Best iPhone in 2024 ranked from best to worst

Knowing which the best iPhone used to be easy – you just had to choose the colour and the storage capacity. It was guaranteed to be among the best smartphones on sale. But now, things are not so simple. From Mini to Plus to Pro to Pro Max, Apple’s flagship phones ship in more variants than ever before.

And just to muddy the waters further, the mobile maker still sells a few of its former headline handsets from previous generations, as well as the entry-level SE for buyers on a budget.

So there’s an Apple smartphone for everyone. The tricky thing is knowing how to pick it. Not sure where to start? We’ve set out the good, the bad and the things to note about the key iPhone models currently available to buy from Apple to help you decide.

Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.

The best iPhone you can buy today:

1. iPhone 16

Apple’s iPhone 16 for 2024 feels like a solid mix of refinement and fresh features, but we can’t help but notice the missing piece: Apple Intelligence, the much-touted AI-powered suite. While we’re eager to see what this feature can really do, it’s rolling out so slowly that most of us will still be waiting for the full experience months after launch. For now, though, there’s plenty else to explore.

What catches our eye right away is the new Camera Control. It’s great to see Apple bringing this customisable shutter button to the standard models – not just the Pros. We like that it opens the camera instantly and lets us tweak settings with ease, whether we’re zooming in or adjusting the tone. The 48MP main camera with 2x telephoto is a definite step up, and we’re loving the range it offers for our shots.

Performance-wise, Apple’s A18 chip is blazing fast, with no lag even when we’re multitasking heavily. The slightly larger battery gives us more screen time, enough to comfortably last a day and then some. However, we’re let down by the lack of ProMotion’s smooth 120Hz refresh rate; a display like this really deserves better, especially when Apple’s competitors have been stepping up in that area.

iOS 18 has some standout tweaks too. With RCS messaging and the reworked Control Center, we’re finding it more customisable than ever. All in all, the iPhone 16 impresses with many Pro-like features, even if Apple Intelligence isn’t here to wow us just yet. For the price, it’s a strong, well-rounded package.

2. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The iPhone 16 Pro Max hits familiar marks – powerful, huge display, killer battery – but it’s also clear Apple is playing it safe with this year’s model. Yes, it’s incredibly fast, boasting Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which breezes through high-end games and heavy multitasking. But what sets it apart, truly? Sure, it has a 6.9-inch display with barely-there bezels, and that’s stunning. Yet, it doesn’t exactly make us want to celebrate in the streets.

One thing we’re really enjoying here is the improved camera, especially for close-ups and action shots. The 48MP ultrawide snaps are razor-sharp, and with the new 5x optical zoom, we’re capturing shots that would’ve been a pixelated mess on older models. We’re also having fun with the new slow-motion effects; there’s something quite epic about watching everyday moments in cinematic, Matrix-esque slo-mo. Plus, the four-mic array and audio controls give videos that extra polish.

But all that goodness has a few trade-offs. This thing is bulky – it’s noticeably bigger and heavier than the last Pro Max. If you’re coming from an iPhone 13 Pro Max, you’ll feel it. And while the new titanium frame is supposed to be tougher, that extra durability won’t stop it from shattering if it takes a serious tumble.

As for the much-touted Apple Intelligence feature, it’s almost there. This year’s iOS 18 gives us a glimpse, but full AI functionality is still waiting in the wings. The new Camera Control button is cool but takes some getting used to. If you’re looking to save a few quid and can live without a couple of these extras, the standard iPhone 16 might actually suit you better.

So, is this the ultimate iPhone? Technically, yes. But unless you’re after serious camera upgrades or are a performance junkie, we’d suggest going with the non-Pro version.

3. iPhone 15 Pro

You’d expect a lot from the iPhone 15 Pro. You’d want a competitor-crushing display, a powerful chip, and a camera that could feasibly shoot the next Avatar movie. For the most part, the iPhone 15 Pro really does pack a lot into its expensive Titanium frame.

The three rear snappers improve on the already stellar camera offering the iPhone 14 Pro gave us, with genuinely impressive zoom abilities up to 3x – but you’ll need to step up to the Pro Max to get a 5x optical lens. The customisable action button adds a host of new ways to interact with apps, and swapping Lightning for USB-C should simplify your cable collection. Open up the bonnet and you’ll find a host of upgrades, including an A17 Pro chip which makes the Pro run as smooth as silk. Battery life remains largely the same as the iPhone 14 Pro, though.

4. iPhone 15 Pro Max

On paper, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the firm’s best phone. It moves things on with a titanium body, customisable action button, and an impressive camera revamp led by a 5x optical zoom telephoto – all of which further differentiate this most premium of phones from the standard iPhone. But it’s also big, heavy and expensive.

Do the new features make the iPhone 15 Pro Max worth the cheddar? In truth, it depends. If you own an existing 14 Pro or Pro Max, then you should probably hang on to it. You’ll find little difference here. If you’re on a 13 Max or earlier, though, then there is enough in the iPhone 15 Pro Max to make it a worthwhile purchase.

5. iPhone 15 / 15 Plus

Comfortably the sweet spot of the 2023 iPhone line-up for most people, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus bring the A16 Bionic CPU from last year’s Pro models so aren’t short on power. They also gain a Dynamic Island in place of the old notch, and make the switch from Lightning to USB-C.

The rear cameras have been upgraded with a much higher pixel count on the main snapper, and the display brightness has been boosted too. Battery life has climbed a little, but not dramatically. If you want a bigger display and battery the iPhone 15 Plus looks like good value compared to the smaller iPhone 15 Pro, and everyone else will find the standard iPhone 15 perfectly pocketable. It’s a shame Apple hasn’t upped the screen refresh rate from 60Hz, though – you’ll still need to step up to a Pro for that.

6. iPhone 14 / 14 Plus

Now the middle child in Apple’s mainstream iPhone line-up, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus were minor upgrades over the previous generation. Both kept the same A15 Bionic CPU, both offered the same three storage tiers, and both had a pair of camera lenses at the rear. Wider aperture lenses and improved image processing means it takes a better picture than the iPhone 13, though.

The biggest addition was emergency satellite communication, which is more a nice to have if you plan on adventuring into the wilderness than a reason for most shoppers to buy one. We’d suggest staying away from the regular iPhone 14 now if you’re on a budget – the iPhone 13 is the better buy – but the iPhone 14 Plus is still worth considering if you want a bigger screen, as the iPhone 13 Plus has been discontinued.

7. iPhone 13

Following the iPhone 12 was always going to be a tough act. The iPhone 13 brought several technical improvements over its predecessor, but besides a slightly wider notch, it looked identical. Now, though, it’s the entry-point for the main iPhone range, with Apple having discontinued everything older bar the budget-minded iPhone SE (more on that below).

You get great performance from the A15 Bionic chip, respectable battery life, a brighter screen and a minimum of 128GB of storage. A lead camera sensor with larger pixels also mean the iPhone 13 takes better photos than older-gen iPhone models.

If you’re buying your first Apple handset, you’ll find very little to be disappointed about.

8. iPhone SE

A minor upgrade for Apple’s entry-level option, the third-gen SE is still styled like an iPhone 8 – complete with a dated 4.7in LCD display, plus chunky bezels above and below. Security continues to be handled by a Touch ID sensor in the Home button and the shell remains an aluminium and glass affair, although the back panel is tougher than before.

Inside is Apple’s A15 Bionic chip – shared with the iPhone 13 – which gives the updated SE plenty of power to zip through apps, games and imaging tasks. The camera kit is still limited to a single 12MP sensor on the rear, but that fresh silicon translates into computational improvements, including support for Smart HDR 4, Live Text content detection and improved low-light video.

Apple has thankfully addressed one of the biggest drawbacks of the second-gen model: battery life. The latest SE is good for up to 15 hours of video playback. Also new is support for 5G, which brings the cheapest iPhone’s connectivity bang up to date.

Provided you don’t mind the overfamiliar form factor and mediocre display, the SE offers a lot of handset for the cash – especially if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 8 or earlier.