We are officially in the final quarter of 2025, and it was kicked off with a great Apple event! As always, there are 4 new iPhones again, but with notable changes throughout the lineup. The iPhone 17 finally got premium features like a high refresh rate display. The Plus line is gone for a new ultra-thin Air. And the Pro models have been completely redesigned with performance and hardware prowess in mind.
But there are way more iPhones out there than the 17-line. There's the iPhone 16e, which Apple launched earlier in 2025. And, if you look on Apple's website, the iPhone 16 is still available for $100 less than the 17, and the 16 Plus is still there if you want a last chance at getting a big iPhone without a Pro Max price-tag.
That's a lot of variants to consider, and we haven't even gotten into the stock of retailers and carriers, who still have plenty of the old Pros to clear out. Even some old SE models! So... it's normal if you are just getting into this and already feel your head spinning.
If you’re chasing raw performance, the iPhone 17 Pro Max sits at the top of the food chain, no contest. But let’s be real: most people don’t need that much horsepower. The good news is that, with so many variants rolling about, you have a pretty good chance of finding an iPhone that is "just right".
And that’s exactly why we’re here. At PhoneArena, we’ve been tracking iPhones since 2007, from the OG classic to today’s iOS 26-powered pocket beasts. Whether you’re after the flashiest Pro or the best value pick, we’ll help you navigate Apple’s ever-growing orchard.
Because the “best iPhone” isn’t the same for everyone — it depends on your priorities: budget, performance, cameras, battery life, or maybe just the feel of a smaller phone in your hand. The iPhone 17 Pro Max may dazzle, but for many, an older model like the iPhone 16 still ticks many boxes.
So let’s cut through the noise. Below, we’ve rounded up the iPhones most worth your time and money in 2025 — and explained why each one earns a spot. P.S. Bargain hunters — don’t miss our Best Cheap iPhone guide, where we track the hottest deals on older iPhones that are still absolute champs.
iPhone 16e - cheapest modern iPhone you can get, with some core experiences cut
iPhone 16 Plus - the cheapest way to get an oversized iPhone
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Biggest iPhone, best camera, extra-long battery life
PhoneArena Rating: 8
PhoneArena Battery Score: 7 hours 46 minutes
PhoneArena Camera Score: 156
(Image Source - PhoneArena) The iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
What we like
Tangible boost in performance
Meaningful camera upgrades, especially front camera
Brighter screen, now with anti-glare
What we don't like
The camera plateau will be a contentious topic
Scratchable aluminum body, not titanium and not stainless steel
8
PhoneArena Rating
7.6
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.4
7.5
Photo Quality
8
7.3
Video Quality
7.1
6.4
Charging
5.5
6.4
Performance Heavy
8.5
7.4
Performance Light
8.8
8.1
Display Quality
8.5
8.1
Design
8
8.1
Wireless Charging
7.7
7
Biometrics
8
7.6
Audio
8
7.6
Software
10
8.4
Why the score?
This device scores 5% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic V Flip 2, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is spactacular and unopolagetic. It's big and slightly heavy, it has the new "camera plateau" that makes it look even more cumbersome, and it's now made of aluminum instead of the titan coating we had before. All of the changes were made with hardware improvements in mind — better heat dissipation, stronger antennas and connectivity, upgraded cameras.
Plus, it now has a 6.9-inch screen since the 16 Pros got that bezel shrink treatment. The display is now very bright, with 3,000 nits peak brightness, and a new anti-glare coating, which is not as strong as we had hoped for, but does make a difference.
By all means, it's the full Apple experience, no holds barred. It even comes in a 2 TB model this year, for those that intend to record tons of footage with its cameras.
And Apple did not shy away from pro features for the cameras, too. Both the iPhone 17 Pro models can now record 4K in ProRes RAW and in Log format with no processing from the phone. Professionals get that dull, pale footage and apply their own "look-up-tables" to achieve all kinds of cinematic look. Aspiring influencers and videographers will definitely get all giddy with this feature.
To top it off, the iPhone 17 Pro Max finally broke the 5,000 mAh barrier — the US versions of the phone have a 5,088 mAh cell. Internationally, they still ship with a SIM tray, which leaves less room for a battery and those models are with a 4,832 mAh one. Not as impressive, still bigger than the 4,685 mAh cell in the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
It’s a hefty investment, for sure, but certainly offers everything Apple can give you right now. If that sounds like the iPhone you want, there's no question — that piggy bank has a date with the hammer. It starts at $1,199 but at least its lowest tier starts at 256 GB storage. Still, if you plan on enjoying the improved cameras with Cinematic Mode, and its ProRes video recording, you should plan ahead and just get a 512 GB model (at least).
The iPhone 17 Pro is very much all of this but in a slightly more compact package. Its 6.3-inch screen is just smaller enough to make a difference. Enjoy the cameras, performance, and bright display in a format that is slightly easier to handle.
Key iPhone 17 Pro Max specs: Display: 6.9-inch 120Hz screen Processor: Apple A19 Pro RAM: 12GB Cameras: 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP tetraprism (4x optical zoom), 18MP front-facing Battery: 5,088mAh Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is still worth it, especially with discounts inbound PhoneArena Rating: 8 PhoneArena Battery Score: 8 hours 30 minutes PhoneArena Camera Score: 154
(Image Source - PhoneArena) The iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
What we like
Big leap in performance, especially gaming
Industry-leading front camera with square sensor
Faster charging, improved battery life
What we don't like
Pricey, most would be better off with vanilla iPhone 17
Display anti-reflectivity not as good as S25 Ultra
7.9
PhoneArena Rating
7.3
Price Class Average
Battery Life
6.7
7.3
Photo Quality
8
7
Video Quality
7.1
6.1
Charging
6
6.5
Performance Heavy
8.3
7
Performance Light
8.7
7.7
Display Quality
8.5
7.9
Design
8
8.1
Wireless Charging
8
7
Biometrics
8
7.4
Audio
8
7.3
Software
10
8
Why the score?
This device scores 7.6% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic V Flip 2, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and Google Pixel 10 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro Max may be discontinued, but there are still plenty of units left in the world. And retailers would love to sell them to you, so keep a keen eye on any deals and discounts that may be popping up. It's the first time the screen grew up to 6.9", from 6.7", and the 16 Pro Max feels just as soft in the hand with the beveled edges design. If you dislike the new "camera plateau", this is your last chance to get the "stove camera" design in what is going to be quite a while.
And they are pretty good cameras, too. Still a 48 MP main and 48 MP ultra-wide snapper, only the zoom camera has a 12 MP resolution. The iPhone 16 Pro Max maxes out at 25x zoom where the iPhone 17 Pro Max hits 40x. If you don't care too much about that, you will be happily snapping away none the wiser. You also get ProRes and Log video recording capabilities — not ProRes RAW and Log 2, but really, should we be that picky? And also the fully-featured Photographic Styles.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max also has a titanium frame, where the 17 Pro Max went aluminum. It was a part of the heat management revision since those Apple chips are real beasts. But then again... titanium is just cooler.
So, do know that the Apple A18 Pro chip here is still an absolute powerhouse, but will throttle more easily. While it hasn't been a huge customer complaint through 2024 and 2025, it did result in these AAA titles like Assassin's Creed and Resident Evil not hitting 30 FPS. Gamers, be advised — the new 17 Pro series is the one to go for.
The battery is definitely worth a mention, as it's grown to 4,685 mAh — no longer the biggest cell on an iPhone, but it still provides supreme endurance.
At the time of writing this, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has already dropped by $100 at retailers. But also make sure to check with carriers if your contract is up. No doubt the incoming holiday season will bring about even more discounts.
iPhone 16 Pro - Everything said here also holds for the iPhone 16 Pro. If you want the cameras, titanium, performance, all in a smaller package, keep an eye on iPhone 16 Pro units!
Key iPhone 16 Pro Max specs: Display: 6.9-inch 120Hz screen Processor: Apple A18 Pro RAM: 8GB Cameras: 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (5x optical zoom), 12MP front-facing Battery: 4,685mAh Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Incredibly thin and stylish, but at a cost PhoneArena Rating: 7.4 PhoneArena Battery Score: 6 hours 43 minutes PhoneArena Camera Score: 126
(Image Source - PhoneArena) The iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple iPhone Air
What we like
Unique style, thin and premium
Great display, fast, bright, and vivid
Wireless charging on board
What we don't like
Mono speaker sounds weak and flat
Only single wide-angle camera
Can run hot during performance-heavy tasks
7.4
PhoneArena Rating
7.3
Price Class Average
Battery Life
6.5
7.4
Photo Quality
5.7
7
Video Quality
5.1
6.1
Charging
5.1
6.8
Performance Heavy
7.2
7
Performance Light
8.6
7.5
Display Quality
8.5
7.9
Design
10
7.9
Wireless Charging
7.8
6.9
Biometrics
8
7.5
Audio
7
7.2
Software
10
8
Why the score?
This device scores 1.4% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic V Flip 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and Google Pixel 10 Pro
Out of the phones here, none is more unique than the iPhone Air. It's the thinnest iPhone ever made, it's incredibly tough thanks to its titanium frame, it has the same 120 Hz, 3,000-nit peak display, and same Apple A19 Pro chip as the Pro models (minus one GPU core).
It does come with its compromises, so don't get too excited. It only comes with a single camera. Not a bad one, mind you — the same 48 MP Fusion camera you can find on an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17. So, you still have some limited high-quality zoom in play for the portrait picture here and there.
Of course, it also has a smaller battery, at 3,149 mAh. While it does last quite a bit longer than we expected, it's still the underperformer in the 2025 line.
And it only has one speaker — the earpiece is amped to also go loud. It sounds thinner and quieter than other recent iPhones and their stereo speakers.
OK, you sacrifice all of that and what do you get? A very elegant and light phone with an excellent screen and pretty fast performance. It's a premium product and more of a "fashion tech" item. Anyone who's after the best spec will not spend the $1,000 on an iPhone Air, but casual users that got into Apple for their design and status will definitely enjoy it.
Key iPhone Air specs: Display: 6.5-inch 120Hz screen Processor: Apple A19 Pro RAM: 12GB Cameras: 48MP main, 18MP front-facing Battery: 3,149mAh Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
The base iPhone 17 got so many upgrades this year, it's a great deal PhoneArena Rating: 7.7 PhoneArena Battery Score: 6 hours 13 minutes PhoneArena Camera Score: 150
(Image Source - PhoneArena) The iPhone 17
Apple iPhone 17
What we like
Finally a great display on the base iPhone
Exceptional performance and efficiency
Much faster charging is great to have
What we don't like
Battery life might have been slightly better
7.7
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
5.9
7.3
Photo Quality
7.6
6.8
Video Quality
6.8
5.8
Charging
6.1
6.7
Performance Heavy
7.6
6.7
Performance Light
8.6
7.4
Display Quality
8.5
7.9
Design
8
7.8
Wireless Charging
8.2
7
Biometrics
8
7.4
Audio
8
7
Software
10
7.7
Why the score?
This device scores 7.8% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, RedMagic 10S Pro and Motorola Razr (2025)
The iPhone 17 got the long-awaited display upgrade this year. Finally, a 120 Hz ProMotion screen! In fact, it seems like it's just like the Pro display, as it also hits 3,000 nits peak. Users that have never had a Pro will enjoy and most probably appreciate the smoother animations, fast response, and brighter visuals. And those that have been spending on a Pro just for the 120 Hz screen may feel tempted to spend a little less this time around.
The iPhone 17 comes with an Apple A19 chip — not Pro — but its performance loss compared to the Pro models is pretty small. It has 5 GPU cores, instead of 6, but still does very respectable on the 3D Mark tests. By all means, you don't miss out on performance or screen quality with the iPhone 17.
What you do miss out on is the extra zoom camera or the ProRes Log recording. For the first time in quite a while, the Pro iPhones have actual pro features that you may not actually care about as a casual user. The iPhone 17 has a 48 MP Fusion camera, so you can still take Portrait Mode pictures at 2x or 3x, and an upgraded 48 MP ultra-wide camera, in line with the Pro models. And it has the square 18 MP selfie camera. Good things all around!
The bad news is that the iPhone 17 is technically $100 more expensive this year. Apple axed the 128 GB entry level variant and now automatically upsells you on the 256 GB. At least it's some added value instead of an outright price hike.
This device scores 1.5% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, RedMagic 10S Pro and Motorola Edge (2025)
The iPhone 16e is a remnant of Apple's strong push for AI earlier this year. Cupertino was quite confident that it'll have the full Apple Intelligence suite ready and that it would be at the core of the Apple experience. Which is why it launched a pretty affordable iPhone that still had the then latest A18 chip and 8 GB of RAM. Ready for that AI future!
Well, that all may have been postponed, but the iPhone 16e still remains, and it's a pretty good offer. For $600, you get solid performance, a single 48 MP camera, Face ID, and an Action Button. You don't get the Camera Control button or any extra cameras, and you will be locked down to the old 60 Hz screen. There's no MagSafe ring on the back but you do get 7.5 W wireless charging. If those cons doen't bother you, it's an easy sell.
This device scores 1.3% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Google Pixel 10 Pro and Google Pixel 10
The Plus line did not get a lot of love, hence why Apple decided to remodel it into the Air. But it still has its own fans — you get a big iPhone without having to spend the full Pro Max money.
Downsides — it's a 60 Hz screen and you only get two cameras, wide and ultra-wide. Upsides — big screen fans that want to binge YouTube and Netflix on their phone barely care.
It still provides excellent performance with the Apple A18 chip, super-long battery life with a 4,674 mAh cell, stereo speakers, Face ID, all the core Apple things. And it'll be going extinct soon, so make sure you grab one before that happens.
Looking at the present Apple iPhone lineup, we would say that the iPhone 17 is probably the best value right now. Its base tier comes with 256 GB of storage, which will be plenty enough for most users out there. It does lack a telephoto camera, but you get your first taste of Pro experience with the upgraded 120 Hz screen!
If you want even more premium features, you'd have to make quite the leap in price.
However, the good news is that some wireless carriers and 3rd party retailers still have units of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in stock. If you are craving that telephoto camera for better portraits, and the pro video features — you may do well seeking one of those out.
How to choose the iPhone that best fits your needs?
There are two things to consider when buying a new phone. Your usage habits and your budget. Do you really need a huge Max model, if you only use iMessage and Instagram twice a day? If you game on your iPhone — do you play vertical games that require a one-hand grip, or do you immerse yourself in horizontal shooters? Naturally, the latter crowd will enjoy a bigger screen for sure.
Plus, it also helps to pay attention to how long the phone will be supported for. Credit given where one is due, Google has recently committed to 7 years of software support for its Pixel phones, but we have yet to witness that happen. Whereas iPhones are proven to get 5 years of software support, so they more or less retain value — you can get them second hand, you can sell them off, an iPhone is an iPhone for half a decade.
It also helps that smartphone tech development has steadied in recent years, finding a comfortable plateau, and new features don't pop up at a relentless pace. Meaning, new phones stay new for longer, as they aren't immediately outshined by the next best thing.
Now, a lot can go wrong in these years, such as batteries going bad, but it's worth noting that Apple has upped its game considerably since the old iPhone 6 fiasco.
So, as far as usage habits go, you need to consider this:
Phone size and design:
Large phone: the Max and the Plus - if you watch a lot of videos, play a lot of games, browse tons of social media on your iPhone, or even edit your own clips and pictures, you will probably want to sacrifice the comfort of a small device and gain the benefit of a larger screen. In that case, the Pro Max models or the old iPhone 16 Plus will work out best. They also have the benefit of improved battery life, which lends itself well to your poweruser needs.
Medium size: the regular models - you may wish to have a more comfortable grip on the phone, as you use it more to reply to messages and only watch talking head style YouTube videos. The regular iPhone with no Max or Plus monikers seems to strike this balance well. The screen has enough room for comfortable thumb-typing, and is big enough for the occasional enjoyment of multimedia. Yet, it's not too large and you won't be overwhelmed by its size if you decide to stick it in a case.
Thin, light, stylish - the super-compact mini models and SE models are now discontinued and mostly gone. However, the new iPhone Air is incredibly light and also pretty to look at, with its shiny titanium frame and slim profile. It does have a bigger display, at 6.5-inches, and high grade performance. But due to its size it doesn't offer enough battery endurance or sustained performance for power users. Casual users that like pretty tech in their pocket will enjoy it.
Phone Features
Camera - if you want a telephoto camera for better zoomed-in photos and more natural portraits, your option is quickly limited to the Pro models. Furthermore, if you want to experiment with the new-ish Cinematic Mode as well as the upgraded Photographic Styles — you need to go with an iPhone 16 series at the least. Needless to say, if you want the absolute best and most advanced Apple camera to date — you will find it on an iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
Screen quality - Across the board, Apple uses OLED panels for all recent iPhones. So, color reproduction and accuracy will be on equal levels across models. All iPhones from the 17 series also have a 3,000 nits peak brightness and 120 Hz refresh rate. If you go for more budget options and hunt for older generations, know that non-Pro iPhones used to have 60 Hz screens.
Safety and security - The Secure Enclave is a subsystem within Apple chips that is present on all recent iPhones, making sure your sensitive data is encrypted and held safe on-device. As far as cyber safety is concerned, all modern Apple phones have you covered.
As for physical safety, iOS does provide Medical ID and Emergency SOS on all of them, however iPhone 14 series and above have a slight edge. If you find yourself an avid trekker, you may want the new satellite SOS feature, for some peace of mind. That and the new Crash Detection feature are only found on the 2022+ iPhones.
Battery life
Apple always aims for an "all day battery life" with all its mobile devices. It typically achieves that, especially since iOS is fantastic at preserving battery charge when in standby mode. Some, however, exceed those expectations — specifically the Plus models and Pro Max models, which have room for larger batteries in them.
There are also some models that fall short — like the iPhone 12 mini, which wasn't very dependable with its battery endurance. Especially if scanning often for an unreliable 5G connection. The iPhone Air does last quite a bit, which is commendable, but still can't physically offer the same battery as any of its contemporaries.
Aside from that small mishap, most iPhones in recent years have had a dependable battery life.
Check out how these iPhones have performed in our extensive battery tests:
in the case of the Apple iPhone, we typically trust that the performance is — and will be — top-tier for years to come. The Apple A silicon is excellent and way ahead of the game, outperforming and outlasting the competition on a regular basis. Here is a rundown of the contemporary models and their capabilities:
Apple A19 Pro (iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max): hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.26 GHz clock speed, 6-core GPU
Apple A19 Pro for iPhone Air: hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.26 GHz clock speed, 5-core GPU
Apple A19 (modified for iPhone 17, 17 Plus): hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.26 GHz clock speed, 5-core GPU
Apple A18 Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, Pro Max): hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.05 GHz clock speed, 6-core GPU
Apple A18 (iPhone 16, Plus): hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.04 GHz clock speed, 5-core GPU
Apple A18 for iPhone 16e: hexa-core, 3 nm. Up to 4.04 GHz clock speed, 4-core GPU
In other words — if Apple sells it on its website, it still considers it fast enough to wear the brand on its back with pride.
Here's the performance of the iPhones in the lists on benchmark tests:
You will notice that we put emphasis on three different ratings with these phones. Here at PhoneArena, we have a dedicated battery rating, dedicated camera rating, and an overall scoring of the phone, which takes into account all of its important features — from design to display, performance, charging speed, and speaker quality. At first glance, the overall rating points may look a bit low, but that's because every aspect of the phone is scored with our internal processes, developed specifically to be future-proof and combat "review score inflation".
In other words — we do our best to use the full 1 to 10 scale, so an overall score of 7.6 is very good. To make it easier to understand where a specific phone falls, compared to its peers, we've added a "Price Class Average" metric, which shows you the average score from other phones in the same category.
Buy 3 Months, Get 3 Free
Visible+ Pro – up to $135 savings on Verizon’s fastest 5G
Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: