Best iPhone 2026 – which of Apple's current phones is for you? | T3

Best iPhone 2026 – which of Apple's current phones is for you? | T3 Open menu T3 Smarter living since 1996 UK EditionSelect your regionUKUnited StatesCanadaAustraliaDeutschland Subscribe × Search Sign in View Profile Sign out Tech Audio Headphones Speakers TV & Home Entertainment TVs Soundbars Streaming Devices Computing Laptops Monitors Peripherals VR / AR VPN Computing Discount Codes Gaming Consoles Accessories PlayStation Xbox Nintendo Mobile Phones Android Phones Folding Phones iPhones Tablets Streaming Amazon Prime Disney+ Apple TV Netflix Tech Brands Apple Samsung Sonos Sony LG Google Tech Events CES Apple Events Samsung Unpacked Mobile World Congress IFA Active Outdoors Hiking & Walking Camping Outerwear Running Outdoors Discount Codes Outdoor Tech Electric Scooters Electric Bikes Portable Power Station Drones Action Cameras Cycling Discount Codes Fitness Workouts Home Gym Equipment Nutrition Fitness Discount Codes Wearables Smartwatches Triathlon Watches Running Watches Running Headphones Fitness Trackers Active Brands Garmin DJI YETI Patagonia Oura GoPro Insta360 Strava Nike Hoka Adidas Home Living Appliances Kitchen Air Fryers Coffee Machines Vacuum Cleaners Blenders Kettles Home & Electrical Discount Codes Garden Barbeque Cordless Lawn Mowers Pizza Oven Smart Home Security Cameras Smart Speakers Smart Thermostats Smart Lighting Video Doorbells Wellness Sleep Mattresses Sleep Tech Mattress & Bedding Discount Codes Home Brands Shark Dyson Philips Hue Weber Smeg Amazon Alexa Luxury Travel Luggage Travel Adapters Style Grooming Fragrances Haircare Skincare Styling Discount Codes Gifts & Jewellery Discount Codes Watches Rolex Omega TAG Heuer Christopher Ward Cameras Toys Lego Auto Electric Vehicles Best Electric Cars Mercedes-Benz BMW Tesla Vehicle Tech EV Chargers More Magazine Subscription News Features Reviews Buying Guides Deals DIscount Codes About T3 Home Tech View Tech Audio View Audio Headphones Speakers TV & Home Entertainment TVs Soundbars Streaming Devices Computing View Computing Laptops Monitors Peripherals VR / AR VPN Computing Discount Codes Gaming View Gaming Consoles Accessories PlayStation Xbox Nintendo Mobile Phones Android Phones Folding Phones iPhones Tablets Streaming View Streaming Amazon Prime Disney+ Apple TV Netflix Tech Brands Apple Samsung Sonos Sony LG Google Tech Events View Tech Events CES Apple Events Samsung Unpacked Mobile World Congress IFA Active View Active Outdoors View Outdoors Hiking & Walking Camping Outerwear Running Outdoors Discount Codes Outdoor Tech View Outdoor Tech Electric Scooters Electric Bikes Portable Power Station Drones Action Cameras Cycling Discount Codes Fitness Workouts Home Gym Equipment Nutrition Fitness Discount Codes Wearables Smartwatches Triathlon Watches Running Watches Running Headphones Fitness Trackers Active Brands Garmin DJI YETI Patagonia Oura GoPro Insta360 Strava Nike Hoka Adidas Home Living View Home Living Appliances View Appliances Kitchen Air Fryers Coffee Machines Vacuum Cleaners Blenders Kettles Home & Electrical Discount Codes Garden View Garden Barbeque Cordless Lawn Mowers Pizza Oven Smart Home View Smart Home Security Cameras Smart Speakers Smart Thermostats Smart Lighting Video Doorbells Wellness View Wellness Sleep Mattresses Sleep Tech Mattress & Bedding Discount Codes Home Brands Shark Dyson Philips Hue Weber Smeg Amazon Alexa Luxury View Luxury Travel View Travel Luggage Travel Adapters Style View Style Grooming Fragrances Haircare Skincare Styling Discount Codes Gifts & Jewellery Discount Codes Watches View Watches Rolex Omega TAG Heuer Christopher Ward Cameras Toys Lego Auto View Auto Electric Vehicles View Electric Vehicles Best Electric Cars Mercedes-Benz BMW Tesla Vehicle Tech View Vehicle Tech EV Chargers More Magazine Subscription News Features Reviews Buying Guides Deals DIscount Codes About T3 T3 magazine subscriptionFrom£2.62/mthSubscribe now Don't miss these Phones Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review (early verdict): Finessing Android's finest phone Phones I have a new favourite charging dock for my iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, and it’s fast iPhones iPhone 18 Pro could be going 'deep red' – orange might have had its 15 minutes of fame Tvs Best TV 2026: experts select the year's top TV buys Smart Home Arlo Pro 6 review: top quality video and AI smarts, but it's going to cost you Tvs Best 55-inch TVs of 2026: Superb screens you can't ignore Earbuds Sony WF-1000XM6 review: still top of the earbuds table? Android Phones Best Samsung phones 2026: Top Samsung phones to buy now Phones Xiaomi 17 Ultra review: A camera lovers' dream Laptops Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro review: Design delights Tablets Best tablets 2026: The best iPads, Android & Windows tablets to buy Air Fryers Best air fryer 2026: mini ovens for full flavour, faster cooking and lower costs Smart Home Best security camera 2026: protect your home with top smart wireless cameras Earbuds Best earbuds 2026: Only the best in-ear buys of the year Android Phones iPhone users will be drooling over this killer Samsung Galaxy S26 feature TrendingDealsStreaming TV and moviesGet the T3 NewsletterMobile World Congress 2026 Jump to category: T3's Top Picks Best premium iPhone Best for most people Best budget iPhone Best smaller premium Best super-thin iPhone How to choose FAQs How we test Reviewer panel Back To Top Tech Phones iPhones Best iPhone 2026 – which of Apple's current phones is for you?

Discover the best iPhone for you, whatever your budget

By Max Freeman-Mills last updated 31 December 2025 Contributions from
Mike Lowe in Buying Guides

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Future) Jump to category: T3's Top Picks Best premium iPhone Best for most people Best budget iPhone Best smaller premium Best super-thin iPhone How to choose FAQs How we test Reviewer panel Share {alert('Link copied')}).catch(err => {console.error('Failed to copy: ', err)})" data-platform="copy_link" data-action="" class="py-2 text-sm text-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-100 transition-colors no-underline block cursor-pointer border-0 bg-transparent hover:[&_svg]:filter-none w-full text-left normal-case" aria-label="Copy link" role="menuitem" data-analytics-id="article-social" analytics-label="utility-bar-social-share-copy-link" analytics-name="utility-bar-secondary" data-mrf-recirculation="article-social"> Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Share this article Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter svg]:max-h-10 [&>svg]:w-auto [&>svg]:h-full my-4"> T3 Logo Get the T3 Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors a]:underline "> By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter

If you're looking for the best iPhone in 2026 and want no other brand in your pocket – none of the best Android phones to be seen here – then you've come to the right place. This is where all the current Apple iPhone models are compared, as rated and ranked by T3's expert team.

In this guide, we're largely focusing on the best iPhone models currently sold by Apple. You can still pick up older models on the second-hand and refurbished markets (which is ideal for those on a budget or headed back to school), so that's something else to bear in mind.

Beyond our iPhone coverage specifically, T3 also has a number of guides when it comes to the best phones. It may be that you're looking for the best compact phone, for example, or want the best cheap phone, and we can help either way.

T3's Top Picks Best premium iPhone 1. iPhone 17 Pro Max View at Amazon

The ultimate Apple handset is the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you're after a slice of everything that Apple has to offer, including latest Apple Intelligence and unbeatable cameras, then look no further: this is the top-tier option with the biggest display.

Read more below

Best iPhone for most 2. iPhone 17 View at Amazon

The best iPhone for most people is clearly the iPhone 17 right now. For the first time, it includes a ProMotion high refresh-rate screen, and its cameras are superb, making for the smallest gap to the Pro phones in years.

Read more below

Best budget iPhone 3. iPhone 16e View at Amazon

Apple ripped up its own rulebook with the iPhone 16e, bringing back the idea of a budget iPhone, and while that means some cut corners and missing features, it's still probably the best affordable iPhone without dipping into buying a used phone.

Read more below

Today's best Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 17 and Apple iPhone 16e dealsContract DealsSim FreeApple iPhone 17 Pro Max36 monthsUnlimited minsUnlimitedtexts5GBdata£50 upfront£57.75/mthViewat Vodafone LtdSee all pricesgiftApple iPhone 1724 monthsUnlimited minsUnlimitedtexts100GBdata£9 upfront£36.99/mthViewat Mobiles.co.ukSee all pricesApple iPhone 16e36 monthsUnlimited minsUnlimitedtexts1GBdata£12 upfront£19/mthViewat SkySee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesWritten byWritten byMax Freeman-MillsStaff Writer, TechMax has been a dedicated iPhone user for a decade, which is just longer than he's been in tech journalism – giving him a wealth of experience to call on when it comes to judging which iPhones are best for which people.

Recent updates

Update 31 December: Refreshed for 2026. Update 14 October: Now that we've lived with them, I've completely refreshed this list to include the iPhone 17 family in full, and to add more context on things you should know while shopping for an iPhone.

The best iPhones we recommend in 2026Best premium iPhone

(Image credit: Apple)1. iPhone 17 Pro Max The ultimate big-screen iPhoneOur expert review:

SpecificationsWeight: 231gDimensions: 163.4 x 78 x 8.75mmScreen size: 6.9 inchesResolution: 1320 x 2868 pixels (460 ppi)CPU: Apple A19 ProRAM: 12GBStorage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TBBattery: 4823mAhRear camera: 48MP + 48MP wide + 48MP 4x zoomFront camera: 18MPToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(256GB)View at very.co.uk(256GB)View at Mobiles.co.uk(256GB)View at Carphone Warehouse(256GB)Reasons to buy+Zoom camera is best of best+Titanium finish is luxe+USB-C chargingReasons to avoid-Most expensive option-Software costs battery life-Is the Action button needed?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship to beat right now, and it's the most powerful iPhone Apple has ever released. It's also the subject of a pretty major and very obvious aluminium-based redesign, with a huge new island housing its three rear cameras.

You still get a small slab of back glass to play with, and that contrasts nicely in the vibrant new orange colourway, but the real focus here is on the hardware. The three cameras are all 48MP sensors for the first time, making for arguably the best photography you can get from any phone.

It also has a huge battery and can easily last two days if you're careful, while the Apple Intelligence features keep piling up for more and more convenient options while you're using it. If you want the best phone Apple makes, and you're also a fan of bigger displays on your handsets, this is a no-brainer.

Best for most people

(Image credit: Apple)2. iPhone 17 The best iPhone for most peopleOur expert review: SpecificationsWeight: 177gDimensions: 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95mmScreen size: 6.3 inchesResolution: 1206 x 2622 pixelsCPU: Apple A19RAM: 8GBStorage: 256GB / 512GBBattery: 3692mAhRear camera: 48MP main + 48MP ultrawideFront camera: 18MPToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(256GB)View at Mobiles.co.uk(256GB)View at Carphone Warehouse(256GB)View at Joybuy(256GB)Reasons to buy+Now has a 120Hz always-on display+Great set of cameras+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-No telephoto lens-No ceramic shield on rear-No RAW photo or video

Pretty often, the basic iPhone launches with much less fanfare than its Pro siblings – but this year Apple might have secretly made the iPhone 17 its best deal by far. There are normally big gaps between the Pro and the standard iPhone, but this time around, that gap closed a lot.

The iPhone 17 has a super-powerful chip, like always, but now for the first time, it has ProMotion on its display, unlocking smoother refresh rates for a hugely upgraded feeling while you're using it.

Its cameras are also way better than the iPhone 16's, including the brilliant new Centre Stage selfie camera, again matching the Pro phones, and it has the Camera Control button too. There's almost nothing missing, really, and this looks like a brilliant iPhone to upgrade to if you're in need.

Best budget iPhone

(Image credit: Future)3. iPhone 16e The best budget iPhoneOur expert review: SpecificationsWeight: 167 gDimensions: 146.7 mm x 71.5 mm x 7.8 mmScreen size: 6.1 inchesResolution: 1170 x 2532 pixels (460 ppi)CPU: Apple A18RAM: 8GBStorage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GBBattery: 4005Rear camera: 48MPFront camera: 12MPToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(Black)View at very.co.uk(256GB)View at Mobiles.co.uk(128GB)View at Carphone Warehouse(White)Reasons to buy+Excellent camera+Powerful processor+Long battery lifeReasons to avoid-No MagSafe charging-No ultrawide camera-Basic screen spec

After years with just the 2022 iPhone SE to offer, Apple finally gave us a new affordable iPhone, and the iPhone 16e is quite a big departure from its previous work. It's basically an iPhone cobbled together from other more expensive options, but that means it's quite a good affordable pick moving forward.

You get a great, recent chip that can work really efficiently, and a design that looks really quite slick. The main compromises are on the slightly less fancy display compared to the iPhone 17 range, and a single-camera system that lacks some flexibility.

If you don't think you'll miss the ultrawide lens, though, then we don't think you'll exactly feel shortchanged, and the iPhone 16e gets you a huge amount of the way towards the flagship iPhone experience at a much lower price, making it a bit of a winner.

Best smaller premium

(Image credit: Apple)4. iPhone 17 ProTop features in a smaller packageSpecificationsWeight: 204gDimensions: 150 x 71.9 x 8.75mmScreen size: 6.3 inchesResolution: 1206 x 2622 pixels CPU: Apple A19 ProRAM: 12GBStorage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TBBattery: 3998 mAhRear camera: 48MP main + 48MP tele + 48MP ultrawideFront camera: 18MPToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(256GB)View at very.co.uk(256GB)View at Mobiles.co.uk(256GB)View at Carphone Warehouse(256GB)

It's pretty clear from sales data and the way accessory-makers stock their wares that the best-selling iPhone is the Pro Max supersized version, but for those who don't want such a big display, there's a lot to be said for the smaller Pro model, in this case the 17 Pro.

It has all the same power, but trades down to a slightly smaller display and battery to be more pocketable. That means you still get all the camera upgrades and that new design, complete with the biggest camera bump Apple's ever made. It's a total powerhouse of a phone, in fact, with superb battery life and as much power as a laptop could have dreamed of a decade ago.

It's premium in price as a result, but should be more durable and repairable than ever thanks to an upgraded Ceramic Shield 2 coating on the screen – this is a powerhouse in a smaller body.

Best super-thin iPhone

(Image credit: Future / Britta O'Boyle)5. iPhone Air The only super-thin iPhoneOur expert review: SpecificationsWeight: 165gDimensions: 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6mmScreen size: 6.5 inchesResolution: 1260 x 2736 pixels (460 ppi)CPU: Apple A19 ProRAM: 12GBStorage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TBBattery: 3149 mAhRear camera: 48MPFront camera: 18MPToday's Best DealsView at Amazon(256GB)View at Mobiles.co.uk(256GB)View at Carphone Warehouse(256GB)View at very.co.uk(1TB)Reasons to buy+Slim, lightweight design+Lovely, bright display+Great camera despite one lens+Better battery life than expectedReasons to avoid-You pay a premium for the design-A case will ruin its appeal-No zoom or ultra wide camera lenses

The iPhone Air is a little bit of a hard sell if you're into specs – it can't really claim to be the best iPhone from a power perspective, or indeed from a camera point of view, but that's not why you buy it. You buy it because it's the thinnest iPhone ever, and one of the most gorgeous phones on the whole market.

Apple set itself the challenge to make as thin a phone as it could, and delivered in stunning fashion. Holding the iPhone Air (which has no numeral to suggest annual releases) is an experience in and of itself, and you can tell that it's made properly.

You still get a lovely 6.5-inch screen to enjoy, and the A19 Pro on board means it's no slouch, but it gets hot, doesn't have stereo speakers, can't match most iPhone 17s for battery life and is pricy – making it a niche proposition that we still couldn't ignore.

How to choose the best iPhone for you

If you're in the middle of deliberating about what iPhone you think will work best for you, the following sections should help you narrow things down. They're some helpful prompts and questions to ask yourself, as well as some straightforward buying advice.

Pick a budget

Look, I'll accept that this applies to almost any big tech purchasing decision, but knowing your budget is key before picking up a new iPhone. Whether you calculate this in terms of monthly costs, if you're going for a phone contract, or an overall price if you're buying it outright is up to you.

So, since there's a pretty huge difference between the price of a top-end Pro Max model and a lower-scale "e" version of an iPhone, work out your numbers and start from there to ensure you don't get carried away shooting for a phone you can't actually afford.

How much phone photography do you do?

Now that even the base iPhone 17 has a tremendous, ProMotion display, the gap between iPhone Pro models and the rest has shrunk even further, and the cameras on offer are now the biggest difference.

Anyone choosing between these two ranks of phone needs to think about (and perhaps actually research) how many photos they take in a given week on their phone. If it's only a handful, then you're almost certainly fine with the base iPhone or even the "e" or "Air" models, which have just a single camera.

Those who take way more shots, though, and who shoot a lot of video as well, might find that they get a lot of value from the Pro phones, which have triple camera setups of superb quality, and produce incredibly impressive photos and clips.

FAQsDo iPhones all use the same software

For the purposes of this guide, since we're not aiming to help you find a used phone or a bit of hidden value from years ago, we're largely sticking to iPhones released in the last year or two, which simplifies things.

All iPhones run on Apple's in-house operating system, iOS, but the versions that they support out of the box do vary. Generally, iPhones get upgrades for a number of years after they release, to ensure that you can run the latest software, but this will eventually stop.

To know which version of iOS an iPhone comes loaded with, check the store listing before you buy it – and the same goes for which versions it can be updated to after you open it.

What chargers do iPhones use?

A few years ago, this would be a more complicated question than it is today. Apple, under duress by the EU, has now fully adopted the USB-C standard as its charging cable for iPhones, and the Lightning cable is no longer used.

Again, if you buy an older used iPhone you might find that it needs a Lightning cable to charge, but we're focused on newer models and can therefore confirm that every phone featured on this list uses USB-C.

They nearly all have MagSafe wireless charging, too – except for the iPhone 16e, which sadly doesn't include this excellent and secure standard. It still has wireless charging, but no magnetic seal.

How we test

There's a lot to consider when reviewing one of today's best phones, which includes iPhones! Much of it is comparing models in the range, judging these for suitability for different users, and comparing old models with new ones as value propositions.

We judge iPhones from a build quality and fit and finish point of view, of course, given the different materials used. Then we judge hardware and what difference that makes in day-to-day use.

We assess specific feature highlights per handset, plus the camera system's offering. We always use iPhones as if they're our own handsets, to gain a good judgement of these systems, battery life and software.

Only then do we award a score to a phone, with 5 stars being the highest rank any product can get. And a lot of iPhones hit this lofty height, given just how renowned and capable they are!

Find out more about our wider testing standards by checking out our dedicated How We Test page here.

Reviewer panelMat GallagherT3.com Editor-in-ChiefMat's the head honcho here at T3, but that hasn't stopped him from also testing a huge range of Apple tech as our resident guru for the brand. He's had his hands on every iPhone on this list, and has reviewed many of them, with his feedback being crucial to forming this list.

Britta O'BoyleFreelance reviewerBritta is a freelance tech journalist with years of experience, and has been testing Apple products for many of those years. She's chipped in with expertise many times for T3, and always has things to say about the year's big iPhone releases.

TOPICS iphone Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox

Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Max Freeman-MillsSocial Links NavigationStaff Writer, TechMax is T3's Staff Writer for the Tech section – with years of experience reporting on tech and entertainment. He's also a gaming expert, both with the games themselves and in testing accessories and consoles, having previously flexed that expertise at Pocket-lint as a features editor.

With contributions fromMike LoweTech Editor Back To Top Read more iPhones iPhone 17 review: all the phone you need, and more iPhones Need one of the best iPhone 17 cases? Our top 3 expert recommendations include something for everyone  
  Laptops Best MacBook 2026: Apple's best laptops, expert reviewed and ranked Android Phones Best Samsung phones 2026: Top Samsung phones to buy now  
  Latest in iPhones iPhones Forget your PS5 Pro or Switch 2 – this new Witcher game has me hooked to my iPhone iPhones Your iPhone could soon demand age verification – and lock you out of important apps if you don't comply  
  iPhones iPhone 18 Pro could be going 'deep red' – orange might have had its 15 minutes of fame iPhones Samsung's Privacy Display could be one of the most sought-after phone features of 2026 – but will iPhone get it?  
  Latest in Buying Guides Auto 2025 Christmas car gifts that petrolheads will actually want Camping I’m a camping connoisseur and these are the 3 best tents I’ve seen in 2025  
  Kitchen 6 gadgets for Veganuary beginners: the essentials you need to succeed this Veganuary iPhones Best iPhone 2026 – which of Apple's current phones is for you?  
  Useful links Features iPhone 16 Pro Samsung Galaxy devices Movies and streaming shows Best VPN services Top Guides Best laptops Best TVs Best smartphones Best mattresses Best Deals Best phone deals Best mattress deals Best TV deals Discount codes T3 Logo Accessibility Statement Contact Future's experts About Us Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Careers Add as a preferred source on Google

T3 is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Close

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...

Login Sign Up