Which iPhone Should You Buy? - Consumer Reports (2024)

Apple’s new iPhone 16 lineup is available for pre-order now, arriving in stores next Friday, but iPhone fans already have a wealth of options to choose from. In fact, if you don’t need or want the latest iPhone, going with a slightly older model is a great way to save money.

Let’s face it: An iPhone that came out just a year or two ago is still pretty impressive by anyone’s standard.

4.7-Inch iPhone SE ($429)

If you want the smallest and least expensive iPhone available, the iPhone SE is for you. It shares the same Apple A15 chip as the flagship iPhone 13 models introduced in the fall of 2021.

The small (by today’s standards) smartphone has just one 12-megapixel rear camera compared with the multi-lens setups on the other phones. But CR testers found that the still image and video quality are very good, and the front selfie camera performs just as well.

The battery lasted 30 hours on one charge in CR’s labs, which is less than you find on larger phones these days. The model also lacks the MagSafe feature that lets you quickly connect to wireless chargers and other accessories, and uses Touch ID via a retro-y home button rather than supporting Face ID.

6.1-Inch iPhone 16 ($799), iPhone 15 ($799), or iPhone 14 ($699)

If you want a large (but not huge) iPhone at a modest cost, the standard iPhone line is where to look. These models cost $200 less than their Pro counterparts, which offer the most premium features. But they still tend to perform very well in our tests where it matters on metrics like camera performance, battery life, and durability. (We haven’t tested the iPhone 16 yet in our labs, but stay tuned.)

All the base models have a 6.1-inch OLED display and a dual rear camera system.

The iPhone 16 has some modest upgrades compared with the older models. It’s equipped with a handy new side button that controls the camera’s functions. It also has the versatile Action button (available on the 15 Pro models) that replaces the Ring/Silent switch and can quickly perform a variety of tasks, like turning on the flashlight or Do Not Disturb mode. You also get a 48-megapixel camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera.

The iPhone 16 has Apple’s new A18 chip, which the company says helps to facilitate the large generative modeling that runs the new Apple Intelligence features, from a smarter Siri to enhanced photo editing. It also comes in a few fresh color options, including a bright ultramarine, teal, and pink.

We don’t yet know how well the iPhone 16 will perform in our battery tests, but the 15 lasts 40.5 hours per charge and the 14 lasts 39 hours.

6.7-Inch iPhone 16 Plus ($899), 15 Plus ($799) or 14 Plus ($699)

If you’d like a bigger screen but don’t necessarily want to pay for all the premium features, the iPhone Plus might be a good fit. The Plus models have the same hardware and camera specs as Apple’s base models but with larger displays and batteries. The iPhone 16 Plus, 15 Plus, and 14 Plus have a 6.7-inch, 60Hz (standard and not high-refresh-rate) display, which gives you more space for reading email, playing video games, and, of course, watching streaming video.

Unless you’re a photography enthusiast, a gamer who wants a faster display refresh rate, or someone who wants the longest-lasting battery possible, the iPhone base models (above) or iPhone Plus models probably have everything you need.

6.3-Inch iPhone 16 Pro ($999)

Willing to spend a little more for Apple’s latest hardware without the jumbo-sized display? The 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro is a little bigger than last year’s 15 Pro and has a more powerful A18 Pro chip, Apple says. It features a 48-megapixel main rear camera, a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel 5x telephoto lens. (The 15 Pro only has a 3x telephoto lens, something to consider if you like to take faraway concert shots.)

The 16 Pro also features a new side camera button not available on the previous Pro models. It has the same 120Hz high refresh rate found on the 15 Pro and 14 Pro models.

Again, while we don’t yet have lab results, the 16 Pro looks to be the choice if you want the latest tech on a device you can more comfortably use with one hand.

6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,299)

This is the biggest and best that Apple has to offer. Like the Pro, the Pro Max’s frame is made of titanium instead of aluminum, giving it a more premium feel. With the 16 Pro Max, you get Apple’s 6.9-inch display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and Always On capability.

While we haven’t tested the camera system, specs show that the 16 Pro Max gets a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, offering the ability to capture more detail than the 12-megapixel ultrawide on the 15 Pro Max. It also has the 48-megapixel main rear camera and 12-megapixel telephoto with 5x zoom found on that earlier model. And it comes equipped with the A18 Pro chip.

If you know you want the bigger screen but you’re still deciding between the iPhone 16 Plus and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the higher-end model will get you the premium titanium frame, a more advanced triple rear camera system, and longer battery life, according to Apple.

iPhone Models by the Numbers