Greatest iPhone in 2023: Which Apple Cellphone Ought to You Purchase?

After I reviewed the iPhone 14, I mentioned it was basically the iPhone 13 Professional’s processor and foremost digicam contained in the physique of an iPhone 13. Little question, some will probably be dissatisfied that the iPhone 14 is not radically completely different from earlier fashions. However that is a part of its allure. Familiarity has been one of many keys to Apple’s success with the iPhone. And because the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, do not repair it.”

The iPhone 14’s finest options are ones you could by no means see or use — and that is not essentially a foul factor. That features Crash Detection, which may notify emergency providers whenever you’re in an car accident. Emergency SOS through Satellite tv for pc allows you to use a satellite tv for pc to message emergency dispatchers in locations with out cell protection.

And whereas the iPhone 14 has a virtually equivalent flat-sided design because the iPhone 12 and 13, together with a ceramic defend masking and a water-proof physique, the within has been fully redesigned. The 14’s back-glass is less complicated and extra reasonably priced to restore because it’s now not hooked up to internals.

All telephones within the iPhone 14 sequence solely use eSIMs within the US and have a brand new selfie digicam that for the primary time ever has autofocus. Add in a brand new video stabilization software referred to as Motion mode, an upgraded Cinematic mode that may seize 4K video at 24fps and iOS 16, and you’ve got a superb cellphone. If you happen to activate it on a provider, Apple drops the value to $799. Learn our Apple iPhone 14 assessment.
Professionals:

• Essential digicam improve is nice.
• Autofocus makes selfies look higher.
• Improved repairability is welcome.
• Motion mode is easy.

Cons:

• Ultrawide photographs are a step down in picture high quality.
• 12 months-over-year upgrades are minimal.
• Movies recorded in low gentle look simply OK.

From the again, the $999 iPhone 14 Professional seems to be equivalent to final 12 months’s 13 Professional. However do not let that sameness idiot you. It is the 14 Professional’s display screen the place there’s one thing completely different and fantastic happening. The show notch, that outlined earlier Face ID iPhone fashions, has morphed right into a pill-shaped display screen cutout that may present system alerts and background actions like whenever you obtain a name or play music. Apple calls this performance the Dynamic Island. I do know, it is not the perfect identify, nevertheless it’s really probably the greatest options.

The iPhone 14 Professional has a 6.1-inch adaptive-refresh-rate display screen that adjusts between 1 and 120Hz relying on what’s on the display screen. It additionally will get upgraded cameras, a quicker processor, an always-on show, iOS 16 and new security options like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS through Satellite tv for pc. Driving all these upgrades is Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip, which in use feels peppy. 

The primary digicam will get a brand new bigger 48-megapixel sensor. Whereas extra megapixels does not essentially imply higher photographs, Apple divides the pixels into teams of 4 and combines them into one bigger pixel. The result’s a 12-megapixel picture that is brighter and has much less picture noise and higher element.

The iPhone 14 Professional is the probably the greatest telephones launched by Apple or any cellphone maker this 12 months. Learn our Apple iPhone 14 Professional assessment.

Professionals:

• The Dynamic Island is pleasant.
• Essential digicam takes wonderful photographs.
• A16 Bionic chip is blazing quick.

Cons:

• Telephoto digicam is simply good in vibrant gentle.
• Want there was a better approach to simplify the always-on show.
• It is hefty.

The $729 iPhone 13 continues to be a superb cellphone. The truth is, in case you’re tempted by the iPhone 14 and need to avoid wasting cash, seize a 13. They’ve basically the identical physique, similar display screen and similar A15 Bionic processor. Though technically, the iPhone 14’s processor does have an additional GPU core.

The iPhone 13, just like the 12 earlier than it, is outlined by its square-sided design. It helps 5G, MagSafe charging and has cameras on par with those from 2020’s top-of-the-line iPhone 12 Professional Max.

However the iPhone 13’s finest characteristic is its bigger battery that, in our checks, lasted 4.5 hours extra on a single cost than the iPhone 12, and practically 3 hours longer than the brand new iPhone 14.

The 13 additionally has Cinematic mode, which is mainly a video model of Portrait mode, and iOS 16, This all provides as much as a superb cellphone. The iPhone 13 earned a 2021 CNET Editors’ Alternative Award. Additionally, in case you activate it on a choose provider at buy, Apple drops the value to $699. Learn our Apple iPhone 13 assessment.

Professionals:

• New cameras are pretty.
• Longer battery life.
• Cinematic mode is enjoyable.

Cons:

• Nonetheless desire a smaller notch.
• Cinematic mode is extra of a novelty than a professional characteristic.
• Selfie digicam might be higher.

The $929 iPhone 14 Plus is both a giant iPhone 14 or a scaled-back iPhone 14 Professional Max, relying in your perspective. Ever because the iPhone XS Max launched in 2018, there was just one choice for many who love massive screens: Pay high greenback and get a Max mannequin with additional options you may not essentially want (like a telephoto digicam or a excessive refresh charge show). I do know many CNET readers, associates and associates who’ve shelled out $1,100 or extra for an iPhone 12 Professional Max or 13 Professional Max as a result of it was the one approach to get a cellphone within the dimension they wished. However that modifications now.

The 14 Plus has all the iPhone 14’s options and, just like the 14 Professional Max, it has a 6.7-inch show that provides you a bigger canvas for watching movies, taking part in video games and taking photographs. The 14 Plus can both allow you to match extra onto the display screen or simply present all the pieces the iPhone 14 does however a lot greater. A magnified view looks like such an earthly characteristic, but as my eyes become older, I positively welcome it.

In case you are deciding between the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Professional Max and you do not want a telephoto digicam, a high-refresh-rate display screen or additional weight, I say go along with the 14 Plus and save $200. If you happen to activate it on a provider, Apple drops the value to $899. Learn our Apple iPhone 14 Plus assessment.

Professionals:

• Autofocus selfies are respectable.
• Weighs lower than the iPhone 14 Professional Max.
• Essential digicam is nice.
• Longer battery life than the iPhone 14 (to date).

Cons:

• Wants extra iOS options for its bigger display screen.
• Prices lower than a 14 Professional Max, however nonetheless costly.
• Lacks a high-refresh-rate show.

Who mentioned small telephones do not exist in 2022? The $629 iPhone 13 Mini is sensible as a result of it has all the pieces the iPhone 13 has — it is simply smaller. It has the identical square-edged seems to be, assist for 5G and the identical cameras. The 13 Mini’s defining characteristic is its 5.4-inch OLED display screen that helps Dolby HDR. If that sounds too small, take into account that Plus fashions, just like the iPhone 8 Plus, had a 5.5-inch display screen inside a a lot bigger physique. The 13 Mini’s secret is that it lacks these large brow and chin bezels that outlined the iPhone for its first decade.

The display screen is roofed with Apple’s ceramic defend and the physique, like practically all telephones on this listing, has an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance. The 13 Mini has an A15 Bionic processor that places it on the identical stage of efficiency because the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.

The iPhone 13 Mini is the very same worth because the iPhone 12, however the Mini really lasts longer on a single cost than the larger iPhone 12. I solely suggest you get the 13 Mini for its dimension. If you happen to aren’t OK with a small cellphone, you may be dissatisfied or pissed off. And in case you activate it on a provider, Apple drops the value to $580. Learn extra in regards to the Apple iPhone 13 Mini.

Professionals:

• New cameras are pretty.
• Longer battery life.
• Cinematic mode is enjoyable.

Cons:

• Nonetheless desire a smaller notch.
• Cinematic mode is extra of a novelty than a professional characteristic.
• Selfie digicam might be higher.

The iPhone 14 Professional Max is only a massive model of the iPhone 14 Professional. It has the identical A16 Bionic processor, the identical cameras and the identical options. But it surely does differ in two massive methods from the 14 Professional: It has a much bigger 6.7-inch high-refresh charge display screen and a much bigger battery. The truth is, in our checks, the iPhone 14 Professional Max had the longest battery lifetime of any cellphone on this listing.

The iPhone 14 Professional Max is excellent in each method. However I solely suggest getting it if you need a much bigger Professional mannequin iPhone, as a result of it weighs quite a bit. It is 34 grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Professional and 37 grams heavier than the iPhone 14 Plus. Most of that weight comes from the 14 Professional Max’s chrome steel physique. Learn our Apple iPhone 14 Professional Max assessment.

Professionals:

• The Dynamic Island is pleasant.
• Essential digicam takes wonderful photographs.
• A16 Bionic chip is blazing quick.

Cons:

• Telephoto digicam is simply good in vibrant gentle.
• Want there was a better approach to simplify the always-on show.
• Cellphone is hefty.

The $629 iPhone 12 and its flat-sided design marked the start of the present era of Apple telephones. Of all the pieces on this listing, it is the oldest but in addition one of many most cost-effective, particularly if you wish to snag an iPhone with a recent look and Face ID.

The iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch show lined in Apple’s ceramic defend for sturdiness, a still-very-fast A14 Bionic chip, 5G assist and MagSafe charging.

The iPhone 12 earned a 2020 CNET Editors’ Alternative Award. If you happen to select to get an iPhone 12 and might afford to pay $50 extra, I positively suggest upgrading from 64GB of storage to 128GB. The iPhone 12 begins at $629, however in case you activate it on a provider, Apple drops the value to $599. Learn our Apple iPhone 12 assessment.

Professionals:

• New square-sided design.
• 5G assist for each sub-6 and mmWave.
• Low-light photographs and movies.
• MagSafe all the pieces.

Cons:

• Baseline 12 has solely 64GB of storage.
• Battery may last more.

At $429, you may suppose the one attraction of the iPhone SE (2022) is its worth. And admittedly that could be a massive issue. On the skin, the iPhone SE has the identical physique because the iPhone 8, which makes it the one iPhone on this listing that also has Contact ID. On the within, the SE has the identical A15 processor because the iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 14 and 14 Plus which takes the 2017 digicam {hardware} and provides it an injection of Apple’s computational images magic.

The SE represents the basic iPhone design however with the added means to run the most recent model of iOS and apps. One of many quieter updates in 2022 was that the SE’s again was upgraded to the again glass used on the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. The iPhone SE is solely your most reasonably priced method into all of Apple providers like FaceTime, iMessage and iCloud. Learn our Apple iPhone SE (2022) assessment.

Professionals:

• Reasonably priced.
• Dwelling button and Contact ID FTW.
• Good battery life to date.
• Digicam takes good photographs and movies.

Cons:

• Lacks evening mode for photographs.
• Display screen might be brighter.
• Bezels above and under display screen look dated.
• Selfie digicam not on par with rear digicam.
• 20-watt USB-C charger not included.