The best iPhone to buy in 2023
Picking a new iPhone feels like it should be simple. But like so many other modern problems (have you tried simply choosing something to watch on TV lately an impossible task) its a little more complicated than it seems. Counting previous models that are still hanging around, along with all the Pros and Pluses and Maxes, Apple currently sells eight different iPhone models on its website. Eight! Its almost as confusing as trying to buy an iPad.
But fear not; theres help. After plenty of thorough testing, day-to-day use, and many blue chat bubbles, Im here to help you navigate Apples extensive product catalog. Whether you want an iPhone that will get through two days on a single battery charge, one that truly fits in your pocket, or the least expensive iPhone you can buy, weve got recommendations.
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Yes, you read that right. If youre buying an iPhone in early 2023, the smartest choice might just be 2021s iPhone 13. This is especially true if youre paying some or all of the cost out of pocket and not getting an iPhone on us carrier deal. If you want the very latest and greatest, then its worth skipping up to the 14 Pro or Pro Max more on that below. But the regular iPhone 14 is such a minor update to the 13 that you might as well save an extra $100 and just go with the (still excellent) previous-gen model.
In the iPhone 13, you still get an Apple A15 Bionic chipset, a 6.1-inch OLED screen, wireless charging via MagSafe, and an IP68 rating. Opting for the iPhone 14 gets you a slightly upgraded camera and a version of the A15 with an extra GPU core plus a new satellite SOS feature that will let you message emergency services even when youre out of cell range. Nice, but is that all an extra $100 nice? Thats up to you: on a 36-month payment plan, it doesnt add up to much more on your monthly bill only about $3. If youre paying upfront, though, it might feel better to keep that extra cash in your wallet. You can use it to buy something nice, like a few dozen eggs.
As it is, the iPhone 13 is plenty fast for most people, takes generally great photos and video, and will keep receiving OS updates well into the foreseeable future thanks to Apples habit of supporting devices with new iOS versions for upward of five or six years.
With the introduction of the iPhone 14, Apple lowered the price on the 13 to $699. If youre paying upfront rather than subsidizing your purchase with a carrier, then this is the best bang for your buck in 2023.
If cost isnt a major concern or youre able to snag a good carrier deal on a new iPhone, then this is a good year to spring for the top-tier model. The 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max get a new main camera sensor with some useful upgrades, an all-new A16 Bionic chipset, an always-on display, and a new UI element called Dynamic Island that puts certain timely system and app info at the top of your screen.
