Apple Phones: The Ultimate 2026 Buyers Guide

Since the release of the original iPhone in 2007, Apple has dominated the smartphone market in the United States. With every iteration of their famous phone line, Apple has stayed on top of the game, with the newest series, the iPhone 18 Pro, coming in as the most powerful and innovative iPhone yet.

Choosing the Right Apple Smartphone for 2026

While Apple does not have the overwhelming number of options you would find looking for an Android device, you still have a lot of iPhones to choose from in 2024. These differ in price, power, and overall quality, meaning that people will prefer different iPhones. Of course, you can opt for an iPhone with almost every provider, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Here is a rundown of the best Apple iPhone models you can pick up today.

What’s New With the Best iPhones?

iPhone 18 Pro

The new iPhone 18 Pro lineup represents the best Apple has to offer to date, with vivid screens, incredible battery life, and the power of Apple's fastest processor to date—the A20 Pro, which brings GPU performance up to 40% faster than the iPhone 17 Pro and a next-gen vapor chamber to keep things cool under load.

The biggest change is the camera. The 48-megapixel Fusion main sensor now has a true variable aperture—ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0—that opens and closes like a traditional camera lens, a first for iPhone. It's joined by a 48-megapixel ultra-wide and a 48-megapixel telephoto with up to 8x optical-quality zoom, so you're covered whether you're shooting wide landscapes or zooming in from across a stadium.

Both models get bigger, brighter Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion up to 120Hz—6.3 inches on the Pro, 6.9 inches on the Pro Max—and battery life to match: up to 30 hours of use per charge, and up to 45 hours of video playback on the Pro Max. When you do need to top off, fast charging gets you to 50% in about 15 minutes with a compatible adapter. The build is tougher too, with an aluminum unibody and Ceramic Shield 2 on front for 3x better scratch resistance.

Storage runs 256GB to 2TB on both models. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299.

iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 represents a next step forward for Apple’s mainstream lineup, delivering a more refined experience than the iPhone 16. Apple’s new A19 chip powers the device, offering faster speeds and better efficiency for everyday tasks. The display grows slightly to 6.3 inches and now includes features that were once exclusive to the Pro models, such as a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and an Always-On option.

Advantages
The iPhone 17 delivers many features that were previously limited to Apple’s Pro models, making it a standout option for users who want a premium experience without a premium price. The new display technology, improved cameras, faster performance, and enhanced durability all contribute to a noticeably more modern feel. Anyone upgrading from an iPhone 14 or older will see major improvements across the board, especially in speed, battery life, and photography.

Drawbacks
While the iPhone 17 is a significant upgrade for many users, those coming from recent Pro models may find the leap less dramatic. The Pro lineup still maintains advantages in areas like zoom capabilities, graphics performance, and premium materials. Additionally, the larger display and added features may result in a slightly higher base price compared to the iPhone 16.

Verdict
The iPhone 17 stands out as one of Apple’s most well-rounded and forward-thinking releases. For anyone not specifically seeking Pro-level features, it strikes an excellent balance of performance, value, and longevity — making it one of the strongest choices in Apple’s 2024–2025 lineup.

iPhone 16

Key Features
The iPhone 16 introduces several upgrades over the iPhone 15 series. It comes equipped with Apple’s new A18 chip, offering improved performance and better power efficiency. The display is a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with HDR support and significantly higher peak brightness for outdoor use. The camera system includes a 48-megapixel main sensor paired with an ultra-wide lens, providing improved low-light performance and more advanced photo and video processing. The device also maintains IP68 water and dust-resistance and includes the modern USB-C port.

Advantages
The iPhone 16 is an excellent pick for anyone who wants a device that will stay relevant and supported for several years. It offers meaningful upgrades for users coming from older models such as the iPhone 14 or earlier, especially in camera capabilities, performance, and battery life.

Drawbacks
For those upgrading from a recent Pro model, the improvements may feel incremental. Additionally, the standard iPhone 16 may still lack some premium features—like high-refresh-rate displays—that are exclusive to the Pro lineup.

Verdict
The iPhone 16 is a strong choice for most people seeking a modern, future-proof iPhone without stepping into Pro-level pricing.

Apple Phones to Avoid

iPhone 1-8 and iPhone X

Any iPhone before the iPhone 12 would be difficult to recommend to anyone who wants a modern smartphone experience. The hardware on these models is unable to keep up with the regular software updates that Apple puts out, making them obsolete both physically and in terms of software.

Depending on the device, you may miss out on things like Apple Pay and Apple Trade, integrations with Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch, and possibly even the outdated touch ID technology.

5G is starting to integrate into the country’s infrastructure fully, replacing 4G LTE connectivity, and only the iPhone 12 and up are 5G compatible. This is just one of many ways the older models, the iPhone 8 and its predecessors, are falling behind the new ones.

The Bottom Line

If you are in the market for a budget phone, you should look at the iPhone SE. If you want the best top-of-the-line phones on the market, then the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a great fit. Finally, the iPhone 13 base model is the way to go if you want something in between.

You can learn more about the best Apple phones and which ones to choose by using Navi. Navi uses industry insights and data to help you choose the right phones and plans.

Once you know what kind of phone you want, Navi can help you use those parameters to find the best phone deals. Choosing the right iPhone for you can be tricky, but Navi can make the process easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's new in the iPhone 18 Pro?

The headline change is the camera: the 48-megapixel Fusion main sensor now has a true variable aperture (ƒ/1.48 to ƒ/4.0) that adjusts like a traditional camera lens, a first for iPhone. It's paired with the A20 Pro chip, up to 40% faster GPU performance than the iPhone 17 Pro, and battery life rated up to 45 hours of video playback on the Pro Max.

Is the iPhone 18 Pro worth upgrading from the iPhone 17 Pro?

It depends on what you use your phone for. If variable-aperture photography, faster graphics performance, or longer battery life matter to you, the jump is real. If you upgraded within the last year or two, we think the iPhone 17 or iPhone 16 still cover most everyday needs at a lower price.

How much does the iPhone 18 Pro cost?

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both go up to 2TB of storage. Carrier and trade-in pricing can bring the upfront cost down significantly, depending on your plan and device.