Which Apple iPhone should I buy?

If you want your next phone to be an Apple iPhone, there are a few options to choose from. Keep reading to find out about the key differences, as well as the best iPhones we've tested, to help you make the right decision.

Apple is one of the most popular smartphone manufacturers in the UK, alongside Android brands like Samsung, Motorola and Nokia. It retains a unique standing among mobile phone brands, though many question whether Apple remains a cutting-edge company, or if it now adopts more of a style-over-substance approach.

Apple frequently pushes the envelope, though, introducing new features and ideas to the smartphone world. Its products aren't cheap, so it's important to consider whether you need the latest and most expensive iPhone, or if an older device at a cheaper price will still tick all the boxes.

Below we reveal how each iPhone fared in our tough tests. 

See how many iPhones phones made it into our guide to the best smartphones – or check out the best iPhone deals.

Which iPhone is right for you? We reveal our test results

Only logged-in Which? members can view our exclusive ratings and verdicts below. If you're not yet a member, try Which? to get instant access to our iPhone results plus all of our online reviews, including phones and laptops.

Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct as of March 2023.

How much do Apple iPhones cost?

Apple iPhones are typically very expensive, with no particularly budget-friendly options when you buy brand new.

The £1,199 iPhone 14 Pro Max (128GB) is the highest spec in the 14 series. It has an impressive, large 6.7-inch OLED display with a quick-refresh system for a seamless experience. There are four high-quality cameras with lots of exciting features and upgrades from the 13 series.

The other iPhones in the 14 series are cheaper than the Pro Max, but they're still expensive. 

• £1,099 - iPhone 14 Pro (128GB) 
• £949 - iPhone 14 Plus (128GB) 
• £849 - the standard iPhone 14 (128GB) is the cheapest in the 14 series. 

The latest iPhone 14 series doesn't have the small-screen models we saw in the iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 12 Mini. 

Apple iPhones are typically very pricey, but the SE model is Apple's mid-range option. The iPhone SE 2022 (64GB) starts at £419.

If you're not committed to always having the latest tech, it can pay to wait until the model you want has been succeeded by a newer model. Prices of older iPhones typically drop when there's a new kid on the block, even if not by much. 

For instance, when the iPhone 14 (128GB) launched at £849, the iPhone 13 (128GB) was £749, and the iPhone 12 64GB was £649.

Want to save more money? Take a look at our guide to the best mobile phone deals right now.

Small-screen iPhones – the SE and Mini range

Small-screen iPhones aren't going away, and Apple has released two new models since September 2021. Expect a smaller screen and a smaller battery, but not necessarily less power. 

Apple first introduced a 'mini' version of its standard release in November 2020 with the iPhone 12 Mini. Compared to the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini has a smaller 5.4in OLED display and a smaller 2,227mAh battery. However, it has the same two 12Mp rear cameras and software. 

The more recent iPhone 13 Mini has an upgraded processor, a bigger battery and starts with 128GB memory.

A year before the iPhone 12 Mini, we got the first iPhone SE. This is a more limited, but cheaper, iPhone. Apple has released two more versions since then – the iPhone SE 2022 is its latest offering. The iPhone SE 2022 has one rear camera lens, a 2,018mAh battery and a 4.7in LCD display, which is smaller than the iPhone 13 Mini.

What to look for when choosing an Apple iPhone

There are a few things to think about when deciding which iPhone to choose. Here’s our shortlist of what to consider:

• Size If you want an iPhone that you can easily use with one hand, the iPhone SE or Mini variations are a good bet with a 4.7-inch or 5.4-inch display respectively. You'll need two hands for comfortable use for any of the bigger models.
• Storage space All iPhones in the 14 series start at 128GB, with the Pro models going up to a monstrous 1TB. The iPhone SE starts at 64GB. If you want the larger storage option, these usually cost £100-£150 more. If you're happy to delete old photos or apps you don't use much, a smaller option should be fine. Bear in mind that iPhones don't have a micro-SD card slot, so you can't boost space with a separate card.
• Speed When Apple launches a new phone, it often features the brand's latest chipset, promising the fastest speeds. However, previous processors may well be up to the job of playing the latest games, or running the latest apps with ease. To find out more about iPhone speed, you'll need to read our iPhone reviews.
• Camera The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max come with a high-spec camera and settings, but they aren't hugely different from the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Differences are even smaller on the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in comparison to the iPhone 13 and even the iPhone 12. They all have two 12MP rear cameras with very similar specifications. It's elements such as the size of the sensors and the software upgrades that change from series to series. The iPhone SE camera is more limited with only one rear lens.

Stuck between choosing an Apple iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone? Find out the differences in