If you're looking for advice on the best iPhone to buy in 2024, you'd be forgiven for being confused. Until recently, the iPhone 15 Pro Max reigned supreme as the biggest and best iPhone money could buy, but following the release of the iPhone 16 series in September (and the simultaneous discontinuation of the iPhone 15 Pro line), Apple's shop window looks a little different now.
Thankfully, we've already had a chance to review all four new iPhone 16 models – check out our iPhone 16 review, iPhone 16 Plus review, iPhone 16 Pro review, and iPhone 16 Pro Max review for our full verdicts – and so we've shaken up our list of the best iPhones to reflect their availability.
Below, we've selected the best iPhones for every use case, comparing key factors such as price, performance, cameras, and battery life to help you find a model that best suits your needs.
We've tested every iPhone inside and out, so you can be confident that our recommendations are based on expert knowledge, in-depth analysis, and intelligent comparisons between other iPhones and devices from rival phone-makers. Once you're set on a model, head over to our best iPhone deals roundup or Apple coupon codes page for the latest iPad discounts.
Quick list
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best Apple phone you can buy today. Its combination of an A18 Pro chipset, a great camera suite, and Apple Intelligence compatibility make it a potent flagship handset, though the smaller iPhone 16 Pro is equally impressive.
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All things considered, the iPhone 16 is the best all-round iPhone on the market right now thanks to its compact size, A18 chipset, excellent cameras, and future-proof software compatibility.
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Apple's base 2023 model may lack the bells and whistles of its newer stablemates, but the iPhone 15 is still fast, compact, and photographer-friendly. With USB-C connectivity and the Dynamic Island, it's a very complete iPhone for a compelling price.
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With the iPhone 13 now dead and buried, the iPhone SE (2022) is the best budget phone that's still available from Apple. Its design may be outdated, but the internal specs remain strong.
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The iPhone 16 Plus is the model to go for if battery life is your number one priority. The 16 Pro Max offers comparable endurance, but as a value proposition, the 16 Plus has it beat.
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The best iPhone in 2024
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Below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best iPhones on our list. We've tested each model extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best iPhone overall
If you want the very best iPhone money can buy right now, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the model to go for. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was already (and still is) an exceptional handset, but Apple's latest flagship comes with a bigger screen, a more powerful chipset, a superior telephoto camera, a new Camera Control button, and Apple Intelligence compatibility.
Apple is pitching the latter of those features as the biggest selling point of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and while Apple Intelligence won't be available in its finished form until early next year, you'll want to make sure that you own an iPhone that can handle all of those power-hungry Apple Intelligence features when they do eventually roll out.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A18 Pro chipset – that's the most powerful mobile chipset Apple has ever produced and likely the most powerful mobile chipset on the market in 2024. All that power should make scrolling, streaming, gaming, and productivity tasks a breeze on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the phone's gorgeous 6.8-inch Super XDR OLED display (with ProMotion) is the biggest and best iPhone screen, well, ever.
On the camera front, the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a 48MP quad-pixel main lens, a 48MP ultra-wide lens (the first on an iPhone), and a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom (even more zoom would've been nice, but perhaps that's being greedy). Apple's new flagship also achieved a record-setting 16 hours of battery life in our testing, which is a figure rivaled only by the iPhone 16 Plus.
It's worth noting that the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro is exactly the same phone as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but smaller and cheaper. So, if you're not fussed about owning the biggest iPhone, we'd advise going for that model instead.
Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review
The best iPhone for most people
If you're not fussed about the larger size, faster refresh rate, and telephoto camera capabilities of Apple's more expensive Pro models, the standard iPhone 16 is an excellent all-round iPhone that we consider to be the best iPhone for most people.
The iPhone 15 (below) is still our pick as the best-value iPhone given its cheaper price, but the iPhone 16's compatibility with Apple Intelligence means that it won't become outmoded as quickly as Apple's 2023 base model.
Of course, the iPhone 16 brings more than just software upgrades. In addition to the Action button inherited from the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 16 gets an all-new Camera Control button, which can be used as a traditional shutter button or as a capacitive button that lets you zoom and adjust exposure, as well as a superfast A18 chipset, a larger battery and a faster 45W charging speed than the iPhone 15.
The iPhone 16's 48MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide cameras are impressive, but if you want truly exceptional zoom capabilities, you're better off going for the iPhone 16 Pro (or indeed the Galaxy S24 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro).
As for the iPhone 16's display, you'll get a stunning 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen that offers punchy colors and stark contrast points, though as alluded to above, you'll have to go for the pricier iPhone 16 Pro to benefit from Apple's ProMotion (i.e. 120Hz refresh rate) technology.
Read our full iPhone 16 review
The best value iPhone
Despite the arrival of the iPhone 16 series, we still consider the standard iPhone 15 to be the best-value iPhone in 2024. What it lacks in titanium sides, 120Hz scrolling, or high-spec zoom photography, the standard iPhone 15 more than makes up for in performance and portability.
For just $699 / £699 / AU$1,249 from Apple directly, you get a 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display, a fast A16 Bionic chipset, a USB-C port, a supremely capable 48MP main camera, and Apple’s smart digital screen cut-out, the Dynamic Island, all delivered in a sleek and eye-catching design package.
You do lose out on Apple Intelligence compatibility with the iPhone 15, so if you're ready to embrace smartphone AI and want a future-proof pocket companion, the iPhone 16 is the better buy.
However, if you're simply looking for a speedy, long-lasting, and eye-catching iPhone to see you through the next three or four years, the iPhone 15 is an excellent choice.
Read our full iPhone 15 review
The best budget iPhone
With the iPhone 13 now officially discontinued, the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2022) is the cheapest iPhone Apple still sells, and it remains a great budget choice for anyone who prefers a smaller, no-frills iPhone.
This dinky, classic-looking device was actually the first mid-range iPhone to support 5G, which was a major selling point at the time of its launch. The presence of a still-capable A15 Bionic chipset continues to be a big plus, too; it essentially means that the iPhone SE (2022) boasts more power than many of the best cheap phones, despite being far older.
With a slim, lightweight build and a compact display, the iPhone SE (2022) is supremely comfortable to use, but, at this point, it also feels very dated, with big bezels positioned above and below the display.
If you're OK with its old-school appearance, though, the iPhone SE (2022) is still relatively future-proof; it's compatible with iOS 18, and will continue to be supported with software updates for at least four more years.
It's worth noting that a new iPhone SE could be launching soon, though we've been hearing this rumor for a while now.
Read our full iPhone SE (2022) review
The best iPhone for battery life
The iPhone 16 Plus takes everything great about the standard iPhone 16 and supersizes it, meaning this is the handset to go for if you prefer a larger iPhone but don't want to spend big on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
This year's model gets all the same benefits as the standard iPhone 16 – the Action button, the Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence compatibility, and so on – but the Plus also benefits from battery life that pretty much wipes the floor with its comparatively priced competition.
In our testing, the iPhone 16 Plus lasted a whopping 16 hours and 29 minutes; that's endurance to rival the iPhone 16 Pro Max. So, if battery life is your number one priority, we'd recommend going for this phone over the iPhone 16 Pro Max and saving yourself $300 / £300 / AU$550 (if you don't care about ProMotion, that is).
Read our full iPhone 16 Plus review
FAQs
What is the best iPhone?
The best iPhone is usually one of the latest numbered models, but the value of each will depend on your specific needs. If you want a big screen, go for a Pro Max (the latest and greatest is the iPhone 16 Pro Max). For top specs in a smaller size, pick a Pro, and if you want to save some money, then get a standard model or the latest SE.
Which iPhone is the best value for money?
Right now, the iPhone that offers the best value for money is the iPhone 15, although the iPhone 16 is the more money-savvy choice if you're keen to use Apple Intelligence features.
How to choose the best iPhone?
A lot of iPhones are quite similar to one another, so choosing which model to buy mostly just means seeing what's different between them and finding the right fit for you.
All iPhones are powerful, and Apple supports them for a long time, so age and chipset needn't be a big deal, but if you don't plan on upgrading for a long time, then a newer model with a faster chipset is ideal.
Bigger factors, though, include the screen size – and bigger isn't always better. If you want something compact that you can easily slip into a small pocket, then consider one of the mini or SE models. But if you plan on doing a lot of gaming or video-watching, then something larger would be better.
Resolution and refresh rate are also worth paying attention to for the optimal visual experience – the higher the better in both cases, so ideal options will have things like a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution above 1080p.
Camera quality and battery life are important considerations, too, and you can't get a full picture of these just from a specs list, so read our full entries above (or click through to our detailed reviews) for insights into how each iPhone fares in those departments.
How we test
We've reviewed every iPhone on this list, meaning for each, we've passed our expert judgment on them after extensive testing. These reviews saw us use each phone as our main handset for at least a week, and often longer.
In the process, we would explore various use cases, including calls, texts, social media, video streaming, gaming, taking photos, and more, with some heavy use days and other lighter ones.
In short, we use our iPhones just like you would – but we make sure to test every key feature, as well as run benchmark tests, checking how long they take to charge, and more.
Using that data, we've then ranked each handset, factoring in price, value, and how they compare to one another, with a particular focus on their screens, designs, battery life, performance, and cameras.
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