +14 hours video, ProMotion, USB-C, Apple Intelligence, 4x telephoto |
| iPhone 15 | £295 | £904 | £180.80 | £95 | +14 hours video, ProMotion, Apple Intelligence, 4x telephoto |
| iPhone 16 | £410 | £789 | £157.80 | £95 | +12 hours video, ProMotion, 4x telephoto |
| iPhone 17 | £485 | £714 | £142.80 | £95 | +4 hours video, 4x telephoto, A20 Pro |
Apple says trade-in values vary with condition, year and configuration, and the credit goes towards a new Apple device or onto an Apple Gift Card, so the figures are ceilings. The cheapest move for an iPhone 13 owner is not the iPhone 18 Pro: a renewed iPhone 16 costs £489.99 on Amazon UK and brings Apple Intelligence, USB-C and support to at least September 2029. The checks for buying renewed are in Is a refurbished iPhone worth it?
How long will my current iPhone keep getting updates?
Every iPhone from the iPhone 11 onwards gets iOS 27, according to Apple's iOS 27 page, so no model in the table is out of support today. Apple's UK product security statements set a minimum of 5 years from first supply, which puts the iPhone 15 at September 2028, the iPhone 16 at September 2029, the iPhone 17 at September 2030 and the iPhone 18 Pro at September 2031.
Battery age weighs more than software on the oldest phones. Apple designs batteries in iPhone 14 models and earlier to keep 80 per cent of their capacity at 500 complete charge cycles, and iPhone 15 models at 1,000. An iPhone 13 bought in 2021 has had time for far more than 500 cycles, which is why a worn battery often triggers the upgrade question. The numbers for repairing instead are in Should I replace my phone battery or buy new?, and support periods across brands are in How long do phones last?
Which iPhone should an upgrader buy?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is the upgrade to buy for an iPhone 13, 14 or 15 owner, at £1,199 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). It has the A20 Pro chip, a 6.3-inch 120 Hz ProMotion screen, three 48 MP rear cameras including a 4x telephoto, 34 hours of rated video playback and Apple support to at least September 2031.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro specifications (Apple UK)
- Display: 6.3 inch Super Retina XDR, ProMotion up to 120 Hz, 460 ppi
- Chip: Apple A20 Pro
- Main camera: 48 MP Fusion with variable aperture, f/1.48 to f/4.0
- Also: 48 MP Fusion ultra wide and 48 MP Fusion 4x telephoto, 8x optical-quality zoom
- Front camera: 18 MP Center Stage
- Video playback: up to 34 hours
- Storage: 256 GB (512GB, 1TB and 2TB also sold)
- Connector: USB-C, with Camera Control
The renewed iPhone 17 Pro at £910 has the same 48 MP 4x telephoto and ProMotion screen for £289 less, but a used battery and one year less of Apple's guaranteed support. Per year of guaranteed support left, the iPhone 18 Pro costs £243.86 against £232.34 for the renewed iPhone 17 Pro, so the new phone costs only £11.52 a year more.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro - pros and cons
Where to buy
Check price
Also consider
Radar · 0-100 scores
- iPhone 18 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro 256GB (Renewed)
- iPhone 16 128GB (Renewed)
- iPhone 16 128GB
Verdict
Upgrade from an iPhone 13 or 14, consider it from an iPhone 15 only for Apple Intelligence or zoom, and keep an iPhone 16 or 17. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro at £1,199 costs £1,029 net of an iPhone 13 trade-in, while the renewed iPhone 16 at £489.99 is the low-cost route to Apple Intelligence. The full range is in Every iPhone compared and the Pro choice in iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Frequently asked questions
Should I upgrade from an iPhone 13 in 2026?
Yes. The iPhone 13 has a Lightning port, no ProMotion and no Apple Intelligence, and Apple rates it at 19 hours of video playback. The iPhone 18 Pro is rated at 34 hours and costs £1,199 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Apple Trade In offers up to £170 for an iPhone 13, a net £1,029.
Is it worth upgrading from an iPhone 15 to the iPhone 18 Pro?
Only for Apple Intelligence or optical zoom. The iPhone 15 already has USB-C and a 48 MP main camera, and Apple's minimum security support runs to September 2028. The iPhone 18 Pro adds Apple Intelligence, 120 Hz ProMotion, a 48 MP 4x telephoto and 14 more hours of rated video playback. Apple Trade In offers up to £295, a net £904.
Should I upgrade from an iPhone 16 or iPhone 17?
No for most owners. The iPhone 16 already runs Apple Intelligence with support to at least September 2029, and the iPhone 17 has a 120 Hz ProMotion screen, 30 hours of rated video playback and support to at least September 2030. The iPhone 18 Pro's main gains over the iPhone 17 are a 4x telephoto and 4 more hours of video.
How much will Apple give me for my old iPhone?
Apple UK Trade In lists up to £170 for an iPhone 13, £215 for an iPhone 14, £295 for an iPhone 15, £410 for an iPhone 16 and £485 for an iPhone 17. Apple says values vary with condition, year and configuration, and the credit goes towards a new Apple device or onto an Apple Gift Card.
Which iPhones get iOS 27?
Apple's iOS 27 page lists every iPhone from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) onwards as compatible, so an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 still gets the current iOS. Apple Intelligence is narrower: it runs on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and every iPhone 16 or later, according to Apple UK.
Is a new battery cheaper than upgrading my iPhone?
Yes, by a wide margin. Apple UK estimates £85 for battery service on an iPhone 13 and £95 on an iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16 or iPhone 17. A new battery fixes short battery life but adds no features, so it suits an iPhone 15 or later more than an iPhone 13, which lacks Apple Intelligence and USB-C.