The best iPhone you can buy in 2024 is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's Apple's top-of-the-range flagship smartphone with all the bells and whistles, the fastest processor, the best display, and the most potent camera. However, that means it's also the most expensive model, so it might not be the best iPhone for everyone in every situation.
The best iPhone for battery life, for example, is the iPhone 15 Plus, while the best small iPhone remains the older iPhone 13 mini if you can get your hands on one. Finally, there's the best cheap iPhone, which is currently the third-generation iPhone SE. We've put every iPhone Apple has ever created to the test, with extensive reviews available for every model listed here. So take it from us, the experts, here's the best iPhone you can buy in 2024.
This is the best iPhone in 2024
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The all-new iPhone 15 Pro Max is the flagship model in 2024, and thanks to 5X optical zoom which is exclusive to the 6.7-inch Pro, it takes the crown as our best iPhone available right now.
The design has been softened for more rounded edges and there's a new finish in town thanks to Titanium. Based on our first impressions the new Titanium is impressive, but prone to fingerprints and discoloration. However, it is noticeably lighter than its predecessors, thanks to a 10% weight reduction on last year's model. There's also a brand new Action Button that replaces the mute switch and can be customized to perform several different actions including running Shortcuts, opening up a world of possibilities.
The other big design change is, of course, USB-C. You can now use the same cable for your iPhone as you do for all your other USB-C devices. The Pro Max doesn't offer any charging improvements but does have USB 3 for speedy data transfer. It's so quick that you can use your iPhone 15 Pro Max as the camera in a Capture One setup, with images immediately appearing on your Mac.
Under the hood there's the new A17 Pro chip, which gets an extra GPU core and speed boosts to deliver impressive performance. Apple is promising console-level gaming with hardware-accelerated ray-tracing that will power console versions of Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage (2024).
The headline photography upgrade is the 5X zoom, exclusive to this year's Pro Max. There are also new super-high-resolution 24MP photos and next-gen Portrait mode, as well as Smart HDR 5, Log video recording, and support for ACES (Academy Color Encoding System). The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a more expensive starting price because there's no 128GB model, but for some users such as those in the UK, the Pro Max has dropped in price compared to last year's 256GB option.
The 15 Pro Max is closely followed by the iPhone 15 Pro as our pick for the best iPhone. If you don't want the larger size and aren't fussed about the 5X zoom, which is the only exclusive feature, that phone is definitely the one for you.
2024 Runner up: iPhone 15
The new iPhone 15 is basically the iPhone 14 Pro, which is why it replaces that model our picks for 2024. While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the all-singing, all-dancing, flagship iPhone, the new iPhone 15 is such a potent upgrade on the iPhone 14 that it could well have been our pick for best iPhone overall.
It gets the A16 chip from last year's iPhone 14 Pro, along with the new Dynamic Island, a massive upgrade on the old notch. There's also USB-C for more convenient charging, although charging and data transfer speeds haven't been improved.
It also gets the massive camera from the iPhone 14 Pro, and now shoots 48MP photos.
Perhaps the only letdown is the 60Hz display, but Apple continues to reserve ProMotion and the 120Hz refresh rate for its most premium models. That refresh rate is perhaps the only reason you might want to consider an iPhone 14 Pro over this year's iPhone 15.
The best alternative iPhone? Last year's flagship
The iPhone 14 Pro is the company's previous flagship iPhone, first launched in 2022. While it may have been surpassed by 2023's iPhone 15 Pro lineup, it's still an immensely capable handset with a swathe of great features that make it a great choice for plenty of users.
In our iPhone 15 review, we actually recommend the iPhone 14 Pro as the best alternative to the iPhone 15 for several reasons. It sports the same A16 Bionic chip as the new iPhone 15, however, it has a more potent camera (three lenses instead of two), and most importantly, a 120Hz refresh rate display. The LTPO Always-On display really brings this iPhone to life, giving you access to information on your display all the time. It also makes animations much smoother and activities like scrolling are much more enjoyable on this older device.
Naturally, you're losing out on USB-C, but if that's not important to you I'd seriously recommend considering the iPhone 14 Pro, especially if you want to save some cash by skipping the newest models.
The best iPhone for photography in 2024
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone for photography for all the same reasons that make it the best iPhone for this year. It has the best camera of any iPhone ever, including the all-new 5X zoom camera which is exclusive to the larger model this year. If you need an iPhone and want the best photography experience possible, this is the one for you. If you don't think 5X zoom is a deal-breaker, the iPhone 15 Pro is also a viable option, but both are better than the previous iPhones.
Specifically, it features a 48MP main camera that now shoots 24MP super-high-resolution images by default in 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm focal lengths. It supports Apple's ProRAW format at 48MP, as well as a new 48MP HEIF format.
Apple's Telephoto lens offers 5x optical zoom at 120mm, with optical image stabilization and autofocus. It also features next-generation portraits that are sharper, with more colors and better low-light performance.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also features a better night mode, new Smart HDR, and more. Finally, with USB-C and USB 3 support, you can quickly transfer photos you take to a Mac or other device, including through third-party software such as Capture One.
The best cheap iPhone in 2024
You don't have to spend a fortune to get the iPhone experience, and there's no greater example than Apple's best cheap iPhone, the iPhone SE. Clocking in at just 4.7-inches tall, this tiny iPhone still features a Home Button and the legacy design of the iPhones of yesteryear. However, it's no slouch, and features the same processor as the iPhone 14, a 2MP wide-angle camera with 5x digital zoom, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, 4K video recording, 5G connectivity, and an improved battery over the previous model.
This is also a great pick for seniors and young children, because of its accessibility and its cheap price respectively. It's most certainly the model I would recommend to my mom. She's used to using a Home button and isn't particularly interested in learning new tech. She doesn't take a ton of photos, nor does she care about having "the latest" tech with all the bells and whistles. She just wants a phone to keep in her purse in case of emergencies, for texting with her grandkids, or to play the occasional game of Solitaire.
The smaller form factor is great for smaller hands, and the lower price point makes it an attractive option for kids who tend to drop or lose things more often than their parents would like.
If you're new to the smartphone game or upgrading from an older model, this is newer tech at an incredibly low price.
The best iPhone for battery life in 2024
Last year, the iPhone 14 Plus was the king of battery life, and this year's 15 Plus is no different. Latest iPhone battery life tests indicate the iPhone 15 Plus is indeed the one to buy, and it's no surprise. It has the largest chassis and battery of any model but doesn't have the battery-hogging features of the Pro, namely that new chip and the 120Hz display.
The best small iPhone in 2024
Apple doesn't sell the diminutive mini anymore, but you can still get the iPhone 13 mini from carriers. It's available in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, PRODUCT(RED), Pink, and the mid-cycle refresh color: Green.
As a smaller phone, it has a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display. That screen has a Ceramic Shield which offers four times the drop performance of older iPhones. It also has a glass back and aluminum design on the rest of the body, although it makes sense to still set aside some cash for one of the best iPhone 13 mini cases or one of the many wallets compatible with it.
As expected from an iPhone of this age, it has no problem running the latest iOS including iOS 17.
Similar to the iPhone 12 lineup, the iPhone 13 mini comes with super-fast 5G connectivity, but this time with more band support. This means even faster download speeds and high-quality streaming, as long as your carrier offers it. The iPhone 13 mini also has the A15 Bionic chip, a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. You also get a 4-core GPU that gives you 30% faster graphics, and overall, the iPhone 13 is 50% faster than competing devices. It also has a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning, allowing it to do 15.8 trillion operations per second. Pretty fast, right?
The iPhone 13 mini can also use the Apple MagSafe charger and the entire MagSafe ecosystem of accessories that debuted with the iPhone 12. This means you can get MagSafe wireless chargers too.
The best iPhone is one that fits your needs
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is objectively the best iPhone, the iPhone 15 is probably the best one for most people. It has the latest A16 chip, an improved camera system, and the Dynamic Island. If you want a bigger display though, consider the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It's the same device but bigger.
Alternatively, if you don't want to stretch your budget too far, there's always the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, as well as the iPhone SE to give you excellent value for money.
