The best iPhone may be the one you already own. There is generally no need to buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware updates are broadly iterative, adding small bits to an already accomplished package. But if you do want a replacement handset, whether new or refurbished, here are the best devices of the current crop of Apple smartphones.
Many other smartphones are available besides the iPhone, but if you’re an Apple user and don’t fancy switching to Android, you still have a couple of choices. Whether your priority is the longest battery life, the best camera, the biggest screen or simply the optimal balance of features and price, there is more to choose from in the Apple ecosystem than you may expect, especially after the iPhone 16 models were released on 9 September.
But if you’re thinking of buying Android instead, we have a guide for those too.
At a glance
The best iPhones you can buy in 2024
Best iPhone for most people:
iPhone 16
The base model iPhone 16 has almost all the features that make Apple’s latest smartphones great, but it’s significantly cheaper than the 16 Pro models.
It has Apple’s modern yet familiar aluminium and glass iPhone design and Face ID but has a rearranged camera cluster on the back. It sticks with the same 6.1in OLED screen as its predecessors, which looks good but lacks an always-on mode. It’s also still stuck at a relatively slow 60Hz refresh rate, which can make scrolling and motion more jarring than on models with faster screens.
The latest A18 chip is rapid and enables Apple’s Intelligence features (AI tools). The battery lasts about two days of general use, or at least a day of heavy use, and the phone charges with USB-C. It also supports MagSafe and Qi/Qi2 wireless charging and accessories. It starts with a decent 128GB of storage, although larger models are available if you don’t want to store your photos and videos in the cloud.
The iPhone 16 is light and fairly compact for a modern smartphone, and its IP68 rating means it’s water-resistant to depths of six metres for up to 30 minutes – more than safe enough for any accidental dunks. It gains the useful Action button from last year’s iPhone 15 Pro, which replaces the mute switch and can be used to mute the phone or for various other functions, such as turning on the torch or launching apps. The new Camera Control button is great for quickly opening the camera, even if zooming, changing settings and shooting photos with the button is a bit fiddly in the camera app.
The dual camera on the back is good, comprising a main 48MP camera and an improved 12MP ultrawide camera, which now has a macro photography mode for fun closeup shots. It also has Apple’s photographic styles features for those who want to customise how the camera captures photos (rich contrast, vibrant, warm) and get creative with tone and colour palette. The main camera can do a 2x in-sensor zoom, which works well in bright light, but the lack of a real telephoto camera holds the 16 back. The 12MP selfie camera is the same as other iPhones.
The iPhone runs iOS 18.1, which has plenty of customisation features and supports RCS messaging with Android. It also has a handful of the first Apple Intelligence features, including various AI writing, proofing, transcribing and summarising tools, a new Siri design and an AI object remover in photos. The notification summaries feature is the most useful, condensing multiple alerts – such as WhatsApp messages, security camera events and even news apps – into stacks and summarising them to show you what has happened quickly. However, none of the AI features are worth upgrading for just yet.
£799 at Apple
£779 at John Lewis
Why should you buy it?
The iPhone 16 provides the standard iPhone experience at a cheaper price and in the most pocketable size, offering good battery life and access to new and future AI features.
Buy if: you want the default, good iPhone experience today
Don’t buy if: you want optical zoom on your camera
Read our full iPhone 16 review: more buttons and speed for Apple’s standard phone
Battery and size upgrade:
iPhone 16 Plus
For an extra £100, the iPhone 16 Plus matches the specs, camera and features of the base model but adds a bigger 6.7in screen and long battery life, which can last up to three days of general use. It still has the same pitfalls as the vanilla iPhone 16, such as a 60Hz display and no optical zoom camera, while its size makes it more difficult to use one-handed and somewhat bulky in a pocket.
£899 at Apple
£879 at John Lewis
Read our full iPhone 16 Plus review: Apple’s battery beast
Best iPhone for camera:
iPhone 16 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro is Apple’s best phone. It’s the step-up option to the basic iPhone 16: the same good bits, but a slightly larger (6.3in) screen, despite being squeezed into a similarly sized titanium and glass body. The display is crisp, bright and slick, with a faster 120Hz refresh rate to keep scrolling and animations smooth. The screen also supports the handy always-on feature, showing the time and notifications when not in use.
The 16 Pro also has a slightly more powerful A18 Pro chip and starts with 128GB of storage, with greater space available – up to 1TB – for those who need it. The battery lasts a good 40 hours of general use, meaning it will go through the heaviest of days, and most will need to charge it only every other day.
It has the same two extra Action and Camera Control buttons as the regular model, but the camera on the back is better. The 48MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide camera are great and the extra 12MP 5x telephoto camera meaningfully closes the distances to objects. Combined, they shoot great photos across various lighting conditions and scenarios.
£999 at Apple
£979 at John Lewis
Why should you buy it?
This is Apple’s best phone, with its most powerful camera, top performance and a high-quality big-enough screen in a device that’s still easy to fit in a pocket.
Buy if: you want the Pro screen, titanium body and best camera without a massive display
Don’t buy if: you want the longest battery life or biggest display on an iPhone
Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review: Apple levels up its smaller ‘pro’ phone
Best iPhone for screen:
iPhone 16 Pro Max
The biggest, most expensive iPhone in Apple’s 16 series lineup is the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It takes everything great from the smaller iPhone 16 Pro and adds a bright, crisp and smooth 6.9in display. Watching movies on it feels more like using a small tablet than a phone.
The 16 Pro Max also has a big battery, lasting about 55 hours of general use between charges, so it needs charging every third day. That means it will manage even the heaviest all-day use, and is ideal if you want to game for hours.
However, Apple’s superphone is so big that it is hard to handle, needing two hands to wield. It’s also quite heavy and bulky, making it a bit of a lump to carry in a pocket or small bag.
£1,199 at Apple
£1,179 at John Lewis
Why should you buy it?
The 16 Pro Max is Apple’s superphone with a massive, beautiful screen and excellent battery life, as well as everything good about its smaller 16 Pro sibling.
Buy if: you want a huge, high-quality display and a long-lasting battery
Don’t buy if: you want a smaller, more pocketable device
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Read our full iPhone 16 Pro Max review: totally maxed out
Best value iPhone:
iPhone SE (2022)
The iPhone SE is something of a throwback. It takes the classic pre-2017 design of the iPhone – complete with a Touch ID home button and chunky bezels – and puts a more modern chip at its heart.
The third-generation iPhone SE was released in 2022 and is still the best-value new iPhone, with 5G and the A15 Bionic chip used in the 2021 iPhone 13. The 4.7in screen is small and dim by modern standards, despite the phone feeling quite chunky. It lacks Face ID and other modern iPhone features, such as Apple Intelligence, and has only 64GB of storage at its base price. The single camera on the back is a bit weak, too.
£429 at Apple
£429 at John Lewis
Why should you buy it?
The iPhone SE (2022) is the cheapest iPhone you can buy new.
Buy if: you want the best-value iPhone, but don’t want to buy a refurbished model
Don’t buy if: you want a modern iPhone experience or high-quality camera
Read our full Apple iPhone SE 2022 review: dated design but bargain price
Other iPhones still on sale at Apple
The iPhone 15, released in 2023, has the same screen and aluminium body as the current iPhone 16 but lacks the action and camera control buttons. It was great on release and will receive about five to six years of software support. However, it lacks Apple Intelligence support and is fairly expensive at an RRP of £699, so look for refurbished models or deals.
The 2022 iPhone 14 has an older design, doesn’t support Apple Intelligence features and is getting on a bit, but it’s still a good phone. It’s not good value at its RRP of £599, though, so this is one to look out for refurbished, with about four years of software support expected.
Replace or spruce up?
If your iPhone is running slow or the battery doesn’t last as long as it used to, there may be something you can do. Check your battery health in settings. If it’s past its best, a replacement costs £65 to £109 from Apple, or cheaper through third parties, and will give your iPhone a new lease of life. To speed things up, check you have enough free storage and clear out any unused apps or content, off-loading photos and videos to the cloud and deleting music. Aim for at least 2GB of free space.
If your phone is worn out, broken beyond repair or no longer receives crucial security updates, it’s time to upgrade. The latest software, version iOS 18, supports devices back to 2018’s iPhone XS/XR, so anything older should be replaced soon – though some older models may still receive occasional security updates from Apple.
What to look out for in a refurb
Buying refurbished phones is better for the planet and your wallet. The iPhone makes for an excellent refurbished phone, typically staying responsive for years and being supported with software updates for about seven years from release, or longer in some circumstances. That means you can use an older model for several years before it will need replacing.
There are broadly two types of refurbished iPhone available: those refurbished and sold directly by Apple that come, essentially, as new, and those refurbished by third parties that come in various grades or condition – but cost less.
Quick Guide
A buyer’s guide to refurbished phones
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Several third-party retailers offer refurbished phones, including the UK high street chains CeX and Game and online stores such as musicMagpie and Envirofone. Marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and refurb specialist Back Market also have a wide range. And some phone operators, including O2, giffgaff, EE and Vodafone, sell refurbished iPhones.
The condition of the phone is among the most important things to consider before parting with any cash. This is graded as follows:
Grade A – virtually identical to a new phone on the outside, usually with the original box and accessories. These are often customer returns rather than trade-ins and are the most expensive.
Grade B – in full working order but typically with light scratches, dents or nicks, and may come with original accessories.
Grade C – in full working order but visibly worn and typically sold without original accessories.
Grade D – also known as “for spares and repairs” or similar. These are broken devices sold for people to fix or gut for parts.
Once you’re satisfied with the condition of the phone, be sure to also size up the device’s:
Battery health – batteries wear out, typically only maintaining up to 80% of their original capacity after 500 full-charge cycles (about two to three years of nightly charging). Has it been replaced?
Charging port – check for signs of damage, as these are among the first parts to break.
Buttons – do they all work without pressing too hard? Broken buttons make phones difficult to use and can be expensive to fix.
Fingerprint scanner – is the fingerprint reader functioning as it should? Scratches or repairs can cause them to be faulty.
Network locks – check the phone works with the provider of your choice, as some are originally sold locked to certain networks and must be unlocked before being used on another.
Unauthorised parts – not all repairs are done by the manufacturer or using certified parts, which can affect performance.
Check it isn’t stolen – check the phone’s 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number against a database of stolen devices through a service such as CheckMEND or similar.
Warranty – what kind of warranty does the retailer offer on its refurbished phones?
Do not buy
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Any model older than an iPhone 13, because you won’t get many years of software support before you’ll have to replace it.
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An iPhone 13 mini unless it has a new battery. It had a relatively short battery life to start with and needed more frequent charging than larger iPhones, so its battery wears out faster.
How I tested
Quick Guide
How I tested
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We combine real-world testing with various tools, such as benchmarking systems that perform standardised tasks. These help us evaluate a phone, measure its performance, confirm that it works as expected and compare it with its competition and predecessors.
We use the phones at different times and in various environments, from firing off emails on packed commuter trains to weekends spent shooting photos in national parks, and everything in between. We do everything a typical smartphone user would, such as messaging, browsing, using apps, listening to music, watching videos, playing games and navigating the real world. That gives us a good impression of how a smartphone handles the rigours of day-to-day life – plus, it shows us how long the battery lasts and the strength of its wireless performance.
The findings from our general use of the phones are combined with the results from specific tests for things such as the camera zoom, video playback and charging, to inform the reviews and help us rank the devices.
Why should you trust me?
I have been reviewing consumer electronics for 16 years, with more than a decade spent as the Guardian’s gadget expert. In that time I’ve seen all manner of tech fads come and go, smartphone giants rise and fall, the cutting edge morph into the mainstream, and have poked, prodded and evaluated more than 1,000 devices – sometimes to destruction.
Samuel Gibbs is the Guardian’s consumer technology editor
The article was originally published on 4 October. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This piece was updated on 22 November; the products were updated.