The Best iPhones to Buy in 2024

Compare all the available iPhone models

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Apple's iPhone 15 lineup was introduced in September 2023 alongside iOS 17 with a handful of updated design elements and camera upgrades.

Check out our comparison of the iPhone 15 series, iPhone 14, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and iPhone 13.

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Pros
  • USB-C connectivity

  • Dynamic Island feature

Cons
  • Doesn't have the new Action button

  • Release Date: September 2023
  • Screen Size: 6.1 inches
  • Processor: Apple A16
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Charging Port: USB-C

The iPhone 15 offers several upgrades over its predecessor, the most notable being the adoption of USB-C for charging and transferring data instead of the Lightning connector. It makes sharing chargers in a household with a mix of Apple and non-Apple devices easier.

It's also made of 75% recycled aluminum as part of Apple's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

The phone features a 6.1-inch display (2556-by-1179-pixel resolution). It has a dual camera system (48MP primary camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide lens with 2x zoom.

Finally, the Dynamic Island feature adapts to your activities, giving you shortcuts to music controls, GPS navigation, sports scores, and more.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

AT&T

Pros
  • USB-C

  • Dynamic Island

Cons
  • No Action button

  • Release Date: September 2023
  • Screen Size: 6.7 inches
  • Processor: Apple A16
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Charging Port: USB-C

The iPhone 15 Plus is similar to the iPhone 15, except for its size. It sports a larger 6.7-inch display (2796-by-1290-pixel resolution) and is a bit taller and wider, though it's just as thin. Its size also allows for a larger and longer-lasting battery.

Otherwise, it shares the same camera (48MP primary, a 12MP Ultra Wide telephoto), Dynamic Island feature, storage options, and A16 chip.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Apple iPhone 15 Pro smartphones.

Apple

Pros
  • Customizable Action button

  • Excellent cameras

Cons
  • Can get pricey

  • Release Date: September 2023
  • Screen Size: 6.1 inches
  • Processor: Apple A17 Pro
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Charging Port: USB-C

The iPhone 15 Pro is about the same size as the iPhone 15, with the same 6.1-inch display. It has an upgraded chip (A17 Pro vs A16), a new customizable Action button that replaces the Mute/Silence switch, and a titanium design that's lightweight yet durable.

The 15 Pro has a 48MP main camera, 12 MP Ultra Wide, and a 3x Telephoto lens.

Pros
  • Customizable Action button

  • 5X telephoto lens

Cons
  • Pricey

  • Release Date: September 2023
  • Screen Size: 6.7 inches
  • Processor: Apple A17 Pro
  • Storage Options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Charging Port: USB-C

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is bigger than the 15 and 15 Pro and a touch smaller than the iPhone 15 Plus. It has a 6.7-inch display, an upgraded chip (A17 Pro), the new customizable Action button, and a titanium build.

The 15 Pro Max has a 48MP main camera, 12 MP Ultra Wide, and a 5x Telephoto lens.

Pros
  • Excellent cameras

  • Great battery life

Cons
  • Minor upgrade from iPhone 13

  • Release Date: September 2022
  • Screen Size: 6.1 inches
  • Processor: Apple A15
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 14 continues the tradition of striking the perfect balance between price and performance, packing in almost all of the critical features of Apple's flagship "Pro" models at a more affordable price.

Ultimately, all you're missing from the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro is a telephoto lens and a pill-shaped notification and status bar (Apple calls it a Dynamic Island) that never leaves the screen.

Still, we don't think these are worth the extra cost for most folks, especially since the iPhone 14 packs in the powerful A15 bionic chip for advanced computational photography. The dual-camera system can take some pretty amazing shots with support for the same Portrait Mode, Night Mode, Deep Fusion features, and 4K video recording at 60fps.

The iPhone 14 also offers excellent battery life—up to 20 hours of video playback and 80 hours of audio playback—along with Apple's MagSafe technology that allows for faster 15W wireless charging. 

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Apple iPhone 14 Plus.

AT&T

Pros
  • Large, beautiful screen

Cons
  • No Dynamic Island

  • Release Date: September 2022
  • Screen Size: 6.7 inches
  • Processor: Apple A15
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

The iPhone 14 Plus shares most of its features with the iPhone 14 except for its screen size (6.7 inches vs. 6.1 inches) and higher capacity battery. It shares the same A15 chip, dual 12MP cameras, Face ID, and more.

It's a good choice if you like a bigger phone but don't want to pay the premium for the Pro models.

Pros
  • Excellent cameras with telephoto lens

  • Dynamic Island

Cons
  • Can get pricey

  • Release Date: September 2022
  • Screen Size: 6.1 inches
  • Processor: Apple A16
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

Apple's iPhone 14 Pro has the next-generation chip from the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, and an upgraded camera (48MP main, Ultra Wide, and 3x telephoto). It also offers up to 1 TB of internal storage. It shares many of the features the 14 Pro Max has, aside from its size (6.1 inch-screen vs. 6.7 inches).

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple

Pros
  • Night mode is excellent

  • Telephoto lens has more zoom

Cons
  • Pricey

  • Release Date: September 2022
  • Screen Size: 6.7 inches
  • Processor: Apple A16
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max features the incredible Super Retina XDR display that looks even more impressive at 6.7 inches, incorporating ProMotion technology (120Hz refresh rate) and an Always-On display.

It also packs Apple's A16 Bionic chip.

The 14 Pro Max has a triple-lens camera system with a 48MP primary camera and a telephoto lens that increases the optical zoom to 3X.

Pros
  • Affordable

  • Compact design

  • Great camera

Cons
  • So-so battery life

  • Release Date: March 2022
  • Screen Size: 4.7 inches
  • Processor: Apple A15
  • Storage Options: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

Apple's iPhone SE (3rd generation) is one of the most affordable iPhones that Apple has ever made despite sharing many features with the iPhone 14, like the A15 Bionic chip.

While the most advanced iPhones have three rear cameras, the SE 3rd gen has only one 12 MP lens, but the A15 Bionic chip allows it to take advantage of features like Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting. You can even shoot 4K video at a full 60fps, although the lack of the fancier TrueDepth camera on the front means you don't get Face ID, and you'll be limited to 7MP selfies. 

That said, the more traditional design of the iPhone SE not only offers a lower price tag but will appeal to users who prefer the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It offers up to 15 hours of video playback or 50 hours of audio listening. 

Pros
  • Long battery life

  • Attractive design

Cons
  • Lacks modern hardware features

  • Release Date: September 2021
  • Screen Size: 6.1 inches
  • Processor: Apple A15
  • Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Charging Port: Lightning

The iPhone 13 offers upgraded specs compared to the iPhone 12, including a newer chip (A15 vs. A14) and more storage options. It has a 12MP camera, Face ID, and Emergency SOS.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max Dynamic Island feature.

Apple

What to Look For in an iPhone

Cameras: Smartphones are about taking great pictures as much as anything else, so if you’re an avid mobile photographer, you’ll want to focus on one of the newer models—a triple-lens one with OLED if you can afford it. These offer better lenses and advanced computational photography features to make your photos look great, but higher-resolution screens ensure that the results look how they’re supposed to. 

Size: Apple's newest iPhones are available in two sizes, from smaller iPhones that fit easily in your pocket to big “phablet” sized iPhones with nice big screens for watching videos or just having a larger canvas to work on. You’ll probably want to add a case for whatever size you pick, as Apple’s all-glass iPhones are fragile and slippery.

Storage: There are several storage tiers available for each iPhone. Apple limits the largest capacities to the top-tier models, but 128GB is more than enough for most users, especially if you’re willing to use iCloud or Google Photos to keep your photos and videos in the cloud. 

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