Whether you’re a hardcore techie who follows all the top influencers in this space or a casual phone user who simply wants to know if new gear is worth it, no doubt you’ll read varying opinions on Apple’s just unveiled iPhone 14 family.

And if you believe Apple’s own marketing hype, this is the greatest collection of devices that ever was.

So, which is it?

Based on what we saw at the “Far Out” event in Cupertino, California on Wednesday – that is, not hands-on with the products in our own environment – the following should help you decide if this is for you based on what we know now.

First thing's first

While some years yield a bigger leap over its predecessors than others, my general rule of thumb with iPhone remains the same: don’t buy a new iPhone every year, as you won’t notice much difference over what you’re used to.

iPhone 14 is no exception. Impressive? Sure. But you shouldn’t have phone envy if you own an iPhone from, say, 2019 or 2020.

To truly appreciate the evolution of the country’s no. 1 smartphone, space out your upgrades so it feels more like a major upgrade.

Unless you have deep pockets and want to be the first among your friends with the latest iPhone, buy a new phone every three years or so.

As for Android users, it may be a bit challenging to switch to iPhone – especially accessing the Control Center and swiping to close apps, and so on – though generally speaking, I think Apple’s iOS is easier to use.

Should you upgrade your iPhone now?: What to know after Apple's debut of the iPhone 14.

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iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus?

From a design standpoint, there doesn’t appear to be much different with the new 6.1-inch iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13, except for the larger iPhone 14 Plus, at 6.7 inches.

They look nearly identical to last year’s model – notch and all – and Apple did not announce a new iPhone 14 mini, likely due to lackluster sales with the smaller (5.4-inch) size.