Best iPhone in 2023: Which Apple Phone Should You Buy?

I stated in my evaluation of the iPhone 14 that it was effectively an iPhone 13 with the CPU 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. However, 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 repair it,” as the adage goes.

The finest features of the iPhone 14 may never be seen or used, but that isn’t always a negative thing. Included in this is Crash Detection, which may 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 interior of the iPhone 14 has been significantly overhauled, while having a flat, almost similar exterior as the iPhone 12 and 13 that includes a ceramic barrier coating and a water-resistant shell. Since it is no longer connected to internals, the rear glass of the 14 is simpler and more reasonably priced to repair.

Every phone in the iPhone 14 series features a new selfie camera that, for the first time ever, has autofocus and only accepts eSIMs in the US. The Action mode, an updated Cinematic mode that can record 4K video at 24 frames per second, and iOS 16 make this phone even better. Apple reduces the cost to $799 if you activate it on a carrier.

iPhone 14 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 characterised earlier Face ID iPhone models may display system notifications and background activities like when you get 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. Additionally, it receives iOS 16 and new security features including Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite. It also has updated cameras, a speedier CPU, an always-on display, and more. The new A16 Bionic chip from Apple, which feels brisk when used, is what’s powering all these advancements.

A new, bigger 48-megapixel sensor is added to the primary camera. Apple separates the pixels into groups of four and combines them into one bigger 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 consequence.

The iPhone 14 Pro is the one of the best phones released by Apple or any phone-maker this year.

iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is still a great phone for $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 mostly same body, screen, and A15 Bionic CPU. The iPhone 14’s CPU 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 boasts cameras on par with the top-tier iPhone 12 Pro Max from 2020, supports 5G, and MagSafe charging.

The iPhone 13’s bigger battery, though, which in our tests lasted over 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.

Additionally, 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. The Tech Fun 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.

iPhone 14 Plus

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 displays, 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 desired was to spend at least $1,100 on an iPhone 12 Pro Max or 13 Pro Max, according to several The Tech Fun readers, colleagues, and coworkers I know. But that is different today.

The 14 Plus offers all the capabilities of the iPhone 14 and, like the 14 Pro Max, has a 6.7-inch display that provides you a bigger screen on which to view films, 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 become older, I absolutely appreciate it.

If you are deciding between the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max and you don’t need a telephoto camera, a high-refresh-rate screen or extra weight, I say go with the 14 Plus and save $200. If you activate it on a carrier, Apple drops the price to $899.

iPhone 13 Mini

Who said there wouldn’t be little phones in 2022? Because it contains every feature of the iPhone 13 but is smaller, the $629 iPhone 13 Mini is great. It features the same square-edged appearance, 5G support, and cameras. The 5.4-inch OLED screen of the 13 Mini, which supports Dolby HDR, is its distinguishing feature. Consider Plus variants, like the iPhone 8 Plus, which featured a 5.5-inch screen inside of a considerably bigger chassis if that seems too little. The big forehead and chin bezels that characterised the iPhone for its first ten years are absent from the 13 Mini, which is its secret.

The body, like almost all of the phones on our list, has an IP68 classification for dust and water resistance, and the screen is protected by Apple’s ceramic barrier. The performance of the 13 Mini is comparable to that of the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus thanks to its A15 Bionic CPU.

The iPhone 13 Mini costs the same as the iPhone 12, however the smaller iPhone 13 Mini lasts longer on a single charge. You should only buy the 13 Mini for its size, in my opinion. If a little phone bothers you, you can feel dissatisfied or annoyed. Additionally, Apple reduces the price to $599 if you activate it on a carrier.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Simply said, the $1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max is the iPhone 14 Pro in a larger size. The A16 Bionic CPU, cameras, and features are all the same. However, it does have two significant differences from the 14 Pro: a larger 6.7-inch high-refresh rate screen and a larger battery. The iPhone 14 Pro Max really had the best battery life of any phone on our list in our tests.

In every regard, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is exceptional. However, due to its weight, I only advise purchasing it if you desire a larger Pro model iPhone. It weighs 37 and 34 grammes more than the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro, respectively. The stainless steel body of the 14 Pro Max contributes the majority of that weight.

iPhone 12

The launch of the current generation of Apple phones was distinguished by the $629 iPhone 12 and its flat-sided construction. It’s the oldest item on the list, but it’s also one of the least expensive, especially if you want to get an iPhone with a modern design and Face ID.

The iPhone 12 features a 5G-capable, still-extremely-fast A14 Bionic CPU, a 6.1-inch display protected by Apple’s ceramic barrier for durability, and MagSafe charging.

The iPhone 12 earned a 2020 The Tech Fun Editors’ Choice Award. If you choose to get an iPhone 12 and can afford to pay $50 more, I definitely recommend upgrading from 64GB of storage to 128GB. The iPhone 12 starts at $629, but if you activate it on a carrier, Apple drops the price to $599.

iPhone SE

You might assume that the iPhone SE (2022)’s $429 price tag is its lone draw. That 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.

The SE has the same iconic iPhone design as the first iPhone, but it also supports the most recent iOS and apps. The SE’s rear was changed to the same back glass as the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini in 2022, which was one of the more understated improvements. Simply said, the iPhone SE is the most cost-effective way to use all of Apple’s services, including FaceTime, iMessage, and iCloud.

Key terms

eSIM

An eSIM holds all of the vital details about your phone account in software rather than on a physical SIM card, including your account number, wireless provider, and subscription.

Apple abandoned the conventional SIM card tray in favour of internal SIM cards with the iPhone 14 release. This implies that you are unable to simply remove your SIM card from your existing phone and insert it into a new one. However, as many smaller operators and all of the US’s main carriers support eSIM, this shouldn’t have an impact on your experience.

Since the release of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR in 2018, Apple has enabled eSIM. The new iPhone 14 will walk you through adding your current service provider when you first set it up. On Apple’s website, you may see a list of wireless networks that are supported.

iOS 16

Apple’s iOS 16 is the latest version of Apple’s iPhone software. It’s on the iPhone 14 by default and is also available as an update for the iPhone 8 and later. iOS 16 includes new features such as customizable lock screens, an update to the Messages app that allows for unsending and editing iMessage texts and new photo editing tools.

How we test phones

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 fresh testing and comparisons to new smartphones from other manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.

We shoot 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.

The phone’s battery is tested both by measuring how long it lasts throughout an average day of usage and by seeing how it functions during more intensive video chats, media streaming, and gaming sessions. As running a video playback test might take a whole day, it isn’t usually included in the first editions of the review by The Tech Fun.

We use benchmarking apps to measure the performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. We’ll also compare how the phone looks, feels and functions to other iPhone models — for instance comparing the iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen against the similarly sized iPhone 14 Pro Max.

We also evaluate whether a newer version includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.