iPhone buying guide: Best iPhone to buy in 2025

Macworld

Deciding which iPhone to buy has always been tricky. Which screen size is best for you, and how much storage do you need? Should you save money by selecting an older model, or should you splash out on the latest iPhone? Which iPhone is the best compromise between specs and value for money?

In this article we talk you through each of the phones currently available from Apple, to help you decide which is best for you. We discuss iPhone prices, specs and features, paying particular attention to the cameras, screens and durability, so you should leave feeling much more confident about which iPhone you should get.

For more help with your choice see our reviews of the latest iPhones (linked below) and our Best iPhone comparison chart where we compare all the new iPhone with the ones still on sale.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max review

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus review

What iPhones does Apple sell?

When you include both the larger and smaller sizes, there are seven iPhones in Apple’s current lineup. Prior to February 2025 there were nine iPhones, but Apple has now discontinued the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus and the iPhone SE and replaced them with the iPhone 16e.

We’ll start of by looking at how the design of each handset differs, so you can tell which iPhone is which at a glance, before going on to discuss how the iPhones compare in other ways including screens, cameras, safety features, specs and battery life. You can also find out all about the new features in the latest iPhones in our iPhone 16 guide and the iPhone 16e guide.

We also look at the iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16e vs the iPhone 15 to see if it’s worth saving money or spending more, plus you might be interested to read about the whether to upgrade from iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16e to see if it’s worth upgrading. Alternatively, read: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16.

You might also want to check out our best iPhone deals which we update regularly.

Before we start, a quick-at-a-glance comparison of the iPhones:






1. Apple iPhone 16e
























The iPhone 16e arrived in February 2025 and pushed the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 out of the line up. The iPhone 16e brings the Apple Intelligence AI-powered features at a slightly more budget friendly price. Unlike the iPhone 14, the 16e has only one camera on the rear, but its a lot better than the single camera on the iPhone SE was. It also offers better battery life than the iPhone 16.







2. Apple iPhone 16
























The iPhone 16 is similar to 2023’s iPhone 15, but the new processor supports Apple Intelligence, while the iPhone 15 doesn’t. It also delivers much longer battery life than the iPhone 15, and includes a new Camera Control button to make it faster and easier to launch your favorite photo app and take pictures.

Read our full

Apple iPhone 16 review






3. Apple iPhone 16 Plus
























A larger version of the iPhone 16, with the same specs and features, outside of the obviously larger display. The only place the iPhone 16 Plus differs in performance from the iPhone 16 is in its significantly longer battery life. After all, if the phone is bigger, it can fit a larger battery inside.







4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro
























The Pro version of the iPhone 16 comes in a titanium shell (like it’s predecessor) and offers slightly better performance and battery life than the standard iPhone 16.

The photo and video capabilities are where the Pro models stand out. They include a 5x telephoto camera, a sharper 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and support for high-end formats like ProRAW, HLG video, and video recording at up to 4K and 120fps. And yes, it includes the new Camera Control button.

Read our full

Apple iPhone 16 Pro review






5. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
























Just as the iPhone 16 Plus is simply a larger version of the iPhone 16, so too is the iPhone 16 Pro Max just a larger iPhone 16 Pro. In past years, the Pro Max version would have some distinguishing feature (like better telephoto camera) but that isn’t the case this year.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max does get a big boost in battery life from its larger battery, however.







6. Apple iPhone 15

















Price When Reviewed:

969 €



Best Prices Today:








Retailer


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Asgoodasnew FR



€709


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Macway FR



€829


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€919


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€949


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€969


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€1203


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€1203


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Price comparison from Backmarket






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Apple iPhone 15







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Asgoodasnew FR



€709


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Macway FR



€829


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€919


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€949


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€969


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€1203


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€1203


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The standard iPhone 15 model, introduced in 2023, offered some great new features in comparison to 2022’s iPhone 14. For example, the iPhone 15 (and 15 Plus) gained the Dynamic Island instead of the notch. The iPhone 15 camera was significantly better than the iPhone 14 camera at 48MP and with Smart HDR 5. You also get USB-C instead of Lightning.

Now that the iPhone 16e has taken the place of the iPhone 14 in the line up the question is what the iPhone 15 offers that the iPhone 16e doesn’t. Should you pay $100 more for the iPhone 15 and get the two rear cameras, or save $100 and get a more advanced chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. We anticipate that over the next few years you might end up regretting it if you don’t jump on the AI bandwagon now.







7. Apple iPhone 15 Plus

















Price When Reviewed:

1 119 €



Best Prices Today:








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€899


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€919


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€1079


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€1116.9


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€1119


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€899 at Cdiscount FR€919 at Macway FR€1079 at Asgoodasnew FR


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Apple iPhone 15 Plus







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Price









€899


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€919


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€1079


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€1119


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Introduced in 2023, this iPhone is identical to the iPhone 15 except for one big difference: it’s bigger. If you prefer a larger iPhone, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is the iPhone for you.

Like the iPhone 15, this phone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. If you need a big phone you are probably better off with the iPhone 16 Plus.

Read our full

Apple iPhone 15 Plus review






How much do iPhones cost?

Each year when Apple introduces a new set of iPhones it reduces the price of the older models it continues to sell. Below you will find pricing for U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia (scroll across to see pricing in your region).

In the U.S., prices are subsidised by which ever carrier you sign up with and you pay more for an unlocked iPhone. In the U.K. and other countries an iPhone can be bought from Apple off contract and unlocked, so you can use it with an existing contract or switch networks to get a better deal.

ModelRelease dateStorage optionsU.S. Price U.K. PriceCanada PriceAustralia PriceiPhone 16 Pro MaxSeptember 2024256GB512GB1TB$1,199$1,399$1,599£1,199£1,399£1,599$1,749$2,049$2,349$2,199$2,549$2,899iPhone 16 ProSeptember 2024128GB256GB512GB1TB$999$1,099 $1,299$1,499 £999£1,099£1,299£1,499$1,449$1,599$1,899$2,199$1,849$2,049$2,399$2,749iPhone 16 PlusSeptember 2024128GB256GB512GB$899 $999$1,199£899£999£1,199$1,279$1,429$1,729$1,649$1,849$2,199iPhone 16September 2024128GB256GB512GB$799$899$1,099£799£899£1,099$1,129$1,279$1,579$1,399$1,599$1,949iPhone 15 PlusSeptember 2023128GB256GB512GB$799 $899$1,099£799£899£1,099$1,149$1,299$1,599$1,599$1,799$2,149iPhone 15September 2023128GB256GB512GB$699$799$999£699£799£999$999$1,149$1,449$1,249$1,449$1,799iPhone 16eFebruary 2025128GB256GB512GB$599$699$899£599£699£899$899$1,049$1,349$999$1,199$1,549iPhone prices February 2025.

You don’t have to pay full price for a new iPhone though. Read our iPhone deals roundup for more advice on getting the lowest possible price from various different resellers and the best contract deals. We have also collected the best deals for the iPhone 16-series in the U.K. and the best deals for the iPhone 16-series in the U.S. in separate articles. You can also find the best iPhone 15 deals in the U.S. and best iPhone 15 deals in the U.K.

Design: How do the iPhones compare?




All the iPhones as of spring 2025.Foundry

One easy way to distinguish the iPhone 16 line up from the previous generation is the Camera Control button on the side of the iPhone. The Camera Control button is a physical button that can be used to open the camera app, take photos and control things like the zoom. The iPhone 16e, which joined the line up in February 2025, doesn’t feature the Camera Control button and nor do the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

There’s a second button on the side of the iPhone 16 line up (which also features on the iPhone 16e this time). The Action Button (which was previously only found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max) is a customisable button that can perform certain actions, such as turning on the flashlight or silent mode. The Action Button is above the volume controls in the same position as the mute button on older iPhones.

From the front the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are visually similar to the iPhone 16, but turn them over and the camera lenses are positioned differently (diagonally on the 15, and in parallel on the 16). The 16e only has a single camera lens on the back. From the front the iPhone 16e is the only iPhone to feature a notch, all the other current iPhones have the Dynamic Island, a little pill-shaped cutout for the front camera and sensors. Apple and app developers use the Dynamic Island to display all sorts of live information.

The iPhone 16e is the lightest iPhone on sale currently and is fractionally shorter than the iPhones 15 and 16. In fact, the screen size is slightly larger on the iPhone 15 and 16.

The iPhone 16e has the least inspiring color palette on offer with only black or white to choose from. No Ultramarine or Teal options here, those are reserved for the ‘fun’ iPhone 16, while the iPhone 16 Pro gets more business like metallic finishes.

Here’s how the dimensions and colors compare:

iPhoneDimensionsWeightColorsiPhone 16 Pro Max6.42 inches (163 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.6 mm) x 0.32 inch (8.25 mm)7.99 ounces (227 grams)Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, Black TitaniumiPhone 16 Pro5.89 inches (149.6 mm) x 2.81 inches (71.5 mm) x 0.32 inches (8.25 mm)7.03 ounces (199 grams)Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, Black TitaniumiPhone 16 Plus6.33 inches (160.9 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm)7.03 ounces (199 grams)Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, BlackiPhone 165.81 inches (147.6 mm) x 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm)6.00 ounces (170 grams)Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, BlackiPhone 15 Plus6.33 inches (160.9 mm) x 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm)7.09 ounces (201 grams)Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, BlackiPhone 155.81 inches (147.6mm) x 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) x 0.31 inches (7.80 mm)6.02 ounces (171 grams)Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, BlackiPhone 16e5.78 inches (146.7 mm) x 2.82 inches (71.5 mm) x 0.31 inch (7.80 mm)