Is the iPhone 14 Still Worth It in 2026?

Key Points:

• An iPhone 14 can be a cost-effective way to get the iOS experience with your SIM Only plan.
• Released four years ago, the iPhone 14 can be found on the used market for as low as £250 in professionally refurbished condition.
• Due to its age, you won't be able to use Apple Intelligence with any of the iPhone 14 configurations, locking you out of any future iOS updates, wholesale.

After an Apple smartphone but want to save some cash with your Talkmobile SIM Only plan? Then the iPhone 14 may still be worthwhile for you. Released nearly four years ago, the popular mainstream handset may be showing signs of age; however, it's still a remarkably capable device depending on your use case, and if the price is ultimately right. It's since been replaced by the iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and most recently the iPhone 17, but should you opt for the previous-generation model in 2026?

The iPhone 14 was released back in 2022 with a higher-than-usual MSRP. It was a revolutionary jump from its predecessor, the iPhone 13, with the implementation of the Dynamic Island for the Pro models and the smaller, rounded design which made the mainstream offerings feel more durable and premium. These are the quick facts you need to know.

Much innovation has happened with Apple handsets in the last four years, with three successive iPhone generations releasing since. Only the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 are available in new condition, with the changes (largely) being iterative, including better chips and superior camera systems, compared to the stock dual-shooter design of the iPhone 14.

The choice of whether an iPhone 14 is worth it nowadays ultimately comes down to the price point that you can find one for. It's long since been discontinued by Apple, replaced by three other generations of smartphones since its launch; however, the used market is where you may have some luck. It's entirely possible to find professionally refurbished models in 128GB capacity via official vendors, Back Market, or from secondary resellers for as alow as £250-300, which thoroughly undercuts the price of buying an iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 in new condition.

That also makes the iPhone 14 a good budget choice which still gives you the full iOS experience, barring the implementation of Apple Intelligence. As with many other hardware companies, Apple has gone all-in on AI, with handsets upwards from the iPhone 15 Pro and onwards supporting the new Siri and functionality for iOS 26 onwards. You're locked out of that with the weaker A16 chip, sure, but you still get a great camera system, a respectable processor for scrolling and gaming, as well as lovely screen for media playback.

You won't be futureproofing things here, as you may chiefly be getting an iPhone 14 used to tide you over until the eventual iPhone 18, but for the cheap asking price, and high availability, you can find it for a good rate as a solid all-dayer, even if it's no longer properly supported or current. Your next current-generation competitor would be the iPhone 16e, the mainstream offering, available new from £499 for the 128GB configuration, with a vastly more powerful A18 chip, superior cameras, and Apple Intelligence inside. Whether that's worth the extra £150-200 or so comes down to your use case.