Buying a new iPhone can be surprisingly overwhelming, especially if you aren’t automatically going for the latest model.
While the newest releases tend to come with upgraded features and the latest technology, they can also come with a pretty hefty price tag. Meanwhile, older models may offer many of the same features for less, but they might not be worth the investment if they’re already falling behind on software updates or performance. With so many options to choose from, tech pros list what they think are the best and worst iPhones to buy right now.
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Best: iPhone 15
"The refurbished iPhone 15 would always be my number one choice. It's at a fantastic price point compared with its original brand-new price, and a lot of the depreciation has already been taken out," explains tech expert and store owner Steven Athwal. "You're buying it for considerably less, so you've got less money tied up in it when you eventually come to sell it on."
Worst: iPhone Air
"The iPhone Air has a noticeably weaker speaker than the other new models," noted tech pro Bram Vermolen. "Because of its thin form, it only has one speaker, and it noticeably lacks bass. If you use your iPhone often without headphones, for speakerphone, videos, or voice messages, this can be frustrating. Personally, I'd rather pay for a heavier phone than sacrifice a feature I use every day."
Best: iPhone 17e
"If you want to keep your phone for four or five years at a time instead of upgrading frequently, battery replacement will be inevitable because no matter what model, all batteries will degrade over time," adds Vermolen. "In that case, the iPhone 17e could be a good choice. Apple made it easier for repair technicians to remove its battery, which should make the repair easier and perhaps even less expensive. Plus, it has a lot going for it at its $599 introductory price, including 256GB of storage, the latest-generation A19 chip, and MagSafe wireless charging."
Worst: iPhone 18
"For me, the worst value for the average user absolutely has to be a brand-new iPhone 18 Pro Max," notes Athwal. "You're paying for having the latest and greatest. The advanced camera, the camera controls, and the processing power don't justify that extra cost if you're only using it for the basics. Recent previous generations of iPhones will do those everyday jobs, and buying one refurbished can save you hundreds of pounds. With a brand-new purchase, you're also the one taking on the depreciation from that new purchase price. I wouldn't recommend spending that sort of money unless there's a particular feature you know you need."
