What is the best iPhone?
The best iPhone is usually one of the latest numbered models, but which one specifically will depend on your needs. If you want a big screen, go for a 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 a mini.
This are the best iPhones and is packed full of options, including the new iPhone 13, though note that the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max aren’t present yet, as we haven’t finished reviewing them.
These four handsets include more powerful chipsets, longer battery life and new camera features, with the Pro models additionally having 120Hz displays for the first time on an iPhone. So while they’re not the biggest upgrades ever, they’re sure to rank high on list.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t consider an older model though. Apple keeps it phones updated for years, so they remain viable for a long time, and if you’re looking to save money then an older iPhone might be a great choice for you.
With Apple’s phones typically being expensive, cost is one of the main things to consider when buying. Look not just as what you can afford but at what you’ll get by moving to a more powerful model – you might get more cameras or a bigger screen for illustration, but is that something you need? The answer will be different for everyone.
To make things easier though, we’ve included a full specs list and overview for all the best iPhones below, so you can see at a glance which ones are the best fit for you and for the amount you can afford.
Of course, if you’re not set on an Apple phone specifically then there are loads of other options.
Check out the list of the iPhones below to see some of the best alternatives for you.
(1) iPhone 13
The best Apple iPhone bang for your buck
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 174g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mmOS: iOS 15
Screensize: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1170 x 2532
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: Up to 19 hours
Rear camera: 12MP+12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$799.99
VIEW AT AT&T
US$929
View at Amazon
US$1,129
REASONS TO BUY
+Strong battery life
+Powerful internals
REASONS TO AVOID
-Minimal design changes
-No 120Hz screen
The iPhone 13 isn’t the biggest yearly iPhone upgrade we’ve seen, but almost every aspect of it is a little better than the iPhone 12, which makes it a brilliant iPhone overall.
In review we found that the battery life in particular was improved, with the iPhone 13 making it through every day that we used it without needing a top up before bed.
(2) iPhone 12 Pro
The best of the 12 series.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 189g
Dimensions: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4 mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1170 x 2532CPU: A14 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$999
REASONS TO BUY
+Varied color choices
+Clear and vibrant screen
REASONS TO AVOID
-No charging block in box
-Battery could be better
More advanced than the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12 Pro is also more expensive and has better specs than the standard model. The internals are better, and there’s a superior camera.
A fourth sensor alongside the standard iPhone 12 fare in the form of a LiDAR scanner makes it easier for the iPhone to work out what it’s looking at, and we found it did a great job of detecting faces in low light situations.
The iPhone 12 Pro also has a RAM boost – up to 6GB from 4GB – and that’s sure to help you get the most from whatever you’re doing on your phone. If you’re looking to edit videos on your phone, the iPhone 12 Pro is ideal for such a purpose.
Elsewhere, it’s business as usual for the iPhone 12 Pro offering much of what the iPhone 12 already has for less, but if you want that extra oomph, it’s an impressive upgrade. For a price.
(3) iPhone 12 mini
The best cheaper mini iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 135g
Dimensions: 131.5mm x 64.2mm x 7.4mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 5.4-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2340CPU: A14 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP+12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$729
REASONS TO BUY
+Smaller design looks great
+Fantastic display
REASONS TO AVOID
-64GB isn’t enough storage
-Battery life only okay
With the iPhone 12 mini, Apple introduced an iPhone mini for the first time in its history of making handsets, and it’s almost exactly the same as the iPhone 12 but it’s smaller.
There are a number of tiny spec differences – for example, wireless charging is notably slower on the iPhone 12 mini – but otherwise you’re getting high-end specs such as the powerful rear camera, 5G support and MagSafe support as well.
The design makes this phone easy to hold in a single hand, so if you’ve been crying out for a smaller iPhone that doesn’t lose out on the top-end specs that you get from other Apple devices this may well be for you.
As with the iPhone 12, the display is also fantastic on this handset too. You may not enjoy the battery life as that isn’t fantastic on the iPhone 12 mini.
(4) iPhone 12 Pro Max
The best relatively affordable big-screen iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 228g
Dimensions: 160.8mm x 78.1mm x 7.4mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1284 x 2778CPU: A14 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$656.25
REASONS TO BUY
+Long battery life
+Powerful rear camera
REASONS TO AVOID
-Feels too large
-Camera not hugely better than the 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro Max was once the best iPhone you could buy, and will loved everything it can do. It takes a lot of what makes the rest of the iPhone 12 range so good and just tweaks a few elements to make it even better.
So why is it so low in the list of the best iPhones? This is an expensive handset, and the sheer size of this handset means it won’t be for everyone.
If you’re happy to spend money on it, and you want a phone with a mammoth 6.7-inch screen then you’ll be happy with the iPhone 12 Pro Max in your pocket. A lot of what we’ve said about the iPhone 12 Pro is true here, but there are a few benefits.
We found the battery life is better in the iPhone 12 Pro Max when compared to most of the other iPhones on this list, and you’ll also find it has a slightly more powerful rear camera than even the iPhone 12 Pro.
(5) iPhone SE (2023)
The best budget iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 148g
Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 4.7-inch
Resolution: 750 x 1334CPU: A13 Bionic
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64/128/256GB
Battery: 1,821mAh
Rearcamera: 12MP
camera: 7MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Cheapest ever iPhone
+Lightweight frame
REASONS TO AVOID
-Battery life could be better
-Old screen technology
Unveiled in April 2023, the new iPhone SE may look like an older iPhone but it comes with a lot of benefits over the rest of the range. The chief reason you may want to buy this is it’s the cheapest iPhone you can buy from Apple right now.
It comes with the same design as the iPhone 8, but this has upgraded internals such as an A13 Bionic chipset that is the same we’ve seen powering the iPhone 11 range.
It also comes with a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which is something we haven’t seen on recent iPhones. The camera is good on this phone, but won’t compete with the very top iPhones, and we found it has an average battery life too.
Overall, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the devices you’ve read about above you’ll love the iPhone SE.
(6) iPhone 12
The best iPhone for 5G on a budget
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 164g
Dimensions: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.4 mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1170 x 2532CPU: A14 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP+12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$829
REASONS TO BUY
+Colorful OLED display
+Future-proofed with 5G
REASONS TO AVOID
-Cameras are similar to last year
-Battery life only okay
More expensive than the iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 makes up for that price hike with a wealth of features that should prove useful in the coming months and years.
That includes future-proofing courtesy of 5G support and the addition of MagSafe connectivity which enables you to attach things to your phone such as a charger or a case.
We found the camera was a little too similar to the previous year’s iPhone and the battery life remains merely okay, but there’s no denying that the iPhone 12 is a superior beast than the phones that have come before.
Design wise, it’s returned to some of the stylings of the iPhone 4 or 5 and that’s actually a good thing, feeling comfier in your hands. There’s also the overdue switch to a colorful OLED display which shows that Apple knows how to create a stylish looking as well as future-proof device.
(7) iPhone 11 Pro
The best older iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 188gDimensions: 144 x 71.4 x 8.1mmOS: iOS 14Screen size: 5.8-inchResolution: 1125 x 2436CPU: A13 BionicRAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/256/512GB
Battery: 3,046mAh
Rearcamera: 12MP+12MP+12M
camera: 12MP
PRICE
US$764.99
VIEW AT AMAZON
US$799.99
REASONS TO BUY
+Camera a real step forward
+Sizeable battery upgrade
REASONS TO AVOID
-Similar to iPhone XS visually
-Few non-camera upgrades
The iPhone 11 Pro is a more advanced smartphone than the base iPhone 11, but it arguably isn’t a better iPhone if you factor in the higher price.
Sure, the smaller screen is one-hand-friendly, the screen quality is a bonus, and it’s Apple’s most affordable handset with three rear cameras, so it’s a decent phone all in all – that’s why it once sat in the second spot on this list of our best iPhones.
But money is a concern for most people when they’re looking for a new smartphone, and the big price step up may be questionable for most people when you put the stats side-by-side with the iPhone 11.
You can now find it cheaper since the debut of the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro though, so you may want to consider this over the latest handsets.
(8) iPhone 11 Pro Max
The best older big iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 226g
Dimensions: 158 x 77.8 x 8.1mmOS: iOS 14Screen size: 6.5-inch
Resolution: 1242 x 2688CPU: A13 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/256/512GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP+12MP+12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$739
VIEW AT AMAZON
US$1,349.99
REASONS TO BUY
+Three rear cameras
+Still very powerful
REASONS TO AVOID
-Design isn’t updated
-Lack of clear innovation
The iPhone 11 Pro Max was not only a confusing shift in naming convention – it was once the biggest, fastest, baddest iPhone out there. It was also the most expensive at a $1,099 starting price, which only went up if you expanded the storage. Of course, that price has gone down with the launch of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 ranges.
Not much changed from the iPhone XS Max, aside from the upgraded camera suite – but then again, adding an ultrawide lens is a big upgrade. The photo software has been upgraded, too, and switching between zoom levels is far smoother than in other phones.
The battery level has been improved a staggering 4 hours over the iPhone XS Max, which holds true in testing. And if you can get beyond the weird-looking triple-lens rear camera block, this is a slightly cheaper version of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
(9) iPhone 11
The best basic older iPhone
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 194g
Dimensions: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mmOS: iOS 14
Screensize: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 828 x 1792CPU: A13 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128/256GB
Battery: Unknown
Rear camera: 12MP+12MP
Frontcamera: 12MP
PRICE
US$549.99
VIEW AT AT&T
US$599
REASONS TO BUY
+Great value
+Fast speeds at a discount
REASONS TO AVOID
-Still an LCD screen
-Glass back attracts fingerprints
The iPhone 11 isn’t the highest-spec Apple phone, but it supersedes the iPhone XR ‘budget flagship’ to become the standout phone of its generation in terms of sheer value.
Before the introduction of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, this was the favorite iPhone. True, it misses out on a telephoto lens, but there is a coupling of main and ultrawide lenses serve most photo needs.
While it doesn’t get an OLED display, its LCD screen at least allows the phone to keep its best-in-generation battery life crown. And it even gets a bit more RAM – up to 4GB from its predecessor’s 3GB.
All in all then this phone is a lean, mean, photo-taking machine.
(10) iPhone XS
The best cheaper flagship
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 174gDimensions: 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mmOS: iOS 14Screen size: 5.8-inchResolution: 1125 x 2436CPU: A12 BionicRAM: 4GBStorage: 64/256/512GBBattery: 2,659mAhRear camera: 12MP+12MPFront camera: 7MP
PRICE
US$389.97
VIEW AT AMAZON
US$389.97
REASONS TO BUY
+Smart HDR helps the camera
+Faster operation in one hand vs Max
REASONS TO AVOID
-Battery life not world-beating
-Design not altered in a year
Believe it or not, the iPhone XS was once Apple’s best ‘small’ phone. It has a 5.8-inch screen, so it’s more one-hand-friendly than a lot of the larger phones on this list, but it still packs a punch in terms of spec.
The iPhone XS may be a little older now, but it has a Smart HDR-capable 12MP camera, enhanced TrueDepth front-facing camera, and a fast A12 Bionic chipset, exactly like the larger iPhone XS Max.
In fact, this all-screen phone is pretty much the iPhone XS Max in a smaller form factor. It does have a smaller battery than the Max and obviously a smaller screen, but you will still capture the same great photos and videos on this device and play the same games.
Plus, it’s cheaper than it used to be when it was the latest and greatest iPhone.
