Which iPhone should I buy in 2026?

What's the best iPhone?

Apple released its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, in October 2026.

It has the biggest iPhone screen ever; its inner display measures 7.6 inches and is compatible with the Apple Pencil, meaning you can use it as a tablet as well as a phone.

And when used folded with its 5.4-inch outer display, it offers the longest-ever battery life for an iPhone (up to 44 hours).

But just because it’s the latest model doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best iPhone for you, particularly if you’re on a budget.

As well as the biggest screen, the iPhone Duo also has the biggest price tag: starting at £1,999 for 256 GB storage and rising to £3,199 for the 2TB model.

It’s also big and heavy, with measurements of 117.8 x 84.1 x 11.3 mm and a weight of 254g.

Yet it is still smaller (when folded) than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which has a 6.9-inch screen, measures 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm, and weighs 249g.

The Duo aside, the flagship iPhone 18 range includes four models, all of which offer many of the same hi-tech features: the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

However, only the Pro and Pro Max models are available at the time of writing; the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are due to be released in early 2027, along with a new generation iPhone Air, which could prove a popular choice for fans of smaller handsets.

Of course, the best iPhone for you might not necessarily mean the top-end, most powerful phone: it totally depends on your needs and your budget. To that end, here’s our pick of the best iPhones at different price points:

• Best iPhone: iPhone Duo/iPhone 18 Pro

• Best mid-range iPhone: iPhone 17e

• Cheapest iPhone: iPhone 15

How to find the best iPhone for you

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want the latest model? Choosing an older iPhone is a great way to save money – they get cheaper as they age – but the latest handsets offer better features and should last longer.

• What’s your budget? A bigger budget will get you newer models with higher specs and/or a larger screen. If you’re looking for a cheap iPhone, consider an older model or a smaller phone.

• What size screen do you need? All recent iPhones have large screens measuring between 6.1 and 6.9 inches. Do you want a larger Pro Max or Plus model, or a smaller e version?

• Do you want the latest camera tech? Each new iPhone range ups the quality of the camera. The 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max feature an 18MP front camera and a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system (while the Duo lacks a telephoto zoom lens).

Best small size: iPhone 17e

The recent iPhone range only includes large handsets; even the smallest models have a 6.1-inch screen.

The smallest iPhone in Apple’s current line-up is therefore the iPhone 17e, measuring 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm.

It has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, an Apple A19 chip, a C1X modem, a powerful 48MP Fusion main camera, and storage options of 256GB and 512GB.

And at £699 for the 256GB version, it’s a lot more accessible than the iPhone Duo. That’s why it’s our mid-range pick.

If size is your main concern, you can also consider the iPhone 16e, which has the same dimensions and can still be found new on the retail market (often for a lower price than the 17e).

And if you are happy to buy a refurbished iPhone, it’s worth considering the 13 Mini at 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm with a 5.4-inch screen.

If you’re looking to buy in 2027, meanwhile, you may prefer the second-generation iPhone Air, which is expected to offer the latest features in a slim, lightweight format.

Best value: iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 is recent enough to feel modern and up to date, but costs as little as £399 from certain retailers.

Its features include the ‘Dynamic Island’ feature, as well as a 6.1-inch screen and major improvements in camera specs when compared to the iPhone 14.

As iPhone 15 models are the first iPhones to feature the USB-C port, rather than Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, it’s also a good choice for anyone concerned about cable management.

Best specs: iPhone 18 Pro Max/iPhone 18 Pro Max

The iPhone 18 Pro Max, the top tier of the iPhone 18 range, has a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED display, an A20 Pro chip, a 48MP main camera, a 35% smaller Dynamic Island, and massive battery life.

The iPhone Duo, meanwhile, offers lots of new features, including that huge interior screen and the ability to use it with the Apple Pencil, but has a less impressive camera setup and no Face ID.

Which model has the best specs for you therefore depends on how you want to use your phone.

Best specs without the size: iPhone 18 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch screen, making it less unwieldy than the 18 Pro Max. At 211g, it’s also quite a bit lighter than either the 18 Pro Max or the Duo.

Under the hood, however, it has pretty much the same specs as the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The main difference is it only offers 31 hours of video playback when fully charged, vs 38 hours with the Max version.

Best battery life: iPhone Duo/iPhone 18 Pro Max

The rule of thumb is the bigger the phone, the bigger the battery capacity.

As the latest iPhones also tend to have more powerful batteries, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the slab model that promises the longest battery life: up to 43 hours of video playback per charge.

The 18 Pro model, on the other hand, offers just 34 hours of video playback per charge, while Duo users can get up to 31 hours on the larger, inner screen, but can push that up to 44 hours when only using the outer display.

Should I buy an older iPhone?

Yes, an older iPhone can be a great choice if you want to try one for the first time, or if the cost of Apple’s latest release is out of your budget.

Apple usually provides around five years of software updates and security patches for its phones, meaning many older generations of iPhone still support the latest version of iOS.

This ensures apps are secure and safe, and you have access to the latest Apple software.

Are there any iPhones I should avoid?

Yes. While older iPhones offer cheaper access to much of the same tech, it’s generally best to avoid any iPhones that are too old to either a) receive the latest iOS updates, or b) keep up with the latest software.

The iPhone X, for example, became obsolete in August 2026. And while you can still get iOS updates on iPhone 11s, you can’t use 5G networks, making it a poor choice for connectivity in 2026.

Got an old iPhone you’d like to trade in for cash? You can easily do so with our mobile phone recycling tool.

How to get the best deal

MoneySuperMarket can help you get the best deal on the iPhone you want.

Just use our search tool to find packages that include the model you are looking for from a wide range of networks. Then click through to apply for the deal you want.

You can tweak it to look for older models, ones with more or less storage, and deals that spread the cost to keep your monthly bills down.

If you’re keen to get an older iPhone, remember that Apple traditionally releases its latest iPhones in September and October every year, meaning you can get great deals on previous ranges around this time.

Selling your old phone

Looking to sell your old phone? Compare quotes and pick a recycler to sell your device to for cash.