In the market for a new iPhone? You're in the right place. We'll help you decide which Apple iPhone is worth the upgrade based on your budget and preferences — from the brand-new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro lineup, all the way to the affordable iPhone SE that launched earlier this year.
Many people are Apple loyalists for a good reason — the iPhone's hardware specs are second to none, and its latest versions are very impressive. Every new iPhone packs the following features:
- A powerful chipset
- A high-quality display panel with stereo speakers
- A great front- and rear-facing camera setup
- A wide-ranging selection of protective cases, charging cables, and other accessories
The recently launched iPhone 12 product family also brings two new features: 5G and MagSafe. 5G delivers higher network speeds and lower latency as the next-generation standard for cellular network connectivity. And MagSafe is a new tech for accessories, which utilizes built-in magnets with each iPhone 12 variant. Named after a venerable feature of old MacBooks, MagSafe is now available in a wide variety of products for the newest iPhones, from convenient chargers to cool protective cases, all the way to handy snap-on wallets.
The Apple iOS also sets the brand apart from its Android competitors. Apple’s mobile platform offers an intuitive user interface, industry-leading security, and a vast selection of apps and games.
Every iPhone also comes with many years’ worth of iOS firmware and security updates so that even generations-old Apple smartphones can stay up to date. For comparison, most Android smartphones come with firmware and security updates for only 2 to 3 years.
Today's iPhone Lineup
- Best iPhone for Most People: Apple iPhone 12
- The Range-Topping iPhone: Apple iPhone 12 Pro
- The Budget iPhone: Apple iPhone SE
- The Most Compact iPhone: Apple iPhone 12 mini
- The Ultimate iPhone: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Budget-Friendly Big-Screen iPhone: Apple iPhone 11
Before you buy, keep in mind that Apple is packaging the latest iPhone 12 models in more compact boxes without a charging adapter — this is to reduce their environmental impact. In case you don't have a charger already, don't panic. There are plenty of great, reasonably priced options out there. Plus, if you want to avoid accumulating more cables in your life, every new iPhone is also compatible with wireless charging.
So whether you're looking to buy your very first smartphone or you set your iCal for Apple's new launches every year, read on to check out our decoded guide to the best new iPhones. There's something here for everyone.
Best iPhone for Most People
KEY SPECS
• 6.1-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 460 pixels per inch
• A14 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of storage
• Dual 12MP camera with optical image stabilization, Dolby Vision-enhanced 4K video recording (30 fps)
• 12MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging, MagSafe compatibility
• IP68 water-resistant
• 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Dual-SIM
The iPhone 12 is the ideal model for an upgrade, since it's packed with cutting-edge hardware specs. These include Apple’s latest A14 Bionic chipset with a next-generation Neural Engine, a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, excellent stereo speakers, a powerful camera setup, and solid battery life.
Starting at $799, the iPhone 12 is competitively priced by today’s top-shelf smartphone standards. This is the best pick in its price range by an overwhelming margin, because it’s vastly more capable and futureproof than its Android rivals.
Compared to the iPhone 11 that it replaces, the iPhone 12 has a sleeker and more compact design, headlined by an aluminum frame with flat edges. It also has an even tougher build with a Ceramic Shield front, a more powerful chipset, a more sophisticated camera setup, and a sharper Super Retina display, as well as 5G. The device is also compatible with MagSafe accessories, unlike its predecessor.
Previously available only on $1,000-plus iPhones, the OLED screen makes a major difference. By turning off individual pixels to display black color, it delivers vibrant colors and even more captivating HDR-enhanced content. The Super Retina XDR alone is a major reason to switch from the iPhone 11.
Apple offers the iPhone 12 in several eye-catching colors: black, white, green, blue, and (PRODUCT)RED. The entry-level iPhone 12 comes with 64GB of storage and I recommend that you spend extra $50 to double it.
The Range-Topping iPhone
KEY SPECS
• 6.1-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 460 pixels per inch
• A14 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 512GB of storage
• Triple 12MP camera with optical image stabilization, LiDAR Scanner, Dolby Vision-enhanced 4K video recording (60 fps)
• 12MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging, MagSafe compatibility
• IP68 water-resistant
• 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Dual-SIM
The iPhone 12 Pro has the same design as the iPhone 12 but with a more luxurious build — it has a stainless steel frame and a glass back with a matte finish. The Pro model also packs a brighter Super Retina XDR display, a triple camera with a dedicated zoom snapper, and a LiDAR scanner.
Thanks to the LiDAR scanner, the iPhone 12 Pro camera has speedier autofocus in low light, as well as the ability to snap night-mode portrait shots. Launched alongside the refreshed iPad Pro earlier this year, this hardware bit also gives the Pro model an edge in augmented reality apps and games over the iPhone 12.
Compared to the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro camera can capture Dolby Vision-enhanced 4K video at an even more brisk 60 frames per second. It will also be compatible with Apple’s upcoming ProRAW image format. The groundbreaking feature allows the phone to capture stunning, high-quality images that'll put many standalone cameras to shame.
The entry-level iPhone 12 Pro comes with 128GB of storage, but users can level up to 512GB of memory instead. Overall, this is the iPhone to get, so long as its pricing fits in your budget. The luxurious build, the camera tech, and the extra storage are worth splurging for. You can order the 12 Pro in graphite, gold, silver, and Pacific blue.
The Budget iPhone
KEY SPECS
• 4.7-inch Retina display with True Tone
• A13 Bionic chip with a Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of storage
• 12MP camera with optical image stabilization
• 7MP FaceTime HD Camera
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• IP67 water-resistant
With a starting price tag below $400, the latest iPhone SE is a great buy for users who don't need or want the most tricked-out smartphone. It has the compact and familiar design of the iPhone 8 that it replaces, coupled with futureproof hardware specs. There are three colors to pick from: black, white, and (PRODUCT) RED.
Equipped with the same A13 Bionic chip with a Neural Engine as the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro, the iPhone SE is the most powerful smartphone in its lower-tier price range. And like all new iPhones, it has a water-resistant body and built-in stereo speakers, as well as support for fast wired and wireless charging.
The new iPhone SE can capture portrait images with its main camera, as well as its selfie snapper. This affordable iPhone can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second with high-quality stabilization and crisp stereo sound.
It’s important to note that the iPhone SE is the only smartphone that has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The feature is fast and reliable, but compared to the Face ID of the pricier iPhones, a bit old-school.
It is important to note that the all-screen, Face ID-equipped iPhone models have bigger displays with a different aspect ratio than the iPhone SE. They offer more immersive iOS, app, and gaming experiences.
The Most Compact iPhone
Key Specs
• 5.4-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 476 pixels per inch
• A14 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of storage
• Dual 12MP camera with optical image stabilization, Dolby Vision-enhanced 4K video recording (30 fps)
• 12MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging, MagSafe compatibility
• IP68 water-resistant
• 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Dual-SIM
The iPhone 12 mini, as its name suggests, is the smartphone to buy if you are looking for a smaller-sized model. It has the same design, craftsmanship, specs, and performance as the iPhone 12, but with a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display, which is the smallest OLED panel used on an iPhone to date. The iPhone 12 mini is even more compact than the iPhone SE.
The product’s size is its most impressive selling point. Because it has such a compact display, it's perfect for one-hand interactions — your thumb can easily stretch from the top of the screen to the bottom. Even if it seems like a small detail, while testing the product, I enjoyed being able to type out texts and emails with one hand without fear of dropping the device.
With a starting price tag of $699, the mini is also the most affordable member of the new iPhone 12 product family. It is available in black, white, blue, green, and (PRODUCT)RED.
The Ultimate iPhone
• 6.7-inch Liquid Retina XDR OLED display with 458 pixels per inch
• A14 Bionic chip with all-new Neural Engine
• Up to 512GB of storage
• Triple 12MP camera with sensor-shift image stabilization, LiDAR Scanner, Dolby Vision-enhanced 4K video recording (60 fps)
• 12MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging, MagSafe compatibility
• IP68 water-resistant
• 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Dual-SIM
Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max is the biggest, most powerful, most feature-packed iPhone yet. It is a productivity and entertainment powerhouse that’s worth the extra $100 over the iPhone 12 Pro in every way. This is the 12 Pro to get, so long as you don’t mind its size and heft (it weighs 8 ounces).
The 12 Pro Max has the most capable camera setup of any iPhone, including the 12 Pro. The highlights include a larger main sensor with optical image stabilization tech (typically found in pro-grade DSLRs) and bigger zoom capabilities that are both optical and digital. If you are a photography enthusiast who’s shopping for a new iPhone, look no further.
Equipped with a massive battery, the iPhone 12 Pro Max easily lasted for 2 full days between charges while I tested it. The product’s battery performance alone is a worthy tradeoff for its considerable size and weight.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in the same color and storage options as the smaller iPhone 12 Pro. It starts at $1,099 for a model with 128 GB of storage.
Budget-Friendly Big-Screen iPhone
• 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display with 460 pixels per inch
• A13 Bionic chip with a Neural Engine
• Up to 256GB of storage
• Dual 12MP camera with optical image stabilization
• 12MP front-facing camera with Face ID
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Fast wired and wireless charging
• IP68 water-resistant
• Wi-Fi 6, Dual-SIM
For $200 less than the iPhone 12, the iPhone 11 offers robust hardware specs and a user experience to match. It has a large Retina display, a top-tier camera setup, and a powerful chip. Until the arrival of its successor, the iPhone 11 was our favorite iPhone model.
This is the model that we recommend for budget-conscious buyers who are looking for a big-screen iPhone with futureproof features and specs. More than a year after its launch, it’s among the finest products in its price range.
Curiously, the iPhone 11 is available in more colors than any iPhone 12 model: black, white, purple, yellow, green, and (PRODUCT) RED. The device is available with up to 256GB of storage.
In case you are looking for a big-screen iPhone for less, Apple has the iPhone XR with a similar design for $499. However, the dual camera and the performance gains that the iPhone 11 brings are worth spending a bit more.
Read More:
Our Favorite Cases for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro
The Best Protective Cases for the iPhone XR
Must-Have Antimicrobial Cases for Your iPhone
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