The perfect iPhones in 2023: which one do you have to buy?

January 8, 2023

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Apple’s iPhone has been around for well over a decade now, and it’s at all times an amazing alternative for individuals who are in search of a smartphone. For years, there was just one iPhone model to pick from, so your only decision was how much capability to get and whether you wanted it with a darker black/grey or a lighter white/silver finish. Today, the most recent iPhone models are available in multiple versions, making the alternative between them a bit more complicated.

For instance, the latest iPhone 14 lineup offers 4 different models to pick from. Plus, Apple still sells the older iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, and even the 2020-era iPhone 12. Lastly, there’s the iPhone SE for people in search of an inexpensive, no-frills model, or those that still really like the standard home button and Touch ID sensor.

With so many selections, which iPhone do you have to get? Our suggestion is the iPhone 14 Pro, which can be currently at the highest of our overall best smartphones list as well. Nonetheless, if you need to avoid wasting money, you possibly can pick up the iPhone 13 or take a look at the most recent iPhone deals, and if you need to see what else is on the market, we’ve got an inventory of best Android phones too.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Best iPhone overall

Pros

Camera improvements mean great photos
All the time-on display looks incredible
Powerful A16 Bionic processor
Vibrant screen and clear speakers
Long-term software support

Cons

One-day battery life
Modest charging speed

Why you must buy this: Those that take numerous photos will want the upgraded 48-megapixel camera with fast performance of the A16 Bionic, and the Dynamic Island is beneficial.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the very best Apple iPhone currently available.

The iPhone 14 Pro is the best possible iPhone that Apple has made thus far, due to numerous big improvements. It’s necessary to notice, though, that the A16 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 14 Pro line is exclusive to the Pro devices this time around, so that you won’t find it in the usual iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus. The A16 Bionic is even faster than its predecessor and encompasses a six-core CPU with two performance and 4 efficiency cores, and a five-core GPU gives you incredible graphical power within the palm of your hand. And with the 16-core Neural Engine, you’ve got a ton of power for real-time video evaluation and image processing.

Speaking of photos and video, the iPhone 14 Pro is an absolute beast for mobile photographers. Apple has upgraded the predominant camera to a whopping 48 megapixels, which is a big jump from the 12 megapixels that it has used for the past several years. It also has an ultrawide and telephoto lens camera that may do each 2x and 3x zoom, unlike last yr’s iPhone 13 Pro, which was only able to 3x.

The 48-megapixel camera uses pixel binning by having 4 sub-pixels make up a single, larger pixel, so regular images shot with an iPhone 14 Pro will still say “12MP” within the metadata. Nonetheless, you possibly can shoot in full 48MP with Apple’s ProRAW format, supplying you with much more control over the post-editing process. But be warned! ProRAW images will be around 75MB each, so use them sparingly. Thankfully, the iPhone 14 Pro also goes as much as 1TB of storage, so you possibly can shoot in ProRAW to your heart’s content. And your entire photos and video, in addition to graphics-intensive games will look stunning on the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion 120Hz technology. And, yes, you possibly can exhibit your photos with the brand new, always-on display.

Apple also removed the notch, replacing it with the Dynamic Island, which is a pill and hole-shaped cutout that houses the front-facing camera and Face ID sensors. The Dynamic Island is fluid and changes depending on what you might be currently doing on the device. You can too interact with it through taps, and it is going to integrate with Live Activities in iOS 16 once those change into available. It’s a pleasant recent way of multitasking on the iPhone.

Lastly, the iPhone 14 Pro has some recent safety features, though these are also available on the usual iPhone 14 models too. Emergency SOS via satellite helps you to use satellite connectivity to achieve emergency services when you are in an area without Wi-Fi or cellular data, which provides more peace of mind to those that prefer to hike or camp out in distant areas. There’s also automotive crash detection, which uses various sensors within the iPhone — just like the accelerometer, gyroscope, and microphone — to detect when you’ve been involved in a severe automotive crash. For those who are, the iPhone will mechanically contact emergency services after about 10 seconds. Each of those are features you hope you don’t need to make use of but will probably be glad to have if you do need them.

The iPhone 14 Pro still has an all-day battery lifetime of around 20-23 hours, and it’s fast-charge capable with a 20W power adapter. Standard Qi wireless charging still caps out at 7.5W, but you possibly can get faster 15W wireless charging with an Apple-certified MagSafe charger.

Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro offers a ton of latest features that make it well worth the upgrade. Powerful and fast performance, huge camera upgrade (and bumps), always-on display with Dynamic Island, and recent safety features — all while still offering all-day battery life. It’s the very best iPhone yet.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Best iPhone overall

Joe Maring/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Best iPhone with an enormous screen

Pros

Exquisitely premium design
Beautiful 120Hz display
Dynamic Island is a joy
All the time-on screen is gorgeous
Incredible camera system
Blistering performance
Outstanding battery life
Robust iOS 16 software

Cons

Certainly one of the heaviest phones you possibly can buy
Expensive

Why you must buy this: It has a much bigger screen so you possibly can see more on the display without delay.

Who it’s for: Anyone who prefers to have more screen area and a good higher battery.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is largely similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, except it has a much bigger 6.7-inch display and longer battery life. Nonetheless, the remaining is identical: design, A16, 48-megapixel camera, always-on display, 120Hz ProMotion, and as much as 1TB storage.

With that in mind, if having the largest screen is a crucial factor to you, and having battery life that lasts a bit of greater than a full day (25 to 29 hours) is a necessity, then consider the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But you furthermore mght must consider other aspects, like how the larger screen feels — when you’re not already used to it, then it could be an excessive amount of and uncomfortable to make use of. The iPhone 14 Pro Max can be significantly heavier, which also affects comfort in the long term. The Max can be dearer as well. For those who’re OK with those things, though, it’s a superb purchase.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Best iPhone with an enormous screen

Joe Maring/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 14

Best mid-range iPhone

Pros

Comfortable, high-end construct
OLED screen looks incredible
A15 chip performs great
Good camera upgrades
Dependable battery life
Helpful safety features

Cons

60Hz display
No telephoto camera
eSIM is likely to be a pain for some

Why you must buy this: You wish extra safety features for peace of mind, and also you’re upgrading from an older iPhone model or buying your first iPhone.

Who it’s for: Those that don’t mind the tried and true design of the iPhone 13, but with barely improved cameras and further safety features.

The iPhone 14 might not be a brilliant exciting recent upgrade for many techies (that honor goes to the iPhone 14 Pro), but for individuals who are coming from an older device, it’s still great. For those who don’t need a 48-megapixel camera, an always-on display, and don’t take care of the probabilities of the Dynamic Island, then the iPhone 14 is for you.

The iPhone 14 is definitely still using the A15 Bionic from 2021, which was a rather unusual move for Apple. Nonetheless, that chip continues to be plenty powerful and positively nothing to scoff at, and it is also the marginally higher version that was utilized in the iPhone 13 Pro. For those who’re coming from anything older than the iPhone 13, the A15 will provide you with a noticeable bump in performance and speed to your on a regular basis tasks.

The notch continues to be present on the iPhone 14, and the camera is only a slight improvement over the previous generation. There’s no always-on display, no Dynamic Island, and never even a 120Hz ProMotion display. Nonetheless, you do get Apple’s newest safety features on the iPhone 14, including Emergency SOS via satellite and crash detection.

So, while the iPhone 14 isn’t much different from the iPhone 13 before it, when you want the brand new safety features for some peace of mind, then grab the iPhone 14. Plus, the worth can be lower than the Pro models, so you possibly can get those features (and still an amazing camera) without having to cough up more dough for the Pro.

Apple iPhone 14

Best mid-range iPhone

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13

Best value iPhone

Pros

Fast and responsive performance
Excellent camera and video capabilities
Long-lasting battery life
Supports most premium features

Cons

Still no USB-C
No higher refresh rate or telephoto lens

Why you must buy this: The iPhone 13 still packs in a few of the very best technology Apple has to supply, all in a package that’s relatively reasonably priced and manageable in a single hand.

Who it’s for: Those that want an iPhone but don’t care as much about camera extras or add-ons.

Even though it’s technically the bottom model in its lineup from the previous generation, there’s nothing basic in regards to the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 continues to be a powerhouse, with the identical A15 Bionic chip because the iPhone 14, making it just as powerful. Also, while the iPhone 13 has the same-sized display because the iPhone 14 Pro, it lacks ProMotion technology, so it won’t feel as smooth.

The twin-camera camera system on the iPhone 13 is not as sophisticated because the triple-lens of the Pro models, but it surely still takes phenomenal photos, and also you’re unlikely to return away upset with the shots it takes.

Apple iPhone 13

Best value iPhone

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

Best iPhone with a small screen

Pros

Compact size and small display
Same color options as regular iPhone 13
Crisper resolution than iPhone 13

Cons

Small display may not be for everybody

Why you must buy this: It could actually slot in your pocket, but it surely’s more powerful than many modern flagship phones.

Who it’s for: Those that need a capable yet small phone that may fit in a single hand.

For those who’re in search of advanced iPhone technology, but you wish a smaller screen size, you may want to take a look at the iPhone 13 Mini. The 5.4-inch display makes the phone sufficiently small to carry in a single hand, while the screen continues to be large enough to view from a distance. The Mini version of the iPhone 13 is available in the entire same color options because the regular version, and with a 2340 x 1080 resolution, the Mini actually has a crisper screen than the regular iPhone 13.

The iPhone 13 Mini is a phone for individuals who want a robust iPhone but don’t value screen real estate, camera advancements, or feature upgrades a lot that they’re willing to pay more. Plus, this is basically the one option left for individuals who need a small iPhone.

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

Best iPhone with a small screen

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Best iPhone for tight budgets

Pros

Compact and lightweight
Very powerful
Touch ID works rather well
Wireless charging
IP67 water resistance

Cons

Poor battery life
60Hz screen
64GB won’t be enough

Why you must buy this: If the iPhone 13 and 14 is financially out of reach, the iPhone SE (2022) is the most affordable method to buy a brand recent iPhone from Apple.

Who it’s for: You wish an iPhone, but you might want to avoid wasting money.

Apple’s iPhone SE (2022) starts at $429, making it the most affordable brand recent iPhone you possibly can buy in the mean time. Yes, it has its limitations, but for the cash, it’s an amazing little smartphone. True, the iPhone 8 design is dated and chunky, but you get the identical tough glass used on the iPhone 13 (minus Ceramic Shield). It is also compact enough for one-handed use and an amazing alternative for individuals who prefer a smaller phone.

Under the hood you get Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, the identical present in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, plus 4GB of RAM and 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of onboard storage. There’s also a much bigger battery than its predecessor, so try to be good to go all day without recharging.

The 4.7-inch Liquid Retina Display boasts 1334 x 750 resolution (around 326 pixels per inch) and a 60Hz refresh rate, ensuring every little thing looks crisp, with True Tone technology, haptic touch, and wide color support. Yes, it is a small screen, but it surely’s still impressive. You furthermore may get a single-lens 12MP camera on the rear and a 7MP selfie camera, each performing well, provided lighting conditions are good, though there is no Night mode. You furthermore may do not get Face ID, though the Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be very reliable.

Finally, the most recent iPhone SE packs 5G, making it a superb future-proof alternative. Only sub-6GHz (and C-Band) 5G are supported for now, but this continues to be an enormous upgrade over 4G by way of speed, provided you reside in an area where 5G is offered.

For many who play numerous the most recent, demanding games or watch numerous videos, the brand new iPhone SE (2022) may not be the fitting alternative. It may also not be best for you when you take most of your photos after dark or in poor lighting, as a result of the shortage of Night mode. Otherwise, when you want a robust processor, loads of onboard storage, and a surprising display, without breaking the bank, there is no cheaper method to get these items than with the iPhone SE (2022).

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Best iPhone for tight budgets

Regularly Asked Questions

How much storage should I get?

A dilemma that at all times pops up when buying a recent iPhone is deciding on what storage size to get because the iPhone doesn’t have expandable storage. This all really relies on what you propose on using your iPhone for.

For those who mostly stream music and video content, don’t take a ton of photos or videos, don’t download numerous big files, and don’t plan on playing numerous graphically intensive games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Diablo Immortal, then you may probably get by with the bottom storage. All iPhones on this guide start at 128GB of storage, except the iPhone SE, which begins at 64GB. A variety of people use cloud storage solutions to maintain their data backed up, so the reliance on local storage on an iPhone isn’t as big of a deal because it was before.

For most individuals, though, 64GB, and even 128GB, just isn’t enough. Possibly you propose to make use of the good iPhone cameras to take numerous photos and videos of your family members, otherwise you identical to taking pictures of every little thing. You might occasionally need to download television shows or movies to look at offline, or perhaps you need to land some headshots in Call of Duty: Mobile while waiting around somewhere. If that’s the case, then choosing 256GB or 512GB is a secure bet, and it gives you more leeway.

And for individuals who just take photos and videos of every little thing and never need to delete files off of their device, have a ton of apps and games, and need to download albums or videos for offline viewing, then 1TB is the method to go. Nonetheless, when you want 1TB of storage so that you never must worry about running out of cupboard space again, then you definitely’ll must go for either the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max, as those are the one devices that supply this storage size.

Apple does have its own iCloud service for online storage, but you simply get 5GB without cost, which is hardly anything today. You may get more storage, but only when you pay for it. The most cost effective option is 50GB for $1 per 30 days, or your can go to 200GB for $3 a month, or 2TB for $10 a month. iCloud storage can be included in Apple One bundles, which also encompass other Apple services like Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, though what you get relies on the tier you select.

How long will I get updates?

The entire iPhones mentioned here include 5G connectivity, so that they’re all going to be pretty future-proof, including the iPhone SE. And so far as software updates go, Apple is pretty good about ensuring that you just get several years of updates to your iPhone.

iOS 16 currently works on devices going back to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, which got here out in 2017. That’s no less than five years of updates! So when you buy one in all these iPhones straight away, try to be guaranteed to get support for the same period of time.

What if I’m switching from an Android device, or what if I would like to depart the Apple ecosystem later?

For those who’re coming to an iPhone from an Android phone, remember some data may not easily transfer over, and you’ll have to get used to a recent software operating system. For instance, data saved in some messaging apps (WhatsApp, for instance) will be difficult to export or import, so it’s possible you’ll start with a clean slate. While iOS is logical and straightforward to make use of, it is going to feel different, so expect a learning curve before it looks like home.

Finally, when you’re contained in the Apple ecosystem, it might be difficult to flee. Many accessories are Apple-only, apps you buy can’t be swapped to Android or vice versa, and when you buy an Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Ultra — which we recommend when you need a smartwatch — then it only works with an iPhone. Provided you understand the commitment you’ll be making for the following two years minimum, an iPhone will serve you so well, that it’s possible you’ll not want to change to a different brand in any respect.

Why do you have to trust our recommendations?

We have now reviewed iPhone models because the very starting, together with almost every major Android smartphone too. After we check out a phone we live with it daily, mostly as our only smartphone, to see the way it performs the tasks all of us need it to on a each day basis. This manner, we get to see where it excels, and in addition where it could fail. Then we inform you all about it.

For that reason, we are able to make educated recommendations on which phones are value it. Buying one in all these isn’t just numerous money, it’s committing to 1 phone for as much as two years, do you have to buy it with a contract through a carrier. It is advisable to ensure the choice is the fitting one, and being as informed as possible ahead of laying down your money is smart.

We’re confident buying an iPhone is among the best decisions you possibly can make within the smartphone market, based on our experience, and the models above are those that deserve your attention.