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You might have heard that “the iPhone” is one of the most popular phones in the US. But that’s not quite accurate. Apple currently sells many different iPhone models. Survey the shelves at the three major US carriers, as well as Cricket and Metro, and you’ll see all the choices.
These models include the older iPhone 14, the budget-minded iPhone SE, and the latest iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max. Each has a specific appeal, whether that be the price, size, features, battery life, or a combination thereof.
We’ve tested every Apple phone since the first-generation iPhone in 2007. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to choose the best iPhone right now.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best iPhone for Creators
Why We Picked It
The 15 Pro Max is the top model in the iPhone 15 family. It packs the best cameras (including a 5x optical telephoto sensor), a lightning-fast processor, a customizable Action button, a large and bright display, and the longest battery life of any iPhone. It adopts USB-C for the first time and supports several advanced functions, such as direct recording to external hard drives.
Who It’s For
The 15 Pro Max is for iPhone buyers who want it all and have money to spend. It’s also for video-first creators who can put the ProRes and Log recording to use. With all the best features and the performance to match, it carries a steep price even when broken down over two or three years via carrier plans. For those who will put the phone’s creative powers to use, however, it’s worth the cost.
PROS
- Fast, smooth performance
- Excellent cameras
- Long battery life
- Useful Action button
- USB-C connectivity opens up new features
- Lighter than previous Pro Max
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A17 Pro |
| Dimensions | 6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,796 by 1,290 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 12MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 20 hours, 15 minutes |
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Apple iPhone 15
Best iPhone for Most People
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 15 is the lowest-cost entry in the 15 family and offers lots to like. It features a new design, adds a USB-C port, has a brighter display than its predecessor, and even gains the Dynamic Island feature. Additionally, the phone gets an upgraded processor from the outgoing Pro model, sports a dramatically more powerful main camera, and comes in the same toughened waterproof build.
Who It’s For
The iPhone 15 is the best iPhone for the majority of buyers. It’s affordable, runs fast enough for gaming, has capable cameras for adding content to social networks, and includes many of the same features as the pricier models. If you need a solid phone but don’t care to spend the extra cash for the best phone, the iPhone 15 is the obvious choice.
PROS
- Good size and weight
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- USB-C port
- Dynamic Island
CONS
- No always-on display
- No telephoto camera
- Shorter battery life than other iPhones
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A16 Bionic |
| Dimensions | 5.81 by 2.81 by 0.31 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,556 by 1,179 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours, 15 minutes |
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Best Compact Pro iPhone
Why We Picked It
The 15 Pro is the iPhone to buy if you want all the latest features, top performance, and a fantastic screen in a compact package. It includes all the functionality of the Pro Max (save for the 5x telephoto zoom) in a smaller body that’s more comfortable to hold and use. It also costs $200 less than the larger model.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a top-tier phone that fits in your hand and your budget, the iPhone 15 Pro offers flagship performance at a more palatable price than the Pro Max.
PROS
- Compact size
- Lots of processing power
- Customizable Action button
- Advanced USB-C features
- Excellent cameras
- Pro video capture
CONS
- Shorter battery life than iPhone Pro Max
- Less optical zoom than iPhone Pro Max
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Apple iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A17 Pro |
| Dimensions | 5.77 by 2.78 b y 0.32 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,556 by 1,179 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours, 45 minutes |
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
Most Affordable Big-Screen iPhone
Why We Picked It
The 15 Plus is a bigger version of the iPhone 15: It has a larger screen, a larger battery, and a correspondingly larger footprint. The iPhone 15 Plus has the same size display and excellent battery life as the Pro Max model but costs $300 less. Other features include terrific cameras, a zippy processor, and a waterproof design.
Who It’s For
For those seeking the biggest iPhone and the best battery life for the money, the 15 Plus is the one to get.
PROS
- Excellent battery life
- Brisk performance
- Very good cameras
- USB-C port
- Dynamic Island
CONS
- No always-on display
- No telephoto camera
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Apple iOS 17 |
| CPU | Apple A16 Bionic |
| Dimensions | 6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2796 by 1290 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 48MP / 12MP / 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 19 hours 10 minutes |
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Apple iPhone 14
Best for Late Adopters
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 might be last year’s model, but it’s still a good option for those who want to save a little bit of money. It ships with the solid A15 Bionic processor, a fine dual-camera system, good wireless performance, and Apple’s Emergency SOS feature. Moreover, it will still receive several years of software support from Apple.
Who It’s For
The iPhone 14 is a good pick for those who don’t need the latest device and would rather keep an extra $100 in their pockets. It still handles all the smartphone basics with aplomb.
PROS
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- Helpful emergency features
CONS
- Not that different from the iPhone 13
- Dated design and Lightning connector
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 16 |
| CPU | Apple A15 |
| Dimensions | 5.78 by 2.82 by 0.31 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,532 by 1,170 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 12MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 15 hours, 30 minutes |
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Apple iPhone 13
Best Budget iPhone
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 13 is now two years old, but Apple still sells it at a reduced cost. This handset handles plenty of tasks with ease thanks to its A14 Bionic processor, twin-camera array, pixel-rich screen, and basic 5G service.
Who It’s For
Because the iPhone 13 has been on the market for a bit, it’s more affordable than other models. As such, it’s a good pick for those who prioritize their budget over the latest features.
PROS
- Long battery life
- Fast, smooth performance
- Camera makes it easy for anyone to take good photos
CONS
- Not much of an upgrade over the iPhone 12
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 15 |
| CPU | Apple A15 |
| Dimensions | 5.78 by 2.82 by .3 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,532 by 1,170 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 12MP, 12MP; 12MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 15 hours |
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Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best Entry-Level iPhone
Why We Picked It
Apple products aren’t always known for affordability, but the iPhone SE bucks the trend by offering many of the features that make the iPhone so beloved at a substantially lower price. Moreover, the iPhone SE is the smallest iPhone available from Apple right now, so it works well for people who don’t want to carry around a big phone. It’s also the last iPhone to offer Touch ID.
Who It’s For
The iPhone SE is perfect for the budget-conscious shopper who likes iOS, but doesn’t need one of the more advanced models or want to spend more than $500. The iPhone SE is also the last iPhone to include Touch ID for security. If you’d rather use your fingerprint to unlock the iPhone than your face, this is the only option.
PROS
- Most affordable new iPhone
- Speedy performance
- Supports T-Mobile and Verizon mid-band 5G
- Longer battery life than the previous model
CONS
- Outdated body design
- No Night mode in camera
- Lacks support for AT&T’s 3.45GHz mid-band 5G
- Shortest battery life of any current iPhone model
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 15 |
| CPU | Apple A15 |
| Dimensions | 5.45 by 2.65 by 0.29 inches |
| Screen Size | 4.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1,334 by 750 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 12MP; 7MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 7 hours, 20 minutes |
Learn More
Buying Guide: What’s the Best iPhone to Buy in 2024?
When Is the New iPhone Coming Out?
The iPhone 15 line launched in September of 2023. That means the iPhone 16 likely won’t arrive until September or October of 2024. The most recent iPhone SE arrived in March 2022.
Which Is the Most Powerful iPhone?
Every year brings faster and more powerful iPhones. If you tend to play a lot of games, surf a lot of image-heavy web pages, or shoot high-resolution video, a faster processor is better. Apple’s most powerful iPhones are the Pro models.
iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Generally speaking, each new generation of Apple’s A-series chips brings a 15% to 20% jump in overall performance, including web browsing and GPU power. That means there’s not that big a difference between the A15 Bionic (in the iPhone 14) and the A16 Bionic (in the iPhone 15), but there’s a noticeable difference between either of those and the older A14 (in the iPhone 12).
Do You Need a 5G iPhone?
The iPhone 13, 14, and 15 series (all the iPhones Apple sells) are all 5G devices that support C-band networks. That’s a strong argument for not choosing anything older than the iPhone 13. Fast 5G coverage has become far more universal in the last few years. T-Mobile has already expanded its speedy mid-band 5G network to much of the country, and Verizon continues to roll out C-band as well. Both systems make a considerable difference in connection speed and performance. AT&T is catching up quickly, though it still falls a bit behind the other two.
iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
We explore some hands-on test results that show the difference between 4G and 5G performance on iPhones in our story on whether you need a 5G iPhone. (Hint: You do.)
Which iPhone Has the Best Camera?
How serious are you about taking photos with your smartphone? That can help determine your choice of iPhone.
All iPhones have a main camera that shoots solid images during the day. Night mode, introduced with the iPhone 11, assists in low-light settings. Each year iPhones get a little better at taking low-light photos.
iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The standard iPhone 13, 14, and 15 models each have wide-angle cameras, too, which help you fit more scenery into a shot. They’re great if you’re trying to take photos of groups or crowds of people. Pro iPhones, meanwhile, have 3x or 5x telephoto cameras that get crisp close-ups thanks to optical zoom. The Pro models also have advanced video capture features, including the highest rates (4K60), the most info-dense format (ProRes), and the best profiles for post-processing (Log).
To get the best camera and video camera, one of the Pro models is the way to go.
Which iPhone Size Is the Best?
Some people like big phones. Some like small phones. The iPhone lineup no longer offers very small phones but does include midsize and extra-large options.
iPhone 15 Plus (Credit: Eric Zeman)
If you’re upgrading from a very old iPhone, all of the new phones will seem large. The iPhone SE is the same size as the old iPhone 8, for example, and will be most familiar to folks with devices from 2016 or older. Apple axed the iPhone 13 mini, which was the smallest option. This means the SE is now the most compact device in the lineup.
The iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 are the smallest modern iPhones. They have 6.1-inch screens, which is considered small at this point. Apple keeps the width under 3 inches, which really helps with hand comfort.
iPhone 15 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
If you have poor eyesight or shaky hands, you might like the larger touch targets and bigger screens on the Plus or Max models. These are also great if you watch a lot of videos on your phone, but they can be heavy.
Larger iPhones generally have longer battery life than smaller iPhones (because they have larger batteries). Still, the new iPhone 15 models all have better battery life than the same-sized iPhone 14 models, so going with a newer model will get you some extra juice (about 30 minutes more per day).
Which iPhones Have Touch ID and Headphone Jacks?
Two features have mostly vanished from the iPhone line: Touch ID and the headphone jack.
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The iPhone SE is the only current iPhone with a physical Home button and Touch ID scanner. All non-SE models from the 2017-era iPhone X and later rely on Apple’s Face ID for biometric security. If Touch ID is your thing, your options are the iPhone SE or a used iPhone 8 (which we no longer recommend for security reasons).
The last iPhone with a headphone jack was the 2015-era iPhone 6s, meaning that ship has long since sailed. You should have already given in and picked up wireless earbuds or an adapter for your Lightning or USB-C port.
iPhone 15 (Credit: Eric Zeman)
Your iPhone Is a Ticking Clock
iPhones do eventually run out of software support. The latest iPhone operating system, iOS 17, runs only on the 2018-era iPhone XS or later models. Expect that each year, a generation of iPhones will get sloughed off as the latest software requires more powerful processors than the very old models have.
We no longer recommend phones older than the iPhone 12 line; they will likely get at least two more years of OS support. If you want a phone with long-term resale value, go for the iPhone 14 generation or higher.
And if your heart isn’t set on an iPhone, alternatives abound. Check out our favorite Android phones and the best phones overall.
Sascha Segan contributed to this article.
