Which iphone is better to buy

The 7 Best iPhones of 2021

See the differences between all iPhones and find the best one for you

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We’ve come a long way from the days when Apple only released a single new iPhone model each year; with this year’s iPhone 12 lineup featuring four different iPhone models in three different sizes there’s truly something for everybody, and on top of that Apple still has three other models to help those who don’t need the latest and greatest technology get into the iPhone ecosystem at a much more affordable price.

Of course, the big boost to Apple’s big iPhone 12 lineup this year is the inclusion of 5G technology, bringing Apple’s smartphones into the fast lane, and U.S. models now even pack in ultra-fast mmWave technology that can allow for speeds into the gigabit ranges. Combine that with Apple’s ultra-powerful A14 Bionic chip and even more advanced computational photography features across the entire lineup and each and every one of these new iPhones is a winner in its own right.

The downside to this of course is that such an embarrassment of options can make it hard to decide which iPhone the right one for you, but the good news is that the differences aren’t as significant as you might think at first blush, so if you simply focus on price and size and don’t worry too much about spec sheets it’s actually pretty easy to pick the best iPhone.

Best Overall: Apple iPhone 12

Same OLED display and processor as iPhone 12 Pro

Accessories not included

A direct successor to last year’s iPhone 11, Apple’s 6.1-inch iPhone 12 continues the tradition of striking the perfect balance between price and performance, packing in almost all of the important features of Apple’s flagship «Pro» models at a much more affordable price. Just like its predecessor, it remains the best iPhone for most people, and even moreso now that Apple has included faster 5G technology in the mix, including ultrafast mmWave technology in the U.S. models.

In fact, this time around the iPhone 12 is an even more compelling choice, since it also closes the gap with the «Pro» models even further, gaining the exact same Super Retina XDR OLED display as its considerably more expensive siblings. This means you get deep, rich blacks thanks to the 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, along with a P3 wide colour gamut, Apple’s True Tone colour matching technology, and full support for Dolby Vision and HDR10. Plus the flexibility of OLED means that the 6.1-inch display can truly get right up to the edges of the iPhone 12 in a way that was previously the exclusive domain of the iPhone Pro lineup. Apple’s new Ceramic Shield glass screen also promises four times better drop performance so you won’t have to worry about breaking that beautiful display.

Ultimately, all you’re really missing from the more expensive iPhone 12 Pro is the third telephoto lens and LiDAR scanner, but for most folks we really don’t think these are worth the extra cost, especially since the iPhone 12 packs in the same insanely powerful A14 chip for advanced computational photography, so the dual-camera system can take some pretty amazing shots with support for the same Portrait Mode, Night Mode, and Deep Fusion features, plus 4K video recording at 60fps. The iPhone 12 also continues to offer excellent battery life—up to 17 hours of video playback and 65 hours of audio playback—along with Apple’s new MagSafe technology that not only allows for faster 15W wireless charging, but also opens the door to a whole new ecosystem of accessories.

«The iPhone 12 is Apple’s best sub-$1,000 smartphone in years, delivering a premium, polished handset that is packed with power and style alike.» — Andrew Hayward, Product Tester

Best Camera: Apple iPhone 12 Pro

Excellent camera system

Powerful A14 Bionic chip

ProRAW photo capture

Accessories not included

With this year’s iPhone lineup, Apple has really put the «Pro» in the iPhone 12 Pro, with a series of features that are clearly geared even more strongly to power users, serious photographers, and actual professionals. It’s actually pretty amazing what the iPhone 12 Pro can do, so if you’re looking for the most advanced photographic features you can get, then Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro will easily be worth the premium price tag.

Although Apple has closed the gap by bringing its gorgeous Super Retina XDR OLED displays to the entire lineup this year, the iPhone 12 Pro still distinguishes itself by not only adding a third 2X telephoto camera, but also a LiDAR Scanner that helps to enhance the photographic experience even more by reducing autofocus time—it’s up to 6x faster in low light conditions—as well as allowing for Night Mode portrait shots and other similar depth mode photography under low light conditions.

The three-camera system features an f/1.6 seven-element lens as the main camera, while the ultra-wide, which has an f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view, is joined by a third f/2.0 telephoto camera. In total, this gives a full optical zoom range of 4x, plus a digital zoom of up to 10x, and while the camera system is still only 12 megapixels, Apple has repeatedly proven that it’s what you do with those megapixels that counts.

Specifically, Apple’s A14 Bionic chip not only takes last year’s computational photography features like Night Mode and Deep Fusion to a whole new level, but it also enables support for a new ProRAW photo format that combines the benefits of RAW photography with the extra layers of photographic intelligence, so photographers will be able to capture RAW photos without losing the benefits of features like Smart HDR and Deep Fusion. Even more significantly, however, the iPhone 12 Pro supports native recording of 4K/60fps Dolby Vision HDR video, making it the first camera in the world that’s capable of doing this, not just among smartphones, but even among pro movie cameras, and thanks to its ultrafast 5G technology you’ll be able to upload and share those 4K videos more smoothly than ever.

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Which iPhone Should I Get?

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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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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What’s the Best iPhone to Buy in 2021?

Currently, there are eight Apple phones on the market, and we’ve tested them all. Whether you need a superb camera, flagship power, or a simple first phone for your kids, here’s how to choose the best iPhone right now.

Our 8 Top Picks

Best All-Around iPhone

Apple iPhone 13

Longest Battery Life

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

Best Small iPhone

Apple iPhone 13 mini

Medium Size, Zoom Camera

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Best Balance of Power and Price

Apple iPhone 12 mini

Popular Features at a Popular Size

Apple iPhone 12

Affordable 4G Power

Apple iPhone 11

Best for Kids

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

You may have heard that «the iPhone» is the most popular smartphone in the US. But that’s not quite accurate, because there are a lot of different iPhone models being sold right now. At the time of this writing, Apple itself is offering eight different iPhone models. Survey the shelves at the three major US carriers, as well as Metro and Cricket, and that number rises much higher.

Apple’s eight models each have a specific appeal, whether it’s in terms of price, size, features, or battery life. As for models being sold by the carriers, we see arguments for the 13, 12, 11, SE, and 8 generations. The X, XR, and XS are no longer values compared with other phones available, and the 7 and 6s phones are slowing down because of age.

In PC Labs, we’ve tested every Apple phone since the first-generation iPhone was released in 2007. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to choose the best iPhone right now.

Get the Most Speed and Power You Can Afford

Every year brings faster and more powerful iPhones. If you tend to play a lot of games or even surf a lot of image-heavy web pages, a faster processor is better.

We expect a 15% to 20% jump in overall performance, including web browsing performance, for each new generation of Apple’s A-series chips. There’s not that big a difference between the A13 (in the iPhone 11 and SE) and the A14 (in the iPhone 12), but there’s a huge difference between either of those and the A9 (in the iPhone 6s).

To 5G or Not to 5G?

The iPhone 12 and 13 series are all 5G phones that support upcoming C-band networks. That’s a strong argument for not going lower than the iPhone 12 on either T-Mobile or Verizon. T-Mobile has already expanded its fast mid-band 5G network to much of the country, and Verizon will launch C-band covering 100 million people starting next March. Both systems will make a considerable difference in connection speed and performance.

If you’re on AT&T, I don’t see 5G making a big difference as quickly. This isn’t a knock on AT&T—its 4G network is excellent, and not worrying too much about 5G gives you more iPhone options. Note that 4G/LTE performance on the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 12 series is better than on the standard iPhone 11, the iPhone SE, or earlier iPhones, because of 4×4 MIMO technology.

To see whether 5G matters where you live, head over to our story on the Fastest Mobile Networks.

Camera Considerations

How serious are you about taking photos with your smartphone? That can help determine your choice of iPhone.

The iPhone 11 introduced Night mode, which isn’t available on the SE or on earlier phones. I think this is a very important feature. Everyone takes photos in low light, and Night mode makes a big difference. The 11 and 12 series also have wide-angle cameras, which help you fit more scenery into a shot. They’re great if you’re trying to take photos of groups or crowds of people. Pro and Plus phones have 2x-3x zoom cameras that help with crisp close-ups.

Our photo expert Jim Fisher goes into much more depth in his story on the iPhone 13’s camera.

How Big Are Your Hands?

Some people like big phones. Some like small phones. The iPhone lineup offers both.

If you’re upgrading from a very old iPhone, all of the new phones will seem large. The iPhone SE is the same size as the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 models and will be most familiar to folks with those devices. The iPhone 13 mini is the smallest current iPhone, but it has a bigger screen than the SE, 6, 7, and 8, because it gets rid of the bezel and home button. If you miss the tiny iPhone 4, you’re out of luck; there’s nothing that small on the market any longer.

The iPhone 13 mini is perfect if you’re a fan of smaller phones. It combines a relatively hand-friendly and pocket-friendly size with all of the latest features.

If you have poor eyesight or shaky hands, you might like the larger touch targets and bigger screens on the Max models. They’re also great if you watch a lot of video on your phone, but they can be heavy.

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