Out of all of the devices that we use daily, our smartphone probably matters the most. This is why you should have one that is fast, reliable, and future-proof for the next several years. The iPhone is one of the best options, but with Apple selling several different models right now, which one is the best? For most people, the iPhone 13 is a great fit because it has all of the best new features from Apple, works flawlessly with iOS 15, and the price is right.
Best overall: iPhone 13 (2021)
Apple's latest flagship device, the iPhone 13, comes in six amazing colors: Midnight, Starlight, blue, PRODUCT(RED), pink, and the mid-cycle refresh color: green. It also features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, which we praised in our review. You have a Ceramic Shield on the front screen, which offers four times the drop performance of older iPhones, and a glass back and aluminum design on the rest of the body. Plus, it's designed to work perfectly with the latest operating system.
Similar to the previous iPhone 12 lineup, the iPhone 13 (as well as the mini, Pro, and Pro Max) comes with super-fast 5G connectivity, but this time with more band support. This means even faster download speeds and high-quality streaming, as long as your carrier has the coverage for it. The iPhone 13 also has the new A15 Bionic chip, which has a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. You also get a 4-core GPU that gives you 30% faster graphics, and overall, the iPhone 13 is 50% faster than competing devices. It also has a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning, and it can do 15.8 trillion operations per second. Pretty fast, right?
The iPhone 13 is also able to make use of the Apple MagSafe charger and the entire MagSafe ecosystem of accessories that debuted with the iPhone 12 last year. This means you can get MagSafe wireless chargers, MagSafe wallets, and more. However, you'll definitely want to make sure that you have one of the best iPhone 13 cases that is MagSafe-compatible to make the most out of MagSafe.
The key differences between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro lineups largely focus on the camera system and materials used. The iPhone 13 only has a dual 12MP camera system (Ultra Wide and Wide), while the iPhone 13 Pro offers a triple camera system (Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto). The iPhone 13 Pro includes surgical-grade stainless steel versus the aerospace-grade aluminum found on the less expensive model. The iPhone 13 is also without a LiDAR Scanner, which probably means very little to the average iPhone buyer, but it can open up many new AR and accessibility features.
However, the iPhone 13 does gain some camera upgrades over the previous iPhone 12. For one, the Sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) that was exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro Max has made its way down to all of the iPhone 13 models, which greatly improves overall image quality, and larger sensors in the lenses allow you to take better photographs in low-light situations. You'll also be gaining access to Photographic Styles and Cinematic video mode. The iPhone 13 also starts at 128GB and goes all the way up to 512GB as well, so there's plenty of space for your photos and video.
The iPhone 13 offers plenty of great and powerful features for most people. Plus, it comes in six gorgeous colors.
Best for professionals: iPhone 13 Pro (2021)
Like the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro (and iPhone 13 Pro Max) feature the A15 Bionic chip, which is Apple's fastest iPhone chip to date, and it has a 5-core GPU. It starts out at 128GB, and for the first time, it maxes out at 1TB of storage. In our review, we could hardly contain our excitement about that. There are also 256GB and 512GB options in the middle. However, things start to differ from the standard iPhone 13 in a few different ways.
First, while the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, the Pro models also have ProMotion displays with a maximum adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz. This means smoother scrolling, graphics, and response time. It's also dynamic, so it automatically adjusts for the situation at hand.
Another big difference between the standard iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro lies with the camera system. With the iPhone 13 Pro, you get a triple-lens camera system with Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto, along with a LiDAR scanner. And though the Pro gets the same Sensor-shift OIS, larger sensors for better low-light photos, Photographic Styles, and Cinematic mode, there are some extras that you won't find on the regular iPhone 13. For one, you can shoot Macro mode photos only on the iPhone 13 Pro, which uses the ultra-wide lens for autofocusing. There is also a new ProRes video recording mode, which is a high-quality, lossy video compression format that can support up to 4K resolution in 30fps (except 128GB models are limited to 1080p at 30fps).
The iPhone 13 Pro lineup is also the only iPhone available in Sierra Blue (a beautiful icy metallic blue) and the mid-cycle refresh color, Alpine Green. Besides those colors, the Pro is available in silver, graphite, and gold. Like the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro also works with the best MagSafe accessories, but you'll want to make sure you have a great iPhone 13 Pro case with MagSafe to make sure the magnets can work properly.
In the context of choosing an iPhone, the term "professional" can mean different things. It doesn't necessarily mean doctor, lawyer, business executive, or anything like that. Frankly, most of those are better suited to the iPhone 13 than the 13 Pro. When we say professional here, we're referring to a creator, YouTuber, tech reviewer, photographer, filmmaker, or anyone who needs a higher-end smartphone for their work. Professionals in this context need their iPhones to do much more than place phone calls, e-mail, surf the web, and text.
The iPhone 13 Pro has an advanced camera system, 1TB storage option, ProMotion 120Hz display, and comes in Sierra Blue and Alpine Green.
Best small iPhone: iPhone 13 mini (2021)
The iPhone 13 mini is one of the best small iPhones and features a relatively tiny 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display. That also means you get a higher PPI (pixels per inch) count. While most people can't tell the difference, a higher pixel density means colors will look brighter and stronger overall.
Beyond the screen size and some minimal differences in weight, this smartphone is the same as the iPhone 13. Inside, you'll find an A15 Bionic chip, and the handset includes support for MagSafe accessories and wireless chargers. Again, you'll want to make sure you have a good iPhone 13 mini case with MagSafe for the best results with all of the MagSafe accessories out there. It is available in the same colors as its bigger sibling.
The iPhone 13 mini feels incredibly light and comfortable, fun even, in the hand. It feels almost like a toy! We've become accustomed to larger phones, so this one feels like a real treat. The smaller screen size is easy to get used to, and you'll love being able to use an iPhone one-handed with ease.
Of course, due to the smaller size, the battery life on the iPhone 13 mini is a bit lacking compared to the other models (smaller battery), but it does last a little longer than last year's iPhone 12 mini. A good solution for this is to pick up the MagSafe Battery Pack to make your 13 mini battery last through the day.
Apple once again shows some love for those who like smaller phones and packs in the same specs to boot.
Best alternative: iPhone 12 (2020)
If you read our review of 2020's flagship, the iPhone 12, you'll know it is still a terrific choice for many buyers. Now it's available at a lower price. The iPhone 12 has a 12MP dual-camera system with wide and ultra-wide lenses, an A14 Bionic chip, and a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display.
It uses Apple's advanced Face ID biometric scanning (which also means the True Depth FaceTime camera), supports 5G, 4K, and Dolby Vision video recording support, Portrait mode for the front and back-facing cameras, Night mode, is compatible with MagSafe accessories, and a whole lot more. It may not have the latest silicon from Apple, but it's still a fantastic device and will last at least several more years. This is a great pick for someone who wants a good, feature-rich smartphone but doesn't want to spend top dollar.
The iPhone 12 might be last year's phone, but it is still a great choice, especially with its awesome set of six colors.
Best on a budget: iPhone SE (3rd Gen) (2022)
If your pocketbook is tight, the lowest-priced iPhone is the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2022). As pointed out in our review, it's not just a cheap phone, it's just the right phone for certain demographics. It sports Apple's A15 Bionic chip, a 12MP wide-angle camera with 5x digital zoom, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, 4K video recording, 5G connectivity, and an improved battery over the previous model. It's not Apple's greatest iPhone ever, but it is Apple's best low-cost iPhone, and you can get it for a song. This is the only phone with a Home button in Apple's current lineup too, so if you prefer fingerprint scanning to facial scanning, this is the iPhone for you.
This is also a great pick for seniors. It's most certainly the model I would recommend to my mom. She's used to using a Home button and isn't particularly interested in learning new tech. She doesn't take a ton of photos, nor does she care about having "the latest" tech with all the bells and whistles. She just wants a phone to keep in her purse in case of emergencies, for texting with her grandkids, or to play the occasional game of Solitaire.
Though we've picked a different iPhone model as "best for kids," the iPhone SE is also one to consider for your younger kid's or tween's starter smartphone. The smaller form factor is great for smaller hands. And the lower price point makes it an attractive option for kids who tend to drop or lose things more often than their parents would like.
If you're new to the smartphone game or upgrading from an older model, this is newer tech at an incredibly low price.
Best for big screen lovers: iPhone 13 Pro Max (2021)
The best, most powerful iPhone you can buy in 2021 is the 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is detailed in our sister site's review. Nearly the same as the iPhone 12 Pro, this massive phone is Apple's largest to date. For anyone looking for the best of the best, this is the phone for you.
While the iPhone 12 Pro Max differed from the regular iPhone 12 by having the absolute best camera, this does not apply to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Once again, Apple has made the camera system in both Pro models the same, so you no longer need to get the larger Pro to have the best iPhone camera. However, the iPhone 13 Pro does have a larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion and the longest battery life of the entire iPhone 13 lineup.
But of course, if you want the absolute best iPhone, it will cost you a pretty penny. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a starting price north of $1000, and the 1TB version will cost $1600. You'll definitely want to protect your investment with a fantastic iPhone 13 Pro Max case and screen protector.
If money is no issue and you want the largest screen and best battery life, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has it all.
Best for kids: iPhone 11 (2019)
Let's face it; some older kids and teens are going to be secretly disappointed (or maybe openly disappointed) if you buy them an iPhone SE. Reading our review, you'll agree that the iPhone 11 remains a great phone at a great price. Many of their friends will have this very iPhone model. It has that modern smartphone form factor, comes in six bright colors, supports Face ID, has Animoji and Memoji, Portrait and Night mode, and is a great first iPhone for your kids.
The iPhone 11 remains hugely popular and comes with some of the best features you can get. Your kids will love it.
The best iPhone is one that fits your needs
For the vast majority, we recommend the iPhone 13 as the best iPhone for most people. It has the latest A15 Bionic chip, so it's super-fast, and it has even more support for 5G connectivity, allowing you to stream and download at even faster speeds than before. While it still has a dual-lens camera system with just wide and ultra-wide, you still get the new Photographic Styles and Cinematic video mode features, as well as Sensor-shift OIS and larger sensors that let you take better low-light photos. Plus, you have a beautiful 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, MagSafe, improved battery life over the iPhone 12, and five new colors to choose from. If you want a smaller form factor, there is also the iPhone 13 mini.
However, if you want the most advanced camera system in an iPhone, and arguably in any phone, you're going to want the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, since these have the Telephoto lens and LiDAR, as well as ProRes video recording and macro photography. The iPhone 13 Pro models also max out at 1TB of storage, which you'll need if you plan to take a lot of ProRes video since one minute can take up 6GB of space. Apple also introduced the new Sierra Blue and Alpine Green colors for the Pro models only, and it has the incredibly smooth ProMotion display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer, social media manager, and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for AppAdvice and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is a wife and mom (and dog mom) who is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to travel the world and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.
