Best iPhone to buy in 2026: Every Apple iPhone compared

Which iPhone is best for you?

While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are Apple’s most capable iPhones, they aren’t the best choice for everyone. For most buyers, we recommend the iPhone 17, which strikes the best balance of performance, features and price. Compared with its predecessor, it offers more storage, improved cameras and features that were previously exclusive to the Pro models, including ProMotion and an Always-On display.

That said, different buyers have different priorities. Choose an iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max if photography is your main focus, with the Pro Max also offering the best battery life. If you want the lightest, thinnest iPhone, the iPhone Air is the standout choice. And if value matters above all else, the iPhone 17e is the best budget option in Apple’s lineup.

Below, we explain who each iPhone is best for, its biggest strengths and weaknesses, and whether another model might be a better fit.

Wondering if now is a good time to buy on iPhone? Read: Best time to buy an iPhone in 2026: When prices drop & which model to buy.

Which iPhone has the best camera: iPhone 17 Pro & Pro Max

Foundry

If you want the absolute best camera system Apple offers, the answer is the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max – both iPhones share the same camera. The benefit of the Pro Max is it combines the most advanced hardware with the longest battery life to support heavy creative work.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a triple 48MP rear camera system, a significant upgrade from previous generations. The key highlights include:

• Three 48MP Sensors: The main, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras all use 48MP sensors, ensuring consistent color accuracy and incredible detail across all focal lengths.
• Up to 8x Optical Zoom: This is the longest optical-quality zoom ever on an iPhone. The 48MP telephoto lens allows for 4x and 8x optical zoom, letting you capture distant subjects with impressive clarity.
• Superior Video: It remains the gold standard for smartphone video, offering smooth footage with excellent stabilization and pro-level features like ProRes RAW and Genlock for filmmakers.

For the vast majority of users who just want a great point-and-shoot experience without the premium price, the standard iPhone 17 offers fantastic cameras that are more than sufficient for everyday use though.

Which iPhone has the best battery life: iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers the best battery life of any iPhone, with Apple rating it for up to 37 hours of video playback. In real-world testing, it consistently lasts from early morning until midnight with at least 20% charge remaining, even under heavy use. The iPhone 17 Pro Max also supports faster 40W wired charging, reaching 50% in about 20 minutes with a compatible adapter.

What is the best value iPhone: iPhone 17

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

The best value iPhone in Apple’s current lineup is the iPhone 17, starting at $799/£799. It offers the strongest balance of price, performance, and features for the vast majority of buyers.

The iPhone 17 brings several features previously exclusive to the Pro models, including a 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion display with always-on support, while doubling the base storage to 256GB without increasing the price compared to its predecessor.

It also delivers excellent battery life (up to 27 hours of video playback) and strong everyday performance from the A19 chip.

What is the best budget iPhone: iPhone 17e

Britta O’Boyle

If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the iPhone 17e is Apple’s most affordable current-generation iPhone and the best value in the lineup. Starting at $599/£599 with 256GB of storage, it delivers flagship-level everyday performance without the flagship price.

The iPhone 17e uses the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17 (with one fewer GPU core), making it fast enough for Apple Intelligence, everyday apps and years of software updates. It also gains MagSafe support – a welcome addition over the iPhone 16e – and offers up to 26 hours of video playback on a charge.

The compromises are sensible rather than deal-breaking:

• 60Hz display (no ProMotion or Always-On)
• Single 48MP rear camera with 2x optical-quality zoom
• Slower charging (20W wired, 15W MagSafe)

For most people, these trade-offs are easy to accept considering the price. Unless you want the smoother ProMotion display, dual-camera system and longer battery life of the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17e is the budget iPhone we’d recommend.

Best iPhone for gaming: iPhone 17 Pro Max

Foundry

If you’re looking for the best iPhone for gaming, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is our top choice, followed closely by the iPhone 17 Pro. These models offer the most powerful hardware and best features for high-end mobile gaming.

Here’s a breakdown of the best options and why they excel.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max if our top choice for gamers because it benefits from these three advantages:

• Raw Power: It features the same A19 Pro chip with a 6-core GPU found in the iPhone 17 Pro. This chip delivers exceptional graphics performance, with 3DMark benchmark improvements of 40 to 53 percent over the previous generation . This ensures demanding games run smoothly at high settings.
• The Largest Screen: The 6.9-inch display provides the most immersive experience for gaming, giving you a bigger canvas for complex games and detailed graphics.
• Superior Battery Life: Gaming is power-intensive, and the Pro Max has the best battery in any iPhone, offering up to 37 hours of video playback. This means you can play for extended periods without worrying about running out of charge.

The iPhone 17 Pro is essentially the same phone as the Pro Max in a smaller package. It has the same A19 Pro chip and 6-core GPU, so gaming performance is identical. The main trade-off is a smaller screen and slightly less battery life (up to 31 hours of video playback). It’s the best choice if you prefer a more pocketable device but still want top-tier gaming power.

Best iPhone for seniors and older users: iPhone Air

Foundry

The best iPhone for an older person depends on what’s most important: a large, easy-to-read display, a lightweight design that’s comfortable to hold, or simply getting the best value.

The good news is that every current iPhone includes Apple’s excellent accessibility features, including VoiceOver (screen reader), Zoom (magnifier), larger text, hearing support and Assistive Access, making them much easier to use for people with visual, hearing or dexterity impairments.

The iPhone Air is our top recommendation for most older users. Its large 6.5-inch display makes text and photos easier to see, while its exceptionally thin and lightweight design is more comfortable to hold for long periods – particularly for anyone with arthritis or reduced grip strength. The single rear camera and slightly shorter battery life than the Pro models are unlikely to matter if you mainly use your phone for calls, messages, browsing and family photos.

The big screen option: If having the biggest possible screen is your priority, the iPhone 16 Plus remains a good choice. Its 6.7-inch display is ideal for reading, typing and viewing photos. However, it misses out on newer features such as ProMotion and Always-On Display, and starts with just 128GB of storage, making it harder to recommend unless you specifically want the larger screen.

The budget option: If price is the deciding factor, the iPhone 17e offers excellent value. Starting at $599, it combines fast A19 performance, 256GB of storage, MagSafe support and strong battery life. The compromises—a 60Hz display and a single rear camera—are unlikely to matter for most seniors, making it an excellent affordable iPhone.

Best iPhone for kids: iPhone 17e

Ida Blix

The iPhone 17e is the best iPhone for most children. As Apple’s most affordable current-generation model, it offers the best balance of price, performance and longevity, making it easier to justify if it gets lost or damaged.

Powered by the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17 (with one fewer GPU core), it’s fast enough for games, social media, schoolwork and Apple Intelligence. Battery life is excellent, and the 48MP camera takes great everyday photos, even though it lacks an ultra-wide lens.

A hand-me-down iPhone

Passing down an older iPhone is the cheapest option and is also better for the environment. Just make sure you:

• Erase the iPhone to remove your personal data.
• Create a Child Account using Family Sharing.
• Set up Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, and Communication Safety before handing it over.
• Set up parental controls first

Parental Controls

Whichever iPhone you choose, taking a few minutes to configure Apple’s parental controls is just as important as choosing the right model.

With iOS 27, Apple is significantly expanding its family features. Parents will get a redesigned Screen Time interface, new Time Allowances for categories such as Games, Entertainment and Social Media, plus Ask to Browse, which lets children request permission before visiting new websites in Safari. Apple is also introducing more flexible app schedules and improved controls over who children can contact.

Communication Safety helps protect children from viewing or sharing sensitive content in Messages, FaceTime and other supported apps. In iOS 27, it also detects and blurs violent and graphic images and videos, in addition to nudity.

For very young children, an iPad is often a better first Apple device thanks to its larger screen and the fact that it doesn’t require a mobile connection. By secondary school, however, an iPhone becomes a much more practical choice for staying in touch with family and friends.

Should you buy an older iPhone?

Macwelt

Buying an older or refurbished iPhone can save you a significant amount of money and is a more environmentally friendly choice. The good news is that iPhones generally age well, so even models that are a few years old still deliver an excellent everyday experience.

The biggest drawbacks are software support and missing newer features. As iPhones age, they eventually stop receiving the latest iOS updates and, more importantly, security patches. Once a phone is no longer supported, it becomes harder to recommend because your personal data is less protected.

We recommend avoiding the iPhone XS, iPhone XR and earlier models, as they don’t support iOS 26 and are unlikely to receive security updates for much longer. We’d also think carefully before buying an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12. While both still run iOS 26, they’re beginning to show their age in performance and battery life.

Finally, if you want to use Apple Intelligence, avoid the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus and any older models. Apple Intelligence requires newer hardware, making the iPhone 16 series the oldest lineup we’d recommend if those AI features matter to you.

Read our Best iPhone Deals to get a good price on all iPhones at stockists near you.