Apple’s lineup has never been this confusing or this expensive. Prices went up across the board in September, and a few phones now sit in awkward spots where you pay more for less. I’ll be honest: some of these made me roll my eyes. Here’s the quick verdict first, then the reasons.
| iPhone | Price (US) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Air | $1,099 | Skip |
| iPhone 16 | $799 | Skip |
| iPhone 17e | $699 | Skip (at this price) |
| iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max | discontinued | Skip new, maybe used |
| iPhone Duo (foldable) | $1,999 | Wait |
| iPhone 17 | $899 | Buy |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | Buy |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | Buy (if you want the battery) |
iPhone Air: Skip
The Stylist’s Dream, and Not Much Else
If you absolutely love a slim, light phone and that’s your top priority, go for it. It’s gorgeous, and I get the appeal. But if a normal-profile iPhone is fine with you (and honestly, most iPhones aren’t that thick anyway), the Air is the worst value in Apple’s lineup. At that price, you may as well set your hard-earned money on fire.
Cons:
- One camera. It’s 48MP, but it’s weak next to the other models. There’s no ultrawide, no macro and no telephoto, and you miss the newer spatial video features.
- Thermals. A titanium body this thin leaves almost no room to manage heat.
- A single speaker. Apple usually makes some of the best-sounding phone speakers, but this one sounds like a budget Android. You’re paying near-Pro money for that.
- Smaller battery. A thin body means less room for cells. Compared with the standard iPhone, you also lose roughly six hours of video playback.
- USB 2.0 speeds at a premium price, and no HDMI screen mirroring.
- eSIM only. No physical SIM, so it’s a pain if you travel or switch carriers often.
- Poor long-term value. It costs about $200 more than the iPhone 17 and nearly as much as a Pro, but gives you fewer features and a lot less phone than either.
Buy this instead: the iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 Pro.
iPhone 16: Skip
The Awkward Middle Child
I wanted to like this as a bargain, but at $799 it makes no sense. It’s only $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17 and only $100 more than the 17e.
Cons:
- Older A18 chip in a lineup that’s now on A19 and A20.
- Fewer upgrades than the 17, which brings a better display and more base storage for just $100 more.
- You’ll feel it age sooner. Buying last year’s phone to save $100 isn’t a deal when you’ll want to upgrade a year earlier.
Buy this instead: spend the extra $100 and get the iPhone 17.
iPhone 17e: Skip (at $699)
Cheap, Until It Isn’t
This was a great idea at $599. It has a modern chip, MagSafe, a solid IP68 rating, and 256GB of storage. At $699, though, it’s hard to recommend, because the full iPhone 17 is only $200 more.
Cons:
- The price gap is too small. For $200 more, you get a clearly better phone.
- A single rear camera and other budget compromises you’ll notice every day.
- Less phone for your money at the new price. If you can find it at $599, my verdict changes.
Buy this instead: stretch to the iPhone 17.
iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Skip new, consider used
Discontinued, but Still Tempting
Apple discontinued these when the 18 Pro line arrived. They’re still great phones with a real telephoto lens, but paying full price for leftover stock is silly.
Cons:
- No longer sold by Apple. Warranty and availability depend on whoever’s selling.
- Prices vary wildly across carriers and resellers.
Pros:
- A telephoto lens and Pro-level performance, if you find a good deal.
My advice: only buy if it’s a clearly good used or carrier deal. Otherwise, the 18 Pro is the better buy.
iPhone Duo: Wait
Exciting and Expensive
Apple’s first foldable is exciting, and I’ll admit I’m curious. But at $1,999, you’d be paying early-adopter prices for first-generation hardware. Early foldables from every brand have had durability and crease questions.
Why wait:
- Nearly double the price of the 18 Pro for most people who just need a great phone.
- First-gen risk. Let other people find the problems.
- Wait for real-world durability reviews and a second generation.
iPhone 17: Buy
The Sweet Spot
This is the one I’d tell most friends and family to buy. It gets you the modern experience, a good camera setup and a big storage jump without the Pro price.
Pros:
- Best value in the lineup for most people.
- 120Hz-class modern display, a good front camera, and 256GB base storage. (Verify exact display specs.)
- Great all-around balance of price, performance, and battery.
Cons:
- No telephoto lens and slower USB 2.0 speeds.
- The price went up $100, which stings.
iPhone 18 Pro: Buy
For People Who Care About Photos
If you want real zoom, this is the cheapest iPhone that has it. The A20 Pro chip, triple 48MP camera system with variable aperture, and USB 3 speeds make it worth the step up for creators.
Pros:
- A real telephoto lens and the best cameras in a compact body.
- Fast USB 3 transfers, which matters if you move big video files.
Cons:
- $1,199 is a serious chunk of money, and the price jumped $100 from last year.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Buy (for battery people)
The Battery King
Same cameras as the 18 Pro, with a bigger 6.9-inch screen and the longest battery life of any iPhone, up to 45 hours of video.
Pros:
- Battery life that genuinely outlasts everything else.
- A big, beautiful screen for video and gaming.
Cons:
- It’s heavy (about 38g more than the 18 Pro) and hard to use one-handed.
- $1,299 is a lot to pay.
Final shortcut
- Under $1,000: buy the iPhone 17.
- Want zoom and the best camera: buy the iPhone 18 Pro.
- Want maximum battery: buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
- Want thin and light: consider the Air only if you accept every trade-off above.
- Curious about foldables: wait for the next generation.