Choosing the best iPhone used to be easy. With the original, you picked a storage size. A year later, there were colour options too. (Well, black or white.) Then – boom – you owned one of the best smartphones on the planet. Now? You’re faced with an increasingly complex selection of shiny new iPhones and last-generation stragglers.
Our guide is here to cut through the noise. We’ll spell out who each currently shipping iPhone is best for, dig into the highs and lows, point you towards the ideal older iPhone for kids, and tackle common questions that might otherwise derail your upgrade plans.
Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.
Quick list: What’s the best iPhone for you?
The best iPhone you can buy today:
1. iPhone 17 Pro Max
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| Specifications | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.9in 2868×1320px 120Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB on-board |
| Software | iOS 26 |
| Cameras | 48MP Pro Fusion rear (main, ultra wide, telephoto; up to 8x optical zoom) / 18MP Centre Stage front |
| Battery | 4823 mAh (nanoSIM), 5088 mAh (eSIM) / MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W |
| Dimensions | 163.4×78×8.75mm / 6.43×3.07×0.34in |
| Weight | 231g / 8.15oz |
Looking for the best iPhone there is? That’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It offers blistering performance, a superb triple-lens camera and a bright, beautifully crafted display.
It blazes through anything you throw at it, and our tests suggested this phone had single-core scores that more than match the desktop Mac Studio’s M3 Ultra chip. Yet the new vapour chamber cooling system manages to keep things cool. Battery life impresses too: we got close to two full workdays from the 4823mAh cell, and it hit 50% in just 20 minutes using a 40W charger.
The 6.9in OLED display is the same 120Hz ProMotion stunner as on last year’s Pro Max, but with higher 3000 nits peak brightness outdoors. Even direct sunlight couldn’t dull it during testing. The cameras get bigger changes. The upgraded 48MP triple-lens setup truly delivers. Shots at 8x optical zoom are crisp and full of detail, and the 40x digital zoom is cleaner than anything we saw from the iPhone 16 Pro.
We’re less sold on the move from titanium to aluminium – our review unit picked up a small ding after a few days – but the build still feels premium. iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass look is divisive, though it shines on this big screen.
If you’re after the ultimate iPhone for performance, this is the best you can buy. And there’s a smaller Pro if you don’t want a giant iPhone. That all said, you might be better off saving some cash and going for our next option, which is now even closer to the Pro than ever…
2. Apple iPhone 17
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| Specifications | Apple iPhone 17 |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.3in 2622×1206px 120Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A19 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB on-board |
| Software | iOS 26 |
| Cameras | 48MP Dual Fusion rear (main, ultra wide; up to 2x optical zoom), 18MP Centre Stage front |
| Battery | 3692mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W |
| Dimensions | 149.6×71.5×7.95mm / 5.89×2.81×0.31in |
| Weight | 177g / 6.24oz |
The iPhone 17 is Apple’s best all-rounder yet – and arguably the iPhone most people should buy right now. This is the closest that the standard iPhone has ever been to the Pro, yet it still lacks the eye-watering price tag of Apple’s flagship – and quite a bit of its bulk.
The design is unexciting but robust and premium. The new Ceramic Shield 2 improves scratch resistance. The bigger win, though, is the display, which finally gives the standard iPhone a 120Hz OLED panel. It’s the same one that’s in the Pro, meaning silky smooth scrolling and an always-on 1Hz mode with StandBy support.
The dual 48MP camera system impresses in most conditions. Macro shots are sharper than on the iPhone 16, while standard 1x snaps are rich and detailed. The lack of a telephoto lens remains the biggest gap versus the Pro models, though. Digital zoom quickly loses quality beyond 2x.
Performance can’t quite match the Pro either, but it’s close. The odd high-end game will stutter and the phone can get a bit toasty under sustained load. But this is still a highly capable device, from more casual gaming through to surprisingly high-end creative tasks like music production. The battery impresses too, typically lasting a full day of mixed use.
Unless you need a telephoto lens or ultra-thin bragging rights, we’d say the iPhone 17 nails the essentials. It’s powerful, practical and a sensible choice.
3. iPhone 17e
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| Specifications | Apple iPhone 17e |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.1in 2532×1170px 60Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A19 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256/512GB |
| Software | iOS 26 |
| Cameras | 48MP Fusion rear (up to 2x optical zoom) / 12MP TrueDepth front |
| Battery | 4005mAh / Qi (not MagSafe) wireless charging up to 7.5W |
| Dimensions | 146.7×71.5×7.8mm / 5.78×2.82×0.31in |
| Weight | 167g / 5.88oz |
The iPhone 17e might not be Apple’s cheapest phone ever, but it strikes a smart balance between price and performance. At $200/£200 less than the standard iPhone 17, there are obviously some compromises – which we’ll get to in a bit. But let’s first look at the good stuff.
The design’s not cutting edge, but it’s still a clear step on from 2022’s 3rd-gen iPhone SE, ditching the Home button and chunky bezels for good. There’s a notch rather than Dynamic Island – from the front, this is basically still an iPhone 14. But the flat edges, compact 169g build and tougher Ceramic Shield 2 coating (Apple reckons it’s 3x more scratch-resistant than before) make it a joy to handle. There’s a new soft pink finish too, although black and white remain your only other choices.
From a performance standpoint, it’s no slouch either, with the new A19 chip and C1X modem keeping it firmly in step with this year’s models. Storage has been doubled as standard, so 256GB is now the entry point. Best of all, the 17e finally gets MagSafe, complete with Qi2 support and 15W wireless charging – double what the 16e managed. Where it still falls short is the 60Hz display, which feels increasingly stingy as the rest of Apple’s range moves on.
The other main difference compared to the 17 is the camera setup. The 17 has a fancy new selfie camera and a 48MP ultrawide. The 17e lacks both, leaning on a software crop of its single 48MP main sensor for a so-so 2x zoom, and there’s still no Camera Control button. That main snapper isn’t quite as capable as the 17’s, but it’s still impressive, including against similarly priced Android rivals.
Where the 16e felt like a notable compromise next to the 17, the 17e closes much of that gap – MagSafe and the storage bump see to that. The display and single-lens camera are now the clearest giveaways that you’re not holding a standard 17. That said, there’s still no new iPhone cheaper than this, and if you can’t stretch to the extra $200/£200, the 17e is the easiest budget recommendation Apple’s made yet.
4. iPhone Air
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| Specifications | Apple iPhone Air |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.5in 2736×1260px 120Hz HDR OLED at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB on-board |
| Software | iOS 26 |
| Cameras | 48MP Fusion rear (up to 2x optical zoom) / 18MP Centre Stage front |
| Battery | 3149mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 20W |
| Dimensions | 156.2×74.7×5.64mm / 6.15×2.94×0.22in |
| Weight | 165g / 5.82oz |
The iPhone Air is the first new iPhone design since the Plus. In fact, it’s arguably the most radical departure in the line since the introduction of the iPhone X. We love its looks – but we don’t think this iPhone is for everyone.
Side-on, it’s 5.6mm thin and yet the build feels reassuringly solid. It looks great. And at just 165g, it won’t drag down your pockets. Around front, you also get a 120Hz 6.5in OLED display that’s only bettered by the screen on the Pro Max. Performance is properly flagship too, thanks to the A19 Pro chip with specs that almost match what’s in the Pros. However, the thin design means this phone can run hot – and not necessarily when it’s being pushed.
There are other downsides too. The battery just about lasted a full day during testing. It’s OK rather than great. The same could be said for the single 48MP camera, which delivers crisp daytime shots, but lacks the ultra wide from the other iPhone 17s and the telephoto from the Pro. Even audio takes a hit, with a single-speaker setup that we haven’t seen in an iPhone since 2016’s budget iPhone SE.
If you value portability and style above all else, the iPhone Air is a visually arresting, pocket-friendly slice of Apple hardware. But if photography, battery life or versatility matter more, the iPhone 17 remains the smarter buy.
5. iPhone 14
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| Specifications | iPhone 14 |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.1in 1170×2532px 60Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB on-board |
| Software | iOS 16 |
| Cameras | Dual 12MP rear (main, ultra wide) / 12MP TrueDepth front |
| Battery | 3279 mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W |
| Dimensions | 146.7×71.5×7.8mm / 5.78×2.82×0.31in |
| Weight | 172g / 6.07oz |
You might pause at the thought of handing a brand-new iPhone 17 to a child – or even the cheaper 16e – given that there’s a good chance it’ll get dropped, cracked or left on a bus. That leaves you looking for second-hand fare or refurb units. Right now, we reckon the iPhone 14 is the best option.
It still looks modern. Around front, it’s identical to the 16e but comes in a more interesting range of colours. It also has other advantages over the newer phone, such as an ultra wide camera and MagSafe charging. Where it lags is in having an inferior (but still reasonable) 12MP front camera, the old Lightning connector rather than USB-C and a slower A15 chip. The last of those things means no Apple Intelligence (although you might see that as a benefit) and two to three years less software support. But then if you’re buying a cheap iPhone for a kid, you’re probably not thinking very long term anyway.
On the Apple Refurb store, the 128GB iPhone 14 comes in at $449/£449 – $150/£150 less than the 16 – but we’ve seen cheaper elsewhere. Also, if your kid’s big into photography, consider an iPhone 14 Pro, with its 48MP front camera and 12MP 3x telephoto lens. It also has a newer, faster chip and Dynamic Island, although it’s still lumbered with Lightning.
Both 14s, note, have emergency satellite communication, which lets someone contact help when out of mobile range. That’s not something most people will need every day, but it’s reassuring to have if your kid likes hiking, camping or just tends to wander off with no signal.
How to choose the best iPhone for you
Buying an iPhone might seem simple. Walk into an Apple Store. Grab the latest iPhone. Pay. Leave. (Don’t forget the penultimate step!) But Apple sells several models, each with unique features, sizes and prices. So you must think through what you actually need.
Start with your budget and work from there. And to further help you make an informed decision, here are answers to some common questions people ask when choosing an iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
iPhone is the standard model. Pro means premium – more features and a higher price. Pro Max is the Pro with a bigger display. Air is Apple’s new-for-2025 skinnier design. E (or ‘e’ as Apple would have it) is a ‘budget’ iPhone that replaced the iPhone SE line.
You’ll use the phone often, so it needs to feel right in the hand. If possible, try them all in an Apple Store and see what works for you. You may find the Pro Max fantastic or unwieldy. Generally, we think the standard iPhone strikes a good balance of screen space, comfort and pocketability.
On iPhone, a display with a variable refresh rate of 1–120Hz that enables an always-on mode (1Hz) and smoother scrolling (120Hz). Older iPhones had a 60Hz refresh rate (including the iPhone 16 and 16e that are still on sale) and no always-on mode.
The Pro chip is more powerful, making it more suited to high-end games and editing video. But in most cases, you won’t notice. An A19 is more than enough for most tasks. In fact, even chips in years-old iPhones often more than do the job. Just be mindful that Apple Intelligence requires an A17 Pro/A18 (or newer).
Apple cameras tend to be great and you don’t need an iPhone Pro for quality snaps. The main advantage of the Pro is a telephoto lens. ‘Fusion’ lenses with 2x optical zoom are actually cropping the central part of a higher-resolution image, resulting in less detail than you’d get with a telephoto equivalent. If you’re more into extreme close-ups (macros), you’ll need an ultra-wide. The Air and 16e don’t have one.
Yes. Apple gives you 5GB of online storage for free, which is pitiful. iCloud+ has a range of storage tiers and adds features like Hide My Email. But it’s most vital for backing up your iPhone, ensuring you won’t lose precious data and photos. Note that you can share iCloud+ plans with family members.
That depends on how you use an iPhone. But be mindful you cannot expand internal storage later, although you can ‘offload’ apps, files, photos and videos to iCloud storage. Regardless, choose wisely. When upgrading from an existing iPhone, check your current usage in Settings > General > ‘iPhone Storage’.
Probably. Modern iPhones are durable but not indestructible. One wrong drop on to a hard surface and your iPhone may require a replacement screen that costs half as much as the phone did. But cases add bulk, so carefully consider which to buy.
That depends. Consumer rights in your region might give you protection regarding faults. For accidental damage, though, AppleCare can be a good option, and you’ll know from previous experience if you tend to damage devices. There’s also a theft and loss tier, but those things might be covered by your home insurance.
If handled with care, years. The battery is the most likely thing to fail, and Apple can replace that for around $100/£100. In terms of software, iOS 26 supports the iPhone 11 – and that was released in 2019. So six years or so is a good yardstick.
iPhones move fast. In 2024, the iPhone 16 looked like a bargain. A year later, the iPhone 17 has blazed so far ahead that we can’t recommend the 16 anymore. Sure, Apple’s knocked $100/£100 off the price, but any sense of savings evaporate once you look at what you’re losing compared to the 17: a ProMotion always-on display; Ceramic Shield 2; a faster chip; big battery gains; great camera upgrades; double the storage.
This year, Apple won’t even let you bump the storage on the previous year’s iPhone. Why? Because then a 256GB iPhone 16 would cost the same as a 256GB iPhone 17. Yikes.
The only reason to even consider a 16 now is for the Plus version – and even then, only if you absolutely must have a bigger display but won’t pay Air or Pro Max prices. But do ask yourself if you’d sooner pay $100/£100 less than the Plus for an iPhone 17 with all of its superior tech, and just live with the smaller screen.
iPhone spec comparison table
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| Specifications | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 17 | Apple iPhone 17e | Apple iPhone Air | iPhone 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.9in 2868×1320px 120Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi | 6.3in 2622×1206px 120Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi | 6.1in 2532×1170px 60Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi | 6.5in 2736×1260px 120Hz HDR OLED at 460ppi | 6.1in 1170×2532px 60Hz OLED HDR at 460ppi |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A19 | Apple A19 | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB on-board | 256GB/512GB on-board | 256/512GB | 256GB/512GB/1TB on-board | 128GB/256GB/512GB on-board |
| Software | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 16 |
| Cameras | 48MP Pro Fusion rear (main, ultra wide, telephoto; up to 8x optical zoom) / 18MP Centre Stage front | 48MP Dual Fusion rear (main, ultra wide; up to 2x optical zoom), 18MP Centre Stage front | 48MP Fusion rear (up to 2x optical zoom) / 12MP TrueDepth front | 48MP Fusion rear (up to 2x optical zoom) / 18MP Centre Stage front | Dual 12MP rear (main, ultra wide) / 12MP TrueDepth front |
| Battery | 4823 mAh (nanoSIM), 5088 mAh (eSIM) / MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W | 3692mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W | 4005mAh / Qi (not MagSafe) wireless charging up to 7.5W | 3149mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 20W | 3279 mAh / MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W |
| Dimensions | 163.4×78×8.75mm / 6.43×3.07×0.34in | 149.6×71.5×7.95mm / 5.89×2.81×0.31in | 146.7×71.5×7.8mm / 5.78×2.82×0.31in | 156.2×74.7×5.64mm / 6.15×2.94×0.22in | 146.7×71.5×7.8mm / 5.78×2.82×0.31in |
| Weight | 231g / 8.15oz | 177g / 6.24oz | 167g / 5.88oz | 165g / 5.82oz | 172g / 6.07oz |
Recent updates
- 19th June 2026: Added iPhone 17e and updated product specs.
- 14th March 2026: Added iPhone 17e news.
- 14th February 2026: Added iPhone 17e rumours
- 19th December 2025: Updated title.
- 19 November 2025: Removed the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Reduced iPhone 16 to a small mention. Updated iPhone 16e and iPhone 14 reviews to better align with the current iPhone range. Greatly expanded the FAQ.
- 30 October 2025: Added the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air. Removed discontinued models, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone SE. Added a FAQ section.
