From best iPhones (2024)

The Apple iPhone 15 has arrived, bringing with it the annual internal debate: should I upgrade? That's a tough question to answer and a lot depends on the age and condition of your current phone and how you use it. But overall, it's easier than ever to keep using your phone for five years or more before its age really shows.

If you're still using an iPhone 11 orSofrom your investment. This is especially true if declining battery performance is your main concern:battery replacementisa lot ofcheaper than buying a new phone.

There's another factor in the mix this time: USB-C. It replaces the Lightning port that Apple has been installing on its phones for the past decade, so you may have to find workarounds for any proprietary Lightning accessories you use. It will be difficult for some, but in the long run the switch to USB-C will bring major benefits. You can use the same charger as your MacBook or share a power cable with your friend who has an Android phone. Most USB-C accessories will also work with the iPhone 15 - suddenly the SD card reader you use with your laptop can plug directly into your phone. It's a beautiful thing.

All this is to say if youisready to upgrade, now is a good time. While the iPhone 14 range only offered a few new features (usually reserved for the Pro models) this year feels a little different whether you're considering a more expensive Pro or a standard iPhone 15.

Technically, the iPhone 15 series will cost the same as the 14 at launch. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus start at $799 and $899 respectively, while the 15 Pro starts at $999. But this time, Apple has eliminated the $1,099 Pro Max with 128 GB of storage, so the lowest entry price is now $1,199 for the 256 GB Pro Max.

While many people will subsidize the cost with carrier promotions or spread the payments over two or three years, each of these phones is still a significant amount of money. But when it's time to upgrade, we'll help you make the right choice for your investment.

The best iPhone for most people

Screen:6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 OLED, 60Hz refresh rate /Processor:A16 BionischeCamera's:48 megapixel f/1.6 main sensor with shift IS, 12 megapixel ultrawide, 12 megapixel selfie /Bacteria:not announced /To upload:27 W wired, 15 W wireless MagSafe, 7.5 W Qi /Weather resistance rating:IP68

The iPhone 15 is a bit of a remix. It picks up some new bits from the previous generation of Pro models, like the Dynamic Island and an A16 Bionic sensor, and adds its own flavor with a new high-resolution image sensor and the much-discussed USB-C port. It's not brand new, but it's a solid step up from the iPhone 14 - in short, exactly the kind of update we've come to expect from the non-Pro iPhone range.

The 15 don't get italtwho introduced 14 Pro. The always-on screen that keeps your lock screen dim, yes,always onis still reserved for the 15 Pro and Pro Max. The 48 megapixel sensor on the 15 and 15 Plus is new, but physically smaller than that of the Pro phones. And the iPhone 15 is still stuck with a standard 60Hz display in a year when most mid-range Android phones come with at least 90Hz displays.

There's plenty you won't get at fifteen that you will getDoingget is attractive - especially if you're upgrading from a standard 11 or 12. The new camera's 2x crop zoom is a great option for portraits, and the Dynamic Island will conveniently put important information at the top of your screen when you need it. The jump to USB-C may be a bit annoying when sorting through your charging cables, but will be an overwhelmingly positive change in the long run.

The iPhone 15 is far from the most exciting phone announced in 2023, but it represents a smart mix of updates for its price. If you're the kind of person who wants to get the most out of their phone, then you'll want to look at the Pro models. But if you just want an iPhone that will comfortably get you through the day, take great photos, and last for years to come, the iPhone 15 is the way to go.

Beste high-end iPhone

Screen:6.1-inch OLED, 120Hz refresh rate /Processor:A17 ProCamera's:48 megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS, 12 megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12 megapixel ultra-wide angle, 12 megapixel selfie /Bacteria:not announced /To upload:27 W wired, 15 W MagSafe wireless, 7.5 W Qi /Weather resistance rating:IP68

There isn't much that's new in the iPhone 15 Pro. Like the 14 Pro, it has a 6.1-inch ProMotion display and three rear cameras, and comes with Dynamic Island and an Always-on display.

But pick up the 15 Pro and you will immediately notice that this is indeed a completely different device. It's 19 grams lighter than the 14 Pro, so it's significantly easier to hold, and the edges are slightly curved for a more comfortable grip. There's a new action button on the side where the mute switch used to be, and a brand new port on the bottom. These are small changes that together can yield a lot.

Under the hood is a new A17 Pro chipset that allows you to play AAA games on your phone. There are also some nice software-based camera improvements, including two new 28mm and 35mm "lenses" for the main camera to complement the 3x telephoto lens (about 77mm). And just like the regular 15 and 15 Plus, you can now apply portrait mode to photos after you take them. Videographers will also appreciate access to a new ProRes Log recording option, which makes it easier to incorporate iPhone footage into multi-camera footage.

Those are some powerful new features, but you don't have to be a "Pro" to enjoy using this device. It's worth the extra outlay over the regular 15 if you appreciate a little more customization and flexibility from your device (you can do a lot with that action button) and benefit from the extra camera options. No professional references are required.

Best iPhone for Photographers

Screen:6.7" OLED, 120 Hz refresh rate /Processor:A17 ProCamera's:48 megapixel f/1.8 med sensor-shift IS, 12 megapixel 5x tele, 12 megapixel ultragroothoek, 12 megapixel selfie /Bacteria:not announced /To upload:27 W wired, 15 W MagSafe wireless, 7.5 W Qi /Weather resistance rating:IP68

In recent years, the two Pro model iPhones have featured largely similar camera hardware. That changes this year, as the larger model makes a bit of a departure with a new 5x zoom lens. It replaces the 3x telephoto still used on the 15 Pro. Aside from the different screen sizes and batteries, that's the only real difference in functionality between the 15 Pro and Pro Max. And for certain types of photographers, that will be enough to make the larger phone much more attractive.

The 15 Pro Max's 12 megapixel, 5x lens is equivalent to 120mm on a full-frame camera. It creates dramatic portraits and allows you to play with subject compression in a way that isn't possible with a 3x lens. There's robust image stabilization and image quality is good: the Google Pixel 7 Pro's 5x camera comes into its own while retaining fine detail, but you have to look closely to see the differences.

There are a few caveats to this recommendation: First, the Pro Max's steep starting price of $1,199 will understandably be too high for many people. It's also worth noting that the regular 15 Pro outperforms the Pro Max at 3x focal length - which makes sense since it uses optical rather than digital zoom. If the 77mm matches. length is your favorite, then you might be better off with the standard Pro. But most photographers will appreciate the extra versatility of the 5x lens, and the 2x crop mode on both models gives a good impression of a shorter zoom.

Oh, and there's more good news: the 15 Pro Max is 19 grams lighter than the 14 Pro Max, which is significant. If the heavy weight of its predecessor puts you off, then you'll probably find the 15 Pro Max more appealing.

iPhone with the best battery life

Screen:6,7"Super Retina-OLED /Processor:A16 BionischeCamera's:48 megapixel f/1.6 main sensor with shift IS, 12 megapixel ultrawide, 12 megapixel selfie /Bacteria:Not advertised /To upload:27 W wired, 15 W wireless MagSafe, 7.5 W wireless Qi /Weather resistance rating:IP68

Only a few specs separate the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus – and a $100 MSRP – but boy, they make a difference.

The 15 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch screen and a bigger battery, which according to Apple's measurements means it can stream 20 hours of video versus 16 hours on the regular 15. But whatActuallymeans you can get well over a day of heavy use from the 15 Plus before needing to charge it, and many people can easily get through two full days on a single charge. That's better than the similarly sized 15 Pro Max, which has more power-hungry features like a ProMotion display, and makes the 15 Plus easily the best iPhone at any price when it comes to battery performance.

The larger screen will of course also be attractive to those who prefer a larger screen. If you watch most of your shows and movies on your phone, or you use a larger text size, this could also be a feature worth the extra money.

The iPhone 15 Pro only costs $100 more and comes with a bunch of nice upgrades likethe all-powerful action button, a high refresh rate display and a dedicated telephoto camera for starters. But the 15 Pro can't compromise the battery performance of the Plus, and if a bigger screen is more important than the other upgrades, the 15 Plus is the best choice.

Best cheap iPhone

Screen:4,7" Retina-LCD /Processor:A15 BionischeCamera's:12 megapixel f/1.8 met OIS, 7 megapixel selfie /Bacteria:Not advertised /To upload:Kabel, 7.5 W Qi /Weather resistance rating:IP67

The third-generation iPhone SE, released in 2022, is kind of the default winner in this category. It's the cheapest iPhone you can buy, and for its starting price of $429 it includes some major feature upgrades that most mid-range phones don't offer, like wireless charging, a flagship processor, and an IP67 rating for good water resistance. and water quality. dust resistance. But the SE's user experience is hampered by its small screen – a holdover from an old iPhone design that hasn't aged well. If you can afford the extra $170 for a new $599 iPhone 13, you absolutely should. Still, on pure ROI, the SE is hard to beat for its price.

This recommendation comes with some important caveats, starting with that screen. It's small: At 4.7 inches, it's significantly smaller than the iPhone 13 Mini's screen, although the SE is slightly taller and wider than the Mini. That's because the 2022 SE uses a very old iPhone design that dates back to the iPhone 6S. The screen feels cramped and the LCD technology looks outdated. It's also the only iPhone to keep the home button and fingerprint scanner instead of Face ID, which might be preferable if you hate gesture navigation. Most of us are fine without a home button, so this one really comes down to personal preference.

There are a few other negatives: the camera system doesn't have night mode, and there's only 64GB of storage on the base model. But if you're used to a larger phone screen, the 4.7-inch LCD may be the hardest thing to live with. There is alsorumors about an iPhone SE in 2024with a 6.1-inch OLED screen - big, if true, literally. It's an upgrade worth waiting another year for, if you can stick with it. But if a small screen doesn't bother you, there's no better offering than the iPhone SE.

What about the iPhone 13 and 14?

When the iPhone 15 series arrived, it replaced the 14 Pro models and 13 Mini (RIP to the last great little phone), but the iPhone 13, 14 and 14 Plus are still sold as new by Apple. They're clearly discounted from their starting prices, with an iPhone 13 starting at $599, the 14 for $699, and the 14 Plus for $799.

If you're paying out of pocket and want to save some money, one of these previous-generation models is a good choice.iPhone 13will probably only get three or four more iOS updates at this point, but if you're likely to upgrade to a new phone in about three years, then that's not a huge loss.

There is also a compelling argument for buyingop iPhone 14 Plusat the new discount price. The battery life is just as good as the 15 Plus and it has the same large screen that many people love. But it's still an expensive phone at $800, and at this point you might as well switch to USB-C on the 15 Plus and get the Dynamic Island.