Apple brings out multiple iPhones every year, so how do you know which is the best iPhone for you? Our top pick for most people is the iPhone 15 Pro, as we believe to have the right balance of excellent features in a phone that’s not too big to use single-handedly. If you’re not on a Pro-level budget, our guide has got other recommendations for you too, including the best cheap iPhone and the best for a big screen without breaking the bank.
The iPhone 15 range has been available since September 2023, and as we near the six-month mark of its release date, it could become more likely to get a discount at retailers or the major telcos. So if you’re looking to upgrade to your next iPhone, now is the perfect time to start comparing prices. If you’re ready to update your handset now, our guide will help you decide on the best iPhone to suit your needs.
Best iPhone for most people
RRP: from $1,849
Release date: September 2023
Why we recommend the iPhone 15 Pro
The iPhone 15 Pro strikes the right balance with flagship-level features in a phone that’s just the right size – not overly big and not too small. It has a new titanium finish which makes the phone lighter than its predecessor, and it also now comes with USB-C connectivity, which makes its charging port more universal. The cameras are excellent, and the new A17 Pro processor gives the phone enough power to play demanding games.
Expert consensus
The consensus among experts has honed in on a few key areas – its updated design and powerful performance. The iPhone 15 Pro is now encased in titanium rather than stainless steel like the previous iPhone 14 Pro, and experts agree that the result is a lighter device that’s still reasonably strong.
Expert reviews have also been favourable to Apple’s long-awaited switch to USB-C connectivity across the iPhone 15 range. Moving to a USB-C charging port brings Apple’s latest iPhones in line with a universal standard, and means you’ll no longer need to use Apple’s Lightning cable to charge your phone. You’ll be able to borrow phone chargers from your Android friends, and connect to aux cords with USB-C when you want to play music.
Apple has also said goodbye to the ring/silent switch on the side of the phone, and replaced it with a new Action button. It’s a trigger for silent mode by default, but if you play around with your settings you can make it a toggle for all sorts of things, such as opening the camera, turning on the flashlight or starting the voice recorder. We’ve only seen positive feedback for the Action button from reviewers, which suggests it’s been implemented well.
Performance is also a strong favourite among expert reviewers. The iPhone 15 Pro features an A17 Pro chip, while the regular iPhone 15 uses the same A16 Bionic processor that was used in the previous-gen iPhone 14 Pro. The powerful A17 Pro chipset makes this one of the fastest phones available, with enough power to play demanding games such as Resident Evil 4.
While 2022’s 14 Pro was praised by experts for its updated camera array – including a 48MP quad-pixel sensor for the first time on an iPhone – the response to the iPhone 15 Pro’s cameras has been much more subdued. Some reviewers have suggested that the 15 Pro’s camera upgrades are too niche to be noteworthy, and have lamented the fact that it misses out on the 5X zoom available on the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Sources: TechRadar (4.5/5) | Tom’s Guide (4/5) | T3 (5/5) | Digital Camera World (4.5/5)
User reviews
What about everyday users? Feedback from users on Google reviews is also highly positive, with almost 3,000 users providing an aggregated rating of 4.4/5 for the iPhone 15 Pro – that’s pretty on par with the experts.
How much should you pay for the iPhone 14 Pro?
The iPhone 15 Pro has an RRP of $1,849, which is $100 more than the iPhone 14 Pro was at launch. We’ve scarcely seen the 15 Pro get a discount, but the lowest outright price we’ve seen since it was released is $1,549, which is 16% off the listed price.
Buying the iPhone 15 Pro on a plan can sometimes net you a discount, but the drawback is that you’ll be tied to your chosen telco for longer in order to get the full saving. The largest device discount we’ve seen from a telco came from Telstra, which was offering $300 off the iPhone 15 Pro – it’s the same deal as mentioned above, where it dropped to $1,549.
Taking this into consideration, we don’t recommend buying the iPhone 15 Pro unless you can get 10% off or more.
Live price check
Find the top three prices for the iPhone 15 Pro below. You can also compare more Australian prices for the iPhone 15 Pro here on Getprice.
Other iPhones to consider
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
RRP: from $719
Best cheap iPhone
Phones can be pretty expensive these days, and if you’re looking for a relatively cheap iPhone, we think the iPhone SE (2022) is your best pick. It has a starting price of $719 and comes in three colours: black, white and red.
The iPhone SE (2022) is pretty powerful for the price you’re paying, as it features Apple’s A15 Bionic chip under the hood – that’s the same processor inside the iPhone 13. It’s also the most affordable iPhone that’s 5G-ready.
A cheaper price means you’ll be missing out on key features available on newer iPhones, such as improved cameras and a better screen. For example, you’ll get one 12MP camera on the back of the iPhone SE, and its 4.7-inch screen might feel too small for some users.
However, if you want a cheap iPhone that’s just as powerful as some of the top Android phones and is future-proofed with 5G, the iPhone SE (2022) is a good choice.
- Compare iPhone SE (2022) prices on Getprice
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
RRP: from $1,649
Best big screen iPhone that won’t break the bank
The iPhone 15 Plus is Apple’s second iteration of a new formula. It takes the bigger screen and larger battery of the Pro Max model and brings it down to a lower price point of $1,649 (low compared to the 15 Pro Max’s starting price of $2,199, at least). The 15 Plus boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display that makes photos, videos and everything else look fantastic, though it’s missing the adaptive refresh rate of the 15 Pro Max.
A larger phone can fit in a more generous battery, and in one test of its battery life, a reviewer said the iPhone 15 Plus has the “best battery longevity of any recent phone we’ve reviewed”. That review by our colleagues at TechRadar found the 15 Plus offered 10.25 hours of screen-on time, which shakes out to be up to two days of use from a single charge. If you’re absolutely sick of always needing to top up your phone throughout the day, the iPhone 15 Plus could be a good choice for you.
The 15 Plus is the same size as the 15 Pro Max, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference. While being the same size, the 15 Plus doesn’t offer the same cameras or processing power as the premium Pro Max model, and it has more in common with the regular iPhone 15. It comes with the same A16 Bionic chipset and a 48MP camera on the rear, plus it comes in the same range of pastel colours. Ultimately, the 15 Plus is the best big screen iPhone on a smaller budget.
- Compare iPhone 15 Plus prices on Getprice
Apple iPhone 13 mini
RRP: from $1,049
Best small iPhone
The design brief for most smartphones these days is bigger and better, but what about those of us who miss the days of smaller devices you can easily fit in the palm of your hand... or a pocket? Apple came out with the iPhone 13 mini in 2021 for precisely this crowd, and it’s the smallest iPhone you can buy.
The iPhone 13 mini is slightly smaller than the iPhone SE (2022), but it actually has a larger screen, and that’s because less of it is eaten up by chunky bezels. Slimmer bezels have made way for a 5.4-inch OLED display on the 13 mini, while the iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch LCD screen. Overall, the iPhone 13 mini’s display is brighter and has a higher resolution.
If you’re wondering why we haven’t recommended a mini version from the iPhone 15 family, that’s because there isn’t one. Apple did away with the 'mini' model in 2022, so for now at least, the iPhone 13 mini is your last chance to get a top-quality small iPhone.
- Compare iPhone 13 mini prices at Getprice
Which iPhone model is the best?
The answer to which iPhone model is best will change for each person – some of us want a premium device with the best camera capabilities, while others will consider value for money to be the most important factor.
You could say that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is best going off its spec sheet alone, but this model is the most expensive you can get at $2,199. That’s why we argue that the iPhone 15 Pro is the best iPhone model for most people.
When choosing which model is best for you, there are four points you might want to consider: price, size, camera and colour.
Price: The iPhone Pro models are the most expensive, but they come outfitted with the best cameras, the latest screen tech and premium build quality. If you want a more affordable option, you can go for the iPhone SE or one of Apple’s older models, such as the iPhone 11.
Size: Do you want a small or large handset, or something in between? For a smaller iPhone, you might want to consider the iPhone 13 mini or the iPhone SE. If you’d prefer a big screen, take a look at the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which both have 6.7-inch displays. For a nice middle ground, the standard iPhone 15 or 15 Pro are the best fit.
Camera: The best cameras that Apple has to offer come in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, so be prepared to pay a premium. These models both feature a 48MP main camera on the rear, the highest that Apple has ever offered.
Colour: iPhones tend to come in a nice range of colours, and it could influence which model you choose to buy. Apple’s Pro model iPhones tend to come in more muted, subdued colours with a matte finish, while the more affordable versions come in pops of colour – and your classic black and white – with a more glossy coating.
