Eight distinct iPhone models that date back to 2020 are now available from Apple. When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007, customers had a choice between 4GB and 8GB of storage. Although there isn’t a genuine “best” iPhone, some models of iPhone will suit your needs, preferences, and budget better than others. Choosing the best one can be challenging with the launch of the iPhone 14 series and the elimination of the iPhone 11, 13
Pro, and 13 Pro Max.
You truly have a ton of options when it comes to picking your ideal phone, whether it be the diminutive iPhone 13 Mini with its 5.4-inch screen or the 2020 iPhone 12. It can be confusing to navigate Apple’s iPhone lineup, whether you’re looking at colors (the iPhone 13 comes in six different shades) or features like the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro, which extends and contracts to display system notifications.
14th iPhone
I stated in my evaluation of the iPhone 14 that it was effectively an iPhone 13 with the processor and primary camera of an iPhone 13 Pro. The fact that the iPhone 14 isn’t significantly different from earlier versions will undoubtedly disappoint some people. Nonetheless, that adds to its appeal. One of the secrets to Apple’s success with the iPhone has been familiarity. Furthermore, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as the adage goes.
The best features of the iPhone 14 may never be seen or used, but that isn’t always a negative thing. Included in this is Collision Detection, which can alert emergency personnel when a car accident occurs. Beginning in November, you’ll have access to Emergency SOS by Satellite, which enables you to send messages to emergency dispatchers from locations without cell service using a satellite.
The inside of the iPhone 14 has been significantly overhauled, despite having a flat, nearly identical exterior as the iPhone 12 and 13 that includes a ceramic barrier coating and a water-resistant body. Since it is no longer connected to internals, the back glass of the 14 is simpler and more reasonably priced to repair.
2014 iPhone Pro
Back view of the $999 The 14 Pro iPhone resembles the 13 Pro from the previous year. But don’t be fooled by that similarity. The screen of the 14 Pro is where something unique and great is happening. The pill-shaped screen cutout that replaces the display notch that characterized earlier Face ID iPhone models can display system notifications and background activities like when you receive a call or are listening to music. Apple refers to this feature as the Dynamic Island. Although it may not be the finest name, this is unquestionably one of the nicest features.
The 6.1-inch adaptive-refresh-rate screen on the iPhone 14 Pro varies between 1 and 120Hz depending on what is displayed. Also, it receives iOS 16 and new security features including Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite. It also has updated cameras, a speedier processor, an always-on display, and more. The new A16 Bionic chip from Apple, which feels brisk when used, is what’s powering all these upgrades.
A new, larger 48-megapixel sensor is added to the primary camera. Apple separates the pixels into groups of four and combines them into one larger pixel, even though having more megapixels doesn’t always equate to better images. A 12-megapixel photo that is brighter, has less image noise, and has higher detail as a result.
Iphone 13
The iPhone 13 is still a great phone at $729. In fact, if you want to save money and are tempted by the iPhone 14 instead of the 13, choose the 13. They share a largely same body, screen, and A15 Bionic processor. The iPhone 14’s processor does, in fact, include one additional GPU core.
The square-sided design of the iPhone 13, like that of the iPhone 12 before it, defines it. It has cameras on par with the top-tier iPhone 12 Pro Max from 2020, supports 5G, and MagSafe charging.
The iPhone 13’s larger battery, though, which in our tests lasted almost 3 hours longer than the new iPhone 14 and 4.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 on a single charge, is its finest feature.
Also, the 13 includes iOS 16 and Cinematic mode, which together make for a great phone. Cinematic mode is essentially a video version of Portrait mode. CNET’s Editors’ Choice Award for 2021 went to the iPhone 13. Apple reduces the price to $699 if you activate it on a certain carrier at the time of purchase. Read our review of the Apple iPhone 13.
iPhone Plus 14
Depending on your point of view, the $929 iPhone 14 Plus is either a large iPhone 14 or a smaller iPhone 14 Pro Max. For those who enjoy huge screens, there has only ever been one choice since the iPhone XS Max was introduced in 2018: Spend a lot of money on a Max model with features you might not actually need (like a telephoto camera or a high refresh rate display). The only option to buy an iPhone in the size they wanted was to spend at least $1,100 on an iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, according to several CNET readers, colleagues, and coworkers I know. But that is different now.
The 14 Plus offers all the capabilities of the iPhone 14 and, like the 14 Pro Max, has a 6.7-inch display that gives you a bigger screen on which to view videos, play games, and take pictures. The iPhone 14 Plus can either display what the iPhone 14 does but considerably larger, or it can fit more on the screen. Although a magnified vision may seem like a simple feature, as my eyes grow older, I absolutely appreciate it.
Max iPhone 14 Pro
The $1,099 The iPhone 14 Pro Max is only the iPhone 14 Pro in a larger size. The A16 Bionic processor, cameras, and features are all the same. Yet it does differ significantly from the 14 Pro in two ways: It sports a larger battery and 6.7-inch high-refresh rate screen. The iPhone 14 Pro Max really had the best battery life of any phone on our list in our tests.
SE iPhone
You might assume that the iPhone SE (2022)’s $429 price tag is its only draw. It is undoubtedly a significant factor. The iPhone SE is the only iPhone on our list that still features Touch ID because it shares the same exterior design as the iPhone 8. The SE shares the same A15 CPU seen in the iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 14, and 14 Plus, which allows Apple to add its computational photography wizardry to the 2017 camera hardware.
Conclusion
Each iPhone model is assessed based on its general quality, features, design, functionality, cameras, battery life, and price. We evaluate phones in the real world by making calls, playing video games, taking pictures, and browsing social media sites on them as our primary device. We record our findings in an initial evaluation, which we subsequently update with new testing and comparisons to new smartphones from other manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
We take images and movies of many subjects in a range of settings and lighting conditions, with photography frequently serving as a key focus. Any new camera features, like the Action mode that debuted with the iPhone 14 range, are tested by us.
