We've been waiting years for a truly next-generation iPhone, and with the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple may have finally brought us one. The iPhone 14 Pro finally brings real changes to how the iPhone looks and makes some significant shifts in the experience as a whole.

The iPhone 14 Pro is loaded with new features and has the fastest mobile processor yet. Moreover, the iPhone 14 Pro finally breaks up with the notch—well, kind of.

Below, we'll look at the top six reasons to consider upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro.

1. Goodbye Notch, Hello Dynamic Island

Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro
Image Credit: Apple

Many people have patiently waited years for the Cupertino-based company to get rid of the notch. Although Apple hasn't ditched the notch in the standard iPhone 14 models, the iPhone 14 Pro introduces a sleeker pill-shaped cutout known as the Dynamic Island.

Even though this new cutout design is still massive compared to the tiny hole punch cameras we've seen on many Android phones, Apple has actually managed to turn it into a feature. Instead of notifications dropping down from the top of the display like they have for years, on the iPhone 14 Pro, they pop out from the Dynamic Island—at least the ones from the supported apps.

But the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island isn't just a notification hub; it's a space where you can keep track of any apps you have running in the background. It works as an always-there manager for background tasks like phone calls, music, etc.

2. The iPhone Finally Has an Always-On Display

Dimmed display on an iPhone 14 Pro
Image Credit: Apple

Do you like the always-on display on the Apple Watch? In that case, you'll be pleased to know that it has finally made its way to the iPhone. Although it's a feature that Android phones introduced years earlier, Apple's version of an always-on display definitely does not disappoint.

When it comes to always-on tech, most devices with the feature usually give you a black background and some very minimal text that lets you see info like the time and your notifications. The iPhone 14 Pro, on the other hand, doesn't black out the screen completely. Instead, it gracefully dims your wallpaper. That means your custom background and lock screen customizations can shine through, whether your screen is turned on or off.

For now, at least, the always-on display is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Even though Apple is beyond late when it comes to bringing some cutting-edge features to the iPhone, it does so in its unique way. And it might have been worth the wait.

3. Massive Camera Upgrade

Camera module on a purple iPhone 14 Pro
Image Credit: Apple

The iPhone 14 Pro packs a class-leading 48MP camera with a quad-pixel sensor. To put that into perspective, every iPhone camera, from the 6S to even the 13 Pro, featured 12-megapixel cameras. This leap in resolution, paired with a camera sensor that's 65% larger than the previous generation, means the iPhone 14 Pro can capture more light and add even more detail to photos.

Apple even says the iPhone 14 Pro is twice as good as the iPhone 13 Pro at taking low-light photos, a place where even the best smartphone cameras often struggle.

Apple is definitely proud of its new camera. While we probably won't see any blockbusters filmed with an iPhone anytime soon, it's definitely more than capable for most people, whether you're an Instagram photographer or amateur filmmaker.

4. Powered by a World-Class Processor

A16 Bionic processor on a dark background
Image Credit: Apple

Unlike the iPhone 13 series, where both the base model iPhone and the iPhone 13 Pro share the same processor, Apple has made the latest A16 Bionic chip exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models.

Apple proudly says that the A16 Bionic is built on a 4nm process and can perform up to 17 trillion operations per second, which sounds impressive, but what that means in the real world is that the iPhone 14 Pro is more efficient and faster than any iPhone that has come before.

Apple even boldly claims it's up to 40% faster than the competition. Beyond the expected upgrades in speed and gaming performance, the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 14 Pro gives access to some exclusive features. For example, the chip features a dedicated display engine even lets the iPhone 14 Pro turn its refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz, finally making an always-on display on an iPhone possible.

5. iPhone's Biggest Redesign in Years

the iPhone 14 Pro with the Dynamic Island
Image Credit: Apple

Back in the day, Apple followed a predictable schedule with its iPhone releases. First, Apple would debut a brand-new iPhone, and the next year we'd get a faster S model. That meant we'd get a visual redesign iPhone every two years. But in recent years, we get a redesigned iPhone much less often. The iPhone X with the notch launched all the way back in 2017. Although newer iPhones have gotten a lot faster, pack much better cameras, and sport much longer battery life, the overall front design of the iPhone has stayed pretty much the same.

The iPhone 14 Pro changes that. Since the iPhone X, all the iPhones we've gotten have felt like refinements—and sometimes major refinements—but none of them have felt like a true visual refresh. The iPhone 14 Pro comes in new colors, but the changes go deeper. Thanks to the Dynamic Island, the iPhone 14 Pro feels like a next-generation iPhone; for many, this is the iPhone they've been waiting for.

6. It Still Starts at $999

OK, there's no getting around the fact that $999 is a lot of money for a phone. But while Apple definitely isn't giving away the iPhone 14 Pro, the company does deserve some credit for not raising prices since the iPhone X in 2017.

The US Labor Department reported in June 2022 that inflation was up 9.1%, the highest rate in 40 years. And that's just the United States; many countries are seeing even more inflation.

Thankfully, Apple decided not to increase prices for the iPhone 14 lineup, at least in the US. Although the iPhone 14 Pro is definitely not a budget option, the fact that Apple hasn't raised prices makes it easier to pull the trigger on a new iPhone.

Nice to Meet You, iPhone 14 Pro

If you've never been an iPhone fan, the iPhone 14 Pro probably isn't going to turn you into a believer. It doesn't fold, it's still got a big blob at the top of its screen, and it's still an iPhone.

The iPhone 14 Pro may not be the most exciting phone on the market, but it's a visual refresh we've waited years for. Apple doesn't treat us with a redesigned iPhone nearly as often as they used to, and the iPhone 14 Pro has been a long time coming.

So, if you've been waiting for an iPhone that finally feels fresh, the iPhone 14 Pro might be just what you've been waiting for.