We’re shortly approaching Apple’s fall iPhone occasion. The “wonderlust” presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 12, on the firm’s HQ in Cupertino, California — and we count on Apple to unveil the iPhone 15. However till CEO Tim Cook dinner steps onstage at Apple Park’s Steve Jobs Theater, we’ve to attend to know for certain what the brand new iPhones might be like. So if you happen to’re trying to purchase a brand new iPhone, my basic recommendation can be to not. Wait and see what Apple declares and the reductions that older iPhone fashions will seemingly get.
At present, Apple sells eight iPhone fashions launched between 2020 and 2023. There is not any such factor as a real “finest” iPhone, however relying in your wants, finances and preferences, some fashions might be higher for you than others. Costs begin at $429 for the 2022 iPhone SE and high out at $1,599 for the iPhone 14 Professional Max with a whopping 1TB of storage. If you happen to’re searching for the most effective iPhone offers, we’ve you coated there, too.
This story is a part of Focal Level iPhone 2023, CNET’s assortment of reports, ideas and recommendation round Apple’s hottest product.
Navigating Apple’s iPhone spectrum could make your head spin, whether or not you are contemplating colours (the iPhone 14 is available in six), or options just like the iPhone 14 Professional’s Dynamic Island, which animates system alerts and background actions akin to taking part in music. Fortunately, I’ve examined all eight variations of the iPhone and may help you navigate via all of the noise.
What’s the finest iPhone proper now?
The very best iPhone is the $999 iPhone 14 Professional. It has all of Apple’s latest options, together with an A16 Bionic chip, upgraded principal digicam, the Dynamic Island, in addition to instruments like Automotive Crash Detection and SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc. Not everybody trying to purchase a telephone from Apple wants the 14 Professional, however if you’d like the most effective get the iPhone 14 Professional. Need one thing greater? Get the iPhone 14 Professional Max, which is the common 14 Professional in a much bigger physique.
Finest iPhones of 2023
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After I reviewed the iPhone 14, I mentioned it was basically the iPhone 13 Professional’s processor and principal digicam contained in the physique of an iPhone 13. Little question, some might be dissatisfied that the iPhone 14 is not radically completely different from earlier fashions. However that is a part of its attraction. Familiarity has been one of many keys to Apple’s success with the iPhone. And because the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, do not repair it.”
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From the again, the $999 iPhone 14 Professional appears similar to final yr’s 13 Professional. However do not let that sameness idiot you. It is the 14 Professional’s display screen the place there’s one thing completely different and great occurring. The show notch, that outlined earlier Face ID iPhone fashions, has morphed right into a pill-shaped display screen cutout that may present system alerts and background actions like if you obtain a name or play music. Apple calls this performance the Dynamic Island. I do know, it is not the most effective title, nevertheless it’s actually among the best options.
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The $729 iPhone 13 remains to be a wonderful telephone. The truth is, if you happen to’re tempted by the iPhone 14 and wish to avoid wasting cash, seize a 13. They’ve basically the identical physique, identical display screen and identical A15 Bionic processor. Though technically, the iPhone 14’s processor does have an additional GPU core.
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The $929 iPhone 14 Plus is both a giant iPhone 14 or a scaled-back iPhone 14 Professional Max, relying in your perspective. Ever for the reason that iPhone XS Max launched in 2018, there was just one possibility for many who love huge screens: Pay high greenback and get a Max mannequin with further options you may not essentially want (like a telephoto digicam or a excessive refresh charge show). I do know many CNET readers, associates and colleagues who’ve shelled out $1,100 or extra for an iPhone 12 Professional Max or 13 Professional Max as a result of it was the one strategy to get a telephone within the measurement they needed. However that modifications now.
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Who mentioned small telephones do not exist in 2022? The $629 iPhone 13 Mini is sensible as a result of it has all the things the iPhone 13 has — it is simply smaller. It has the identical square-edged appears, help for 5G and the identical cameras. The 13 Mini’s defining characteristic is its 5.4-inch OLED display screen that helps Dolby HDR. If that sounds too small, think about that Plus fashions, just like the iPhone 8 Plus, had a 5.5-inch display screen inside a a lot bigger physique. The 13 Mini’s secret is that it lacks these large brow and chin bezels that outlined the iPhone for its first decade.
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The $1,099 iPhone 14 Professional Max is only a huge model of the iPhone 14 Professional. It has the identical A16 Bionic processor, the identical cameras and the identical options. But it surely does differ in two huge methods from the 14 Professional: It has a much bigger 6.7-inch high-refresh charge display screen and a much bigger battery. The truth is, in our exams, the iPhone 14 Professional Max had the longest battery lifetime of any telephone on this checklist.
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The $629 iPhone 12 and its flat-sided design marked the start of the present era of Apple telephones. Of all the things on this checklist, it is the oldest but in addition one of many most cost-effective, particularly if you wish to snag an iPhone with a up to date look and Face ID.
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At $429, you may suppose the one attraction of the iPhone SE (2022) is its worth. And admittedly that may be a huge issue. On the surface, the iPhone SE has the identical physique because the iPhone 8, which makes it the one iPhone on this checklist that also has Contact ID. On the within, the SE has the identical A15 processor because the iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 14 and 14 Plus which takes the 2017 digicam {hardware} and provides it an injection of Apple’s computational pictures magic.
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Beneath are the assorted fashions, their launch date, the variety of rear cameras they’ve, their processor and their present checklist worth, which for some telephones features a $30 activation charge that is waived if you happen to activate your iPhone on a provider on the time of buy.
Present iPhones, in contrast
ModelUS beginning priceScreen sizeNo. of rear camerasCPURelease date iPhone SE $4294.7 inches1A15 BionicMarch 2022iPhone 12 $5996.1 inches2A14 BionicOctober 2020iPhone 13 Mini $5995.4 inches2A15 BionicSeptember 2021iPhone 13 $6996.1 inches2A15 BionicSeptember 2021iPhone 14 $7996.1 inches2A15 BionicSeptember 2022iPhone 14 Plus $8996.7 inches2A15 BionicOctober 2022iPhone 14 Professional $9996.1 inches3A16 BionicSeptember 2022iPhone 14 Professional Max $1,0996.7 inches3A16 BionicSeptember 2022
How we check iPhone fashions
Emergency SOS may be probably the most essential options to return out on any telephone this yr.
Kevin Heinz/CNET
I check each iPhone in real-world eventualities specializing in its options, design, efficiency, cameras, battery life and general worth. I doc our findings in an preliminary evaluation that’s periodically up to date when there are new iOS updates or to check in opposition to new telephones from opponents like Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
Images
Images is a significant focus for the iPhone, so we take photos and movies of varied topics in a wide range of settings and lighting eventualities. We check out any new digicam modes, akin to Motion mode that debuted with the iPhone 14 line.
Battery life
Battery testing is performed in a wide range of methods. We assess how lengthy the iPhone lasts throughout a typical day of use, and observe the way it performs throughout extra centered periods of video calls, media streaming and gaming. I additionally conduct a video playback check, which is not at all times included within the preliminary evaluation and added later in an replace.
Efficiency measuring
We use benchmarking apps to measure the efficiency, alongside our personal anecdotal experiences utilizing the telephone for our evaluation. Of explicit observe are how graphics and animations look. Are they easy? Or do they lag or stutter? We additionally take a look at how shortly the telephone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations and how briskly the digicam app opens and is able to take a photograph.
We carry out processor-heavy duties like modifying photographs and movies, exporting movies and taking part in video games. We consider whether or not a more recent model of the iPhone consists of sufficient options to make it value upgrading from older fashions.
Learn Extra: How CNET exams telephones
Key phrases
eSIM
An eSIM takes all the essential details about your telephone account — together with its quantity, wi-fi provider and subscription — and shops it in software program as an alternative of on a bodily SIM card.
With the iPhone 14, Apple eliminated the bodily SIM card tray and embraced embedded SIM playing cards. This implies you cannot simply pluck your SIM card out of your present telephone and put it into a brand new one. However this should not have an effect on your expertise since all the main US carriers and plenty of smaller operators work with eSIM.
Apple has lengthy supported eSIM, courting again to 2018’s iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. When organising a brand new iPhone 14, the machine will information you thru transferring your present supplier over to the brand new telephone. An inventory of supported wi-fi networks will be discovered on Apple’s web site.
iOS 16
Apple’s iOS 16 is the most recent model of Apple’s iPhone software program. It is on the iPhone 14 by default and can be out there as an replace for the iPhone 8 and later. iOS 16 consists of new options akin to customizable lock screens, an replace to the Messages app that enables for unsending and modifying iMessage texts and new photograph modifying instruments.
iPhone FAQs
How dependable is an iPhone?
Apple has been making iPhones for 16 years. The present lineup was launched in September 2022 and all have a mud and water resistance score of IP68, which suggests they’ll survive being submerged beneath 6 meters of water (about 20 toes) for half-hour. The screens are coated in Apple’s Ceramic Defend which is a glass-ceramic materials created by Corning, in collaboration with Apple, and consists of nano ceramic crystals embedded within the glass matrix. It is extremely clear, and based on Corning, the powerful construction fashioned by the crystals means it is much less prone to break.
How lengthy does an iPhone final?
One strategy to measure how lengthy an iPhone will final is to take a look at the software program and safety help Apple gives for older fashions. iOS 16 can run on Apple telephones as previous as 2017’s iPhone X, iPhone 8 and eight Professional. That is practically 6 years of software program help. Evaluate that to Samsung, who gives 5 years of Android software program help for upgrades. However software program is barely half the equation. The opposite half is {hardware} and sturdiness. Thankfully, each iPhone Apple sells has an IP score for mud and water resistance. Newer fashions just like the iPhone 12, 13 and 14 sequence even have Ceramic Defend, a glass/ceramic hybrid, that covers the show and may be very sturdy.