What's the Best iPhone to Buy in 2024? (2024)

You might have heard that "the iPhone" is the most popular smartphone in the US. But that's not quite accurate. Apple currently sells many different iPhone models. Survey the shelves at the three major US carriers, as well as Cricket and Metro, and that number might rise even higher.

These models include the older iPhone 14, the budget-minded iPhone SE, and the latest iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max. Each has a specific appeal, whether that be the price, size, features, battery life, or a combination thereof.

We've tested every Apple phone since the first-generation iPhone in 2007. Here's what we've learned about how to choose the best iPhone right now.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Buying Guide: What's the Best iPhone to Buy in 2024?

When Is the New iPhone Coming Out?

The iPhone 15 line just launched in September of 2023. That means the iPhone 16 likely won't arrive until September or October of 2024. The most recent iPhone SE arrived in March 2022.

Which Is the Most Powerful iPhone?

Every year brings faster and more powerful iPhones. If you tend to play a lot of games or even surf a lot of image-heavy web pages, a faster processor is better. Apple's most powerful iPhones are the Pro models.

iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

Generally speaking, each new generation of Apple's A-series chips brings a 15% to 20% jump in overall performance, including web browsing and GPU power. That means there's not that big a difference between the A15 Bionic (in the iPhone 14) and the A16 Bionic (in the iPhone 15), but there's a noticeable difference between either of those and the older A14 (in the iPhone 12).

Do You Need a 5G iPhone?

The iPhone 13, 14, and 15 series (all the iPhones Apple sells) are all 5G devices that support C-band networks. That's a strong argument for not choosing anything older than the iPhone 13. Fast 5G coverage has become far more universal in the last few years. T-Mobile has already expanded its speedy mid-band 5G network to much of the country, and Verizon continues to roll out C-band as well. Both systems make a considerable difference in connection speed and performance. AT&T is catching up quickly, though it still falls a bit behind the other two.

iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

We explore some hands-on test results that show the difference between 4G and 5G performance on iPhones in our story on whether you need a 5G iPhone. (Hint: You do.)

Which iPhone Has the Best Camera?

How serious are you about taking photos with your smartphone? That can help determine your choice of iPhone.

All iPhones have a main camera that shoots solid images during the day. Night mode, introduced with the iPhone 11, assists in low-light settings. Each year iPhones get a little better at taking low-light photos.

iPhone 15 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

The standard iPhone 13, 14, and 15 models each have wide-angle cameras, too, which help you fit more scenery into a shot. They're great if you're trying to take photos of groups or crowds of people. Pro iPhones, meanwhile, have 3x or 5x telephoto cameras that get crisp close-ups thanks to optical zoom. The Pro models also have advanced video capture features, including the highest rates (4K60), the most info-dense format (ProRes), and the best profiles for post-processing (Log).

To get the best camera and video camera, one of the Pro models is the way to go.

Which iPhone Size Is the Best?

Some people like big phones. Some like small phones. The iPhone lineup no longer offers very small phones but does include midsize and extra-large options.

iPhone 15 Plus (Credit: Eric Zeman)

If you're upgrading from a very old iPhone, all of the new phones will seem large. The iPhone SE is the same size as the old iPhone 8, for example, and will be most familiar to folks with devices from 2016 or older. This year, Apple axed the iPhone 13 mini, which was the smallest option. This means the SE is now the most compact device in the lineup.

The iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 are the smallest modern iPhones and are about the same size. They have 6.1-inch screens, which is considered small at this point. Apple keeps the width under 3 inches, which really helps with hand comfort.

iPhone 15 (Credit: Eric Zeman)

If you have poor eyesight or shaky hands, you might like the larger touch targets and bigger screens on the Plus or Max models. These are also great if you watch a lot of videos on your phone, but they can be heavy.

Larger iPhones generally have longer battery life than smaller iPhones (because they have larger batteries). Still, the new iPhone 15 models all have better battery life than the same-sized iPhone 14 models, so going with a newer model will get you some extra juice (about 30 minutes more per day).

Which iPhones Have Touch ID and Headphone Jacks?

Two features have mostly vanished from the iPhone line: Touch ID and the headphone jack.

The iPhone SE is the only current iPhone with a physical Home button and Touch ID scanner. All non-SE models from the 2017-era iPhone X and up rely on Apple's Face ID as your main security point. If Touch ID is your thing, your options are the iPhone SE or a used iPhone 8 (which we no longer recommend for security reasons).

The last iPhone with a headphone jack was the 2015-era iPhone 6s, meaning that ship has long since sailed. You should have already given in and picked up wireless earbuds or an adapter for your Lightning or USB-C port.

iPhone 15 (Credit: Eric Zeman)

Your iPhone Is a Ticking Clock

iPhones do eventually run out of software support. The latest iPhone operating system, iOS 17, runs only on the 2018-era iPhone XS or later models. Expect that each year, a generation of iPhones will get sloughed off as the latest software requires more powerful processors than the very old models have.

We no longer recommend phones older than the iPhone 12 line; they will likely get at least two more years of OS support. If you want a phone with long-term resale value, go for the iPhone 14 generation or higher.

And if your heart isn't set on an iPhone, alternatives abound. Check out our favorite Android phones and the best phones overall.