iPhone Buying Guide (2026): Which Model & Storage to Get
If you are in the market for a new iPhone, here are my recommendations. In short, buy the latest iPhone model, and unless you know you need the extra storage, it's likely that you don't need to get an upgraded capacity.
How often should I get a new iPhone?
This is largely up to you. Some people upgrade every year, some every 2 or 3 years. But these days iPhones are made so well that you can really go much longer than that if the new features don't excite you. In general, I recommend:
1 to 2 years if your iPhone is one of the primary tools you use to make money
2 to 4 years if you are a fairly heavy iPhone user
4 to 6 years if you are a light iPhone user
This is all assuming you purchase the latest iPhone model. If you purchase a year-old iPhone model, you can expect it to last about a year less.
How do I know how old my iPhone is?
Go to the Settings app > General > About. Look for your iPhone model. Below are the release dates for the past several years, along with the headline features, so that you know what you are missing. This does not count all of the various battery, camera, and performance improvements we get almost every year.
iPhone 17: 2025 (All cameras are 48MP, significant increase to scratch resistance, and significant battery life improvements)
iPhone 16: 2024 (3D video and photos, Apple Intelligence, Camera Control button, 48MP Fusion camera)
iPhone 15: 2023 (USB-C, Dynamic Island)
iPhone 14: 2022 (Emergency SOS via Satellite, dual eSIM)
iPhone 13: 2021 (Refinement year)
iPhone 12: 2020 (MagSafe charging, OLED on all models)
iPhone 11: 2019 (Dual camera system)
iPhone XS, XR: 2018 (Dual SIM)
iPhone X: 2017 (Face ID)
Should I get the latest model?
It may sound counterintuitive, but it usually costs less in the long run to get the latest model. You can save $100 on a year-old iPhone or $200 on a two-year-old iPhone, but that just means your iPhone will need to be replaced a year or two sooner. Those discounts are too small to make financial sense, as a 6-year estimated lifespan on the latest model works out to $133 per year. Apple makes more money off of you if you take the small discount because you are back again sooner. Not to mention, the newer model has better battery life, better camera, and new features like the ability to record in 3D or satellite messaging. And if you don’t like change, you have the added benefit of going extra years before getting a new phone.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Cost as of September 2025 | $599 | $699 | $799 |
| Obsolete year (estimated) | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
| Years before obsolete if you buy now (estimated) | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Average cost per year if kept until obsolete | $150 | $140 | $133 |
Budget option: iPhone 17e
Apple now has a budget "17e" model. At $599. It's essentially as powerful as the full iPhone 17. Still, it makes a few concessions, such as a simpler camera, fewer graphics processing cores, a lack of Camera Control button, a lack of mmWave, WiFi 6 instead of 7, no video output (assumed based on iPhone 16e, but we will find out for sure when it’s released; other iPhones support a USB-C to HDMI adapter), and a lack of Wideband Chip for directional finding.
This is a great phone for price-sensitive customers who are willing to pay for something that lasts but don’t need to pay for extra features.
Current iPhone models compared
The table below is not the full list of features. For detailed comparison tables, including compared to older models, see Apple's iPhone comparison tool. That tool is particularly useful in comparing the current models to your own model, which might be several years old.
| Spec | Notes | iPhone 17e | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 17 | iPhone Air | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $599 | $699 | $799 | $799 | $999 | $1,099 | $1,199 | |
| Starting Capacity | 256 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | |||||
| Screen Refresh Rate | Higher refresh means smoother scrolling. You can actually read text while you scroll on 120Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | |||||
| Screen Size | This is the viewable diagonal of the screen, not the size of the phone | 6.1" | 6.7" | 6.3" | 6.5" | 6.3" | 6.9" | |
| Body Width | 2.82" | 2.82" | 3.06" | 2.81" | 2.94" | 2.83" | 3.05" | |
| Body Height | 5.78" | 5.81" | 6.33" | 5.89" | 6.15" | 5.91" | 6.43" | |
| Weight | 5.96 oz | 6 oz | 7.03 oz | 6.24 oz | 5.82 oz | 7.27 oz | 8.22 oz | |
| Cameras | Single 48MP camera | Dual camera (48MP + 12MP ultrawide) | Dual 48MP cameras | Single 48MP camera | Triple 48MP cameras | |||
| LiDAR | Faster camera focus, better augmented reality, and room mapping apps | ❌ | ✅ | |||||
| GPU Cores | More cores allow for more advanced video features and better video game performance | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| Battery Life (video playback) | Yes, these numbers may sound insane, but this is under extremely controlled conditions, not real world use | 21 hours | 18 hours | 27 hours | 30 hours | 27 hours | 33 hours | 39 hours |
| HDMI Output | ❌ (assumed but not yet confirmed) | ✅ (with USB-C to HDMI adapter) | ❌ | ✅ (with USB-C to HDMI adapter) | ||||
| Wi-Fi | 6 | 7 | ||||||
| mmWave 5G | Allows for cellular speeds well over a gigabit | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | |||
| Wired Charging | 20W | 40W | 20W | 40W | ||||
| Wireless Charging | Qi2 up to 15W | Qi2.2 up to 22W | Qi2.2 up to 25W | Qi2.2 up to 20W | Qi2.2 up to 25W | |||
| Camera Control Button | ❌ | ✅ | ||||||
What storage capacity should I get?
Apart from color, the only other option to choose is how much storage you should get. In the past, iPhone storage was anemic at just 16 or 32 GB. Luckily, today's devices start at 256 GB, which is enough for most people. But to be sure, you should check to see how much storage you are currently using. Go to the Settings app on your current iPhone, then General > iPhone Storage. It will show you the capacity of your current iPhone and how much you are using. If you are the sort of person who likes to keep their iPhones for as long as possible, you might want to consider getting an iPhone that has at least twice the amount of storage you are currently using. If you are the type of person who upgrades every year or two, you probably want to make sure you get at least 20-30% more than you are currently using. It's better to err on the higher side; you cannot upgrade this later without replacing your phone. The big disadvantage of overbuying, apart from the obvious up-front cost, is that when you later trade it in, most trade-in offers don't take into account how much storage you have.
Should I get AppleCare?
I don't have a general recommendation on AppleCare. It can be a good program, but like any insurance, it's statistically a loss. However, if you do end up needing it, it can be very valuable. If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you might want it: Do you often drop things? Do you use your iPhone without a case? Is this iPhone for a child or a teenager? Does the thought of unexpectedly spending $800 on a new iPhone make you want to cry?
A lot of cell phone carriers and third parties offer insurance. However, if you want insurance, I recommend AppleCare. Unless you live nowhere near an Apple Store, it’s usually much easier to just book an appointment at an Apple Store for service.
You can get AppleCare when you buy your iPhone, or if you want to take some time to think it over, you can buy it within the Settings app on your iPhone within 60 days of purchase.
Side note: A few credit cards (American Express Platinum, Capital One Venture X, Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Ink Business Preferred, and Wells Fargo Active Cash) offer cell phone insurance as long as you pay your monthly cell phone bill with their card. Generally, the way they work is you get the iPhone repaired at Apple and file a claim with your credit card that includes photos of the damage, a detailed report, and a receipt. They will reimburse you minus a deductible.
Where should I buy it?
I typically recommend buying either from your cellular carrier or directly from Apple. If you are a deal hunter, you should definitely check both sources, because, in the end, it doesn't make much difference between the two.
The advantage of buying directly from Apple is that they are often better able to help you transfer your data to your new iPhone. And since they are not employees of your carrier, they will often advise you more honestly on what plan you should be on.
The advantage of buying directly from your carrier is that they sometimes have access to deals and inventory that Apple doesn't have. You can get those either from your carrier's website or at a store in person. If you are buying an iPhone within the first few weeks of release, going to a store might not prove fruitful because they often don't have them in stock, so you should order online.
Be wary of stores that are labeled "Authorized" cellular dealers. While some authorized dealers are great, corporate stores have more consistency in service.
When should I buy it?
The best deals are usually available in the first month or so after a new iPhone is announced. For the past several years, the standard and Pro models have been released in September, and the budget “e” models are February or March.
What deals are available?
This is a really difficult question to answer because there are so many variables and deals change constantly. It can depend on your cell phone company, what they offer at the time, what cell phone plan you are on, and what phone you might be trading in. In general, the best thing to do is to buy a new iPhone within the first couple of weeks of it being available for sale. Some carriers give you huge discounts for trading in your old iPhone. Many deals are as good as giving you the new iPhone for free if you are trading in a recent model. Be sure to compare what your carrier offers vs. what trading in to Apple directly offers. Apple does offer carrier deals through their Apple Store app, but I've seen times where the carrier has some specials they only offer directly.
What about accessories?
Refer to my Product Recommendations list for any accessories, such as a case, battery, etc. If you need personalized advice or assistance with upgrading, I welcome you to book an appointment.
