Shopping for a new iPhone? We compare all of the current models available to determine the best options for every need and budget.
Apple’s iPhone has been around for well over a decade now, and it’s always a great choice for those who are looking for a smartphone. For years, there was only one iPhone model to choose from, so your only decision was how much capacity to get and whether you wanted it with a darker black/gray or a lighter white/silver finish. Today, the latest iPhone models come in multiple versions, making the choice between them a bit more complicated.
For example, the newest iPhone 15 lineup offers four different models to choose from. Plus, Apple still sells the older iPhone 14 and iPhone 13. Lastly, there’s the iPhone SE for folks looking for a small and affordable no-frills model — or those who still really like the traditional home button and Touch ID sensor.
With so many choices, which iPhone should you get? Our recommendation for most people is the iPhone 15. However, if you want to save some money, you can pick up the iPhone 14 or check out the latest iPhone deals. And if you want to see what else is out there, we have a list of best Android phones too.
iPhone 15The best iPhone for most people
Why you should buy this: Apple’s base model iPhone 15 packs in a lot of pro features such as the new 48MP main camera, Dynamic Island, A16 Bionic chip, and USB-C.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the latest from Apple without breaking the bank.
The iPhone 15 is the best iPhone for most people. Even though there are the more powerful Pro models available, the iPhone 15 has received significant upgrades from Apple this year.
With the iPhone 15, you still have the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, but this year the display reaches peak brightness of 2,000 nits outdoors. However, the refresh rate is still stuck at 60Hz, which is quite low for the price — especially when compared to Android devices. That means that scrolling won’t be as smooth as displays with higher refresh rates, like the iPhone 15 Pro, though most people won’t notice unless the devices are side by side. Still, colors are bright and vibrant on the screen, and text is still sharp and crisp. The Dynamic Island has also made its way to the base model, after launching on the iPhone 14 Pro last year.
Apple gave the iPhone 15 a surprise upgrade with the dual camera system this year, bumping the main lens from 12MP to 48MP, just like the iPhone 14 Pro last year. The default photos will be in 24MP, which means more details and slightly larger file sizea. The ultrawide camera is still 12MP with a 120-degree field of view. And the larger sensors on the iPhone 15 cameras have made it possible for the iPhone 15 to get 2x optical zoom without a telephoto lens.
There is also a new Auto Portrait feature, so any image that has the focus on a person or pet will automatically capture depth information, allowing users to turn them into portrait images after the fact.
An A16 Bionic chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro, powers the iPhone 15. That means you get blazing-fast performance with 6GB RAM and your choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options. With the A16 Bionic, iOS 17 runs like a dream on the iPhone 15, and there are plenty of new features to love. NameDrop makes sharing contact information easier than ever, AirDrop received improvements to make it possible to continue transferring over Wi-Fi if you go out of range, and StandBy mode turns your iPhone into a smart display when charging.
Lastly, Apple replaced Lightning with USB-C, though the charging speeds remain the same. A full charge should get you through the day without a problem. The iPhone 15 also comes in a slate of beautiful pastel colors, with pink being the standout option.
iPhone 15 ProThe best premium iPhone
Why you should buy this: It offers top performance and power, a new Action button, great cameras, and a new titanium design that actually makes a difference.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the absolute best from Apple while still preferring a compact form factor.
Though the base model iPhone 15 is great for most people, those who want a premium iPhone should take a look at the iPhone 15 Pro. This year, Apple has replaced the stainless steel frame of prior generations with a new brushed titanium frame, which has made the phone feel significantly lighter. There’s also more of a curve on the edges, which makes the phone feel much more comfortable to hold, as there are no more sharp edges that dig into your skin.
Though the mute/silent switch has been a part of the iPhone since the original, Apple has gotten rid of it in favor of a new Action button. With the Action button, the default setting is still to silence/mute the device, but you can also change it to something else — such as launching the camera, your flashlight, the Voice Memo app, an Accessibility setting, or even going all-in with Shortcuts. Unfortunately, the Action button is limited to a single action with a press-and-hold gesture. Hopefully, at some point, Apple can make it so that the Action button can do multiple actions with a double-press or triple-press.
Performance on the iPhone 15 Pro is a beast thanks to the A17 Pro chip that’s inside, as well as a bump in RAM to 8GB. This makes iOS 17 run better than ever on the iPhone 15 Pro, and the always-on display makes StandBy mode even more useful. There are also interactive widgets and other features in iOS 17 that make using your iPhone a breeze.
Though the iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t have the new telephoto lens of its Pro Max sibling, the triple-lens camera system is still nothing to sneeze at. You have a 48MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 12MP telephoto. Auto Portrait mode is available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and the default shooting mode is in 24MP for more details. Apple’s Smart HDR 5 this year seems to have fixed most of the complaints of oversharpening and processing on the iPhone 14 series and prior models, as colors are more realistic and not super harsh and washed-out.
And while Apple switched to USB-C from Lightning, the charging speeds are still the same. But the iPhone 15 Pro has faster data transfer speeds than the standard iPhone 15 models, in case you plug your phone into your computer to transfer photos and video.
