Apple has completed its annual refresh of the iPhone lineup. Its iPhone 11 models look the same as last year's iPhones, but they do have some camera upgrades, and they can perform a few new tricks. The WIRED Gear team is here to help you separate the marketing slogans from reality. Below is our complete iPhone buying guide with our pick for the best iPhone, and some of the strengths and weaknesses of all the rest.
Updated September 2019: We've updated this guide to reflect the new 2019 iPhone 11 models. Our buying advice has changed substantially now that the new phones are available.
Be sure to check out our guides to the Best iPhone 11 Deals, Best iPads, Best MacBooks, and Best Android Phones buying guides.
When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.
APPLEBest Deal on an iPhone
Apple iPhone XRYes, the new iPhone 11 is a little faster, gets an extra hour of battery life, and has a second rear camera for wide-angle shots, but are those features worth $100 to you? If you want a great iPhone for a little less cash, I recommend the 2018 iPhone XR (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It will probably last you just as long as a current-model-year phone too.The XR comes in a rainbow of colors and is still speedy compared to many Android phones. There are some small trade-offs when you compare it to a Pro iPhone—like an LCD screen instead of OLED (the blacks aren't as deep), and the camera won't have some of the zooming features or Night Mode, which brightens up darker shots. That's mostly it. The iPhone is not changing a ton from year to year these days, so if you don't need those advanced features, don't pay for them.$599AppleBUY NOW
PHOTOGRAPH: APPLEA Small Step Up
Apple iPhone 11Thanks to some improved cameras and a faster A13 Bionic processor, the iPhone 11 is faster than the iPhone XR. It also costs $100 more, but if you want a better phone and you have the extra bucks to throw down, why not buy it? It comes in purple and green, as well!The iPhone 11 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) looks nearly identical to every iPhone since the iPhone X. Its rear camera can perform a few new tricks, like take low-light Night mode shots that illuminate people in the dark better than previous iPhones. The extra-wide-angle lens also lets you take more expansive scenic shots. On the front, the selfie cam got an upgrade from a 7-megapixel sensor to a 12-megapixel sensor, and that resolution should give Face ID a boost as well. Finally, Apple claims the new iPhone 11 will get about an hour more battery than the XR and withstand falls a little better. You'll still want a case, though.$699AppleBUY NOW
PHOTOGRAPH: APPLEThe Ultimate iPhone
Apple iPhone 11 ProThe iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are the most prestigious slabs of metal and glass Apple has to offer (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Like the standard iPhone 11, they run the latest A13 Bionic processor and have a top-to-bottom screen with a notch cut out at the top for Face ID (Apple scans your face to authenticate you).These phones cost a lot more, but the Pro models are a clear step ahead when it comes to camera optics and display tech. They are the only models with an extra 2X zoom telephoto lens on the back. They can also shoot better 4K video and will get some extra Portrait mode features, so you can take better shots of your pets (among other things). On the front is a beautiful OLED display that packs in more pixels than the standard iPhone 11 or XR. On the back is a glass panel with a soft matte finish. Apple says the battery in these Pro phones will last "up to four hours longer" than the iPhone XS, the 2018 luxury iPhone they replace.Word to the wise: The smaller version is probably big enough, and if you're spending this much, spend a little more to get at least 128 GB of storage space.$999AppleBUY NOW
APPLEA Powerful Classic
Apple iPhone 8 and 8 PlusIf you care more about ease of use than big edge-to-edge displays, consider an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends). They came out in 2017 and are the most powerful iPhones to carry the classic home button design. Most users still find it simpler to navigate the iPhone with a fingerprint sensor and home button, but you have to go back in time to get those things, since the new models rely on navigation gestures and Face ID. The iPhone 8 makes some kinds of multitasking easier, and the phone is actually usable with one hand thanks to a smaller screen and Reachability features. To top it off, the processing power and cameras are still good enough to serve you well for a couple of years.$449AppleBUY NOW
APPLEIf It's $800 or Less ...
Apple iPhone XS and XS MaxApple completely canceled the 2018 luxury iPhone XS and XS Max, but like the iPhone XR, they're still just fine to buy (8/10, WIRED Recommends). They have a speedy A12 Bionic processor and two rear cameras, so you can zoom in up to 2X. Everything else is par for the course. The XS and XS Max have nicer OLED displays than the XR and slightly better water resistance.Since the new iPhone 11 starts at $699, try not to spend more than $799 on an XS. Best Buy still sells it for $900, but that's a bit much.$900Best BuyBUY NOW
APPLEIf It's Under $500, Buy It
Apple iPhone XThe iPhone X is only two years old, but Apple stopped selling it after a single year because, well, it was a little too nice compared to the iPhone XS line in 2018. Keeping the X on sale would have hurt sales of the XS and XR. The X has a slower processor than the new iPhone 11 models, but everything else is good enough, and the OLED display looks very nice.You should probably opt for an iPhone XR, XS, or iPhone 11 instead, but you can find this one for $600 or less (refurbished).$580GazelleBUY NOW
JOSH VALCARCEL/WIREDAvoid These iPhones!
Apple iPhone 1-7, iPhone SEThe iPhone 7, 6S, SE, and every older iPhone before them are probably available somewhere, but you shouldn't take the bait. They don't have the processing power to keep up with the latest software. They'll slow down considerably, and may stop getting updates. The iPhone 6 was cut off from receiving the iOS 13 update, and it's likely the 6S may not make the cut for iOS 14 in 2020. Without software support, your device will slowly become less secure and die. These phones are also not waterproof, and their camera tech isn't as refined as newer models. Unless these are almost free, we think you're better off with an iPhone 8 or newer.And look, we get the appeal of the iPhone SE. It's small and simple. But it's just too old at this point. If you really want a small phone, seek out an X or an XS. Those handsets are smaller than the larger iPhone 11 and iPhone XR, and both of them are way better phones than the SE could ever be.
APPLEIs It a Good Time to Buy?
Yep. Don't Stress About ItNo one wants to be "that person" who bought an expensive iPhone right before the new one came out. For now, you should bottle up that FOMO and stick it on the shelf. The iPhone 11 launched in September 2019, and Apple won't likely update them until September 2020. There are a few rumors floating around about the 2020 iPhones, but nothing suggests that they're going to be a radical departure from what we have now.
SPIGENDon't Overpay for a Case
Inexpensive iPhone CasesiPhones are made of glass, and glass breaks. You need a case. Wireless carriers and Apple know this and will try hard to upsell you on $40 to $60 cases and expensive accessories for your phone. If the cost doesn't matter to you, go for it. If it does, here are a few options I like. These cases from Spigen, Otterbox, Speck, LifeProof, and Incipio are good quality and should protect your phone from a drop on the ground (and expensive repair bill). I also like many of these iPhone 11 cases.Use the checkboxes along the left side of Amazon's website to select only your iPhone model and narrow your search, or select a color material you like. I've chosen Amazon.com and official sources as the "Seller." I recommend you retain that setting because it lowers your chances of getting ripped off.$12AmazonBUY NOW
Related Posts: iPhone
Posted in: iPhone
