What iPhone should I buy in 2026?
Summary
The iPhone 17 at $799 is my pick for most people: latest tech, longest useful life
The iPhone 17e at $599 is the budget option that doesn't feel like a compromise
256 GB of storage is enough for most people. Check your current usage before paying for more
Buy from Apple or your cellular carrier, not from third-party "authorized" dealer kiosks
AppleCare is worth it if you drop your phone, use it without a case, or buy it for a child
Looking for a new iPhone and not sure which one to get? Here is the short version: buy the latest model, get 256 GB of storage unless you know you need more, and add AppleCare only if your habits suggest you will need it. The longer version is below.
My iPhone picks for 2026
Prices are MSRP from apple.com.
| Model | Pick | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | ★ Best for most | MSRP: $799 | Best long-term value for most people |
| iPhone 17e | 💲 Budget pick | MSRP: $599 | Lowest price without major compromise |
| iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max | ⬆︎ Pro pick | MSRP: $1,099 / $1,199 | Photographers, video creators, and power users |
Why is the latest iPhone usually the best long-term value?
It sounds counterintuitive, but the newest iPhone usually costs less over time. You can save $100 by buying the iPhone 16 instead of the iPhone 17, or about $170 by buying the iPhone 15 through a cellular carrier (Apple no longer sells the iPhone 15 directly). But each year of price savings is a year of useful life you give back on the other end. Spread the price over the years you will own the iPhone, and the math favors the new model.
Newer iPhones also have better battery life, better cameras, and exclusive features like spatial video, satellite messaging, and Apple Intelligence. If you do not like change, there is a second bonus: you go longer before the next upgrade.
Cost per year of useful life
Spreading the purchase price across the years you will own the iPhone.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Starting price | ~$630¹ | MSRP: $699 | MSRP: $799 |
| Estimated last year of security updates | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
| Years of useful life if bought today | ~3 | ~4 | ~5 |
| Cost per year of useful life | $210 | $175 | $160 |
¹ Apple no longer sells the iPhone 15; pricing reflects carrier retail. Security update timelines are estimates based on Apple's historical patterns; actual support periods may vary.
What about the iPhone 17e?
Apple released the iPhone 17e on March 11, 2026, at $599. It is the budget member of the iPhone 17 family. You get the same A19 chip as the iPhone 17, MagSafe wireless charging, a 48 MP camera, 256 GB of starting storage, and the same Ceramic Shield 2 glass as the rest of the lineup.
The compromises are reasonable for $200 less than the iPhone 17:
A single camera instead of two (no ultrawide)
A 60 Hz screen instead of 120 Hz (scrolling looks less smooth)
Wi-Fi 6 instead of Wi-Fi 7
No Camera Control button
A notch instead of Dynamic Island
No mmWave 5G
No video output over USB-C, so no plugging into a TV or monitor
No Wideband chip for precise direction-finding with AirTags or Find My friends
If you want a phone that lasts, runs everything modern, and saves real money without feeling cheap, the iPhone 17e is the call.
[Image: Close-up of the iPhone 17e in soft pink showing the single rear camera]
What about the iPhone Air?
The iPhone Air is Apple's ultra-thin model, priced at $999. At 5.82 oz, it is actually lighter than the iPhone 17e despite a larger 6.5-inch screen. Apple's gamble on extreme thinness has not been a runaway commercial success, but that does not make it a bad phone. For the right person, it is excellent.
The compromises:
A single 48 MP camera instead of two or three
A single speaker that doubles as the earpiece and the loudspeaker, instead of the usual stereo pair
No mmWave 5G
No video output over USB-C
A smaller battery than the iPhone 17 (27 hours of video playback vs. 30)
If you value the feeling of a light, thin phone in your hand and your pocket, the iPhone Air is for you. One word of caution: the iPhone Air is striking enough that many people prefer to use it without a case. If that is you, AppleCare or comparable insurance is well worth the cost. A drop on the right corner is rarely cheap.
How much storage do I need?
In the past, iPhone storage was anemic at 16 or 32 GB. Today's iPhones start at 256 GB, which is enough for most people.
Before you buy, check how much storage you currently use. On your current iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The top of that screen shows your total capacity and how much you are using.
If you keep your iPhones for a long time, get at least twice the storage you currently use. If you upgrade every year or two, 20 to 30 percent more than your current usage is enough. Err on the higher side, because you cannot upgrade storage later without buying a new phone. Most trade-in offers do not pay more for the higher-storage model, so do not pay for capacity you will never use.
Detailed iPhone 17 lineup comparison
Detailed iPhone 17 lineup comparison
All current iPhones sold by Apple, with my picks badged. Scroll horizontally on mobile.
| Spec | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone Air | iPhone 17e 💲 Budget |
iPhone 17 ★ Best for most |
iPhone 17 Pro ⬆︎ Pro |
iPhone 17 Pro Max ⬆︎ Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | MSRP: $699 | MSRP: $799 | MSRP: $999 | MSRP: $599 | MSRP: $799 | MSRP: $1,099 | MSRP: $1,199 |
| Starting capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.7" | 6.5" | 6.1" | 6.3" | 6.3" | 6.9" |
| Refresh rate¹ | 60Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Dimensions (W × H) | 2.82" × 5.81" | 3.06" × 6.33" | 2.94" × 6.15" | 2.82" × 5.78" | 2.81" × 5.89" | 2.83" × 5.91" | 3.05" × 6.43" |
| Weight | 6.00 oz | 7.03 oz | 5.82 oz | 5.96 oz | 6.24 oz | 7.27 oz | 8.22 oz |
| Rear cameras | Dual (48MP + 12MP UW) | Dual (48MP + 12MP UW) | Single 48MP | Single 48MP | Dual 48MP | Triple 48MP | Triple 48MP |
| LiDAR² | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GPU cores³ | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Battery (video playback)⁴ | 18 hrs | 27 hrs | 27 hrs | 21 hrs | 30 hrs | 33 hrs | 39 hrs |
| Wired charging | 20W | 20W | 20W | 20W | 40W | 40W | 40W |
| Wireless charging | Qi2.2 up to 22W | Qi2.2 up to 25W | Qi2.2 up to 20W | MagSafe / Qi2 up to 15W | Qi2.2 up to 25W | Qi2.2 up to 25W | Qi2.2 up to 25W |
| Wi-Fi | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| mmWave 5G⁵ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video output via USB-C | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Camera Control button | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
¹ Higher refresh means smoother scrolling. ² LiDAR enables faster camera focus, augmented reality apps, and room mapping. ³ More cores allow for better video processing and gaming performance. ⁴ Apple's lab estimates; real-world use will be less. ⁵ mmWave allows for cellular speeds well over a gigabit, available in select dense urban areas.
For specs not in the table above, including older iPhone models, use Apple's iPhone comparison tool. It is particularly useful for comparing a current model to the older iPhone you already own.
Should I get AppleCare?
I do not have a one-size-fits-all answer. Like any insurance, AppleCare is statistically a loss for most people. But when you need it, it pays off.
Get AppleCare if you answer yes to any of these:
I drop my phone often
I use my phone without a case
This iPhone is for a child or teenager
The thought of unexpectedly spending $800 on a new iPhone would ruin my month
Cellular carriers and third parties sell similar coverage. I still recommend AppleCare because service is smoother when an Apple Store is involved. Unless you live nowhere near an Apple Store, the AppleCare experience beats the alternatives.
You can add AppleCare at purchase or within 60 days through the Settings app on your iPhone.
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 if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card. The usual process: pay Apple to repair the phone, file a claim with the card with photos and the receipt, and they reimburse you minus a deductible.
Where and when should I buy my iPhone?
Buy directly from Apple or from your cellular carrier. Both are fine. Carriers sometimes have trade-in deals Apple does not carry, so if you are a deal hunter, check both. Apple offers carrier deals through its Apple Store app, but I have seen exclusive promos at the carrier you only find by going direct.
Apple's advantage: their staff can help transfer your data, and they are not on commission for any particular carrier plan, so they advise you more honestly.
The carrier's advantage: discounts, inventory, and trade-in deals that sometimes make the new iPhone effectively free.
Be cautious of stores labeled "Authorized" cellular dealers. Some are fine, but corporate carrier stores have more consistent service.
The best deals usually appear in the first month after release. The standard and Pro models launch in September, and the budget "e" model launches in February or March.
How do I know how old my current iPhone is?
Open the Settings app, then go to General > About. Find the "Model Name" row. Here are the release years for iPhones still in widespread use, plus the headline feature each one introduced:
iPhone 17e: 2026 (A19 chip, MagSafe added, 256 GB base storage)
iPhone 17: 2025 (48 MP cameras across the board, Ceramic Shield 2, much better battery life)
iPhone 16: 2024 (Apple Intelligence, Camera Control button)
iPhone 15: 2023 (USB-C, Dynamic Island on the base model)
iPhone 14: 2022 (Emergency SOS via satellite, dual eSIM)
iPhone 13: 2021 (refinement year)
iPhone 12: 2020 (MagSafe, OLED on all models)
iPhone 11: 2019 (ultrawide camera)
iPhone XS, XR: 2018 (dual SIM)
iPhone X: 2017 (Face ID, edge-to-edge screen)
If your iPhone is older than five years, it is time to start thinking about an upgrade.
Common mistakes when buying a new iPhone
Buying last year's model to save $100. You give back a year of useful life, which is the part of the calculation most people miss.
Paying for storage you will never use. Check your current iPhone storage before you buy. Most people use under 100 GB.
Buying from "Authorized" dealers in mall kiosks. Service is inconsistent. Go to a corporate carrier store or buy direct from Apple.
Waiting too long after release to buy. The best trade-in offers expire within weeks of launch.
Key takeaways
Buy the iPhone 17 if you want the best long-term value
Buy the iPhone 17e if you want the best price without serious compromise
Choose 256 GB unless your current iPhone has consistently used over 200 GB
Add AppleCare if you drop phones, do not use a case, or it is for a kid
Buy from Apple or your carrier within a few weeks of launch for the best deals
Further reading
Need help choosing the right iPhone, transferring your data, or setting up a new one? I offer one-on-one tech tutoring in San Francisco and Washington DC, plus Zoom sessions anywhere. Transferring to a new iPhone goes as smoothly over Zoom as it does in person, so distance is no obstacle. Book a session and I will walk you through it.
