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Apple's new iPhone 17 series and thin iPhone Air are now in-store. These new phones replace the iPhone 16 line as the top flagship models. We've tested and reviewed the iPhone Air and and the powerful iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and have added them to our picks for the best iPhone. In fact, the iPhone 17 is our top pick for most people. It packs an incredible amount of features for its price. But between the new iPhone models, the iPhone 16E and older models like the iPhone 16, you have a lot of options when buying a new Apple phone. If you are looking for discounts, here is a roundup of our iPhone Air and iPhone 17 line deals.
MOBILE DEALS OF THE WEEK
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- Best iPhone in 2025: Here's Which Apple Phone You Should Buy
- What's the best iPhone right now?
- Best iPhones of 2025
- Best iPhone
- Best premium iPhone
- Best sleek phone
- Best entry level iPhone
- Best iPhone on discount
- Best iPhone under $700
- Best iPhone models compared
- Recent updates
- Factors to consider when buying a new iPhone
- How we test iPhone models
- Other iPhones we tested
- Key terms
- iPhone FAQs
- What to look forward to in 2025
What's the best iPhone right now?
The best iPhone for most people is the iPhone 17. It shares many features with Apple's pricier 17 Pro models, but at a lower $829 starting price (or $799 if you activate through a carrier). It supports the newest camera capabilities like Dual Capture and Center Stage, and at long last, it has a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate for smoother scrolling and support for the always-on display.
While it's true that the iPhone 17 shares a striking resemblance to last year's iPhone 16, there are some key updates that help it stand out. Apart from the upgraded refresh rate, the iPhone 17 also boasts a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, along with an anti-reflective display that makes it easier to see the screen outdoors.
The ultrawide camera goes from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 48 megapixels on the iPhone 17, and Apple says the iPhone 17 has up to 8 hours more of video playback. Indeed, in CNET's 3-hour streaming test, the iPhone 17's battery dropped from 100% to 89%, while the iPhone 16 hit 86%.
A Ceramic Shield 2 display offers three times better scratch resistance, according to Apple, so if you're susceptible to etching into your screen, it has a little more protection now. The iPhone 17 starts with a higher 256GB storage option, as opposed to the 128GB starting point on the iPhone 16, meaning you get more bang for your buck.
Unlike previous iPhone generations, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models share almost all the same hardware features, apart from the telephoto lens and bigger battery on the latter. While Apple tends to introduce features like the Dynamic Island and Action button on Pro models first, the two ends of the iPhone spectrum now pack all those same hardware functions.
The iPhone 17 also features all the new iOS 26 capabilities, such as Live Translation, Call Screening and the new Liquid Glass interface.
Best iPhones of 2025
Pros
- Upgraded 1-120Hz display
- New camera features
- Longer battery life
- Faster charging
Cons
- Minimal design updates to last year
- Apple Intelligence can still feel like a work in progress
With the iPhone 17, Apple has significantly narrowed the chasm separating its baseline model from its Pro counterparts. The $829 iPhone 17 (or $799 if you activate with a carrier) shares many of the same camera features with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, like Dual Capture and Center Stage. It also finally gets a display with a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, so you can enjoy smoother scrolling and enable the always-on display and see your notifications at a glance. And of course, support for iOS 26 across the full iPhone 17 lineup means you can access Apple's most talked-about new software features like Live Translation, Call Screening and the Liquid Glass redesign without spending upwards of $1,100 for a Pro model, if you don't mind having slightly scaled-back battery life and cameras.
Why we like it
The iPhone 17 is a baseline phone that shares many hardware and software features with the iPhone 17 Pro models, making it feel like a worthy, money-saving contender to those pricier devices. Generous battery life, faster charging and camera upgrades help it stand apart from last year's iPhone 16, even if it looks almost identical.
Who it's best for
The iPhone 17 is a great choice for the average phone user who wants good cameras, solid battery life and a quality display. It's also a good size for anyone who doesn't like larger phones.
Who shouldn't get it
If you're a photography enthusiast and a particularly heavy phone user, the 17 Pros might be the way to go, since you'll get a telephoto lens on the back, as well as longer battery life. On the other hand, if you're a lighter phone user, you can save more money by opting for the slightly more budget-friendly $599 iPhone 16E.
Pros
- The 17 Pro Max's incredible battery life
- The brighter screen looks fantastic
- Center Stage camera with the ability to take landscape selfies vertically is sweet
Cons
- Wished Dual Capture had a 50/50 split
- Live Translation's Siri voice can overlap with speakers
- iPhone 17 Pro battery life is on par with the iPhone 16 Pro
- Expensive
From the first moment I picked up the new $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max and $1,099 17 Pro, I was beguiled by their bold, bright redesign. It's a complete turnaround from the years of Apple's subdued titanium motif. The square camera bump of previous Pro models is now a body-wide bar that Apple calls the "camera plateau." The 17 Pro and Pro Max now come in actual colors -- you won't find one in black or space gray. This phone, especially in cosmic orange, wants you to look at it.
As I tested the new Pro phones, I was consistently impressed: Even after a full day of heavy use, the Pro Max's battery still had 22% or more left. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any phone that CNET has ever tested.
The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max have the exact same rear cameras, all with 48-megapixel sensors. You can choose among the trio of lenses (wide-angle, ultrawide and telephoto) to capture photos at 12-megapixel, 24-megapixel or 48-megapixel resolutions. The telephoto camera has gone from the 16 Pro's 12-megapixel sensor with a 5x lens to a 48-megapixel sensor that's 56% larger with a new 4x telephoto lens. You read that right: The new Pro has a shorter optical zoom than its predecessor. But I find the short 4x zoom better for portraits and the increase in detail and dynamic range in 4x photos is a big improvement over 5x snaps from the 16 Pro.
There's a new selfie camera on both Pro phones that Apple calls Center Stage. It not only takes 18-megapixel selfies, up from 12 megapixels on the 16 Pro, but you can hold the 17 Pro vertically and take a horizontal selfie thanks to a new square image sensor.
I can't help but contrast the iPhone 17 Pro models to Apple's newest phone. The iPhone Air is thin, light, quiet and graceful -- with a single rear camera, shorter battery life and $100 cheaper starting price. The 17 Pro and Pro Max are bold, loud, aggressive and powerful, and their daring design appeals to me. But features such as its amazing battery life, brighter screen, new selfie camera and iOS 26 are the real reasons to get either.
Why we like it
I appreciate that Apple gave the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max personality. Gone is the minimal design for the sake of being simple. We have a phone that is more durable, has a longer battery life and, when running iOS 26, comes with a number of significant quality of life improvements like Live Translations for calls, texts and FaceTime calls.
Who it's best for
The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max would be an excellent upgrade for someone coming from an iPhone 14 Pro or older. You get a bigger battery, a better screen, faster charging, newer cameras and a speedier processor that can handle graphics-intensive games and Apple Intelligence.
Who shouldn't get it
If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you don't need these new phones unless that battery capacity on your current phone is low -- and even then, it'd be cheaper to simply have your battery swapped out. And unless you have a gracious disposable income, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max owners can sit this one out.
Pros
- Slick, lightweight design
- Surprisingly good battery life (sometimes)
- Impressively durable
- iOS 26 looks great
Cons
- Single rear camera
- Scaled-back speaker
- Only charges up to 20 watts
- High $999 price tag
The iPhone Air is the ultimate refresh if you're looking for something that looks and feels drastically different from most other devices on the market. It's strikingly lightweight and slim, measuring just 5.6mm thick and clocking in at 165 grams. If you're worried about durability, design elements like the titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 front and Ceramic Shield backing keep it from bending out of shape in your pocket. A generous 6.5-inch display makes it comfortable to hold and enjoyable to watch videos or play games on.
That doesn't mean there aren't tradeoffs, which feel especially weighty given the iPhone Air's $999 price tag. A slimmer battery can mean shorter life on heavy-use days, and a single rear camera means you don't get ultrawide shots or Cinematic mode in video. There's also only a single speaker instead of the dual-speaker system on other iPhones, which can make audio less immersive. The iPhone Air only supports up to 20-watt charging, as opposed to the 40-watt charging you'll find on its iPhone 17 counterparts. But if you're willing to make some compromises, the super-sleek iPhone Air can be an enjoyable investment.
Read CNET's iPhone Air review.
Why we like it
Annual phone upgrades typically feel incremental but the iPhone Air shakes things up with a bold new design that rivals other thin phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The Air is remarkably light, which makes it enjoyable to use, and won't weigh down your purse or pocket. Despite its shorter battery life under heavy-use conditions, the iPhone Air performed well in CNET's battery tests and should hold up just fine on moderate use days.
Who it's best for
If you're not a particularly heavy phone user and want a device that puts design at the forefront, the iPhone Air could be a solid choice. Despite a scaled-back camera, the single rear 48-megapixel camera can also take solid 2x zoom photos, and an 18-megapixel selfie camera matches what you'll find on the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
Who shouldn't get it
On the other hand, if you do use your phone a lot and have an affinity for photography, the iPhone Air might not be the best choice for you. The lack of an ultrawide (plus no telephoto) lens might feel a bit too restricted, and the battery may not be able to keep up with your more extensive screen time.
Pros
- Does most of the Apple stuff I want
- Battery life is great
- Matte finish back
- The rear camera is good
- A18 chip performance
Cons
- $599 price isn't cheap
- Odd value proposition
- Lacks MagSafe
- Screen is good, but wonder how it will age
Apple took a Taco Bell-like approach with the $599 iPhone 16E, mixing and matching parts and features from prior phones to create a "new" iPhone. Its design and screen are similar to the iPhone 14. Its A18 processor is the same as the one in the iPhone 16. In my testing, I found that this gives the iPhone 16E a weird value proposition. It's new, but it's old. It's affordable, but not cheap.
If you're rocking an iPhone SE, an iPhone 11 or older, the 16E will be a nice upgrade in every way, from the camera to the battery life -- although you might miss that ultrawide camera. I also think that this is a good phone for people using Android phones who want to switch and dip the proverbial toe into Apple's waters. I do recommend looking into carrier deals, discounts and trade-ins to drop that price a bit, unless you're set on doing an installment plan over a couple of years. Read our iPhone 16E review.
Why we like it
After testing the iPhone 16E, I was most surprised by how wonderfully uneventful it was to use. Along with all the standard iOS 18 functions and goodies, like iMessage and FaceTime, I used Apple Intelligence, made calls on 5G, took a bunch of share-worthy photos and videos and played video games like Resident Evil 4. If this is all you want in an iPhone, look no further.
Who it's best for
If you're rocking an iPhone SE, an iPhone 11 or older, the 16E will be a nice upgrade in every way, from the camera to the day plus battery life -- though you might miss that ultrawide camera. I also think that this is a good phone for people using Android phones who want to switch and dip the proverbial toe into Apple's waters.
Who shouldn't get it
Choosing between the $829 iPhone 16 and the $599 16E is a tough choice. If you have the budget, I'd go with the regular 16. You get a brighter screen, MagSafe, and an ultrawide camera that doubles as a macro lens -- great for taking close-up photos such as food as the main camera automatically switches to a cropped version of the ultrawide in order to nail focus.
Pros
- Camera Control is useful for switching camera settings
- Photographic Styles makes photos pop
- Ultrawide camera is better in low light
Cons
- Apple Intelligence isn’t out yet
- No always on display
- No changes to wired charging speeds
- No upgrades to the Action button
When we tested the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus we were definitely impressed by the photography features, the convenient Action button and the elegant build. And while we think the iPhone 17 is quite the great deal, you can still snag the iPhone 16 and for $100 less. We consider the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to be top-notch choices for Apple fans. Parts of the iPhone 16’s key feature, Apple Intelligence, are now out, and the fact that these phones will support it means they’ll likely feel future-proofed for years to come. Aside from screen size (6.1 inches on the regular, 6.7 inches on the Plus), battery size and price, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are identical in every way.
The iPhone 16 isn’t perfect -- it’s missing an always-on display and it feels like it’s been ages since Apple improved its wired charging speeds. But it checks all the important boxes and then some.
Why we like it
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus rank so high in our testing because the phones appeal to novice users and power players. They offer about 90% of the experience of Apple's Pro models but cost hundreds of dollars less. Not only is the iPhone 16 a wonderful phone out of the box, Apple has a long track record of updating its software and security patches for years.
Who it's best for
When you think about how the Camera Control key, the Action button and the Dynamic Island come together, along with the camera and battery improvements Apple has made in the last several years, the iPhone 16 is a compelling upgrade for someone coming from an older iPhone, especially if that person is on an iPhone 13 or older. For those who don’t need the Pro’s extra photography prowess and battery life, the iPhone 16 won’t disappoint.
Who shouldn’t get it
I wouldn't recommend buying the iPhone 16 just for the Camera Control button or the better ultrawide camera.
Pros
- USB-C port is more convenient charging
- Colorful matte design
- Improved camera that can automatically take people and pet portraits
- Dynamic Island brings better multitasking
Cons
- No always-on display
- Find My Friends feature only works with other iPhone 15 phones
- Discounted iPhone 14 Pro may be a better value
- Galaxy S24 offers a longer optical zoom
With the launch of the iPhone 16, the regular iPhone 15 is being sold at a discount -- $100 off. That means that the iPhone 15 now starts at $699. And you might be able to find steeper discounts throughout the coming weeks and months. With the Dynamic Island, a USB-C port for more convenient charging and a high resolution camera and a sharper digital zoom, I found the iPhone 15 to be a significant upgrade for those with older iPhones.
The iPhone 15 is available in two size options: the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. They run on the same chip as iPhone 14 Pro, the A16 Bionic, which should bring notable performance upgrades to those with an iPhone that's several years old. These phones also have Apple's second-generation ultra wideband chip, enabling a new feature that makes it easier to find friends or family members in a crowd that I found handy. Read our full iPhone 15 review.
Why we like it
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are heavily influenced by the iPhone 14 Pro. That includes the Dynamic Island, a dedicated area near the top of the screen for viewing time-sensitive data like your Uber's ETA, and the A16 Bionic processor. Overall, these changes come together to make the iPhone 15 feel like a big step forward for those upgrading from an aging iPhone.
Who it's best for
The iPhone 15 is for someone coming from an iPhone 12 or older. In 2025, Apple sells it for $699. But I recommend looking for one that's discounted. If you're contemplating the iPhone 16E but really want an ultrawide camera (remember the 16E only has a single rear camera) and MagSafe charging, then grab an iPhone 15.
Who shouldn't get it
Apple sells the $599 iPhone 16E which makes the iPhone 15 a curious value. If you can score a discounted iPhone 15 I'd go that way. But otherwise, the iPhone 16E might be a better buy.
Best iPhone models compared
| 6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.5-inch OLED; 2,736 x 1,260 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.9-inch OLED; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532x1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixel resolution; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556x1,179 pixels |
| 460ppi | 460ppi | 460ppi | 460ppi | 460 ppi | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in | 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in | 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 in | 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in |
| 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm | 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm | 150.0 x 71.9 x 8.75 mm | 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm |
| 177 g (6.24 oz) | 165 g (5.82 oz) | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 233 g (8.22 oz) | 167g (5.88 oz.) | 170 g (6 oz.) | 171g (6.02 oz) |
| iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 26 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 17 |
| 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide) | 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (wide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| 18-megapixel | 18-megapixel | 18-megapixel | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Apple A19 | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A18 | Apple A18 | A16 Bionic |
| RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | RAM unknown + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | RAM N/A + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| None | None | None | None | None | None (Face ID) | None |
| Up to 30 hours video playback; up to 27 hours video playback (streamed) | Up to 27 hours video playback; up to 22 hours video playback (streamed). Up to 40 hours video playback, up to 35 hours video playback (streamed) with iPhone Air MagSafe Battery | Up to 33 hours video playback; up to 30 hours video playback (streamed). | Up to 39 hours video playback; up to 35 hours video playback (streamed). | Up to 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging | Up to 22 hours video playback; up to 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) |
| None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) | None, Face ID | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) |
| USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C (USB 2.0) |
| None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Apple C1X cellular modem. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: space black, cloud white, light gold, sky blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 20W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance | Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine. | Dynamic Island; 5G (mmw/Sub6); MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; eSIM; satellite connectivity |
| $829 (256GB) | $999 (256GB) | $1,099 (256GB) | $1,199 (256GB) | $599 (128GB) | $829 (128GB) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) |
In September 2025, we added the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max to this list. The new Pro phones replace the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
Hold the iPhone first: You may love or hate the way it looks and feels in person.
Don't discount the last year's model: Apple has a history of keeping recent iPhone models from previous years around at a lower price. You can get a great phone that does almost everything that a new iPhone can do for a fraction of the price. The iPhone 16 packs a great camera and a big battery, but comes at a more reasonable price.
Buy an iPhone case and screen protector: You'll protect your iPhone from costly damage and will increase the phone's resale or trade-in value when you're ready to move on.
Know what you care about most: Is it screen size? Camera quality? Battery life? Phones like the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, for example, pack incredible cameras that almost rival the quality you'd get from a DSLR. If you're a photographer, then spending money here is a good idea.
Seek out holiday discounts: Look for deep discounts and promo deals around major holidays, especially Amazon's Prime Day and Cyber Monday. And find out what your grace period is in case you need a quick return or exchange.
We test every iPhone in real-world scenarios focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new iOS updates or to compare against new phones from competitors like Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
Photography
Photography is a major focus for the iPhone, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes, such as 4K 120fps slow-mo video that debuted with the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.
Battery life
Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long the iPhone lasts during a typical day of use, and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test and a 45-minute drain test starting with a full battery, which isn't always included in the initial review and added later in an update.
Performance measuring
We use benchmarking apps to measure the performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Of particular note are how graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
Emergency SOS might be one of the most important features to come out on any phone this year.
Kevin Heinz/CNETWe perform processor-heavy tasks like editing photos and videos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of the iPhone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models. Some of these tests are added later in updates after the initial review is published.
Read more: How CNET Tests Phones
While Apple doesn't sell the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, you can still find it at carriers and third-party retailers. The 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch adaptive-refresh rate screen that adjusts between 1-120Hz depending on what's on the screen. It has excellent cameras, a fast processor, an always-on display, supports iOS 18 and safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite. Driving all these upgrades is Apple's A17 Pro chip which in use feels peppy. The iPhone 15 Pro is still an excellent phone in 2025. Check out our iPhone 15 Pro review.
eSIM
An eSIM takes all of the important information about your phone account -- including its number, wireless carrier and subscription -- and stores it in software instead of on a physical SIM card.
Since the iPhone 14 series, Apple no longer includes a physical SIM card tray and embraced embedded SIM cards in the US. This means you can't just pluck your SIM card out of your current phone and put it into a new one. But this shouldn't affect your experience since all the major US carriers and a number of smaller operators work with eSIM.
Apple has long supported eSIM, dating back to 2018's iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. When setting up a new iPhone 14, 15 or 16, tthe device will guide you through transferring your current provider over to the new phone. A list of supported wireless networks can be found on Apple's website.
iOS 26
Apple's iOS 26 animations have seemingly comic book character abilities. Every time I unlock my phone, the apps delightfully assemble on the home screen like the five lion robots uniting together to become Voltron. The lock screen clock extends around my chosen photo like Mr. Fantastic. The control center pulls down as if I were stretching a piece of taffy.
The unified look of the Liquid Glass interface across apps, the Home Screen and lock screen give the iPhone a contemporary, slick and shiny, plastic candy feel. For all the beauty Liquid Glass adds, though, some of the warmth of previous iOS versions is gone.
There are small but significant gems buried in iOS 26's design, including the ability to add a background image to group chats in Messages or use the new Hold Assist tool for phone calls.
When is the best time of year to buy a new iPhone?
Typically you will find the best deals on iPhones the month after new models launch. That means with the iPhone 17 launch in September, the best discounts and trade-in deals will be from early-September to early-October.
In the early days of smartphones the iPhone vs. Android rivalry was at it peak. But in 2025, the difference between Android and iOS has shrunk quite a bit. Nearly everything you can do on an iPhone, you can do on an Android phone and vice versa. If you are trying to decide between buying an iPhone or Android phones, first start by seeing what phones your family and closest friends use. For example, if your family is on iPhone and uses services like iMessage and FaceTime, then it makes sense to shop for an iPhone.
Should I wait for the new iPhone model (iPhone 17)?
The iPhone 17 is now out, so there's no need to wait.
How reliable is an iPhone?
Apple has been selling iPhones since 2007. The current lineup was released in September 2025 and all have a dust and water resistance rating of IP68, which means they can survive being submerged under 6 meters of water (about 20 feet) for 30 minutes. The screens are covered in Apple's Ceramic Shield 2 which is a glass-ceramic material created by Corning, in collaboration with Apple, and consists of nano-ceramic crystals embedded in the glass matrix. It's highly transparent, and according to Corning, the tough structure formed by the crystals means it's less likely to break.
How long does an iPhone last?
One way to measure how long an iPhone will last is to look at the software and security support Apple offers for older models. iOS 26 can run on Apple phones as old as 2019's iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. That's roughly six years of software support. Compare that to Samsung, which offers seven years of Android version upgrades and security updates. But software is only half the equation. The other part is hardware and durability. Every iPhone Apple sells has an IP rating for dust and water resistance. Newer models also have Ceramic Shield, a glass-ceramic hybrid, that covers the display and is very durable.
Apple's just debuted iPhone 17 line features plenty of new changes, with the thin iPhone Air stealing the spotlight. Many of the best new iPhone features are heading to the entire line of 2025 iPhone models, including an 18-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera that allows for horizontal and vertical selfies without needing to rotate the phone. We don't expect Apple to release any new iPhones until 2026.
