The best iPhone 2024: which Apple smartphone reigns supreme? (2024)

Objectively speaking, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best iPhone money can buy in 2024, but that doesn't mean it's the best iPhone for everyone. The iPhone 15 Pro or standard iPhone 15, for instance, are better options if you prefer the smaller size of Apple's 6.1-inch iPhones, while those in the market for a no-frills iPhone should consider the much cheaper (but still capable) iPhone 13.

We're expecting Apple to unveil the iPhone 16 line later this year, but the imminent arrival of iOS 18 should keep every iPhone on the below list in good working order for many years to come – even the iPhone SE (2022)!

We've tested every iPhone inside and out, so you can be confident that our recommendations are based on expert knowledge, in-depth analysis, and intelligent comparisons between other iPhones and devices from rival phone-makers. Below, we've looked at key factors such as screen quality, performance, cameras, and battery life, to help you find the best iPhone for your needs.

If, once you've trawled through our findings, your heart is set on picking up one of Apple's latest iPhones, head over to our iPhone 15 deals page for a roundup of the latest offers. Alternatively, our best iPhone deals page has a list of discounts currently available on older iPhone models.

Quick list

The best iPhone in 2024

Below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best iPhones on our list. We've tested each model extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best iPhone overall

If you want the very best iPhone money can buy right now, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the phone for you. Versus the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple's latest flagship comes with a refined design in the form of UBC-C connectivity, and a new titanium chassis that's lightweight and lovely to the touch.

A new periscope 5x telephoto camera has improved the largest iPhone's zooming capabilities, making for a more flexible rear camera suite. Speaking of which, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 48MP quad-pixel main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, making it the most capable and versatile iPhone yet for mobile photographers.

Beyond its photography capabilities, the iPhone 15 Pro Max packs an excellent 6.7-inch Super XDROLEDscreen (with ProMotion), and Apple's all-new A17 Pro chipset, which delivers mobile gaming performance comparable to some high-end PCs (yes, really).

In other words, when it comes to iPhones, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best of the best – it may even be the world's best phone, period –but you'll have to pay handsomely for the privilege of owning one.

Incidentally, the inevitably-even-better iPhone 16 Pro Max is tipped to launch in September this year, though Apple has confirmed that its upcoming Apple Intelligence features will be compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro Max review

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The best iPhone for most people

In our general best phones guide, we've listed the standard iPhone 15 as the best phone for most people, but since this guide deals with iPhones, specifically (and the iPhone 15 occupies a different category spot further down this list), we're happy to describe the iPhone 15 Pro as an equally suitable iPhone for most people's needs.

In fact, if you prefer the palm-friendly size of Apple's 6.1-inch iPhones to its supersized Max devices, then the iPhone 15 Pro is the best iPhone available right now. Its larger sibling may have a slightly superior 5x periscope zoom lens, but in every other department, the iPhone 15 Pro can be thought of as exactly the same phone for a more reasonable (though still expensive) price.

For starters, this is an undeniably beautiful handset. The iPhone 15 Pro boasts a gorgeous titanium design that can withstand unwelcome drops more effectively than its predecessor, and the addition of a USB-C port makes this a more versatile device, too (in terms of both charging and compatibility).

The iPhone 15 Pro's stunning 6.1-inch Super XDROLEDscreen (with ProMotion) is unchanged from the (also excellent) iPhone 14 Pro, but this time, everything is underpinned by Apple's all-new A17 Pro chipset, which promises console-level gaming performance and supreme multi-tasking capabilities.

On the back, you're getting a 48MP quad-pixel main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, along with a 12MP telephoto lens that's capable of 3x optical zoom. As mentioned, that last figure is bettered by the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but the iPhone 15 Pro's overall camera setup still ranks among the best on the market; everyday users will find more than enough photographic power here.

Sure, the $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 asking price is high, but the iPhone 15 Pro will almost certainly see you through the next four or five years without issue.

As with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it's worth noting that the iPhone 16 Pro is tipped to launch in September 2024, but Apple has confirmed that its upcoming Apple Intelligence features will be compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro.

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro review

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The best value iPhone

The standard iPhone 15 is listed as the best phone for most people in our general best phones guide, but it's equally deserving of the 'best value' title in a list made up of iPhones, exclusively. Not as flashy as the iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 15 is for people who want a powerful Apple device with flagship features but don't want to drop a grand (or more!) on a phone.

What it lacks in titanium sides, 120Hz scrolling or high-spec zoom photography, the standard iPhone 15 still has plenty to offer in both performance and phone photography, as well as a slick smartphone experience.

You get a 6.1-inch Super XDROLEDdisplay, a fast A16 Bionic chipset, a USB-C port, a supremely capable 48MP main camera and Apple’s smart digital screen cut-out, theDynamic Island, all delivered in a sleek and eye-catching design package.

In recent years, Apple's standard models have felt like minor upgrades that pale in comparison to their respective Pro-level counterparts, but the iPhone 15 bucks that trend by being a genuinely great value product.

Note, though, that Apple's upcoming Apple Intelligence features will only be compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16, which is worth bearing in mind if you're keen to own a future-proofed AI phone.

Read our full iPhone 15 review

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The best budget iPhone

The iPhone 13 wasn't the biggest yearly iPhone upgrade we'd ever seen when it arrived in 2021, but almost every aspect of it is a little better than the iPhone 12, which means it's still a brilliant iPhone overall. More importantly, though, it's the cheapest iPhone (bar the iPhone SE) that Apple still sells.

In our review, we found that the phone's battery life was particularly impressive, with the iPhone 13 making it through every day that we used it without needing a top-up before bed.

We were also impressed by its design, which includes a smaller notch (versus the iPhone 13), and by the sheer amount of power that this phone still has to offer, which comes as a result of its A15 Bionic chipset. At launch, Apple claimed that the iPhone 13 had a 50% faster CPU than the competition, and while that’s hard to confirm, this is certainly a speedy phone.

The lack of a 120Hz screen, which saw its iPhone debut on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, is a shame, and it's doubly upsetting that even its successor didn't move past 60Hz. Even so, this is still a superb device with plenty of life left in it. If you're looking for a cheap iPhone to see you through the next couple of years, this is it.

Read our full iPhone 13 review

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The best iPhone for battery life

The iPhone 15 Plus takes everything that's great about the standard iPhone 15 and supersizes it, meaning this is the handset to go for if you prefer the 6.7-inch size of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but don't want to spend big on its various bells and whistles (read: you can do without that 120Hz refresh rate).

This year's model gets all the same benefits as the standard iPhone 15 – USB-C, the Dynamic Island, the A16 Bionic chip, the 48MP main camera, and so on – but the Plus also benefits from battery life that is, quite frankly, the best we've ever seen on an iPhone.

Seriously, the iPhone 14 Plus impressed with its battery longevity last year, but the iPhone 15 Plus reaches new heights on the juice front. It doubles the screen-on time of phones like theMotorola Edge 40 Pro / Edge Plus 2023(5.25 hours of screen-on time) and even Apple's own iPhone 15 Pro (5.5 hours of screen-on time), with a record (by our own testing) 10.25 hours of screen-on time. This equates to up to two days of use per charge, although we'd more confidently tell you to expect a day's use no battery percentage peeping required.

Read our full iPhone 15 Plus review

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The best small iPhone

With the iPhone 13 mini now officially discontinued, the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2022) is the new best choice for anyone who prefers a smaller iPhone.

This dinky, classic-looking iPhone was actually the first mid-range iPhone to support 5G, which was a major selling point at the time. The presence of the same A15 Bionic chipset as you’ll find in the iPhone 13 range continues to be a big plus, too, meaning this phone has more power than most Android flagships, despite costing far less.

With a slim, lightweight build and a compact display, the iPhone SE (2022) is supremely comfortable to use, but, at this point, it also feels very dated, with big bezels positioned above and below the display. It’s more expensive than its predecessor, too, despite still being affordable in 2024. If not for those issues, this iPhone might rank even higher.

Read our full iPhone SE (2022) review

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FAQs

How we test

We've reviewed every phone on this list, so for each, we've passed our expert judgement on them after extensive testing. This testing saw us use each phone as our main handset for at least a week, and often longer.

In the process, we would explore various use cases, including calls, texts, social media, video streaming, gaming, taking photos and more, with some heavy use days and other lighter ones.

In short, we use our iPhones just like you would – but we make sure to test every key feature, as well as running benchmark tests, checking how long they take to charge, and more.

From that, we've then ranked each handset, factoring in price, value, and how they compare to one another, with a particular focus on their screens, designs, battery life, performance, and cameras.

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