Considering the New iPhone? I’ve Tested Every One Since the 5S, and Here Are My Impressions.
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During the “Glowtime” keynote event earlier this month, Apple unveiled four new iPhones, with the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro leading the way. Available with 6.1- and 6.3-inch display panels, respectively, the latest iPhones bring a host of design and hardware updates over their predecessors. The noteworthy highlights include an intuitive camera control button for the entire lineup, as well as an action button for the iPhone 16 duo. Every new iPhone has a USB-C connector and Dynamic Island, too.
After three years on the shelves, the iPhone 13 is no longer available, while the iPhone 14 received a price cut and replaced its predecessor as an entry-level big-screen offering. The iPhone SE is the only option with a smaller screen.
In the market for a new iPhone but wondering, amid the recent launches, which one you should get? You came to the right place. Having extensively tested every iteration for years, I’m here to help you decide which iPhone is worth the upgrade based on your budget and preferences — from the all-new iPhone 16 Pro to that entry-level SE.
The iPhones I RecommendWhat to ConsiderChoosing Between a Regular and Pro iPhone
When choosing between a standard iPhone and a Pro version, you should know that the latter always has an edge in craftsmanship, performance, and camera quality, among other bits. Since 2019, when the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max debuted the feature, every Pro model that followed offered a triple camera with dedicated telephoto units. The setup is more versatile than the dual snapper of the non-Pro iterations.
Moreover, the iPhone Pros have a more powerful chip than the non-Pro models since 2022. The higher-level silicon translates to superior multitasking and gaming and faster interactions.
Overall, an iPhone Pro is the one to get if you want the best of everything. That said, you should know that lower-priced non-Pro offerings are always the best for the money and perfect for students, older techies, and upgraders who don’t need or want the latest and greatest.
Screen Size
Save for the tiny 4.7-inch iPhone SE, every iPhone on the market is available with a 6.1-, a 6.3-, a 6.7-, or a 6.9-inch screen, with the last two reserved for Plus and Pro Max models. An iPhone with a 6.1-inch display will always be more pocket- and purse-friendly and easier to use with one hand on the move.
Big-screen iPhones have a considerable edge in battery endurance. A Plus or a Pro Max is also better for gaming, watching videos, attending virtual meetings, and staying productive in general.
Pricing
It’s important to note that I included contract-free pricing for each iPhone. You can also opt to order the product and pay monthly installments to your phone carrier. The trade-in program that Apple and its carrier partners offer is also excellent — depending on your outgoing phone and which iPhone model you pick, it might cost you next to nothing to upgrade.
How I Test
My experience with Apple’s iconic gadget dates back to 2013, when I ordered my first — an iPhone 5S — and stood in line for quite a while to pick it up. In the years that followed, I got time in with every subsequent iteration, with the latest iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max being my go-to at the time you’re reading this.
I spend weeks (or much longer) with every iPhone I test, using it as my primary phone in and out of work. I use it to keep in touch with family and friends, participate in virtual meetings, crank out emails and text messages across a variety of apps, play games, and stream music and video, among many other activities. I can personally vouch for every iPhone I recommend.
My Full iPhone ReviewsShop Now
iPhone 16 Pro & 16 Pro Max
apple.com
$999.00
Stefan Vazharov' data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/qJb8azoxt0wQBU58yQuqyw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/best_products_872/051e38a971532462267b2a7a4e907004">iPhone 16 Pro & 16 Pro Max
apple.com
$999.00
Stefan Vazharov
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were the best smartphones on the market, and the sequels are bigger, better, and more versatile. The iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max are Apple’s finest, most advanced to date, and the ones to get if their price tags fit within your upgrade budget. Dropping $1,000 and up will land you an elegant and durable phone with a titanium frame and best-in-class hardware, performance, and camera setup.
I like that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max share the same camera setup, unlike last year when the iPhone 15 Pro Max had superior zoom capabilities than its smaller sibling. The only specs separating the follow-ups are display and battery size, as well as storage capacity options. The 6.3-inch Pro comes with 128 GB standard, while the 6.9-inch Pro Max packs 256 GB of memory. If you prize a bigger screen, battery, and storage capacity, then the iPhone 16 Pro Max is worth the $200 premium over the standard Pro.
Adding a camera control button and a high-resolution ultra-wide sensor has made the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max better at photography than ever. I felt more confident using the new Apple gadgets instead of a standard point-and-shoot camera. I could snap high-resolution photos in many range options, successfully replacing a heavy DSLR camera with additional lenses on most occasions.
The second iPhone chip to carry the “Pro” moniker, the A18 Pro, offers unrivaled power and energy efficiency to go with support for Apple Intelligence. Its cutting-edge 3-nanometer architecture puts it years ahead of the competition. Combined with its class-conquering power, it allowed me to run console-grade games with stunning graphics and get a full day of use during my testing.
Featuring a bigger Super Retina XDR OLED display than the previous generation while maintaining a similar footprint, the iPhone 16 Pro is more appealing than the iPhone 15 Pro. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its big 6.9-inch panel, can replace a compact tablet for many upgraders and gift recipients.
You can order the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in black, white, natural, and desert titanium colors, with the last one being an all-new shade. You can buy them with as much as 1 TB of memory — double that of a standard iPhone 16.
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
apple.com
$799.00
The thoroughly updated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are fantastic under-$1,000 upgrade options, offering a fresh new design and Pro features at a lower price point. The highlights include the addition of action and camera control buttons, which bring the iPhone 16 on par with the 16 Pro in terms of ergonomics and versatility.
Apple also treated the latest mainstream iPhones to brand-new chip that utilizes an industry-leading 3-nanometer lithography. The Apple A18 silicon is two generations ahead of the A1 that powered the iPhone 15 duo. It makes the follow-up fully compatible with Apple Intelligence and capable of running AAA games, which I took advantage of while playing Assassin’s Creed: Mirage and Resident Evil 4. Such titles were only available on last year’s costlier iPhone 15 Pro models. I enjoyed playing them on this lower-priced iteration.
Display-wise, there are no changes between the iPhone 16 and the previous generation. The standard version rocks a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with Dynamic Island, while the Plus packs a bigger 6.7-inch panel. Each iPhone 16 version has an excellent dual camera, stereo speakers, solid battery life for its size, and a USB-C connector.
Starting at $799, the iPhone 16 is competitively priced by today’s top-shelf smartphone standards. Its chipset, camera performance, and safety features make it the best pick in its price range by a wide margin. The $100 pricier iPhone 16 Plus is a phenomenal option for upgraders looking for a big screen and long battery life on a sub-$1,000 budget.
Apple offers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus in black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine, with the last three being particularly eye-catching. The starter iPhone 16 comes with ample 128 GB of storage, and you can spec it with up to 512.
For $100 less for a variant with the same storage capacity, the iPhone 15 is a more affordable alternative to the iPhone 16. Still, consider the 16 unless the 15 is deeply discounted. The design, hardware, performance, and camera improvements of the iPhone 16 are worth spending an extra Benjamin on.
Starting just a tad above $400, the iPhone SE is an excellent buy for people who don’t need or want the most tricked-out smartphone but need access to Apple-only features like FaceTime and iMessage, to name a couple. It has the same compact and familiar, if dated, design as its predecessor but more up-to-date hardware.
Equipped with the same A15 Bionic chip with a Neural Engine as the iPhone 14, the iPhone SE is the most powerful smartphone in its price range — and beyond. Like all iPhones now, it has a water-resistant housing, built-in stereo speakers, and fast wired and wireless charging support. MagSafe support, however, is not available, and neither is a USB-C connector. Just the old Lightning standard here.
Brandon Carte
The iPhone SE can capture excellent images with its primary camera and selfie snapper, as well as portrait photos with a blurred background. It can also record crisp 4K video with high-quality stabilization and stereo sound.
It’s important to note that the SE is the only iPhone with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. I found the feature to be fast and reliable but a bit old-school when compared to the Face ID of the pricier iPhones. Those models have bigger displays with a different aspect ratio than the SE, offering more immersive iOS, app, and gaming experiences. Switching from a contemporary iPhone to the SE felt like a downgrade every time I did it.
Here’s Everything Else I Appreciate About Apple’s iPhone Lineup
From left to right: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15Stefan Vazharov
→ Specs & Performance
The iPhone’s hardware specs and overall performance are second to none. An OLED display panel, which delivers vibrant colors and even more captivating HDR-enhanced content, now comes standard on most iPhones — and it makes a major difference.
→ Connectivity
From the iPhone 12 onwards, all iPhone models have 5G. The next-generation network connectivity brings faster data speeds and many other advantages over the older 4G LTE standard. All currently available iPhones have future-proof Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 (or higher) on board, too.
→ Water-Resistance
From the iPhone 7 onwards, every iPhone has robust water resistance with an official IP rating. The latest models are even tougher than their rating suggests: They’re capable of surviving depths of up to 6 meters (20 feet) — deeper than an Olympic diving pool.
→ Accessories
MagSafe arrived alongside the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020 and is also available in the succeeding generations. It’s a convenient magnetic tech for accessories and is available in everything from convenient chargers to cool protective cases and handy snap-on wallets.
I’m also consistently impressed by the wide range of accessories available for iPhones, from wallets to charging stands to eco-friendly cases. This allows you to customize your gadget to fit your personality.
→ iOS
If investing in a future-proof device is a priority to you, you’re in luck. Every iPhone comes with many years’ worth of iOS firmware and security updates, allowing even generations-old Apple smartphones the ability to stay up to date. For comparison, save for high-end Samsung and Google offerings, many Android smartphones come with firmware and security updates for only 2 to 3 years.
Unveiled at Apple WWDC 2024, the latest iteration of the iPhone platform, iOS 18, will bring some useful novelties, headlined by Apple Intelligence. The latter will integrate generative AI into iOS, making the platform more fun and useful across the board.
Some of the noteworthy Apple Intelligence highlights include tools for enhanced text and image editing, the ability to create fun GenMoji using photos, and new Siri interactions, to name a few bits. Of the previous iPhone lineup, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will receive Apple Intelligence when it become available.
Apple iOS 18 will also bring new home screen customization options, a standalone Passwords app, and updates to iMessage, Photos, Safari, and other core applications. The updated platform will arrive on all iPhones going back to the iPhone X this fall. A public beta version of the will become available sooner.
→ Environmental Impact
Before you buy, keep in mind that Apple is packaging the latest iPhones in more compact boxes without a charging adapter to reduce their environmental impact. If you don’t have a solid charger lined up for your new device, we have you covered with plenty of affordable options. And if you want to avoid accumulating more cables in your life, every new iPhone is also compatible with wireless charging.
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