If you are still using an older model of iPhone (e.g. iPhone 11 or iPhone 12), you may be thinking about upgrading at some point in the future. Then again, if the phone you have is still working perfectly, why upgrade? Apple has launched a new tool that tries to show you what you are missing out on.

The tool is called "Reasons to Upgrade" and is basically a variation of the device comparison tools that phone companies tend to offer. But instead of showing a list of specs, Apple seems to be trying to explain the benefits of upgrading in more personal terms. Many of us know that bigger numbers often mean better, but it helps if we know why that is.

The latest iPhone I use regularly is the iPhone 12 and I am one of the people Apple seems to be targeting. So I decided to check out the tool myself and see what Apple thinks people considering upgrading should know.

The first thing to note is that Apple's new tool only compares the iPhone 11 and 12 series (including the mini, Pro, and Pro Max models) and all four iPhone 15 models currently available. So if you have other phones or are interested in something other than the iPhone 15, you need to find another way to make up your mind.

However, once you choose the right phone, the pages subtly change to reflect how much the new iPhone has improved. For example, the iPhone 15's camera resolution is four times that of the iPhone 12, which Apple says is better suited to capture details and tints in photos.

The camera seems to play a big role on this page, and Apple also mentions improved portrait mode, new action and cinematic video modes, camera zoom capabilities, and the ability to record 4K Dolby Vision video at 60 fps on the iPhone 15

Apple has also announced that the iPhone 15 will record 4K Dolby Vision video at 60fps.

Apple is also keen to show off features such as USB-C charging, Dynamic Island, improved durability, and the high performance of the A16 Bionic and A17 Pro chipsets found in current phones. Did you know that the GPU in the latter is twice as fast as the GPU in the iPhone 11's A13 Bionic? I certainly didn't know and Apple is trying to emphasize that here.

Of course, you can also compare the designs of both models side by side on this page. You can see that the iPhone 15 is much more compact than the iPhone 11, even though both have 6.1" displays.

It wouldn't be a sales pitch if Apple didn't tell you how much you could get for your current phone if you trade it in. By the way, the rebate is up to $180 if you are still using the iPhone 11 and $220 for the iPhone 12. However, if your phone is not in pristine condition, the trade-in value will be less.

One thing to note here is that the Reasons to Upgrade page also had the opposite effect on me than Apple intended. The fact that the changes to the page were quite subtle means that it also shows that there is no change between generations of iPhones. For example, all four iPhone 15 models are supposed to offer "four times the resolution" of all iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models.

A review of the specs shows that all iPhone 15 models have 48 MP sensors, while the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 have 12 MP main cameras. Of course, there is more to camera quality than resolution, so it is odd that Apple would focus on these specs when there are better ways for the layman to describe the improvement in photo quality.

One can certainly imagine someone shying away from the iPhone 15 Pro Max when they learn that it has the same resolution camera as the iPhone 15.

And again, I think this is the point of this tool. We can break down the key changes and determine if the 5x tetra prism lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is actually worth the extra $400.

And honestly, it would have been nice if Apple had included models like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 in this tool. After all, these folks may be considering an upgrade and it's worth checking to see how their phone compares to the latest iPhone models or if it's worth waiting for the iPhone 16 launch later this year.

But despite the limited choices and the relatively minor way the page changes from phone to phone, it is clear what Apple is trying to do here. It's a way to market the iPhone 15 series without resorting to comparison charts and spec lists. Those may be informative, but they are like reading a recipe from the back of a cookie box instead of eating a cookie.

Furthermore, if you are thinking of upgrading your phone to a more expensive model, you need a little more justification than the fact that there is a newer model with a slightly larger number on the spec sheet. Apple's tool tells you all the reasons (in Apple's opinion) why you should buy a new phone.

Still, given how much money the iPhone brings in for Apple, it's no surprise that the company wants as many people as possible to buy the latest model.