Our content is funded in part by commercial partnerships, at no extra cost to you and without impact to our editorial impartiality. Click to Learn More
For Apple devotees, the iPhone is the only phone that matters. The biggest choice fans have to make is whether they need to get the newest iPhone right now, grab a bargain on an older model, or hold off in the hopes of an even newer iPhone being launched.
However, simply going for the newest iPhone doesn’t always mean you’ll get the best deal. Often, the older iPhone models are just as slick and feature-packed as the newer ones. Put simply, there are no bad iPhones out there if you go for a model from the past couple of years.
You could buy any of the seven iPhones currently on sale, whether that's a brand new $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max or cheaper iPhone 12, and bag one of the best phones on sale. You could even buy a $599 iPhone 11 and get a very decent phone.
But how do you know you're getting the right iPhone for you? We've taken an in-depth look at all the iPhones on sale, so you can quickly and easily find out which one is right for you.
Which Is The Best iPhone?
These are the best Apple iPhone models you can buy. Though it’s still possible to track down older ones second-hand or refurbished, we’d advise sticking to one of the iPhones below:
- iPhone 12 Pro – The best iPhone on sale: The iPhone 12 Pro is, in our mind, the best iPhone you can buy at the moment. Its smaller size makes it easier to use than the 12 Pro Max, while its triple rear cameras and improved battery life make it a noticeable improvement over the regular iPhone 12 models.
- iPhone 12 – A great option for almost everyone: The iPhone 12 was a big upgrade over the 11 with a new OLED display, 5G connectivity, improved cameras, and that fancy MagSafe tech. Plus, at $799, you're saving a not-inconsiderable amount of money compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. It also comes in loads of fancy colors, which is nice.
- iPhone 12 Pro Max – The one with the big screen: At the risk of sounding reductive, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is only really meant for people who just want more. You get a larger screen and a larger battery, which makes it great for playing games or for people who need to work on their phones. But the $1,099 price tag still seems steep to us.
- iPhone 12 Mini – All the iPhone 12 tech in a smaller package: The iPhone 12 Mini brings the latest A14 Bionic processor, dual 12Mp cameras, and MagSafe compatibility to a phone with a tiny 5.4-inch display. However, unlike the iPhone, that display is edge-to-edge, keeping the overall size smaller as well.
- iPhone SE – The cut-price iPhone: The iPhone SE brings familiar iPhone looks but gives you newer, faster tech. It's powered by the older A13 Bionic processor but still packs good performance and cameras for its low $399 price tag. However, it looks seriously dated compared to new iPhones and similarly priced Android phones.
| Price | Processor | RAM Measured in gigabytes, more RAM allows phones to handle more tasks at once. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Mini | iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone SE | |
| $799 | $699 | $1099 | $399 | |
| A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic | A14 Bionic | A14 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| 4 | 6 GB | 4 | 6 | 3GB |
iPhone 12 Pro Review
The iPhone 12 Pro looks like a return to form from Apple, with a completely new design and some features which bring it bang-up-to-date with the latest in mobile tech.
iPhone 12 Pro cameras
The iPhone 12 Pro has three 12 Mp rear cameras with ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses to help you take the best photos in any situation.
The ultra-wide lens has a 120-degree field of view — which puts it slightly wider than the human eye. The telephoto lens, meanwhile, will give you a 2x optical zoom and a 10x digital zoom.
However, iPhones have always been about more than just camera hardware. Apple has added a LiDAR scanner to help make night mode portraits better, as well as dual optical image stabilization on the wide and telephoto lenses to make videos and photos smoother.
Speaking of video recording, the iPhone 12 Pro will let you shoot in HDR — for brighter, more dynamic videos with deeper blacks — at up to 60 fps. In terms of resolution, you can shoot up to 4K video at up to 60 fps, as well as slow-motion video at 1080p resolution with 120 or 240 fps.
Round the front, you get another 12Mp camera which will also record 4K video at up to 60 fps. This generation of iPhones all take great photos but, compared to the videos from Android phones, the Apple devices stand apart.
iPhone 12 Pro performance and processor
One of the least talked-about aspects of the iPhone's prowess is its remarkable processor.
The iPhone 12 Pro gets the latest A14 Bionic processor. It has 40% more transistors than the A13 it replaces which, Apple reckons, brings greater efficiency for battery life. It also allows you to record videos in Dolby Vision as well as giving up to 70% faster image processing through machine learning.
Paired with 6GB of RAM — the most ever in an iPhone — the 12 Pro can easily power through multitasking, high-end photography and videography, and gaming.
iPhone 12 Pro battery life and price
When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 12 Pro starts looking a bit lacklustre compared to the 11 Pro it replaces. It has a smaller battery, for example, at 2815 mAh compared to the 11 Pro's 3046 mAh unit.
Apple claims that users should still see the same 65 hours of audio playback and 11 hours of streamed video playback. However, stored video playback drops to 17 hours from 18 hours.
When it comes to price, the
The 12 Pro and 11 Pro both claim that they can be charged up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W and 18W charger, respectively. However, the 11 Pro came with its charger in the box for no extra cost. The 12 Pro, however, requires you to buy the wall plug and charging cable for $19 each!
The 12 Pro, thankfully, costs the same as the 11 Pro when it was released — a modest $999. You do, however, get 128GB of storage as standard — the first time ever for an iPhone.
Verdict: The best iPhone you can buy at the moment.
Pros
- Stylish new design
- Massively powerful processor
- 5G-enabled
- Stunning screen
Cons
- Expensive
iPhone 12 Review
The iPhone 12 has two big upgrades over the iPhone 11 it replaced — a sharper, OLED screen and a new processor.
iPhone 12 screen
The iPhone 12 has a brand new screen. Apple has finally decided to give the base iPhone an OLED display. It's a 6.1-inch unit with an 1170×2532 resolution — no more sub-1080p iPhone displays.
The screen uses Apple's Super Retina XDR tech, which brings up to 1200 nits of brightness (which is a lot), and HDR compatibility, which will make videos, games, and photos look even better.
However, it's also worth noting that the iPhone 12 has a 60Hz refresh rate. Most Android phones that cost the same have either 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate displays which makes everything look that little bit more polished — it's not a deal-breaker but it's worth considering.
Either way, the iPhone 12 has received an important and long-overdue specs bump compared to the 11 it replaces.
iPhone 12 cameras
However, Apple hasn't extended the overhaul to the cameras. Like the iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 gets two 12Mp cameras. In fact, the ultrawide lens is essentially the same on both devices. The standard wide-angle lens does get a slightly wider aperture, however, which should help make photos seem brighter.
The 12 can also record 1080p videos with Dolby Vision HDR, which is a neat benefit but, again, far from a deal-breaker.
iPhone 12 performance and processor
The iPhone 12 gets the same A14 Bionic processor as the 12 Pro. This means you get the same impressive performance and photo editing capabilities as the more expensive phone — and big improvements over the iPhone 11.
What's more, the iPhone 12 is ready for 5G. This alone should make the iPhone 12 a worthy upgrade over the 11 — you'll be able to use the phone for a few years to come at least.
Verdict: A worthy improvement over the iPhone 11
Pros
- 5G-enabled
- An improved OLED screen
- Powerful processor
- Brilliant cameras
Cons
- Similarly priced Android phones have higher refresh rate screens
iPhone 12 Pro Max Review
Let's move from the cheap-ish iPhone 12 to the expensive and enormous iPhone 12 Pro Max. The new range-topping Pro Max model starts at $1,099, but can be specced-up to a fairly ridiculous $1,668 with 512GB of storage and two years of Apple Care.
iPhone 12 Pro Max design
However, you do get a lot of phone for your money. The Pro Max comes with a huge 6.7-inch display and weighs a whopping 228 grams. That's 20 grams more than the larger Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, for example.
Even if you have hands like dinner plates, you'll probably find the Pro Max a bit of a behemoth.
iPhone 12 Pro Max battery
The 12 Pro Max has a significantly larger battery than the smaller 12 Pro — 3687 mAh plays 2815 mAh, respectively.
However, the 12 Pro Max's battery is still smaller than the unit in the 11 Pro Max it replaces. Fortunately, Apple claims that the 12 Pro Max should have the exact same battery life as the 11 Pro Max — 80 hours of audio playback, 20 hours of video playback, and 12 hours of streamed video playback.
iPhone 12 Pro Max cameras and performance
The 12 Pro Max has almost the same camera setup as the cheaper 12 Pro — three 12 Mp cameras. However, the 12 Pro Max gets a 2.5x optical zoom-in, compared to 2x on the 12 Pro. It also gets up to 12x digital zoom, compared to 10x digital zoom on the 12 Pro.
Round the front, the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have the same 12Mp front camera.
Again, both phones use the A14 Bionic processor and 6GB of RAM.
Verdict: The sheer size and price of the 12 Pro Max make us lean towards the 12 Pro.
Pros
- Huge, sharp screen
- A14 Bionic processor is one of the best on the market
- Improved battery life of any new iPhone
Cons
- Very expensive
- Too large for some
iPhone 12 Mini
The iPhone 12 Mini is a new addition to the iPhone lineup, bringing the same tech as the more expensive iPhone 12 to a smaller, handier package. It's a nice change from the unceasing phone growth in the last few years.
iPhone 12 Mini screen and size
The iPhone 12 Mini has a 5.4-inch screen — almost 0.7-inches smaller than the regular iPhone 12. Fortunately, the 12 Mini still features a Super Retina XDR OLED display with HDR compatibility.
It has a 1080×2340 resolution, lower than the iPhone 12's 1170×2532. However, thanks to its smaller screen, the iPhone 12 Mini has a higher pixel-per-inch count than its bigger brother — 476 ppi compared to 460 ppi.
Perhaps more interesting is that the iPhone 12 Mini, despite being smaller and lighter than the iPhone SE, the new Mini features a screen that is 0.7-inches larger. If there's one phone which demonstrates the benefits of removing the home button, it's the iPhone 12 Mini.
iPhone 12 Mini battery life
However, one area where the 12 Mini falls down compared to the iPhone 12 is in battery life.
As a result of its smaller size, the iPhone 12 Mini has to make do with a 2227 mAh battery, compared to the iPhone 12's 2815 mAh unit. In practice, it means that while the iPhone 12 can manage up to 17 hours of video playback, the 12 Mini can only manage 15. When it comes to audio playback, the distinction is even starker — the iPhone 12 can manage 65 hours but the iPhone 12 Mini can only stump up 50 hours.
iPhone 12 Mini price
The iPhone 12 Mini costs $699 — $100 less than the regular iPhone 12. However, that's $100 more than the old iPhone 11 and $300 more than the similarly handy iPhone SE.
However, the Mini has an upgraded screen, processor, and cameras compared to both the iPhone 11 and SE.
Verdict: If you want a small iPhone, we'd buy this one. If not, we'd choose the 12 or 12 Pro.
Pros
- Small, easily pocketable design
- Smart cameras
- Powerful processor
Cons
- Poor battery life
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE costs just $399, and gives people a genuinely viable cheap iPhone option. Expect them to sell like hot cakes.
iPhone SE performance
Perhaps the iPhone SE's biggest selling point, aside from it being an iPhone, is its processor.
It uses the same A13 Bionic processor as the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. This means it is more powerful than any other Android phone on sale, and will help you power through tasks.
However, the iPhone SE does lose out when it comes to battery life. That powerful processor can seriously drain the tiny 1,821 mAh battery.
iPhone SE screen
The iPhone SE's biggest drawback is its screen. It has a 4.7-inch LCD display, which is the same as the old iPhone 8. It's a good LCD display, but its not a patch on similarly priced Android phones with OLEDs.
That said, if you've been using iPhones for the past five years or so, you won't notice much difference.
iPhone SE Camera
The iPhone SE has a 12Mp rear camera, and it takes surprisingly good shots. In fact, it's considered to be one of the few sub-$500 phones than can compete with the Google Pixel 3a series.
It also takes by far the best videos of any phone at this price.
Pros
- Cheap
- Small and handy
- Impressive camera for the price
- Faster than all other phones in its class
Cons
- Small, low-resolution screen
- Small battery
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max
The two most expensive iPhones going head-to-head. Frankly, if you want the last word in iPhones, the 12 Pro Max is the phone for you. Its screen is significantly larger with a higher resolution, but no loss of sharpness. You also get a noticeably bigger battery.
However, both phones feature the same camera tech, the same processor, and the same software. So, is the 12 Pro Max's bigger screen and longer battery life worth the extra $100? Well, let's put it this way. You're already spending a grand on a phone – if the price is an issue, should you really be looking at the 12 Pro? There are loads of good, cheap phones out there.
There is one more caveat, though. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is significantly larger than the Pro model. The 6.7-inch screen is enormous, sure, but the real issue is the Pro Max's extra weight. At 228 grams, or more than eight ounces, it's a hefty piece of kit to have in your pocket or bag at all times. Given that the iPhone 12 Pro doesn't lose out on performance or camera tech, we'd save ourselves $100, leave the heavy lifting for the gym, and buy the cheaper phone instead.
Verdict: Both phones are fantastic, but we'd find the 11 Pro easier to live with every day.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12
The 12 is Apple's new standard iPhone and starts at a reasonably low $699. Given its similarities in appearance to the iPhone 12 Pro, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the regular iPhone 12 was one of the bargain phones of the year.
The 12 gives you a larger, but less sharp screen than the 12 Pro, and you have to make do without the 12 Pro's third rear camera – you get an ultrawide and wide-angle lens on the 12, while the 12 Pro gets a telephoto lens for better zooming and detail. However, you get the same 12Mp depth-sensing front camera on both phones.
And yet, you pay $200 less for the iPhone 12 than the iPhone 12 Pro – that's a lot of money. Think of all the lovely things you could take slightly poorer pictures of with that $200…
Verdict: The 11 Pro is a great phone, and you'll notice the improved screen and camera quality – but we wouldn't judge anyone that chooses to save $200.
Which iPhone Has the Best Camera?
iPhones nearly always have good cameras, so we're pretty confident that whichever iPhone you get will be able to take decent pictures. There was some concern that Apple had fallen behind the likes of Samsung and Google when it came to photos but, with the 12 series, it seems that Apple has more than caught up.
Rear cameras
Here's the lowdown on the cameras on the latest iPhones.
The 12 Pro and Pro Max have exactly the same rear cameras: A telephoto lens for better zoom and detail shots, a wide-angle lens for run-of-the-mill photography, and an ultrawide lens for capturing broad vistas or adding an arty fisheye effect to your latest Instagram post.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini, on the other hand, have to make do with just the wide and ultrawide angle lenses.
Front cameras
All the new iPhones have exactly the same front camera: A 12Mp depth-sensing lens that will take care of everything from FaceID unlocking to cringe-inducing Snapchat videos on a night out, plus fancy Portrait Mode shots.
Which iPhone has a Dual Camera?
The dual rear camera was introduced to the iPhone lineup in recent years, but not all models have it. Don't forget, though, that the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have three rear cameras.
Treble cameras:
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
Dual cameras:
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 11
Single cameras:
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE
Which iPhone has the Best Battery Life?
iPhones normally get slandered for their battery life compared to leading Android models. However, Apple decided to increase the size of the batteries on the latest iPhones quite significantly.
So, this is how the current generation square up in the battery life stakes.
| | | | | |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Mini | iPhone SE |
If you want to get the iPhone with the best battery life, you should get the 12 Pro Max. Its battery is significantly larger than any other iPhone on sale, and it consequently has a longer battery life.
The iPhone SE, on the other hand, has a very small battery by current standards. It's cheap, sure, but you're investing in tech that is slightly behind the times in some areas.
Which iPhone is the Best Value for Money?
We reckon the best value iPhone you can buy at the moment is the iPhone 12. You'll get a good-looking phone with snappy performance, an impressive screen, and strong cameras.
But, for $200 less, you could get the iPhone 11. You won't get as sharp a screen, nor 5G connectivity. However, those are quite big things to lose out on.
If you want to spend as little as possible and still have an iPhone, though, you'll need to get an iPhone SE – these now start at just $399. It's not a bad phone, but it does feel behind the times in some areas.
In truth, you need to consider what you need from an iPhone. If you just want a new iPhone, we'd recommend the iPhone 12. However, if we were buying an iPhone, we'd be tempted to by an iPhone 12 Pro Max — or even an iPhone 11 if we wanted to save money.
Verdict: All told, the 12 is almost certainly the best value iPhone on sale today.
Is a Refurbished iPhone Worth It?
There are a bunch of phones available on Apple's certified refurbished scheme. These models are a fair bit cheaper than they were at launch, and some look fairly tempting:
- iPhone XR – From $419
- iPhone X – From $599
- iPhone XS – From $639
- iPhone 11 – From $639
- iPhone 11 Pro Max – From $929
At $419, the iPhone XR is far from a bad deal. But the $639 iPhone 11 is a pretty tempting deal. The iPhone X is a pretty solid deal for $599, but be mindful that you're buying a three-year-old phone that might start to see some issues with performance down the line.
Here's some more info on the older iPhones if you're interested in picking one up.
iPhone XR Review
The iPhone XR was effectively replaced by the iPhone 11, although you can still buy it directly from Apple.
iPhone XR design
The XR follows the same basic design as the iPhone 11, with a 6.1-inch LCD display, complete with the notch for the front camera and slightly wider bezels than the pricier OLED 11 Pro and Pro Max models.
Like the iPhone 11, the XR didn't receive a Full-HD screen. This means that images won't be as sharp or as colorful as they are on the iPhone XS or 11 Pro.
iPhone XR price
However, as the XR is now effectively old hat, it's received a price cut. When it debuted, the XR cost $749 – which by our reckoning was slightly too expensive. It now costs a far more reasonable $599.
But for $100 more, you could get the new iPhone 11 with a faster processor, larger battery, and extra rear camera, as well as an improved front snapper. We like saving money here at Tech.co, but if we're honest, we'd choose the newer iPhone 11 over the XR.
Verdict: The price cut makes it enticing, but we'd rather have the upgraded iPhone 11 for not that much more.
Find out more: iPhone XR full review
Pros
- Better value than iPhone 11
- Good screen quality for an LCD
- Premium design
- Range of color options
Cons
- Single camera, rather than dual camera of the iPhone 11
- ‘Notch' screen design is divisive
- LCD, rather than OLED display
iPhone XS Review
You can't buy the iPhone XS directly from Apple any longer. However, it is still available at loads of different carriers.
iPhone XS price
The XS is still a very good phone – a year might seem a long time in tech, but the XS hasn't aged poorly at all. It still oozes quality from its hardware, right through to its software and AI smarts. Being two years old, the iPhone XS has seen a $100 price cut, bringing it down to a slightly more reasonable $899.
iPhone XS cameras
Compared to the newer iPhone 11, the iPhone XS has one less rear camera and a lower-resolution front camera. You'll still be able to take some very impressive pictures, however.
iPhone XS performance and battery life
It also has a smaller battery and uses the older A12 Bionic processor. It won't be noticeably slower than the iPhone 11 — iPhones are always pretty speedy — but you'll likely miss the improved battery life.
Verdict – It's still decent but we'd choose the iPhone 11 Pro instead
Find out more – iPhone XS Review
Pros
- Great cameras
- Incredibly powerful
- Fantastic screen
Cons
- Still expensive
- Might be a touch too big for some
iPhone XS Max Review
The XS Max is essentially the iPhone XS, but bigger. You get a bigger screen, a bigger battery, and a bigger price tag – naturally.
iPhone XS Max design
However, for a lot of people, the XS Max will simply be too big to handle. Reaching to the top corner of the XS is already a struggle at times, and with an extra 0.7 inches of screen real estate, the XS Max is akin to using a small tablet. It doesn't use the extra screen well, either – icons and notifications, for example, are simply bigger, rather than more numerous or more information-rich. It felt like a missed opportunity last year, and it still feels like one today.
iPhone XS Max price
Like the iPhone XS, you can't buy the XS Max directly from Apple any longer, although it is still well-supported by carrier networks. And, like the XS, it has also had a $100 price cut in the wake of the iPhone 11 Pro Max's launch, bringing it down to a $999 – not exactly great value. So, should you buy it? Not in our mind. It's too big, and crucially, too heavy for our tastes.
Verdict: Big, bold, but lacking the subtleties needed to make it a great phone.
Learn more – iPhone XS Max full review
Pros
- Huge screen
- Great cameras
- Speedy processor
Cons
- The screen might be too big
- Enormously expensive
- Fails to make the most of its big screen
iPhone 8 Plus
The 8 Plus is two years old now, but you can still buy it directly from Apple for a respectable $549. Admittedly, it's hardly cutting-edge tech any longer, with large bezels all round, no FaceID, and an LCD screen rather than a more modern OLED display.
iPhone 8 Plus cameras
However, despite its ageing looks, the hardware should still stand up to scrutiny. With dual rear cameras, the 8 Plus can still take a perfectly decent picture.
The front camera, though, has a 7Mp lens. It should take perfectly good selfies, but you might be disappointed with the videos – it can only record 1080p at 30fps. No 4K or slo-mo trickery here.
iPhone 8 Plus performance and battery life
Plus, its A11 Bionic processor should still be sprightly enough to handle the latest apps and games. You can also take heart in knowing that you'll be supported with iOS software updates for years to come.
One area you will feel the pinch, though, is battery life. The 8 Plus, despite its size, only has a 2,691 mAh battery – tiny by modern standards.
Verdict:Â Feeling its age, but a decent phone for $549.Â
Pros
- Decent-sized screen
- Processor is still speedy
- Will continue to be supported with software updates
Cons
- Small battery
- LCD screen
- Ageing design
iPhone 8
Like the 8 Plus, but smaller and cheaper. A new iPhone 8 will set you back $449, which if we're honest, is a lot of money for a phone this dated.
iPhone 8 design
By the standards of modern smartphones, the iPhone 8 is tiny. It has a 4.7-inch screen, with a lowly 750×1334 resolution. Compare it to any similarly priced Android phone, and the iPhone 8 will likely look like a kids toy.
iPhone 8 cameras
The iPhone 8 only has a single rear camera – but that doesn't mean it's bad. However, you won't get the range of abilities that you would find on, say, an iPhone XS or iPhone 11.
Round the front, you get the same serviceable but unremarkable 7Mp front camera as the iPhone 8 Plus.
iPhone 8 battery life
The iPhone 8's battery is tiny. It's an almost comically small 1,821 mAh unit.
For reference, Google was battered from pillar to post last year for releasing the Pixel 4 with a 2,800 mAh battery.
If we're honest, we'd look at choosing an Android phone at the same price point over the iPhone 8 – it's seriously fallen behind the times since its launch two years ago.
Verdict: It might only cost $449, but we'd buy the Google Pixel 3a over the iPhone 8 in a heartbeat.
Pros
- Cheap
- Small and handy
Cons
- Small, low-resolution screen
- Small battery
- Single rear camera
If you click on, sign up to a service through, or make a purchase through the links on our site, or use our quotes tool to receive custom pricing for your business needs, we may earn a referral fee from the supplier(s) of the technology you’re interested in. This helps Tech.co to provide free information and reviews, and carries no additional cost to you. Most importantly, it doesn’t affect our editorial impartiality. Ratings and rankings on Tech.co cannot be bought. Our reviews are based on objective research analysis. Rare exceptions to this will be marked clearly as a ‘sponsored' table column, or explained by a full advertising disclosure on the page, in place of this one. Click to return to top of page