Power meets beauty: the best iPhones of 2024

Apple's iPhone 15 is the latest gorgeous iteration of the iPhone and a culmination of decades of ground-breaking smart technology evolution. On all fronts, the iPhone 15 pushes the boat out in terms of performance, which is in no small part thanks to the revolutionary A17 Bionic chipset. This chipset makes browsing, multitasking, and more demanding tasks such as gaming a breeze – every task, every swipe, and every click bursts with a snappy, instantaneous feel.

Apple has maintained its diagonal camera positioning for a unique level of depth unseen in most competing smartphone cameras – pictures rarely lack warmth and dynamism. With bags of AI-assisted photography, even pictures taken in the heat of the moment appear clean and accurate. Plus, you have a huge 48 megapixels to play with on the main camera.

As for overall performance improvements from the previous generation, the iPhone 15's 48MP camera is a vast upgrade from the iPhone 14, along with its considerably more powerful A16 Bionic chip for all-round smooth performance. Those looking for improved battery performance, however, may be somewhat disappointed. The iPhone 15's battery life offers almost no improvements over the 14, so switching to the 15 Pro might be a solid option.

The iPhone 15's user experience itself is a breath of fresh air. The silky 120Hz refresh rate, paired with some tingle-inducing haptics, gives typing and day-to-day use a tactile and satisfying feel – which is what getting a modern phone is all about.

For the practicality and speed of the Apple iPhone without the burden of a hefty price tag, Apple's iPhone SE is perfect for those on a bit of a budget, without any major performance sacrifices. The only downside (but, again, making it more affordable) is the 64GB of storage.

Equipped with the absurdly powerful A15 Bionic chip despite its smaller 4.7-inch size, the iPhone SE is decisively one of the most powerful budget smartphones of the year. With comparable performance to the iPhone 13 – browsing and navigation have that all-familiar satisfying snap, with little-to-no lag while gaming, scrolling through socials and watching endless YouTube videos.

Of course, as a budget phone there are some minor setbacks to the SE's design – for one, the single 12 MP camera is a bit lack-lustre, with some fairly flat-looking photography. Multi-cameras have certainly made a massive difference to photo quality, and it shows with the SE.

That being said, with comparable performance to the iPhone 13 and some truly stellar features for the price the iPhone SE is a beautiful budget phone under £500.

For some truly excellent photography and next-level responsiveness, the iPhone 15 Pro shatters all expectations of what is capable on an iPhone, delivering some of the best smartphone performance ever.

Visually beautiful, thanks to its seamless 6.7-inch OLED screen supported by HDR and True Tone for fantastic colour reproduction that's one of the best across the smartphone market right now. The iPhone 15 Pro's sharp edges and titanium design create a satisfying hand-feel that is exclusive to Apple, truly no other smartphone company does quality better.

Apple's A17 Pro chip truly shines in the iPhone 15 Pro. Performance is sharp and clean, practically lag-free when combined with its 120Hz OLED display. Photography on the iPhone 15 Pro is also sublime, leading the way for other smartphones on the market with a 48MP triple camera. Whilst that doesn't sound like much compared to the best Samsung phones, with the latest iterations having over 200MP, it's how Apple utilises these cameras which make them comparable in performance.

Apple's lenses are superior to those of standard smartphones, so the lower pixel count goes much, much further. Then there's Apple's fantastic post-processing, which makes ordinary photos truly shine.

Once again, Apple's Achille's heel is apparent on the iPhone 15 Pro: the battery life. It's not quite enough to impress us, even with the most expensive iPhone generation ever made. At 20 hours of video playback, there's no improvement between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 Pro, which is certainly a drawback.

However, with its ergonomic hand-feel to the ever-intuitive AppleOS, alongside plenty of storage, an ultra-quick processor and a stellar camera: there's just no topping this Apple iPhone experience.

For those not looking to spend too much money on a shiny new iPhone but without the pressure of spending over £1,000 the iPhone 14 is a great value option.

Still a contender for one of the best smartphones of the year despite its 2022 release date, the iPhone 14 performs fantastically, thanks to its A15 chipset, which delivers ultra-smooth navigation and instant app access.

As for its camera performance, needless to say the iPhone 14 does not disappoint. A 12MP dual camera setup is fantastic, capturing photos with precision, warmth and brilliant depth. This mid-range iPhone might be a fraction of the price of Apple's flagship line, but it retains an array of features to entice even the most adept of photographers.

The 6.1-inch screen size strikes the perfect balance between sizes, feeling comfortable and ergonomic in hand. A 6.7-inch screen for most is particularly large and otherwise unnecessary, unless your smartphone is your primary screen, so most users will feel comfortable using this well-sized device.

What's undoubtedly worth noting is the screen's standard 60Hz refresh rate, which is standard with mid-range phones but is noticeable when coming from smoother screen setups. While for most casual users, this is a minor disadvantage, it certainly sets back those who enjoy competitive mobile gaming.

The iPhone 14 is a great cheap smartphone worth grabbing for phenomenal performance, gorgeous visuals, and a great camera. It will not disappoint.

Easily one of the most powerful iPhones in recent memory, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max steals the show in performance, battery life, and camera quality.

Bursting with top-tier hardware, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max is unrivalled thanks to its brilliant A17 Pro chip. This neural engine is a cut above even the best smartphones on the market, giving gaming enthusiasts and intrepid video editing hobbyists a new, powerful tool in their arsenal.

When spending a considerable amount of money on a smartphone, you're likely looking for unrivalled camera performance, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max certainly doesn't disappoint. Featuring a 48MP triple camera, the 15 Pro Max's next-generation focus and depth control captures breathtaking photos that aren't possible with any other smartphone on the market. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also boasts a powerful five-times zoom, slightly edging out the iPhone 15 Pro, and it's a breath of fresh air for scenic photography.

The Pro Max is certainly brilliant, but in terms of major upgrades over the iPhone 15 Pro, it doesn't offer a whole lot. Yes, the screen's bigger, but the chipset and camera are largely the same. If you're looking for the flash of a large screen with some minor refinement of features, the Pro Max might just be the phone for you; just don't expect a drastic difference between the two.

With superior battery life, USB 3 charging for fantastic charging speeds and 20x faster data transfer, not to mention the enormous 6.7-inch OLED screen which is one of the best of the year, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a smartphone experience like no other.

The Apple iPhone 13 strikes a fantastic balance between performance, power, and value. It is a terrific choice for those looking to experience stellar iPhone performance without breaking the bank.

A simply stunning iPhone: we love the 6.1-inch design with aluminium backing that makes for a light, yet durable hand-feel. Its responsive, haptic-filled screen is a breath of fresh air compared to most smartphones on the market, with accurate and satisfying typing.

As for performance, the iPhone 13's A15 chipset is fantastic for a phone under £500, delivering smooth, lag-less usage for games, streaming and social media apps. The iPhone 13's cameras are also excellent and have vastly superior night photography for anything in its price range; while a dual 12MP camera setup might not sound impressive, Apple pushes its slightly limited megapixel count far beyond a typical Apple phone.

There isn't much difference when comparing the iPhone 13 to the older iPhone 12. The same camera, a practically equal chipset, and no changes to its design, upgrades on the 13 are minimal, which might lead to some disappointment for users.

That being said, it's a great mobile. With solid hardware and an outstanding design the iPhone 13 is a spectacular choice for iPhone shoppers desperate for a better smartphone experience at a great price.

For those who don't want to fork over thousands of pounds on the latest iPhone but also don't want to miss out on the Apple experience, the Apple iPhone 12 is perhaps one of the most affordable choices on the market right now.

A truly phenomenal design, this classic iPhone aesthetic is slick, modern and tough, withstanding practically any accidental drop or pocket slip you can throw at it. It's also water-resistant, so if you listen to music in the shower, you need not fret about an accidental plunge into water.

Sporting a brilliant 12MP dual camera, the iPhone 12's photography outcompetes most smartphones on the market this year, with clear, bold photos that are perfect for scrapbooking.

As for its renewed status, this iPhone 12 has been restored to full working order, and is guaranteed for a year, so if there are any issues, you won't be without a great phone for long. 

Some users might cringe at the thought of using a pre-owned phone, steering clear of any renewed phones on the off-chance that they might not perform as well. Fear not – the renewed iPhone 12 performs fantastically, and its hardware is in perfect working order when you receive it, so you're getting a great deal on what is practically a brand-new phone. What's more, the renewed iPhone 12 is one of the best environmentally friendly phones on the market thanks to its recycled nature, so you're helping out the planet at the same time, too.