The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are here, and on the surface they’re pretty similar to the iPhone 13. Sure, there are always a few tweaks with each new model: The processor is better, the camera usually gets an improvement, and maybe it gets a slight aesthetic facelift.
At first glance, though, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro look pretty similar to their predecessor. But, thanks to a couple of details, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro cases won’t fit the newer models, meaning people who upgrade to the newest phone will likely be looking for new cases and accessories.
The iPhone 14 is the exact same height as the 13, the same width as the 13, but just .01″ thicker.
That’s a minuscule difference, and you’d think, “Well, a 13 case should still fit that, right?”
Wrong.
Apple adjusted the size and location of the power and volume buttons, according to 9 to 5 Mac, meaning that cases for the 13 would not quite work.
If Apple is good at one thing, it’s making sure people have a reason to upgrade to the newest product and its related accessories.
For the Pro models, the differences are more stark. The iPhone 13 pro has a height of 5.78″, and the iPhone 14 Pro is 5.81″. The width and thickness are within a hundredth of an inch of each other, but that height is enough to definitely throw things off. And, once again, the buttons are just a little different—just different enough to make an old case obsolete.
So, for promotional products companies, this means that they’ll need to supply new cases for end-users looking for iPhone accessories. There will still be plenty of demand for cases made for the iPhone 13, but you have to make it clear which model each case is made specifically for.