Deciding which iPhone to purchase has all the time been difficult. Which display dimension is finest for you, and the way a lot storage do you want? Must you lower your expenses by deciding on an older mannequin, or do you have to splash out on the newest iPhone? Which iPhone is the most effective compromise between specs and worth for cash?

On this article we speak you thru every of the telephones at the moment accessible from Apple, that will help you determine which is finest for you. We talk about iPhone costs, specs and options, paying explicit consideration to the cameras, screens and sturdiness, so it’s best to depart feeling far more assured about which iPhone it’s best to get.

For extra assist along with your alternative see our critiques of the newest iPhones (linked under) and our Finest iPhone comparability chart the place we examine all the brand new iPhone with those nonetheless on sale.

What iPhones does Apple promote?

Apple launched 4 new telephones in September 2022, bringing the variety of new telephones launched in 2022 to 5. However there are literally eight iPhones in Apple’s lineup proper now. If you’re trying to improve an previous iPhone or transfer to iPhone from one other producer, right here’s the low down on what Apple sells.

We’ll begin of by taking a look at how the design of every handset differs, so you may inform which iPhone is which at a look, earlier than occurring to debate how the iPhones examine in different methods together with screens, cameras, security options, specs and battery life.

Earlier than we begin, a quick-at-a-glance comparability of the iPhones:

1. Apple iPhone 15

Value When Reviewed:

From $799

The usual iPhone 15 mannequin doesn’t get all of the bells and whistles of the Professional fashions, it does supply some nice new options compared to 2022’s iPhone 14. For instance, the non-pro iPhones now have the Dynamic Island as a substitute of the notch. The iPhone 15 digital camera is considerably higher than the iPhone 14 digital camera, now as much as 48MP and with Good HDR 5. You’ll get USB-C as a substitute of Lightning. The processor is the A16 Bionic, as seen within the iPhone 14 Professional.

2. Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Value When Reviewed:

$899

The iPhone 15 Plus is solely a much bigger model of the iPhone 15. It has a 6.7-inch show, just like the iPhone 15 Professional Max, however is definitely a little bit bigger than the Professional variant. Battery life is best than the iPhone 15 in order that may be a motive to decide on it over that handset.

3. Apple iPhone 15 Professional

Value When Reviewed:

$999

Comprised of hardwearing titanium and lighter than the predecessor, the iPhone 15 Professional options the Motion Button that may be customizable so it will probably rapidly carry out complicated actions. Like all of the 2023 iPhones if has a USB-C port, relatively than Lightning, however the Professional fashions profit from quicker file switch speeds. It options the A17 Professional chip and an improved digital camera in comparison with the earlier era.

4. Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max

Value When Reviewed:

1,199

The iPhone 15 Professional Max is just like the iPhone 15 Professional: each are produced from titanium as a substitute of chrome steel and lighter than the earlier era, and each characteristic the A17 Professional chip. However there are extra variations on this era: the iPhone 15 Professional Max has a superior digital camera with a 5x optical zoom on the telephoto digital camera.

Learn our full

Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max (256GB) overview

5. Apple iPhone 14

Value When Reviewed:

Now $699 (128GB) | $799 (256GB) | $999 (512GB)

Launched in 2022, the iPhone 14 introduced new digital camera options just like the Photonic Engine, higher low-light pictures and the Motion mode, which aren’t accessible on the iPhone 13. The most important drawback with the iPhone 14 is that it’s not that a lot totally different to the cheaper iPhone 13 in lots of different methods, with the identical era chip and virtually equivalent look.

Learn our full

Apple iPhone 14 overview

6. Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Value When Reviewed:

Now $799

Launched in 2022, this iPhone is equivalent to the iPhone 14 apart from one huge distinction: it’s larger. In case you want a bigger iPhone, however don’t wish to spend some huge cash, that is the iPhone for you.

Learn our full

Apple iPhone 14 Plus overview

7. Apple iPhone 13

Value When Reviewed:

Now $599

As we mentioned above, there’s not an enormous distinction between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13. They each characteristic the A15 Bionic, however there’s an additional GPU core within the 14, which could matter in case you are a eager gamer. If that, and the lacking digital camera options, don’t matter to you then you possibly can definitely save your cash and get the 2021 iPhone.

Learn our full

Apple iPhone 13 overview

8. Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Value When Reviewed:

$429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB)

Apple launched the iPhone SE Third era in spring 2022. It’s the most cost effective iPhone you should buy, and, now that the iPhone 13 mini is now not bought by Apple, that is Apple’s smallest iPhone. Plus if you’d like or want a House button – maybe as a result of the shortage of a button might trigger accessibility issues, though there’s a technique to add a software program House button if it is advisable – that is the one iPhone that has one.

Learn our full

Apple iPhone SE (2022) overview

How a lot do iPhones value?

Sensible information for 2023: Apple has decreased pricing throughout a lot of the vary (and throughout the entire vary in case you are primarily based within the U.Okay.) Beneath you can find pricing for U.S., U.Okay., Canada and Australia (scroll throughout to see pricing in your area).

You don’t must pay full worth for a brand new iPhone although. Learn our iPhone offers roundup for extra recommendation on getting the bottom doable worth from numerous totally different resellers. We’ve additionally collected the finest offers for the iPhone 15-series within the U.Okay. and the finest offers for the iPhone 15-series within the U.S. in separate articles.

Design: How do the iPhones examine?

Apple

Apple repurposed the notch into the Dynamic Island with the arrival of the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max in 2022, and now the Dynamic Island has arrived on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, serving to to differentiate these fashions from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13. The Dynamic Island conceals the TrueDepth digital camera and different Face ID tech in a black space on the prime of the iPhone that may develop to include components equivalent to low battery alerts, unlocking, Silent mode, privateness indicators and extra.

Now that the iPhone 15 has the Dynamic Island just like the Professional and Professional Max, essentially the most putting distinction between the professional and normal fashions is seen from the again: the iPhone Professional and Max fashions have all the time had three cameras to the usual two cameras on the again. The professional fashions are additionally constructed from titanium, which provides them a extra metallic sheen, whereas, the usual telephones are aluminium, however accessible in a bigger number of colours.

The colour choices are most likely the obvious distinction between ranges, though there are normal shades that have a tendency to come back up for each era, though generally they get renamed (black as Midnight, for instance). The colour pallet of the iPhone 15 is extra muted than the iPhone 14 pallet. See the variations between the yellow shades under.

Apple

The iPhone 14 appears just like the iPhone 13. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone that’s older than the iPhone 13 then the notch is smaller on each the iPhone 13 and 14. The easiest way to distinguish between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 is the colour choices: the iPhone 14 provides blue, yellow, purple, Midnight, Starlight and a vibrant (Product) Crimson. The iPhone 13 is available in inexperienced, pink, blue (darker), Midnight, Starlight and pink (darker). A take a look at the shades of blue on supply appears to point that Apple has made the iPhone colours paler with every subsequent telephone.

Apple

The iPhone 14 Plus appears just like the iPhone 14 however is a bit bigger. In truth, the size are just like the iPhone 14 Professional Max, however you may inform these two telephones aside as a result of the 14 Plus has the notch. The iPhone 14 Plus might feasibly be mistaken for an iPhone 13 Professional Max, however for the truth that the Professional and Max fashions have a extra metallic coloration end, and Apple now not sells that mannequin.

When Apple introduces the brand new Professional and Professional Max fashions it stops promoting the earlier era, so the one method to purchase the 14 Professional and Professional Max will likely be by way of a third-party reseller, or (ultimately) the Apple refurbished retailer. Colour decisions are extra related between these handsets.

Apple

The iPhone 15 and 15 Professional and the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Professional Max share display sizes (extra on the screens within the subsequent part), however that’s the place the comparability ends. The display dimension could be the identical, however the dimension of the iPhone differs: the Professional and Professional Max fashions are barely smaller, although thicker and heavier. The iPhone 15 can be a tiny bit smaller and lighter than the iPhone 14.

Talking of dimension, now that Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 mini the one small iPhone accessible is the iPhone SE with its 4.7-inch show. That is additionally the one iPhone with a House button for Contact ID.

Right here’s how the size and colours examine:

Display screen: How are the iPhone shows totally different?

The Professional and Professional Max iPhones have the most effective screens accessible on an iPhone. Just like the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max, and the 13 Professional and Professional Max earlier than them, the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max supply ProMotion, which permits for an adaptive refresh price. The refresh price goes as excessive as 120Hz for actually easy scrolling and as little as 1Hz. The low refresh price arrived on the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max to assist with one of many new options of these handsets: the All the time-On show. The All the time-On show is now accessible on the 15 Professional and 15 Max.

IDG

Due to the All the time-On display you’ll all the time have the ability to see components such because the time and date, notifications and Lock Display screen widgets with out waking the iPhone. The display dims to minimise onscreen energy utilization to protect battery life and it’ll flip off do you have to place it face down or stroll away whereas carrying an Apple Watch.

Other than the ProMotion capabilities, the iPhone 15 Professional and Max additionally supply 1,000 nits max brightness and 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR), however increase to 2,000 nits peak brightness for when you find yourself open air within the sunshine. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus now go to 1,000 nits max brightness (was solely 800 nits max brightness for the iPhone 14 and 13) and 1,600 nits peak HDR (up from 1,200 nits on the 14 and 13). There may be additionally a brand new 2,000 nits peak brightness for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus that the predecessors didn’t supply. The iPhone SE (Third-generation) provides simply 625 nits max brightness and 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR). The brighter the iPhone display the better it will likely be to see element when it’s actually sunny.

Each the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus additionally supply a number of extra pixels than their predecessors, matching the pixels of the Professional and Professional Max handsets this time spherical.

The display dimension could also be a very powerful consider your resolution. If you’d like the most important iPhone display you will get the excellent news is that, for the reason that introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022, Apple now not requires you to spend all of your cash on the most costly iPhone. The iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Professional Max each have a display that measures 6.7-inches diagonally. The additional area means you may match a number of additional strains of textual content on the display, or comfortably bump up the textual content dimension. The bigger screens are additionally preferable if you happen to watch lots of media in your iPhone. It’s possible that when you’ve got beforehand owned a Max or Plus handset you’ll really feel like your iPhone display is cramped if you happen to improve to a smaller show.

Alternatively, for a lot of the bigger iPhone sizes are far too massive. Small-handed individuals holding the large iPhones could also be afraid that they will drop the hefty and costly machine. Apple sells three iPhones with a 6.1-inch display: the iPhone 15, iPhone 14 and iPhone 13. Even these handsets are thought-about too massive by some although, so there’s one even smaller iPhones on supply: the iPhone SE with its 4.7-inch display. Sadly, Apple now not sells the iPhone 13 mini with its 5.4-inch display, however you could possibly discover a refurbished mannequin or one on sale at a licensed reseller.

Digital camera: How do the iPhone cameras examine?

Jason Snell / Foundry

For a lot of it’s the capabilities of the cameras that promote the iPhones, so it’s no marvel that yearly Apple improves the digital camera on its iPhones, generally enhancing the tech, generally the software program. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus nonetheless characteristic a dual-camera array with huge and ultra-wide lenses, whereas solely the Professional and Professional Max supply the extra telephoto lens. In 2023 the iPhone 15 sequence positive aspects some technical enhancements, with each Professional and non-Professional iPhones getting digital camera upgrades.

In 2023, the most important and finest digital camera enhancements are reserved for the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which positive aspects a “tetra prism” periscope lens that bounces gentle 4 instances internally for an extended focal size: 120mm, or a 5x zoom. This can be a huge enhance over the 3x/77mm telephoto digital camera supplied by the iPhone 15 Professional.

The iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max gained a 48MP digital camera in 2022 and in 2023 it’s the flip of the 15 and 15 Plus to realize a brand new 48MP primary digital camera. Capturing in 24MP is normal, however the 48MP pictures could be taken in ProRAW or HEIF for extra compact pictures, which is an enchancment on 2022. One good thing about with the ability to shoot in 48MP is that you may zoom and crop and nonetheless have sufficient decision to get high quality picture.

The iPhone 15 now provides a 2x optical zoom, up from 1x on the iPhone 14. All the brand new iPhones for 2023 get Good HDR 5.

There are additionally new video recording options for the professional fashions, together with ProRes video recording as much as 4K at 60 fps, LOG video recording and Academy Color Encoding.

In 2022 the TrueDepth (FaceTime and Face ID) digital camera was upgraded on the entrance of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, gaining autofocus and improved low-light efficiency due to the broader aperture. That could be a good motive to decide on that iPhone over the 13. The entrance digital camera of the iPhone 15 is unchanged.

The iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max fashions, identical to the iPhone 14 Professional and Max, are capable of shoot Macro pictures. This characteristic isn’t accessible on the usual fashions.

All fashions on sale at the moment supply Portrait Mode and the Portrait Lighting results on the rear cameras for pictures with depth of discipline. The one digital camera that doesn’t supply Night time Mode is the iPhone SE 3. The iPhone SE 3 additionally solely has one digital camera on the rear.

Security options: Emergency safety

Apple added some security options to all of the iPhone 14 sequence and these additionally characteristic on the iPhone 15 handsets. These options embrace a Crash Detection characteristic and Satellite tv for pc Connectivity for emergency telephone calls. The 2022 and 2023 Apple Watches additionally supply these security options.

Crash detection makes use of the gyroscope and accelerometer within the iPhones to acknowledge if the automobile you might be in has crashed. If the iPhone thinks you’ve been concerned in a crash, it can name emergency providers and notify your most popular contacts (except you inform it to not).

All telephones supply the flexibility to ship an Emergency SOS, however solely the iPhone 14 and 15 sequence provides the flexibility to take action by way of satellite tv for pc, which might be helpful if you happen to have been in an space with no sign. You simply want to have the ability to set up a transparent view of the sky, and be in a rustic that helps the characteristic (many do now). Due to the characteristic your iPhone can alert the emergency providers to your location in an emergency, the iPhone will even contact your emergency contact.

Sturdiness: Which iPhone is hardest?

One other issue within the alternative of which iPhone to decide on is how sturdy the mannequin is. How possible are you to break the iPhone.

As you may see from the part on design (above) nearly all of iPhones on sale proper now (apart from the iPhone SE 3) supply a Ceramic Defend entrance, which ought to imply that the glass on the entrance is much less more likely to smash if you happen to drop it. Solely the Professional and Professional Max are constructed from titanium (earlier generations have been chrome steel), which is a extra sturdy than aluminium, which all different iPhones are encased in.

All iPhones have a glass again (which is important for MagSafe charging). This does imply that if you happen to drop your iPhone with no case on then you might be just about assured to interrupt the glass on the again. So you’ll want to pop your new iPhone in a case. For our suggestions see our spherical up of the Finest iPhone instances.

The opposite method individuals injury their iPhones is by dropping them in water. Most iPhones are rated as water-proof to a depth of 6 meters for as much as half-hour (IP68), the iPhone SE 3 solely provides water resistance to a depth of 1 meter for as much as half-hour (IP67). We nonetheless wouldn’t suggest getting your iPhone moist although as a result of Apple will know if it’s gotten moist and it might void your guarantee ought to something go improper.

Apple

Specs: Storage and processor choices

Prior to now, when Apple has launched a brand new era of iPhones, every of the brand new fashions featured the identical processor, or no less than a variant of the identical processor. That modified in 2022 when the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max each gained the A16 chip, whereas the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus stayed again a era, adopting the A15 chip discovered within the iPhone 13 and iPhone SE 3, albeit with an additional core.

In 2023 iPhones 15 Professional and Professional Max supply the A17 and the iPhones 15 and 15 Plus supply the A16 (so they’re, no less than, higher than their predecessor was).

The A17 within the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max has one additional GPU core in comparison with the A16 within the iPhone 14 Professional and the iPhone 15, however that’s not the one method it’s higher. The A17 is the primary 3nm chip to seem in a shopper machine. Apple claims that the 2 high-performance CPU cores are “10 p.c quicker”, the 4 high-efficiency cores are “quicker”, the 6-core GPU provides 20% quicker peak efficiency and higher power effectivity, and the Neural Engine is as much as twice as quick. There are new graphics options like mesh shading and {hardware} ray tracing acceleration, which Apple claims is the quickest in any smartphone and as much as 4 instances quicker than software program ray tracing. Apple has additionally included a {hardware} AV1 decoder for the primary time. It’s possible you’ll be questioning why you want all this in a telephone, you most likely don’t except you’re a gaming fanatic.

The A16 Bionic was made utilizing a 4nm course of and again in 2022 Apple claimed it was the “quickest in any smartphone”, 40 p.c quicker than the closest competitors, 10% quicker than the A15 Bionic and 20% extra energy environment friendly. So you may anticipate enhancements within the iPhone 15 in comparison with the iPhones 14, 13 and SE.

Storage is more likely to be a consider your resolution too. Solely the Professional and Professional Max fashions supply 1TB onboard storage, however do you want that a lot storage? Maybe in case you are buying one among these fashions you do want that a lot storage – if you happen to report, and have to have continuous quick access to, massive portions of high-resolution video, this can be a boon. However for many, it will likely be overkill.

Every iPhone is offered in between three and 4 capability choices. It’s vital to contemplate how a lot you want earlier than shopping for as a result of iPhones don’t have a microSD card slot that may let you add extra storage at a later date. For the everyday iPhone consumer, 128GB might be enough. Solely the iPhone SE provides lower than that, with a 64GB possibility and we strongly suggest you pay the few {dollars}/kilos additional to purchase the 128GB mannequin.

One motive you could not want extra storage is if you happen to select to sync your information to the cloud. In case you pay a month-to-month payment for iCloud storage all of your information will likely be accessible on any of your units, and crucially your pictures will likely be saved within the cloud relatively than in your machine, liberating up many gigabytes of area. iCloud begins at $0.99/£0.99 for 50GB. See How a lot does iCloud value for extra data, together with Australian and Canadian costs.

Earlier than you determine how a lot storage you want take a look at your present telephone’s utilization (go to Settings > Normal > iPhone Storage) and take into consideration how a lot area you really want. Learn How a lot storage do you want on an iPhone? for extra recommendation.

Battery life and charging

In 2022 the iPhone 14 sequence supplied some good battery life boosts. For 2023 battery life is on par with these telephones. The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 14 each declare as much as 20 hours video playback, in comparison with 19 hours for the iPhone 13. The iPhone 15 Plus and 14 Plus each supply 26 hours video playback, the iPhone 15 Professional and 14 Professional 23 hours, and the iPhone 15 Professional Max and 14 Professional Max as much as 29 hours video playback.

The iPhone 13 provides provides as much as 19 hours, whereas the SE 3 provides simply 15 hours of video playback. In typical use although, you may anticipate to get greater than a day of use out of all iPhones, it’s been a number of years because it has been essential to cost your iPhone each night time, though you possible will preserve the behavior of doing so.

Must you neglect to cost your iPhone the vital query is how a lot time would it is advisable plug it in for to get an affordable quantity of cost? All smaller iPhones supply “As much as 50% cost in half-hour with 20W adapter or increased”, whereas the bigger fashions require 35 minutes to supply the identical.

As for a way you cost the iPhone, quick charging requires a 20W adapter or increased that plugs into both the USB-C on 2023 iPhones, or the Lightning port on older iPhones. All however the iPhone SE 3 may also be charged wirelessly by way of MagSafe.

Battery life and charging instances could be seen within the desk above.

Which iPhone ought to I purchase?

The very best iPhone you should buy proper now’s the iPhone 15 Professional Max, with its extra digital camera options and longer battery life. Nevertheless, if you’d like a smaller, lighter iPhone, the iPhone 15 Professional remains to be a good selection.

In case you don’t have the funds for the iPhone 15 Professional or Professional Max the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are nonetheless good decisions. If you’d like a much bigger display you then don’t must accept Apple’s costliest iPhone. In case you select these iPhones you’ll miss out on the telephoto lens, and the graphics capabilities won’t be nearly as good, however for almost all of individuals these telephones will likely be greater than enough.

You would lower your expenses and decide as a substitute for an iPhone 14 or 13, which could enchantment in case you are upgrading from a very previous iPhone. Our suggestion can be that if saving cash is a very powerful factor the iPhone 13 is a better option as there isn’t that a lot to set it other than the iPhone 14. The selection between an iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 will depend upon how a lot the digital camera enhancements and the additional hour of battery life within the newer iPhone matter. There’s additionally the protection options, however we don’t assume individuals will likely be shopping for new iPhones simply due to these options. 

If it’s a big display you need the iPhone 14 Plus is your solely low-cost possibility. If you’d like the smallest iPhone then there’s now just one to select from (except you discover a refurbished iPhone 13 mini). The iPhone SE 3 additionally provides the House button, which, for some individuals, remains to be important.

After getting chosen your new iPhone you’ll want to learn our iPhone arrange information.

Shopping for an iPhone on contract

The 2 commonest methods to purchase an iPhone are SIM-free from Apple itself or a third-party reseller (which is the place the pricing data all through this data matches in, since you’ll be paying upfront for the telephone, you’ll personal it, and you’ll then have to pay for a SIM-only contract for minutes, texts and information), or shopping for an iPhone on contract.

A contract often begins with an upfront cost that may differ relying on the iPhone mannequin you go for and in addition how a lot you’ll be paying every month. That upfront cost is adopted by month-to-month funds, usually for a complete of 24 months, after which you personal the telephone (most often). These month-to-month funds additionally cowl information, minutes and texts.

The next networks are price checking for his or her contract provides:

UK readers can discover iPhone contracts from the next networks:

And from the next third-party resellers:

The iPhone Improve Program

Apple provides a scheme known as the iPhone Improve Program, which works along with your service and begins at $39.50/£42.95 monthly. You’ll be able to then improve to the brand new iPhone every time one is introduced, staying on the identical or a really related plan.

You need to be cautious concerning the worth this provides, however in some circumstances, it could be the fitting strategy for you.

The scheme works barely otherwise within the U.Okay., the place that is for a SIM-free iPhone. Additionally, you will have to get a SIM-only contract to your information, minutes and texts.

You do get AppleCare+ included within the Improve Program, although, which is a two-year insurance coverage to your iPhone that may cowl you for 2 incidents of unintended injury. You’ll nonetheless must pay an extra payment ought to it is advisable use it, nevertheless it’ll be less expensive than having to cough up the complete worth of a restore.

Second-hand and refurbished iPhones

You’ll have observed that purchasing an iPhone doesn’t come low cost. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re strapped for money you don’t must dismiss the concept of shopping for an iPhone utterly. You could possibly get deal on one of many older handsets if somebody is trying to promote their present handset. Listed here are or suggestions of the finest place to purchase a used iPhone.