Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? (2024)

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Julian Chokkattu

Gear

The USB-C iPhone 15 is here. If you’re thinking of upgrading, start with our ultimate breakdown of Apple’s smartphones.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

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Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? (3)

Best Overall

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

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Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? (4)

Best Budget iPhone

Apple iPhone 13

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Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? (5)

The Midrange iPhone

Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus

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Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? (6)

The Ultimate iPhone

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

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After 11 years, Apple finally changed the charging port on the iPhone 15 range. Gone is Lightning in favor of USB-C. Is it worth the upgrade? Apple sells eight iPhone models, from the $429 iPhone SE (2022) to the $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max. We’re here to help you separate the marketing slogans from reality—we’ve tested the latest models and outlined their strengths and weaknesses so you can make sure you're buying the best iPhone for your needs.

Check out our other buying guides, including Best MagSafe Accessories, Best iPhone 15 Cases, Best iPhone 14 Cases, Best iPhone 13 Cases, Best iPhone SE Cases, and Best Apple 3-in-1 Chargers. Wondering what's new in iOS 17? We have details on that too.

Updated September 2023: We’ve added the iPhone 15 range and several accessories.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

But First, Sell That Old iPhone!

If you’re upgrading from an iPhone, you can trade it to Apple to get a small discount. Before you do that, check whether you can sell it elsewhere for more money. iPhones hold their value incredibly well, particularly if they’re in mint or good condition. We have a guide that runs through a few websites you can use.

Don’t forget to back up your old iPhone before you switch to a newer model, which will help you transfer everything without losing any data. Remember to factory reset your old iPhone before selling it. You might find our guides on setting up a new iPhone and how to fix it helpful. And if you don’t want to sell it, we have some ideas on how to repurpose your old device.

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Julian Chokkattu is the reviews editor at WIRED, covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in English... Read more

Reviews Editor

TopicsShoppingbuying guidesiPhoneapplephones

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