When you're setting out to buy an iPhone, you've probably noticed that there's like a gazillion of them out there right now, and Apple's recently released the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, just make the list of options even longer. This doesn't make it any easier to pick out a new phone for yourself unless you just want the latest and greatest. Still, it's worth considering your options. Not everyone needs the biggest display and most cameras if they're not going to take advantage of them.
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No matter which iPhone you choose, each supports the brilliant iOS 18 that was announced at WWDC 2024, which brings a ton of AI features to every iPhone on this list, along with an all-new Photos app that's way better organized. Though if you want to tap into Apple Intelligence, you'll be looking at only th newer models.
So, whether you're looking for the best of the best, or something on a more reasonable budget, you can rest easy that you're going to get the same software and app experience no matter what you pick.
You can also check out our guide to the best iPhone accessories to help you find the right peripherals for a new phone. We got a chance to review the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, and they rival the AirPods 2 in several categories. So, these earbuds may be worth investing in.
Contributions by Georgie Peru and Rudie Obias
1. iPhone 16 Pro
Best Overall
The iPhone 16 Pro gets major props for shooting the gap between the base iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Its more compact form factor will be more manageable for most users in one-handed use than the enormous Pro Max, but it doesn’t miss out any features or camera sensors — unlike previous iterations that had different cameras on the smaller Pro model. Of course, if you want the larger screen, you can simply upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and count on getting an otherwise similar experience.
The iPhone 16 Pro gets all the latest from Apple, including the A18 Pro chip that’s exceedingly powerful for everyday operation and gaming. In the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the chip had the single fastest Geekbench 6 single-core score I’ve ever measured in a phone (and in a laptop for that matter). This also pairs with a GPU that rips. Playing the latest games, the chip is readily able to pump out high frame rates at max settings.
Apple’s build is great and feels luxurious, though it doesn't come in the most vibrant colors. The screen is brilliant, offering both the combination of high brightness and contrast with the more fluid motion of a higher refresh rate. While Apple hypes up the durability of the new phones Ceramic Shield glass, I found it’s still able to get scraped up easily, so it’s worth some protection.
The cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are strong. The main sensor is downright excellent, exhibiting its strength in low-light scenarios where smartphone cameras typically struggle. The ultra-wide successfully squeezes more into the shot, though struggled a bit with softness and noise in my testing, seemingly as a result with a focusing issue (which you could avoid with manual focus). There’s also a helpful 5x telephoto sensor that makes all the difference when you’re trying to capture portraits with natural bokeh or need to get closer to a subject you can’t physically get closer to. The new Camera Control also provides a way to navigate settings and shoot photos with a more shutter-button-like control, though I think Apple has some more work to do perfecting it in future updates and hardware iterations.
2. iPhone 16
Best Mid-range
The iPhone 16 is a properly brilliant mid-range option in the iPhone lineup this year. The introduction of Apple Intelligence required more from the internals, which meant Apple couldn’t leave the base iPhone in the past on an outdated SoC like it has in previous years. As a result, the iPhone 16 ends up with the A18 chip, which puts up serious performance much like the A18 Pro chip in the phone’s Pro siblings. The A18 lagged behind the A18 Pro by a very small margin, but otherwise it readily blasted past the Geekbench 6 CPU performance I’d seen from every phone running a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in Android devices. Single-core even remains enough to outdo what I’ve seen from the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite.
With all that performance, the iPhone 16 easily holds up in everyday use and can play demanding games like Wuthering Waves with ease. Even after long play sessions, the phone remains comfortable to hold.
You get some more colorful options for the hardware, should you like that, though you can also opt for a clean black or white design. The iPhone 16 also gets Ceramic Shield as protection, though I still recommend some extra protection for the phone. The size of the iPhone 16 is great in the pocket and in the hand, with its smaller width making it much more wieldy than the wide Pro Max models.
While you’ll miss out on the extra smoothness of the 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro models, the iPhone 16 still gets a great display. It’s plenty sharp for a 6.1-inch screen, and it offers a gorgeous OLED panel. That pairs with punchy speakers that make watching shows and movies on the phone all the more enjoyable.
The main camera on the iPhone 16 snaps lovely photos, capturing vibrant color and pulling in enough light to make do even in dim environments. The ultra-wide and selfie cameras aren’t bad, but they do struggle with some softness, seemingly a focus issue much like I encountered on the Pro. This is something Apple will hopefully remedy in an update.
3. iPhone 14
Best Budget
Yep, I know Apple has the iPhone SE to serve as a more budget-friendly alternative to its main lineup of phones, but even when that model launched in 2022, I saw enough issues with its viability to discourage would-be buyers. And here in 2024, it hasn’t gotten any more attractive. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 has. The iPhone 14 has come down in price, now sitting at $599 with 128GB of storage. Considering the iPhone SE (2022) comes with just 64GB of storage and costs $429, or bumps to $479 to get 128GB, the gap between the two is narrowed. But the iPhone 14 packs so much extra to justify its higher price.
The iPhone 14 comes with a large OLED display that’s better able to keep up with modern apps, browsing, and navigation. It also gets Face ID, which is an incredibly quick and convenient way to unlock the phone. The front is covered with Ceramic Shield for a tough finish, and the phone has a high degree of water ingress protection.
Inside, the iPhone 14 packs an A15 Bionic chipset, which may be a little more dated, but was plenty powerful in 2022 and should still keep up with most applications and many games now and into the future.
Another upgrade over the iPhone SE is the camera system. The iPhone 14 gets a quality main sensor backed by an ultra-wide sensor for more flexible shooting. It also can capture 4K/60FPS video with Dolby Vision encoding.
The upgrades over the iPhone SE are so extensive and meaningful, it really is hard to justify opting for the SE over the iPhone 14 as the best budget option. For those on an especially tight budget where the iPhone 14 is out of reach, refurbished units are readily available at a healthy discount, and some still get warranties, like many sold on eBay.
4. Galaxy S24 Ultra
Best iPhone Alternative
If you’re after a great phone but on the fence about it being an iPhone, you’ve got options. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is not only the best iPhone alternative, it’s simply the best phone. Samsung has made the S24 Ultra effectively the culmination of all the best technologies it could throw together into a phone.
The first thing you’ll see is the phone’s enormous 6.8-inch display. Apple may be keeping up on screen-size, but the S24 Ultra has an extra-special display not only including an anti-glare finish but also a digitizer, letting you use the phone with the included S Pen stylus. The anti-glare finish makes the phone significantly easier to see under intense light, as does the brilliant AMOLED panel, which has a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The stylus support means you can doodle, take notes, or even make art on the phone in ways you could only dream of on a normal touchscreen.
The S24 Ultra also packs in incredible cameras. Never mind systems with two or three cameras — the S24 Ultra fits four cameras onto the back. It gives you the typical ultra-wide and wide options as well as a 3x and 5x telephoto for serious flexibility. You can get up close to your photographic subject or zoom way out to capture a wide scene all without moving a foot.
The performance on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also exceptional. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip inside may not blast past the latest A18 Pro chips, but it’s more than up to the task of running demanding games and heavy applications.
My only reservation in recommending the S24 Ultra right now is that we’re so close to the expected launch of new models that it may be worth waiting if you can hold out. The introduction of new devices should mean either an even better alternative or a better price on this model.
Upcoming iPhones
We've already seen Apple new additions for 2024, and they offer some great improvements and serious performance. They also lowered the prices of earlier models in a meaningful way. While we'll be waiting until late next year to see more, there are some hopes that Apple may release a new iPhone SE model early in 2025 (the current SE model is almost three years old, after all). This could provide a new, more-affordable option with a simpler design but potentially the power to run Apple Intelligence on-device. There's no confirmation of this happening, though.
What to Look for in an Apple iPhone
While there are a number of different models, the user experience is essentially the same. That’s one of the Apple iPhone’s biggest draws and why it’s the most popular smartphone in the world. However, the differences between models can make it tougher to find the best one for you. Here’s what to look out for in an Apple iPhone in 2024.
Phone Size
When it comes to the iPhone, size matters. If you want to be able to use it with just one hand, finding the best size is key. For bigger hands,the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is the perfect fit, thanks to their larger displays and wider builds. But if you’re on the smaller side, then the Apple iPhone 16 or iPhone 14.
Storage Capacity
Additionally, storage size is also something to think about. If you want to take a lot of high resolution photos, then the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max with 1TB of storage is the best option. Other models listed here come with a base of 128GB, which should do if you don’t want to use a lot of apps and just use it very casually.
Price
If price is a consideration, the Apple iPhone ranges from the tamer iPhone SE (64GB) at $429 to the totally maxed out iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB) at $1,599. Best of all, even if you go with the most inexpensive model, Apple iOS operating system will be included – which will receive updates for the next five-to-six years after purchase. So whatever the budget, each model gets about the same software experience and support.
Overall, the most important thing to look for when buying an iPhone is how you’ll use it. For most people, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is the best pick because it's the most well-rounded with a fast processor, fantastic camera system, timeless colors, and a wide range of storage options at a good price.
Best iPhone FAQ
What are the Best iPhone Alternatives?
Although iPhones dominate a large sector of the smartphone market these days, there are quite a few android phones that match up well to the latest Apple devices. The best iPhone alternatives include the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro which are at the top of the Android market. There are other brands like Asus and OnePlus that offer some decent phones as well that have many of the features and iOS user would expect.
Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.
