The perfect iPhone to purchase in 2024: our verdict

Key iPhone 16 Professional Max specs:
Show: 6.9-inch 120Hz display
Processor: Apple A18 Professional
RAM: 8GB
Cameras: 48MP important, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (5x optical zoom), 12MP front-facing
Battery: 4685mAh
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

iPhone 16 Professional

The iPhone 16 Professional is simply pretty much as good because the Professional Max, not as huge
PhoneArena Ranking: 7.7
PhoneArena Battery Rating: 6 hours 35 minutes
PhoneArena Digital camera Rating: 154

Persist with us, we all know it form of seems to be like we’re simply itemizing off the latest iPhones. However the iPhone 16 Professional is value a point out right here this 12 months. Particularly as a result of final 12 months’s Professional pair had a distinction between them — the 5x tetraprism lens.

Effectively, this 12 months, the iPhone 16 Professional is again within the sport. It has all the things that the 16 Professional Max has — the 48 MP ultra-wide digicam, the 5x zoom lens, the Digital camera Management button and Motion button, and the identical processor. No distinction between the 2. Except for the display measurement, however it’s noteworthy that the iPhone 16 Professional additionally has a slimmed-down bezel, so its personal display has grown to six.3 inches, from 6.1.

In our expertise, most customers choose that barely smaller kind issue. So, whereas it does not have the monstrous battery life, we consider the 16 Professional would be the finest new iPhone for consumers this season.

So, if you’d like these Professional Max options however do not desire a slab of a telephone, the iPhone 16 Professional is again to being the suitable viable selection. Take notice that the battery is unquestionably smaller. It is not that we could not rely upon the iPhone 16 Professional to final us a day, as much as a day and a half, however the Professional Max undoubtedly has that “two day” really feel to it.

Oh, there’s another distinction — you possibly can nonetheless get it a bit cheaper. Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional Max begins at 256 GB, nudging you to make that storage improve whether or not you need it or not, the iPhone 16 Professional nonetheless begins at 128 GB and $999. So, you get the ability, the velocity, the cameras and the Photographic Kinds, all for $200 much less. However that is not the complete story! Take into account, iOS is not going to allow you to file video in 4K ProRes if you do not have at the very least 256 GB of storage, so in case you are concerned about recording and enhancing top quality video out of your iPhone — plan forward and get the storage improve.

Key iPhone 16 Professional Max specs:
Show: 6.3-inch 120Hz display
Processor: Apple A18 Professional
RAM: 8GB
Cameras: 48MP important, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (5x optical zoom), 12MP front-facing
Battery: 3582mAh
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

iPhone 15 Professional

With a 120 Hz display of its personal, and an Apple A17 Professional processor inside, you should not be lacking out on that “Professional” iPhone expertise. Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max shall be getting the brand new Apple Intelligence options, for what it is value. And the A17 Professional was the primary iPhone chip to assist the console video games which might be coming to the App Retailer — Murderer’s Creed, Resident Evil, Loss of life Stranding, and extra to return, we assume.Apple has discontinued the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max, which implies there isn’t any official MSRP to go by. However do know that they used to begin at $999 and $1199, respectively. Little doubt retailers and carriers shall be clearing them out, and we anticipate some good offers on final items to pop up on the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday gross sales occasions.

Additionally, do not get us fallacious, it could be “discontinued”, however the iPhone 15 Professional Max nonetheless has 4 years of updates left in its life. No less than, that’s. Apple simply at all times clears Professional Max fashions to make method for the latest ones.

Key iPhone 15 Professional specs:
Show: 6.1-inch 120Hz display
Processor: Apple A17 Professional
RAM: 8GB
Cameras: 48MP important, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (3x optical zoom), 12MP front-facing
Battery: 3274mAh
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

iPhone 16

The bottom iPhone 16 is kind of the advance this 12 months round
PhoneArena Ranking: 7.3
PhoneArena Battery Rating: 6 hours 21 minutes
PhoneArena Digital camera Rating: 149

This 12 months’s non-Professional fashions bought a pleasant set of upgrades. In actual fact, in a surprising twist, Apple gave them loads of the options from the Professional variants. The Motion Button that was unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max final 12 months is now right here, on the common iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The brand-new Digital camera Management button can also be out there throughout the complete iPhone 16 collection.

Now for the dangerous information — no 120 Hz display on the iPhone 16. It is a $799 telephone, and there are many $300-$400 Android telephones which have 90 Hz and 120 Hz screens. Whereas we would not say these telephones are totally akin to the iPhone 16 expertise, it does underline the truth that the tech is superior sufficient and this could undoubtedly be potential for a non-Professional telephone.

Final 12 months, it was a bit onerous to suggest the iPhone 15 Plus when the 14 Plus was fairly comparable. Now, the iPhone 16 Plus has gotten fairly a number of upgrades, and it is value a glance — if you wish to find out about them, simply verify the iPhone 16 part above, as all of the upgrades apply to the Plus.

One factor that does form of matter is that you simply will not get USB C, which has turn into commonplace on iPhones because the 15 collection. The iPhone 14 fashions nonetheless use the Lightning port, which is slowly (and fortunately) going away now. However it’s value noting that even with USB C, the non-Professional iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 items are nonetheless restricted to USB 2.0 speeds. So yeah, it could be a bit simpler to borrow a charger if you end up out and about, as a result of USB Kind-C is — fortunately — very extensively out there proper now. However, you will not be getting any of its efficiency advantages.

Lengthy story brief — if you’d like a big iPhone for a comparatively low value (by iPhone requirements), now’s the perfect time to purchase an iPhone 14 Plus. Nevertheless, it is value looking on the iPhone 16 Plus for the slight new redesign, the brand new processor, and Apple Intelligence options that may come.Key iPhone 14 Plus specs:
Show: 6.7-inch 60Hz display
Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Cameras: 12MP important, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP front-facing
Battery: 4325mAh
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

The iPhone SE is right here for these that need the most cost effective, easiest mannequin on the market. It is not precisely the perfect worth iPhone — we consider that the perfect worth for cash is the iPhone 14 proper now, for a combination between value, precise options, display measurement, and usable energy. The SE mannequin is a telephone for people who simply need connectivity and do not care about media consumption or gaming on the gadget all that a lot.

However Apple nonetheless retains it related — the iPhone SE 3 (or iPhone SE 2022) is powered by the identical chip that is contained in the iPhone 13 collection. It has the identical dependable-but-not-outstanding digicam, it helps 5G connectivity and the comfort of wi-fi charging.

Now, in case you are trying on the SE merely since you need an inexpensive iPhone, it might not be the best choice, perhaps have a look at the iPhone 14 as an alternative. The iPhone SE begins at $429 for the 64 GB mannequin and it’s decidedly a telephone for people who need the slim, small kind issue that stays out of the best way. Which is completely fantastic, however if you’d like a extra fashionable iPhone expertise, for as low-cost as potential, the iPhone 14 is the higher choice.

Which iPhone is the perfect worth to your cash?

Trying at present Apple iPhone lineup, we’d say that the iPhone 13 might be the perfect worth proper now. Its base tier comes with 128 GB of storage, which shall be lots sufficient for many customers on the market. On the in and out, it isn’t worse than the iPhone 14, which was imagined to dethrone it. It does lack a 120 Hz display and a telephoto digicam, which is a disgrace, however such is the plight of non-Professional iPhones.

If you’d like these premium options, you’d need to make fairly the leap in value.

Nevertheless, the excellent news is that some wi-fi carriers and third social gathering retailers nonetheless have items of the iPhone 13 Professional and Professional Max in inventory. If you’re craving that telephoto digicam for higher portraits, and the smoothness of a ProMotion show — you could do nicely looking for a kind of out.

Due to Apple’s software program assist, the 13 collection nonetheless has an extended life forward of it, so it is a worthwhile funding at this time limit.

How to decide on the iPhone that most closely fits your wants?

There are two issues to think about when shopping for a brand new telephone. Your utilization habits and your finances. Do you really want an enormous Max mannequin, in the event you solely use iMessage and Instagram twice a day? If you happen to sport in your iPhone — do you play vertical video games that require a one-hand grip, or do you immerse your self in horizontal shooters? Naturally, the latter crowd will take pleasure in a much bigger display for positive.

Plus, it additionally helps to concentrate to how lengthy the telephone shall be supported for. Credit score given the place one is due, Google has not too long ago dedicated to 7 years of software program assist for its Pixel telephones, however now we have but to witness that occur. Whereas iPhones are confirmed to get 5 years of software program assist, in order that they kind of retain worth — you will get them second hand, you possibly can promote them off, an iPhone is an iPhone for half a decade.

It additionally helps that smartphone tech improvement has steadied lately, discovering a cushty plateau, and new options do not pop up at a relentless tempo. Which means, new telephones keep new for longer, as they don’t seem to be instantly outshined by the subsequent smartest thing.

Now, loads can go fallacious in these years, comparable to batteries going dangerous, however it’s value noting that Apple has upped its sport significantly because the previous iPhone 6 fiasco.

So, so far as utilization habits go, it’s worthwhile to contemplate this:

Cellphone measurement and design:

• Massive telephone: the Max and the Plus – in the event you watch loads of movies, play loads of video games, browse tons of social media in your iPhone, and even edit your individual clips and photos, you’ll most likely wish to sacrifice the consolation of a small gadget and achieve the advantage of a bigger display. In that case, the Professional Max fashions or the brand new iPhone 14 Plus will work out finest. In addition they get pleasure from improved battery life, which lends itself nicely to your poweruser wants.

• Medium measurement: the common fashions – you could want to have a extra comfy grip on the telephone, as you utilize it extra to answer to messages and solely watch speaking head model YouTube movies. The common iPhone with no Max or Plus monikers appears to strike this steadiness nicely. The display has sufficient room for comfy thumb-typing, and is large enough for the occasional enjoyment of multimedia. But, it is not too massive and you will not be overwhelmed by its measurement in the event you determine to stay it in a case.

• Tremendous compact: the mini – in case you are out on the lookout for a tiny smartphone that is simple to pocket, but packs a efficiency punch and a reliable digicam — the iPhone SE is one in every of your very restricted choices. And it’d as nicely be the perfect one, contemplating how a lot life it has left in it, because of the processor inside and Apple’s software program assist habits.

• Traditional consolation, unexacting and easy: iPhone SE – in the event you or whoever you’re shopping for for, prefers the older iPhone appear and feel, with a Contact ID button — the one choice is the iPhone SE.

Cellphone Options

• Digital camera – if you’d like a telephoto digicam for higher zoomed-in pictures and extra pure portraits, your choice is rapidly restricted to the Professional fashions. Moreover, if you wish to experiment with the new-ish Cinematic Mode in addition to the Photographic Kinds — it’s worthwhile to go together with an iPhone 13 collection in any case. Evidently, if you’d like the very best and most superior Apple digicam so far — one can find it on an iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max.

• Display high quality – Throughout the board, Apple makes use of OLED panels for all current iPhones, save for the iPhone SE. So, coloration replica and accuracy shall be on equal ranges throughout fashions. The Professional variants, nevertheless, have brighter screens, able to hitting 2,000 nits. Spectacular as it’s, in the true world, you’ll hardly ever want that a lot brightness, in order that’s not the true promoting level right here. No, that will be the 120 Hz ProMotion display that’s nonetheless being held hostage by the Professional iPhones — from the iPhone 12 Professional onwards.

Moreover, the iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max are the one ones with LTPO shows, able to bringing their refresh fee all the way down to 1 Hz. Apple makes use of this expertise to get the At all times On Show characteristic engaged on them — and solely them, in the interim.

• Security and safety – The Safe Enclave is a subsystem inside Apple chips that’s current on all current iPhones, ensuring your delicate information is encrypted and held protected on-device. So far as cyber security is anxious, all fashionable Apple telephones have you ever coated.

As for bodily security, iOS does present Medical ID and Emergency SOS on all of them, nevertheless the brand new iPhone 14 collection has a slight edge. If you end up an avid trekker, it’s your decision the brand new satellite tv for pc SOS characteristic, for some peace of thoughts. That and the brand new Crash Detection characteristic are solely discovered on the 2022 iPhones.

Battery life

Apple at all times goals for an “all day battery life” with all its cell units. It usually achieves that, particularly since iOS is unbelievable at preserving battery cost when in standby mode. Some, nevertheless, exceed these expectations — particularly the Plus fashions and Professional Max fashions, which have room for bigger batteries in them.

There are additionally some fashions that fall brief — just like the iPhone 12 mini, which wasn’t very reliable with its battery endurance. Particularly if scanning usually for an unreliable 5G connection.

Except for that small mishap, most iPhones lately have had a reliable battery life.

Try how these iPhones have carried out in our intensive battery assessments:

Efficiency

within the case of the Apple iPhone, we usually belief that the efficiency is — and shall be — top-tier for years to return. The Apple A silicon is superb and method forward of the sport, outperforming and outlasting the competitors regularly. This is the reason Apple is comfy with releasing an iPhone 14 collection with the identical chips that powered the iPhone 13, for instance. Here’s a rundown of the modern fashions and their capabilities:

• Apple A16 Bionic (iPhone 14 Professional, Professional Max): hexa-core, first Apple chip constructed on 4 nm course of. As much as 3.46 GHz clock velocity, 5-core GPU
• Apple A15 Bionic (modified for iPhone 14, 14 Plus): hexa-core, 5 nm. As much as 3.23 GHz clock velocity, 5-core GPU
• Apple A15 Bionic (iPhone 13, 13 mini): hexa-core, 5 nm. As much as 3.23 GHz clock velocity, 4-core GPU
• Apple A14 Bionic (iPhone 12): hexa-core, 5 nm. As much as 3.1 GHz clock velocity, 4-core GPU

In different phrases — if Apple sells it on its web site, it nonetheless considers it quick sufficient to put on the model on its again with delight.

How we take a look at telephones

You’ll discover that we put emphasis on three completely different rankings with these telephones. Right here at PhoneArena, now we have a devoted battery score, devoted digicam score, and an total scoring of the telephone, which takes under consideration all of its vital options — from design to show, efficiency, charging velocity, and speaker high quality. At first look, the general score factors might look a bit low, however that is as a result of each facet of the telephone is scored with our inside processes, developed particularly to be future-proof and fight “overview rating inflation”.

In different phrases — we do our greatest to make use of the complete 1 to 10 scale, so an total rating of seven.6 is superb. To make it simpler to grasp the place a selected telephone falls, in comparison with its friends, we have added a “Worth Class Common” metric, which reveals you the common rating from different telephones in the identical class.