The iPhone wasn’t really the primary smartphone, nevertheless it’s most likely the primary one you keep in mind.
Apple revolutionised the cell phone in 2007, ditching the bodily keyboard for a revolutionary touchscreen system. It’s simple to overlook that the App Retailer (and so third-party apps) didn’t really arrive till a yr later.
Quick ahead nearly twenty years and there are such a lot of completely different smartphones to select from. Most of those are Android handsets, with Apple sticking to only 4 or 5 new releases every year.
Nevertheless, as this chart proves, the corporate is clearly prioritising high quality over amount. Every of the 4 iPhone 15 fashions from 2023 are price shopping for for the correct of individual, but there are six older handsets that we nonetheless advocate in 2024 – particularly if you could find a very good low cost.
Apple’s wonderful software program assist means you possibly can normally proceed to securely use an iPhone for six or extra years following its launch. The entire telephones on this round-up are anticipated to get iOS 18, assuming it’s launched later this yr.
Nevertheless, which is the fitting iPhone for you? On this article, we’ll run by all of the fashions price shopping for, linking out to full critiques of every. Then, on the backside of the web page, you’ll discover detailed shopping for recommendation.
Favor to attend for the following technology? The iPhone 16 vary is predicted earlier than the top of 2024, although you can be ready a bit longer for the following iPhone SE.
Why it is best to belief us: Smartphones are our bread and butter right here at Tech Advisor. We’ve been reviewing them because the authentic iPhone again in 2007, and 17 years later, Apple’s smartphones are as necessary as ever. We carry out in-depth, real-world testing on each new iPhone that’s launched, shifting our essential SIM card to it for a minimum of per week for probably the most genuine expertise potential.
Up to date 5 April 2024: We now have full critiques of all 4 iPhone 15 fashions, so have added the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Professional Max to finish the highest 10.
Greatest iPhone 2024
1. Apple iPhone 15 Professional – Greatest total
Value When Reviewed:
1 229 €
If cash is not any object, the iPhone 15 Professional is the very best iPhone for most individuals. It gives just about all of the premium options of the 15 Professional Max, however has a way more manageable 6.1-inch show.
Not solely is the display screen a crystal-clear OLED with a 120Hz refresh price, it will get extremely vibrant. You’ll be capable to see the show on even the brightest of days.
The 12Mp 5x periscope lens being unique to the Professional Max is a disgrace, however the 3x one on the iPhone 15 Professional continues to be excellent. It’s joined by a 48Mp essential, 12Mp ultrawide and 12Mp 2x telephoto, all of which take wonderful images.
Apple’s up to date A17 Professional chipset takes already-great efficiency to the following stage, whereas the titanium construct and motion button are good touches.
Then there’s the rather more versatile USB-C port, with Apple lastly shifting away from Lightning. Battery life is ok and charging is sluggish, however that is nonetheless an outstanding cellphone, and shall be for a few years to return.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 15 Professional assessment
2. iPhone 15 Professional Max – Greatest massive display screen
Professionals
- Light-weight titanium construct
- Excellent efficiency
- Nice cameras, together with 5x telephoto
- Motion Button and USB-C
Cons
- Battery life similar as 14 Professional Max
- Large and hulking
- Very costly
Value When Reviewed:
1 479 €
There are solely a handful of variations between the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max, however they’re important.
The obvious is a bigger 6.7-inch show on the Professional Max, although a barely greater decision means it’s nonetheless the most effective screens on any smartphone.
The telephoto digital camera additionally helps optical zoom as much as 5x (versus 3x), delivering even higher images from distant. All 4 digital camera lenses (additionally essential, ultrawide and selfie) are very sturdy.
Battery life is even higher, although it’s a greater, heavier and dearer cellphone. Key options such because the titanium construct, nice efficiency from the Apple A17 Professional chip, customisable Motion Button and USB-C are current on each.
Finally, the Professional Max is price it if you need a bigger show, barely improved cameras and higher battery life. Both approach, it’s an outstanding smartphone.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max assessment
3. Apple iPhone 15 – Greatest for most individuals
Professionals
- Superb efficiency
- Dynamic Island
- USB-C port
- Good worth for cash
Cons
- Show solely 60Hz
- Cameras could possibly be higher
- Gradual charging
Value When Reviewed:
969 €
The iPhone 15 Professional is the very best Apple cellphone to get, however provided that you possibly can afford it. With a beginning worth that’s £200/$200 much less at launch, the common iPhone 15 is a extra lifelike choice.
And it gives good worth for cash, even when the specs aren’t fairly top-tier. Apple’s A16 Bionic chip from 2022 nonetheless delivers nice efficiency, and it’s good to see the helpful Dynamic Island come to non-Professional fashions.
The 6.1-inch show beneath it’s spectacular, although you’ll nonetheless should make do with out a excessive refresh price. You may nonetheless get some nice photographs with the 48Mp essential, 12Mp ultrawide and 12Mp selfie cameras, however there’s no telephoto of any description right here.
Finally, you’re getting an iPhone 15 Professional design in a way more inexpensive. Regardless of some compromises, it’s nonetheless an important cellphone.
4. Apple iPhone 15 Plus – Greatest battery life
Professionals
- Stellar battery life
- Easy efficiency
- Crisp, vibrant show
- Excessive-quality, water resistance construct
Value When Reviewed:
1 119 €
With the iPhone 15 Plus, Apple is providing a formidable big-screen iPhone expertise with out the hefty price ticket of the Professional Max. With a beginning worth of £899/$999, it’s not precisely inexpensive, however does provide good worth for cash.
As anticipated, there are just a few compromises in comparison with the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. You’ll should make do with the A16 Bionic chip that debuted in 2022, although efficiency continues to be wonderful. Whereas the show continues to be very first rate, the refresh price tops out at 60Hz, so that you don’t get the silky-smooth scrolling and additional responsiveness of 120Hz.
There’s additionally no telephoto lens in any respect, that means zoom photographs undergo. However images from the principle, ultrawide and selfie cameras are all very spectacular. The latter is housed inside Apple’s Dynamic Island, which arrives on the non-Professional telephones for the primary time, and USB-C additionally makes its debut.
And battery life is the very best you’ll discover on an iPhone. It could final even probably the most intensive days with ease, and with lighter utilization can final two and even three days on a single cost.
If that’s a prime precedence for you, otherwise you merely desire a massive iPhone with out all of the bells and whistles of the Professional Max, the 15 Plus is a superb alternative.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 15 Plus assessment
5. iPhone 14 Professional – Nonetheless a superb alternative
Professionals
- Dynamic Island
- Spectacular 48Mp essential digital camera
- Wonderful digital camera options
- Good always-on show
Cons
- Costlier within the UK
- Common battery life
Previous to the iPhone 15 vary, the iPhone 14 Professional was the very best iPhone for most individuals. It gives key enhancements over the iPhone 13 Professional not solely when it comes to uncooked efficiency however new options, with the 14 Professional sporting key new tech together with Apple’s Dynamic Island digital camera cut-out.
Changing the usual Face ID notch, the oblong-shaped cut-out is a formidable mix of software program and {hardware} that brings the notch into the iOS expertise, displaying timers, music controls and extra with out having to entry your lock display screen. It’s totally charming and a real spotlight of Apple’s eager eye for software program and {hardware} design.
That’s not all, although: it’s additionally the primary iPhone to supply an always-on show, and in true Apple type, it’s significantly better than the Android competitors. Whereas it dims the show, you’ve nonetheless obtained full entry to your wallpaper, time, widgets, notifications and music controls with none actual affect on total battery life.
The 48Mp rear snapper is one other spotlight of this yr’s Professional mannequin; utilizing 4-in-1 pixel binning tech, the brand new essential digital camera gives a formidable enhance not solely to total element however low-light images. That’s a development of all cameras on the 14 Professional, with Apple claiming a normal 2x enchancment.
The one actual disappointment is battery life; whereas it’ll carry on going if left on standby, you’ll possible solely be capable to squeeze a couple of day’s use out of the cellphone earlier than it’ll want a top-up.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 14 Professional assessment
6. iPhone 14 Professional Max – Greatest big-screen expertise
Professionals
- Spectacular always-on show
- Dynamic Island works effectively
- Excellent efficiency
- Nice battery life
Cons
- Nonetheless very costly
- Massive and hulking
The iPhone 14 Professional Max was the very best showcase of Apple’s smartphone expertise in 2022, and it stays an outstanding alternative in 2024 – significantly if you could find a reduction.
It nonetheless gives a top-tier iPhone expertise, full with spectacular Dynamic Island digital camera cut-out, helpful always-on show and nonetheless one of many very quickest processor in the marketplace, the A16 Bionic. There’s additionally the identical upgraded rear-facing digital camera setup because the iPhone 14 Professional, together with a robust 48Mp essential snapper.
The place the iPhone 14 Professional Max nonetheless stands out is with the display screen; the 6.7in Tremendous Retina XDR show is just gorgeous. It’s vibrant, vivid and there’s sufficient display screen area to essentially get pleasure from watching video content material comparable to TikTok and Netflix.
It additionally advantages from a bigger battery than common Professional fashions for true all-day battery life with out having to fret. It’s not the very best iPhone in anyone space today, however stays a superb smartphone.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 14 Professional Max assessment
7. iPhone 14 – An important inexpensive choice
Professionals
- Excellent battery life
- Nice efficiency
- Excellent twin cameras
Cons
- 60Hz show
- Gradual charging
- No RAW images
The iPhone 14 changed the iPhone 13 in Apple’s line-up, and regardless that the iPhone 15 has now arrived, it’s nonetheless an important alternative for most individuals.
It has excellent cameras (regardless of lacking out on the 48Mp snapper of the Professional fashions), excellent battery life that comfortably lasts all day, and an important, if solely 60Hz, show.
The cellphone large enough to benefit from the show with out being unwieldy just like the iPhone Plus and Max fashions, and it’s additionally a lot lighter.
Throw in different options together with full waterproofing, wi-fi charging, satellite tv for pc connectivity and automobile crash detection and you’ve got a strong iPhone that may final you for a number of years.
The shortage of a excessive refresh price show, USB-C and a Dynamic Island will frustrate some folks. However if you happen to can stay with out them and don’t thoughts a smaller iPhone, the common 14 continues to be simple to advocate.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 14 assessment
8. iPhone 14 Plus – Wonderful battery life
Professionals
- Excellent battery life
- Massive, spectacular show
- Strong design and construct
Cons
- Too costly for what it’s
- 60Hz show
- No potential to take RAW images
If battery life is a precedence for you, the iPhone 14 Plus continues to be an important choice. The newer 15 Plus is even higher, nevertheless it’ll nonetheless finish a full day with cost to spare most often.
And there’s a lot nonetheless to love right here, from sturdy efficiency from the A15 Bionic chipset to a formidable giant show – even whether it is nonetheless restricted to 60Hz.
The 14 Plus nonetheless feels very premium, whereas the principle, ultrawide and selfie cameras will nonetheless take wonderful images in 2024.
Nevertheless, except you could find it with a giant low cost, there’s no clear cause to purchase the 14 Plus over different iPhone fashions. The 15 Plus is an improve in a number of areas, whereas different iPhone 15 handsets provide a greater all-round expertise for most individuals.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 14 Plus assessment
9. iPhone 13 mini – Greatest small iPhone
Professionals
- Good small-screen expertise
- No compromise on efficiency
- Nice cameras
Cons
- 60Hz show
- Small battery features
- Slower MagSafe charging
If even the 6.1in show of the common and Professional iPhones are too massive to your liking, the iPhone 13 mini is the system for you.
It gives the identical expertise as the usual iPhone 13, full with an A15 Bionic chip, Apple’s Tremendous Retina XDR show (albeit at a smaller 5.4in) and wonderful essential and ultrawide lenses, sporting sensor-shift OIS just like the extra premium fashions, however in a a lot smaller type issue.
The iPhone 13 mini is the right iPhone to make use of one-handed, however the smaller show additionally means it’s not the very best for watching YouTube movies and films on Netflix.
The small dimensions additionally imply that battery life isn’t the best, whereas charging through MagSafe is proscribed to only 12W.
However with Apple having discontinued the mini from the iPhone 14 and 15 vary, it’ll stay the small iPhone to beat for some time.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 13 mini assessment
10. iPhone SE (2022) – Most inexpensive iPhone
Professionals
- A15 Bionic chipset
- 5G connectivity
- Inexpensive worth
Cons
- Dated design
- Small 720p LCD show
- Single rear digital camera
Value When Reviewed:
Dès 529 €
Apple’s iPhone SE vary is dedicated to perform over type, prioritising uncooked efficiency over design or aesthetics, and that’s simply as true with the most recent variant – however presumably to its detriment.
Sporting the identical A15 Bionic chipset and 5G connectivity because the iPhone 13 sequence, the iPhone SE outperforms each Android competitor in its worth vary and 5G connectivity is a welcome addition, however that efficiency comes at a price.
The dated design of the iPhone SE feels older than ever, and the 720p LCD show appears not solely small however more and more unable to render apps and webpages designed for greater cell shows.
There’s additionally the one 12Mp snapper on the rear. It’ll take first rate images in good and even marginally low mild, nevertheless it lacks superior capturing modes like Night time Mode and Cinematic Video mode regardless of that includes a chipset greater than able to doing so.
The iPhone SE is absolutely solely for individuals who should have an iPhone, however can’t afford different fashions or don’t wish to goodbye to Contact ID. For virtually everybody else, there’s a greater iPhone accessible.
Learn our full
iPhone SE (2022) assessment
What ought to I contemplate when shopping for an iPhone?
Display measurement
One of many largest deciding elements when in the marketplace for an iPhone is the display screen measurement you need, or most really feel comfy utilizing – we don’t all have enormous palms to make use of the iPhone 15 Professional Max one-handed, will we?
For those who’re suited to smaller shows, your greatest wager continues to be the iPhone 13 mini with its 5.4in show. It would’ve been ditched with the introduction of iPhone 14 vary, so that you’ll miss out on the most recent options, nevertheless it’s probably the most transportable iPhone in Apple’s assortment. The 4.7in iPhone SE does technically have a smaller show, nevertheless it’s really barely greater than the 13 mini as a result of it has a lot bigger bezels.
It then jumps as much as the iPhone 15 and 15 Professional, each at 6.1in. If you need the most important show potential, you’d be higher off with the iPhone 15 Plus or iPhone 15 Professional Max at 6.7in.
Efficiency
Efficiency is one other ingredient to contemplate when shopping for an iPhone, as you’ll possible wish to get probably the most out of your system – particularly at Apple’s costs.
The dangerous information is that, in contrast to with earlier generations of iPhone, the iPhone 15 vary has a processor cut up. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus get the identical A16 Bionic as final yr’s iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max, whereas the upgraded 3nm A17 Professional is unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. If you need the very best efficiency, you’ll should splash out for Apple’s top-end fashions.
Cameras
If cameras are necessary to you, you then’ve obtained a troublesome resolution to make because it’s one space the place the iPhone assortment differs tremendously. If you need the absolute best digital camera expertise, the mix of a essential 48Mp sensor, a 12Mp ultra-wide sensor and 12Mp telephoto sensor accessible on the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max vary could also be greatest for you.
For those who can stay with out the upgraded 48Mp snapper and 3x telephoto lens, you possibly can go for the usual iPhone 15 and its 48Mp essential and 12Mp ultrawide snappers.
The iPhone SE has a single 12Mp digital camera on the rear, that means it’s fairly restricted in comparison with the more moderen iPhones. The one lens will do if you happen to’re not too fussed about images, however don’t anticipate the identical stage of element on provide from Apple’s high-end choices.
Battery life
Historically, battery life has been a little bit of an issue with regards to iPhones, particularly when in comparison with Android counterparts and their enormous batteries.
However with that stated, Apple has come leaps and bounds over the previous couple of years with regards to battery life, with the 15 Plus and 15 Professional Max providing all-day battery life with common utilization. Most individuals will be capable to get a full day trip of the common iPhone 15 and 15 Professional, however that’s not assured if you happen to go for older fashions.
Battery capability is considerably tied to show measurement, as that’ll dictate how giant the battery may be, so anticipate higher battery life from Apple’s big-screen fashions.
5G connectivity
Apple launched 5G assist with the iPhone 12 vary, so all of those iPhones on this listing now assist the most recent mobile expertise.
However do not forget that 5G availability continues to be restricted in lots of nations and areas, and also you’ll want a SIM that helps it.
Value
In fact, the most important issue to contemplate is your price range: how a lot do you wish to spend in your iPhone? The iPhone 15 Professional is an outstanding smartphone, however beginning at $999/£99, it ought to be.
Extremely, that’s not even the costliest iPhone: that award goes to the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which begins at £1,199/$1,199 and goes all the way in which as much as £1,599/$1,599.
The iPhone 15’s £799/$799 price ticket is rather more enticing if you need flagship specs, whereas the 15 Plus gives the big-screen expertise at a extra inexpensive £899/$899.
The most cost effective iPhone is the iPhone SE at £449/$429, and though it does provide the identical A15 chipset because the iPhone 13 vary, there’s a compromise not solely when it comes to design however different areas too.
However if you wish to get into the iOS ecosystem on the least expensive worth potential, the iPhone SE could possibly be the one to go for.