There’s generally no need to buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware updates are broadly iterative, adding small bits to an already accomplished package. But if you do want a replacement handset, whether new or refurbished, here are the best devices of the current crop of Apple smartphones. Many other smartphones are available besides the iPhone, but if you’re an Apple user and don’t fancy switching to Android, there are still a few choices to make.
Whether your priority is the longest battery life, the best camera, the biggest screen or simply the optimal balance of features and price, there’s more to choose from in the Apple ecosystem than you may expect. Apple recently announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which are direct replacements for the previous Pro models and will be available from 18 September. They feature faster chips and a variable-aperture main camera for more creative photography options.
It also unveiled its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, which adopts a squat, passport-like shape with a 5.4in screen on the outside and a 7.6in tablet screen on the inside when you open it like a book. The iPhone Duo will be available from 23 September. It did not announce a regular iPhone 18, leaving the iPhone 17 as Apple’s standard model for now.
It also took the unusual step of adding £100 to the price of every model, including older iPhones still on sale, as RAMageddon continues to drive up component costs. This guide will be updated once the new iPhones have been thoroughly tested. I have been reviewing consumer electronics for 18 years, with more than a decade spent as the Guardian’s gadget expert.
In that time I’ve seen all manner of tech fads come and go, smartphone giants rise and fall, the cutting edge morph into the mainstream, and have poked, prodded and evaluated more than 1,000 devices – sometimes to destruction. The iPhone 16, released in 2024, sports the same design as the iPhone 17, but misses the Pro-grade screen and Centre Stage selfie camera. The rear camera is slightly lower grade, and the storage capacity is smaller too.
It was good on release and will continue to receive about five years of software support – but it’s fairly expensive at an RRP of £799 (128GB), so look for refurbished models or deals. If your iPhone is running slow or the battery doesn’t last as long as it used to, there may be something you can do. Check your battery health in settings.
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