Best iPhone in 2026: Here's Which Apple Phone You Should Buy

Apple's new iPhone 17 series and thin iPhone Air are now in stores and replace the iPhone 16 line as the company's top flagship models. We've tested and reviewed the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 and the powerful iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and have added them to our picks for the best iPhone. In fact, the iPhone 17 is our top pick for most people. It packs an incredible amount of features for its price and has a battery life that lasts as long as the iPhone 17 Pro, which costs nearly $300 more. But between the new iPhone models, the iPhone 16E and older models like the iPhone 16, you have a lot of options when buying a new Apple phone. If you're looking for discounts, here are our best iPhone Air and iPhone 17 line deals . Our Picks MOBILE DEALS OF THE WEEK $749 (save $250) $298 (save $102) $241 (save $310) What's the best iPhone right now? The best iPhone for most people is the iPhone 17 . It shares many features with Apple's pricier 17 Pro models, but at a lower $829 starting price (or $799 if you activate through a carrier). It supports the newest camera capabilities like Dual Capture and Center Stage, and at long last, it has a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate for smoother scrolling and support for the always-on display. While it's true that the iPhone 17 shares a striking resemblance to last year's iPhone 16, there are some key updates that help it stand out . Apart from the upgraded refresh rate, the iPhone 17 also boasts a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, along with an anti-reflective display that makes it easier to see the screen outdoors. The ultrawide camera goes from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 48 megapixels on the iPhone 17, and Apple says the iPhone 17 has up to eight hours more of video playback. Indeed, in CNET's three-hour streaming test, the iPhone 17's battery dropped from 100% to 89%, while the iPhone 16 hit 86%. A Ceramic Shield 2 display offers three times better scratch resistance, according to Apple, so if you're susceptible to etching into your screen, it has a little more protection now. The iPhone 17 starts with a higher 256GB storage option, as opposed to the 128GB starting point on the iPhone 16, meaning you get more space for photos and apps. Unlike previous iPhone generations, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models share almost all the same hardware features, apart from the telephoto lens and bigger battery on the latter. While Apple tends to introduce features like the Dynamic Island and Action button on Pro models first, the two ends of the iPhone spectrum now pack all those same hardware functions. The iPhone 17 also features all the new iOS 26 capabilities, such as Live Translation, Call Screening and the new Liquid Glass interface. Best iPhones of 2026 Best iPhone Apple iPhone 17 Pros Upgraded 1-120Hz display New...

Preview: ~500 words