Thanks to years of refining its design and software, Apple rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to smartphones, but finding the right iPhone for you is a different question entirely and that’s why the Trusted Reviews team is here to help.
Even though Apple has a relatively smaller pool of phones to choose from (compared to the best Android phones anyway), each device serves a specific use-case which is why it’s worth spending a moment to consider which one serves your needs best. For example, do you value camera quality above all, or are you more concerned about battery life?
Here at Trusted Reviews, we’ve been testing the latest iPhones ever since the very first one, nearly two decades ago. We’ve put them through real-world testing to give you an idea of how they actually perform in a typical day, as well as enacting professional-level benchmarking to see the concrete data on how they stack up against other smartphones on the market.
While the phones have certainly changed over the years, our commitment to offering thorough, unbiased reviews hasn’t, and that’s why you can rely on our expertise with confidence, knowing exactly what you’re going to get before you decide on which iPhone to buy.
Because of the unique nature of Apple’s ecosystem and how well it pairs any iPhone with other products within the company’s wares, it’s worth checking out our round-ups of the best Apple Watch, best iPad and the best MacBook, as they’ll help you to make the most out of your iPhone in the long run.
For the folks out there who might still be on the fence about picking up a new iPhone, our list of the best smartphones provides a more general look at which devices have impressed our team the most as of late. Similarly, you may want to take a look at the best mid-range phones and the best cheap phones to help minimise the cost of your upgrade.
Editors note: We have yet to review the iPhone 16e, but when we are able to test and verify its performance and quality, we will update this list accordingly.
Best iPhone at a glance
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How we test
Every iPhone we review, whether it’s the cheapest model or the most expensive, gets put through more than 15 tests. These include synthetic benchmark tests that give a good idea of general performance and in-depth camera comparisons between competing devices.
Like every phone we review, the expert tasked with putting the specific iPhone through its paces will use it as their main phone for the review period, transferring across apps, chats and accounts. We feel this gives us a proper view of the device and helps ensure we’re not just repeating headline features from marketing releases.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The best iPhone
Pros
- Great size
- The camera is certainly capable of greatness
- Good battery life
- No exclusive features in Pro Max model
Cons
- Apple Intelligence yet to wow
- Meagre starting storage
- Camera Control can be tough to master
The iPhone 16 Pro is the top iPhone that we recommend right now. With features including a three-camera system that mirrors the Pro Max, solid battery life and a powerful processor, the iOS experience doesn’t get any better than this (unless you opt for the iPhone 16 Pro Max).
Measuring in at a slightly boosted 6.3 inches compared to the 15 Pro, it’s still much smaller than the 6.9-inch 16 Pro Max but sports similarly rounded edges and slimline bezels that make for a premium viewing experience. Importantly, it still sits nicely in the hand despite its slightly increased dimensions, making it a perfect antidote to the sea of competing big-screen phones.
The iPhone 16 Pro runs on the top-end A18 Pro chipset that, as usual, offers stunning performance with oodles of CPU and GPU power that can beat most other phones on the market, with a healthy gap between the iPhone 16 Pro and competing Android phones – for now, anyway.
That chipset also powers the all-new Apple Intelligence experience, though the rollout is slower than expected; at the time of writing, only a handful of the advertised features are available, and only in the US. More features and a wider rollout are planned, but we wouldn’t describe it as the reason to upgrade right now.
Elsewhere, the iPhone 16 Pro features a three-lens rear camera system which includes a 48MP main lens, a 48MP ultrawide lens and a 12MP 5x telephoto lens, so images are crisp and detailed in both well-lit and even low-light conditions.
Other notable changes include a new Camera Control button that lets you change photo modes and take photos, though we found the execution to be a bit flawed with an odd placement.
Still, if you want a truly powerful smartphone that offers speedy performance, high-end camera quality and impressive durability then the iPhone 16 Pro is a near-perfect choice.
Full review: Apple iPhone 16 Pro review
Reviewer: Max Parker
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The best iPhone for battery life
Pros
- Exceptional battery life
- Larger screen with impossibly thin bezels
- Top-end processing power
- Impressive video quality
Cons
- Apple Intelligence isn’t that smart or widely available
- Camera Control is awkward to use
- Very expensive
You might be looking for an iPhone that can deliver all the very best that Apple has to offer, along with the biggest screen you can fit your hands around as well. No problem: that’s what the iPhone 16 Pro Max is for.
It’s bigger than ever, measuring in at an increased 6.9 inches compared to the 6.7 inches of previous models of Pro Max, but much of that is down to impressively thin bezels, meaning its footprint isn’t much larger than before.
Sheer size aside, the 120Hz OLED screen delivers a truly immersive experience when watching films and playing games in a way that smaller-screened devices simply can’t compete with. It also allows Apple to fit a larger battery within, meaning battery life is much better than the iPhone 16 Pro, easily lasting well into the second day of use much of the time.
In all other ways, it’s identical to the iPhone 16 Pro, with the same A18 Pro chipset with support for Apple Intelligence, a new Camera Control button and the same combination of a 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide and 12MP 5x telephoto cameras. It’s just a bigger, more expensive variant.
Full review: iPhone 16 Pro Max review
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Apple iPhone 16
The best iPhone for most people
Pros
- New Action Button & Camera Controls
- Two-generation jump in processing power
- Relatively compact and portable
Cons
- Camera Control placement isn’t ideal
- Apple Intelligence isn’t the best – yet
- No telephoto lens
The iPhone 16 Pro might be the best iPhone but, for many people, the Pro model simply isn’t necessary. After all, the iPhone 16 is just as capable as the Pro and Pro Max in many areas and comes at a much lower price.
The base model received a significant upgrade with the iPhone 16, not only featuring the Action Button previously exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max models but also the new Camera Control button. And, not to miss out on the AI hype, the regular model also boasts support for Apple Intelligence in regions where it’s available.
What’s more, the iPhone 16 does away with the odd chipset split that left the regular iPhones on year-old chipsets, now sporting the A18 chipset for a two-generation jump. That also means that the regular iPhone can now play AAA mobile games like Resident Evil Village without issue.
The phone also packs an all-day battery and a bright display, though the 16 Pro has kept its exclusive hold on the 120Hz refresh rate and telephoto camera.
If you want the smoothest screen and most advanced camera on an iPhone, it’s worth spending extra on the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max. However, if you’re happy with these sacrifices, the iPhone 16 remains a fantastic smartphone for most people.
Full review: iPhone 16 review
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
The best value iPhone
Pros
- Large 6.7-inch OLED display
- Exceptional camera performance
- Rounded edges make it nice to hold
Cons
- Display capped at 60Hz
- No telephoto camera
- Slow charging, even with USB-C connectivity
The iPhone 15 Plus might have been surpassed by the iPhone 16 Plus, but that means it’s now more affordable while still offering plenty of flagship-level features, including some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen on an iPhone.
There’s a larger cell in the iPhone 15 Plus than the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, and with its 6.7-inch OLED panel locked at a stable 60Hz, it can keep on going, as we found out during the review period.
We also prefer the 6.7-inch screen to the 6.1-inch iPhone 16. It’s a little roomier for games and movies, and less cramped for typing emails and browsing the web. Importantly, it’s a much lighter phone than the 16 Pro Max and more comfortable to hold as a result – something also aided by slightly rounded corners, a new touch compared to its predecessor.
The iPhone 15 Plus also enjoys other upgrades present on the regular iPhone 15, like a jump to a 48MP primary camera, the introduction of Dynamic Island tech and the use of the A16 Bionic chipset, all of which culminate in a great big-screen iPhone that’s all the more affordable more than a year after release – it’s just a shame the display remains locked at 60Hz, and that it doesn’t offer support for Apple Intelligence.
Full review: iPhone 15 Plus review
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
FAQs
All the iPhones in this list come with some form of 5G. However, the supported bands can vary so it’s best to check with your carrier or network to see which bands and forms of 5G they support.
No – Apple has removed the charger from the box of all its iPhones. You’ll need to buy it separately or else use an old one.
The most recent iPhone is the iPhone 16 series, which was first available to order in September 2024.
All the best iPhone specs
Compare all the most important specs from all the iPhones in our list.
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
Manufacturer
Screen Size
Storage Capacity
Rear Camera
Front Camera
Video Recording
IP rating
Battery
Wireless charging
Fast Charging
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Operating System
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Resolution
HDR
Refresh Rate
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colours
Stated Power
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Trusted Reviews test data
Apple does a great job at keeping performance the same across all phones, so you’re getting strong speeds whether you go for the cheapest iPhone or the priciest.
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming online)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming offline)
30 minute gaming (light)
Time from 0-100% charge
Time from 0-50% charge
15-min recharge (included charger)
60-min recharge (no charger included)
30-min recharge (no charger included)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
3D Mark – Wild Life
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Car Chase
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