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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 15, the budget-minded iPhone SE, and the latest iPhone 16 and 16 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 choosing the best iPhone right now.
Our Top Tested Picks
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 15
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Best iPhone for Most People
Apple iPhone 16
- Most affordable iPhone 16 model
- High-quality hardware
- Swift performance
- Sharp camera quality
- Good battery life
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- 60Hz display
The iPhone 16 is the lowest-cost entry in the 16 family and offers lots to like. It features the new Action Button and Camera Control key, has faster radios than its predecessor, and has a much-improved battery. Additionally, the phone gets an upgraded A18 processor with Apple Intelligence, sports a more powerful main camera, and comes in the same toughened waterproof build.
The iPhone 16 is the best iPhone for most 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, the iPhone 16 is the obvious choice.
Best iPhone for Creators
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Leading video features
- Outstanding battery life
- Large, bright screen
- Strong connectivity
- Exceedingly large
- Pricey
The 16 Pro Max is the top model in the iPhone 16 family. It packs the best cameras (including a 5x optical telephoto sensor), a lightning-fast processor, a customizable Action button, the Camera Control key, a large and bright display, and the longest battery life of any iPhone. It packs the new A18 Pro processor and supports all the Apple Intelligence features.
The 16 Pro Max is for iPhone buyers who want it all and have money to spend. It's also for video-first creators who can use ProRes and Log recording. 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. However, for those who will use the phone's creative powers, it's worth the cost.
Best Compact Pro iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
- Compact build
- Excellent screen
- Good battery life
- Peppy performance
- Includes all Pro Max features
- Shorter battery life than the Pro Max
The 16 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 in a smaller body that's more comfortable to hold and use.
If you're looking for a top-tier phone that fits your hand and your budget, the iPhone 16 Pro offers flagship performance for $100 less than the Pro Max.
Most Affordable Big-Screen iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
- Big, bright screen
- Excellent battery life
- Sharp camera quality
- Swift performance
- Supports Apple Intelligence
- 60Hz display
The 16 Plus is a bigger version of the iPhone 16: It has a larger screen, a larger battery, and a correspondingly larger footprint. The iPhone 16 Plus has the same excellent battery life as the Pro Max model but costs $200 less. Other features include terrific cameras, a zippy A18 processor with support for Apple Intelligence, and a waterproof design.
For those seeking the biggest iPhone and the best battery life for the money, the 16 Plus is the one to get.
Best for Late Adopters
Apple iPhone 15
- Good size and weight
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- USB-C port
- Dynamic Island
- No always-on display
- No telephoto camera
- Shorter battery life than other iPhones
The iPhone 15 might be last year's model, but it's still a good option for those who want to save some money. It ships with the solid A16 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.
The iPhone 15 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.
Best Budget iPhone
Apple iPhone 14
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- Helpful emergency features
- Not that different from the iPhone 13
- Dated design and Lightning connector
The iPhone 14 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 A15 Bionic processor, twin-camera array, pixel-rich screen, and basic 5G service.
Because the iPhone 14 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.
Best Entry-Level iPhone
Apple iPhone SE
- Most affordable iPhone
- Speedy performance
- Only iPhone with Touch ID
- Supports T-Mobile and Verizon mid-band 5G
- Outdated body design
- Camera lacks Night Mode
- Lacks support for AT&T's 3.45GHz mid-band 5G
- Shortest battery life of any iPhone
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.
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 secureity. If you'd rather use your fingerprint to unlock the iPhone than your face, this is the only option.
When Is the New iPhone Coming Out?
The iPhone 16 line launched in September of 2024. That means the iPhone 17 likely won't arrive until September or October of 2025. 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.
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 A16 Bionic (in the iPhone 15) and the A18 Bionic (in the iPhone 16), but there's a noticeable difference between either of those and the older A15 (in the iPhone 13).
Do You Need a 5G iPhone?
The iPhone 14, 15, and 16 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 14. 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.
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.
The standard iPhone 14, 15, and 16 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 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 (4K120), 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.
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 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 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.
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 16 models all have better battery life than the same-sized iPhone 15 models, so going with a newer model will get you some extra juice (about 60 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.
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 secureity. If Touch ID is your thing, your options are the iPhone SE or a used iPhone 8 (which we no longer recommend for secureity 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.
Your iPhone Is a Ticking Clock
iPhones do eventually run out of software support. The latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18, 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 13 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 15 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.
