Deals
Which iPhone Should You Buy? Every Model Ranked by Value
Best value: iPhone 13. Best camera for the money: iPhone 15 Pro. Best cheap: iPhone SE. Here's every pick and why.
For most people, the best-value iPhone is the iPhone 13 or iPhone 15. Want Apple Intelligence and a pro camera? Get an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16. On a tight budget, the iPhone SE (3rd gen) is the cheapest iPhone still worth buying.
Quick picks
Answer 3 questions first
- Budget? This decides most of it.
- Do you want Apple Intelligence? It needs iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 or newer.
- Big or small? Plus and Pro Max models have bigger screens and much longer battery life.
Best value: iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 hits the sweet spot: fast A15 chip, great cameras, good battery, and years of updates left. It's the phone we recommend most to people upgrading from an iPhone 8, X or 11.
Best all-rounder: iPhone 15
USB-C, a 48MP camera with 2x zoom, and the Dynamic Island. Read the full iPhone 14 vs 15 comparison.
Cheapest with Apple Intelligence: iPhone 16e
The 16e has a newer chip, 8GB of RAM and supports Apple Intelligence, with great battery life. It has one rear camera and no MagSafe, but if you want AI features without Pro prices, this is the one.
Best camera for the money: iPhone 15 Pro
A 3x telephoto lens, 120Hz ProMotion screen, titanium frame, fast USB 3 transfers and Apple Intelligence. Refurbished, it costs a lot less than a new Pro and still has years of updates.
Best battery: go big
Plus and Pro Max models have bigger batteries. The iPhone 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max are battery champions. If you're a heavy user, size up.
Cheapest worth buying: iPhone SE (3rd gen)
Same A15 chip as the iPhone 13 in a small body with a home button and Touch ID. Great first iPhone for kids. The trade-offs: small screen, one camera, shorter battery life.
Models we'd skip now
- iPhone 11 and older: fine for basic use, but closer to the end of updates. Only at a big discount.
- iPhone SE (2nd gen): older chip and weaker battery. The 3rd gen is worth the extra.
- Any 64GB iPhone if you shoot video: you'll run out of space fast.
How much storage?
- 128GB: right for most people with iCloud Photos on.
- 256GB: if you shoot a lot of video or keep photos on the phone.
- 512GB+: creators and 4K video shooters.
Before you buy
Check our grading guide, then trade in your old iPhone to cut the price. Get a quote.
FAQ
What's the best iPhone to buy for the money?
A refurbished iPhone 13 or iPhone 15. Both offer great cameras, battery and years of updates for far less than a new iPhone.
Which iPhones support Apple Intelligence?
iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and every iPhone 16 and newer model, including the iPhone 16e.
Is it worth buying an iPhone 12 or 13 now?
Yes, at the right price. They're still fast and supported. The 13 has the better battery.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 13 pre-owned from $286.99, tested by real technicians with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.