Now that Apple has unleashed its new iPhone 16 lineup and we've had a chance to thoroughly test each model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max reigns as the best iPhone you can buy. Apple's premium device offers an improved camera, the longest battery life we've ever seen on an iPhone and the biggest screen available. What's not to like?
For some people, the answer will be the iPhone 16 Pro Max's $1,199 starting price, but don't worry — if you balk at paying that much for a phone, the $999 iPhone 16 Pro just about matches the Pro Max feature for feature. And this year's entry-level iPhone has enough improvements of its own to make it feel as if you're not sacrificing too much for a $799 starting price.
All four new iPhones support the Apple Intelligence features coming via a software update in October (though the iOS 18.1 public beta lets you try out those features now on the iPhone 16 models plus the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max). So if you pick up any one of the new models, you're getting a phone that will gain more powers in the future.
If Apple Intelligence doesn't impress you, you can pick up one of the older models that remain a part of Apple's lineup, only at lower prices than before. We'll show you how they compare to the latest and greatest hardware, so that you can see if the savings are worth it as you look for the best iPhone for your needs.
The quick list
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is now the best iPhone you can buy, sporting the biggest screen, most powerful chipset and best cameras. You'll also appreciate the epic battery life for this model — along with its new Camera Control button for more control how you take photos and video.
It may not generate the excitement of other recent models, but this iPhone is pretty affordable, especially now that it packs features that were once exclusive to the Pros. It still offers solid cameras and strong performance courtesy of the A18 chipset.
Best for photography
If the iPhone 16 Pro Max's price is too much, you could try the iPhone 16 Pro. It's got many of the same features as the Max, including the same telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and Apple Intelligence features — but it also costs $200 less.
Apple continues to offer a big-screen alternative to the Pro Max, even if 6.7 inches is no longer the biggest display in town. Not matter, though, because you'll play less for the iPhone 16 Plus, while still enjoying long battery and strong performance.
There's still a choice for fans of big phones who happen to have a tighter budget. The iPhone 15 Plus starts at a modest $799, which nabs you a 6.7-inch iPhone that's perfect to run Standby Mode and other features that look good on a big screen.
If the iPhone 16 doesn't tickle your fancy, then consider the iPhone 15 now that it costs $699. The 2023 phone is still good enough for most tasks, and you won't have to pay big bucks for a capable device. Not only is its smaller size easier on the hands, but it's also available in several bright colors.
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You're not stuck paying big bucks for an iPhone. For $429, the iPhone SE 2022 gives you a relatively powerful processor in a phone that runs the latest version of iOS and will be able to support iOS 18 this fall. And the lone camera is pretty good, too.
Besides the iPhone SE, you best low-cost iPhone option is the iPhone 14, which now starts at $599. The A15 Bionic chipset won't win any races with newer phones, but the cameras still perform well, and the phone runs iOS 18.
The best iPhone overall
Who should get the iPhone 16 Pro Max: Just hot off the press, the iPhone 16 Pro Max makes a long lasting impression on us in becoming the best iPhone around. With its upgrades and robust features, it satisfies everything you need in a phone.
Every premium feature Apple packs into its phones is on display with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the phone has the price tag to show it. While this is the most expensive iPhone, you also get the super-fast A18 Pro processor, an improved 48MP ultrawide camera, and the longest battery life in an iPhone. Plus, the Pro Max offers an expansive 6.9-inch display with a big battery to match. That battery kept the iPhone 16 Pro Max running for more than 14 hours in our test, placing it near the top of the best phone battery life rankings.
There's also the cameras, which again comes with a triple camera arrangement for extra utility. We rate the iPhone 16 Pro Max as the best camera phone, not only for its performance, but also for how it introduces the Camera Control button that provides helpful access to features and settings at your finger tips.
Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review.
The most affordable new iPhone
Who should get the iPhone 16: Anyone who wants the an all-around performance without spending a lot.
The iPhone 16 doesn’t have the flashier features found in its Pro siblings, but it’s still a solid upgrade, particularly if you're not thrill about flagship pricing. Don't let its compact size fool you either because it's secretly a Pro model in disguise.
That makes the iPhone 16 more appealing because it shares many of the features found in the Pro models, like the new Camera Control button for easy access to the settings and modes, faster 25W MagSafe charging, and even the ability to capture spatial photos and video. Add to that, its A18 chip is no slouch either because it perform remarkably in our testing.
Most people will likely flock to one of Apple's newer models, but the iPhone 16 delivers more value than ever before.
Read our full iPhone 16 review.
The best iPhone camera
Who should get the iPhone 16 Pro: Shutterbugs and content creators who need incredible cameras that deliver outstanding quality no matter the conditions.
We appreciate how the iPhone 16 Pro gives people all of the iPhone 16 Pro Max's best features but for $200 less. That's because the 16 Pro is on more equal footing with the iPhone 16 Pro Max — both phones share the A18 Pro chipset and the tetraprism telephoto lens that was an iPhone 15 Pro Max exclusive. So you definitely get more with the new Pro model than you would have with the iPhone 15 Pro.
Beyond the utility it offers at capturing photos with its exceptional 48MP main camera, its refreshed 48MP ultrawide takes even better macro photos than ever before. Over on the video front, it's gifted with a new 4K 120 fps recording mode that allows creators to shoot now, worry later because the footage can be slowed down.
Throw in the new Camera Control button for greater access to its shooting modes and settings, it's a powerful camera phone that gets the job done.
Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review.
More screen for less
Who should get the iPhone 16 Plus: Big-screen phone fans who don't want to pay big bucks for a Pro Max.
The iPhone 16 Plus is the best iPhone for people who prefer a larger display but don't want to pay big bucks for one of the best big phones. That's especially true when you look at the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the only other current iPhone with a super-size display. (For older big-screen iPhones, read on past this iPhone 16 Plus capsule.)
The iPhone 16 Plus gives you an expansive 6.7-inch OLED screen, whether you want to watch movies and shows on the go or you just want a bigger viewfinder for your photos. And the photos look amazing from the improved cameras on the iPhone 16 Plus, thanks its upgraded ultrawide camera and new Camera Control button.
One of the best things about the iPhone 16 Plus is its outstanding battery life, second only to iPhone 16 Pro Max among the iPhones we've tested. The iPhone 16 Plus lasted more than 16 hours on our web surfing test, which is an outstanding result that means you can go for a full day (and maybe more) without needing a charge. There’s some things we don’t like about the iPhone 16 Plus — including its dated 60Hz refresh rate and slow charging via its USB-C port — but overall it’s a great value.
Read our full iPhone 16 Plus review.
Best discounted big iPhone
Who should get the iPhone 15 Plus: Big-screen phone fans on a tigher budget.
The iPhone 15 Plus remains a great iPhone for people who prefer a larger display but don't want to pay big bucks for one of the best big phones, especially now that Apple charges even less for this model than it did before. The starting price is now down to $799, equal to what you'd pay for a standard iPhone 16.
The iPhone 15 Plus gives you an expansive 6.7-inch OLED screen, whether you want to watch movies and shows on the go or you just want a bigger viewfinder for your photos. And the photos look amazing from the improved cameras on the iPhone 15 Plus, thanks to a bigger main sensor and Apple’s Photonic Engine for better pics in low light.
As much as we like the regular iPhone 15 — also still available at a considerable discount — you’ll want to get the Plus if you want more time between charges. The iPhone 15 Plus lasted over 14 hours on our web surfing test. There’s some things we don’t like about the iPhone 15 Plus — including the 60Hz refresh rate and lack of telephoto lens — but overall it’s a great value. And like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus includes a yellow color option to go with its black, blue, green and pink colors.
Read our full iPhone 15 Plus review.
A good iPhone at a discount
Who should get the iPhone 15: Bargain hunters who are unswayed by more recent features on newer iPhones.
Even with the iPhone 16 out there, the iPhone 15 remains a viable choice for many people. By skipping more recent iPhones, you won't get the latest chipset or the camera improvements in newer models. But the iPhone 15 is a worthy upgrade from older phones, and at $699, it costs much less than the newer models. (Our iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15 comparison has more on the differences.)
One of the best things about this model is its storage — Apple includes 128GB with the base model without paying a whole lot. The A16 Bionic processor remains a solid processor, though more recent devices have long since passed it over, including those with more recent Snapdragon chipsets.
Read our full iPhone 15 review.
The least expensive iPhone
Who should get the iPhone SE 2022: Anyone who wants the least expensive iPhone
The iPhone SE (2022) is the most budget-friendly option in the current iPhone lineup. Starting at $429 for the 64GB model, the latest SE is a veritable powerhouse that runs laps around anything else at this price point. You will not find something that performs better under $500, even if its lone camera loses some luster when compared against the the more recently released Pixel 8a. (See our 200-photo Pixel 8a vs. iPhone SE photo face-off to get a sense of how the iPHone is beginning to lag behind.)
With the same A15 Bionic chipset that’s in the iPhone 13 — but lacking the extra GPU core found in the A15 powering the iPhone 14 — the iPhone SE (2022) can handle any task you set before it, all in an incredibly compact body. However, the 4.7-inch LCD is a bit of a letdown with a low resolution by today’s standards (1344 x 750). The chunky bezels of the classic iPhone design also look incredibly dated.
Perhaps the most egregious omission from the iPhone SE is the lack of Night mode. It’s even sadder because the phone takes great photos in daylight. And it also lacks mmWave 5G, so people hoping to take advantage of Verizon’s Ultra Wideband network will be left out in the cold with the latest iPhone SE.
Read our full iPhone SE (2022) review.
The best iPhone discount
Who should get the iPhone 14: Anyone on a very tight budget who wants a dual-camera phone.
It's easy to forget about phones that first came out two years ago, but don't overlook the iPhone 14, which is still a part of Apple's lineup at a steep discount from its introductory price from two years ago. These days, you'll pay $599 for an iPhone 14, which can be a compelling option if you want a new-to-you phone but can't swing current flagship prices. (The iPhone 14 Plus is still around, too, but its $699 price is the same as the iPhone 15's current cost. And the iPhone 15 is a much better option at that price.)
Opting for an iPhone 14 over the cheaper iPhone SE gives you a more flexible camera since the iPhone 14 features a ultrawide lens to go with the main shooter. The iPhone 14 can take Night mode photos, too. Really, the best argument for the iPhone 14 is that it's a very capable camera phone, even after Apple has made updates to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 camera setups. The iPhone 14 also can run iOS 18, so you're getting up-to-date features on your phone.
In other ways, the iPhone 14 is showing its age, as more recent silicon now outpaces the A15 Bionic chipset in this device. You obviously won't be able to run Apple Intelligence features on this phone either. But the screen is still colorful, and you'll get satellite connectivity for emergency messaging — a valuable feature to have on hand.
Read our full iPhone 14 review.
How to choose the best iPhone for you
When shopping for an iPhone, take stock of the features and capabilities that matter most to you. If battery life is especially important, seek out a larger iPhone, as they tend to have bigger batteries to match their screen size. What's more, because iOS is known to be generally efficient in terms of energy consumption, even the smaller models tend to last longer than average on a charge.
If you're basing your next iPhone purchase off camera quality, the top-tier Pro variants are easy recommendations, thanks to triple-lens designs that allow you to capture multiple different perspectives, from zoomed-out ultra wide-angle images to shallow depth-of-field portraits. They're also remarkably good in challenging lighting scenarios, like when shooting in a dimly-lit indoor space, or outdoors at night.
All that said, if price is king, and saving the absolute most on your next smartphone purchase is your top priority, you should have no reservations about nabbing either the iPhone SE or an older model with a lower price tag. They may be on the cheaper side of Apple's range, but they're still made of flagship-quality materials, with enough power and performance to sustain years of use. iOS software updates, which are available to every model at the same time, generally provide five years of support, adding to the value of older models.
After Apple dropped the iPhone 12, you no longer have to worry quite as much about storage. The base model of nearly every iPhone starts with 128GB of storage — the exceptions are the iPhone SE (a paltry 64GB), the iPhone 15 Pro Max (a more generous 256GB) and now the iPhone 16 Pro Max (also 256GB).
If you buy your iPhone through Apple, you may be able to save money by trading in your current phone. Apple offers up to $650 off your purchase when you trade-in a device.. (The more recent your iPhone, the higher the trade-in value, and yes, switchers, Apple will accept Android devices, too.)
Note that if you buy your iPhone unlocked from Apple, you'll need to tack another $30 onto the base price of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. (The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max start at the same price, whether unlocked or not.)
We track special offers from carriers and retailers to find the best iPhone deals, with special attention to the best iPhone 16 deals.
All of the iPhones mentioned here can run iOS 18, Apple's latest iPhone software that came out just ahead of the iPhone 16 release. However, only certain models will support Apple Intelligence features.
When are the next iPhones coming out?
Apple showed off the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max at its September 9 Glowtime event. Those phones went on sale September 20.
After that, the next iPhone release we're likely to see is the iPhone SE 4, which has been tipped for a spring 2025 release. The iPhone 17 won't arrive until next fall.
How we test iPhones
As with any smartphone we test at Tom's Guide, we evaluate iPhones for days in real-world use cases. We also benchmark Apple's phones using a gamut of performance-measuring apps that allow us to compare iPhone performance to what Android devices are capable of. In addition to synthetic benchmarks, we also run real-world tests, including a video transcoding test in Adobe Premiere Rush that compares the iPhone's processing speed with other devices.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Geekebench 6 score (single-core | 3DMark Solar Bay (score / frames per second) |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 3386 / 8306 | 7396 / 28.10 fps |
| iPhone 16 | 3301 / 8033 | 6679 / 25.4 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 3400 / 8341 | 7519 / 28.6 fps |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 3302 / 8042 | 6756 / 25.7 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 2551 / 6280 | 4048 / 15.4 |
| iPhone 15 | 2518 / 6179 | 3761 / 14.3 |
| iPhone SE | Not tested | Not tested |
| iPhone 14 | Not tested | Not tested |
In our lab, we use a light meter to ascertain display quality data, like brightness and color accuracy to help us evaluate the display of the best iPhones. Our proprietary battery test determines longevity on a charge by endlessly streaming webpages over an LTE network; we then recharge the iPhones to see how quickly they charge in 15-minute intervals.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Brightness (HDR) | Color (DCI-P3) | Accuracy (Delta-E) |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 1553 nits | 80.4% | 0.24 |
| iPhone 16 | 1348 nits | 79.5 | 0.27 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 1510 nits | 80.9% | 0.26 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 1458 nits | 79.4 | 0.25 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 1310 | 81.8 | 0.13 |
| iPhone 15 | 1401 | 81.1 | 0.18 |
| iPhone SE | Not tested | 81.2 | 0.21 |
| iPhone 14 | 756 | 83.1 | 0.25 |
To compare cameras, we take any iPhone we review out and shoot photos in a variety of settings. We also bring along a comparable smartphone to see how the iPhone's photographic output measures up.
We explore Apple's iOS improvements, test gaming performance and evaluate the phone's speakers — and each of these factors play a part in our final verdict.
