Which iPhone to buy
If you want to buy an iPhone without having to understand Apple's entire product line, or if you just want to consider all available iPhones (including those available on the used market) this tool will guide you to the best pick given your preferences.
The approach
First we plot every available iPhone from the last 5 years on a chart with performance on one axis and price on the other.
Plotting performance against price reveals the Pareto frontier. The set of phones where no other phone is both cheaper and better. Every phone on the frontier is an equally rational choice.
Picking a phone that is not on the Pareto frontier is never rational. By definition, another option exists that either performs better for the same price, or costs less for the same performance.
To narrow the frontier down to one phone for you, we expose weights that you balance and tune according to your preferences. You decide the tradeoffs. The tool reveals the optimal choice.
We offer a rich set of metrics to balance against one another: not just performance and price, but also camera quality, battery life, storage, display, recency, and more.
For example, giving more weight to price and adding battery life as a third axis shifts the frontier to reveal a different optimal phone, one that better matches your priorities.
The chart below lets you explore this space interactively. Pick up to three dimensions that matter to you and adjust the weights as you like.
Tuning
You have 12 points to spend across up to three axes, use them to tune and balance the characteristics of your ideal phone.
How much does price matter to you? Increase the weight to favor cheaper phones. ⓘ
How much does overall performance matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher composite benchmark scores. ⓘ
How much does recency matter to you? Increase the weight to favour newer phones.
How much does raw CPU speed matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster processor clocks.
How much does graphics power matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more GPU cores.
How much does on-device AI matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster Neural Engine throughput.
How much does multitasking matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more RAM.
How much does battery life matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger batteries.
How much does photo quality matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher camera scores. ⓘ
How much does low-light photography matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger camera sensors.
How much does image resolution matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher megapixel cameras.
How much does screen size matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger displays.
How much does scrolling smoothness matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher refresh rates.
How much does storage matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more built-in storage.
How much does value retention matter? Increase the weight to favour phones that hold their value over time.
Configure
Total Cost of Ownership: applies to whichever price source is selected (refurb or launch). Calculates the real cost at 7% interest over 5 years, minus an estimated 20% resale value.
Fine-tune
How much does price matter to you? Increase the weight to favor cheaper phones. ⓘ
How much does overall performance matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher composite benchmark scores. ⓘ
How much does recency matter to you? Increase the weight to favour newer phones.
How much does raw CPU speed matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster processor clocks.
How much does graphics power matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more GPU cores.
How much does on-device AI matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster Neural Engine throughput.
How much does multitasking matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more RAM.
How much does battery life matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger batteries.
How much does photo quality matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher camera scores. ⓘ
How much does low-light photography matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger camera sensors.
How much does image resolution matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher megapixel cameras.
How much does screen size matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger displays.
How much does scrolling smoothness matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher refresh rates.
How much does storage matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more built-in storage.
How much does value retention matter? Increase the weight to favour phones that hold their value over time.
Configure
Total Cost of Ownership: applies to whichever price source is selected (refurb or launch). Calculates the real cost at 7% interest over 5 years, minus an estimated 20% resale value.
Fine-tune
Add a third dimension
How much does price matter to you? Increase the weight to favor cheaper phones. ⓘ
How much does overall performance matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher composite benchmark scores. ⓘ
How much does recency matter to you? Increase the weight to favour newer phones.
How much does raw CPU speed matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster processor clocks.
How much does graphics power matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more GPU cores.
How much does on-device AI matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with faster Neural Engine throughput.
How much does multitasking matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more RAM.
How much does battery life matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger batteries.
How much does photo quality matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher camera scores. ⓘ
How much does low-light photography matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger camera sensors.
How much does image resolution matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher megapixel cameras.
How much does screen size matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with larger displays.
How much does scrolling smoothness matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with higher refresh rates.
How much does storage matter? Increase the weight to favour phones with more built-in storage.
How much does value retention matter? Increase the weight to favour phones that hold their value over time.
Configure
Total Cost of Ownership: applies to whichever price source is selected (refurb or launch). Calculates the real cost at 7% interest over 5 years, minus an estimated 20% resale value.
Fine-tune
Your Pick
Specs
- Year
- Chip
- Screen
- Battery
- RAM
- Camera
- GPU
- Frame
All phones
| Phone ▲ | Year ▲ | Refurb ▲ | Launch ▲ | Performance ▼ | Chip | Screen | Battery | Buy | Pareto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB | 2024 | $769 | $1199 | 100.0 | A18 Pro | 6.9" 120Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB | 2024 | $818 | $1399 | 100.0 | A18 Pro | 6.9" 120Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max 1024GB | 2024 | $922 | $1599 | 100.0 | A18 Pro | 6.9" 120Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB | 2023 | $559 | $1199 | 94.3 | A17 Pro | 6.7" 120Hz | 17.11 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB | 2023 | $602 | $1399 | 94.3 | A17 Pro | 6.7" 120Hz | 17.11 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max 1024GB | 2023 | $668 | $1599 | 94.3 | A17 Pro | 6.7" 120Hz | 17.11 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Pro 128GB | 2024 | $632 | $999 | 91.8 | A18 Pro | 6.3" 120Hz | 13.8 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 16 Pro 256GB | 2024 | $688 | $1099 | 91.8 | A18 Pro | 6.3" 120Hz | 13.8 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Pro 512GB | 2024 | $749 | $1299 | 91.8 | A18 Pro | 6.3" 120Hz | 13.8 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Pro 1024GB | 2024 | $778 | $1499 | 91.8 | A18 Pro | 6.3" 120Hz | 13.8 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro 128GB | 2023 | $461 | $999 | 85.9 | A17 Pro | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Pro 256GB | 2023 | $511 | $1099 | 85.9 | A17 Pro | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro 512GB | 2023 | $525 | $1299 | 85.9 | A17 Pro | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Pro 1024GB | 2023 | $579 | $1499 | 85.9 | A17 Pro | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Plus 128GB | 2024 | $538 | $899 | 77.1 | A18 | 6.7" 60Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 16 Plus 256GB | 2024 | $600 | $999 | 77.1 | A18 | 6.7" 60Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 Plus 512GB | 2024 | $832 | $1199 | 77.1 | A18 | 6.7" 60Hz | 18.0 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB | 2022 | $409 | $1099 | 71.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB | 2022 | $443 | $1199 | 71.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB | 2022 | $453 | $1399 | 71.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max 1024GB | 2022 | $509 | $1599 | 71.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 128GB | 2024 | $510 | $799 | 68.8 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 13.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 16 256GB | 2024 | $584 | $899 | 68.8 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 13.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16 512GB | 2024 | $688 | $1099 | 68.8 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 13.7 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16e 128GB | 2025 | $372 | $599 | 64.2 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 15.2 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 16e 256GB | 2025 | $517 | $699 | 64.2 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 15.2 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 16e 512GB | 2025 | $398 | $899 | 64.2 | A18 | 6.1" 60Hz | 15.2 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro 128GB | 2022 | $348 | $999 | 63.6 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.38 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 14 Pro 256GB | 2022 | $380 | $1099 | 63.6 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.38 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro 512GB | 2022 | $408 | $1299 | 63.6 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.38 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Pro 1024GB | 2022 | $465 | $1499 | 63.6 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 12.38 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB | 2021 | $348 | $1099 | 60.0 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max 256GB | 2021 | $378 | $1199 | 60.0 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max 512GB | 2021 | $409 | $1399 | 60.0 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max 1024GB | 2021 | $492 | $1599 | 60.0 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 120Hz | 16.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Plus 128GB | 2023 | $395 | $899 | 57.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.95 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 15 Plus 256GB | 2023 | $458 | $999 | 57.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.95 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 Plus 512GB | 2023 | $496 | $1199 | 57.9 | A16 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.95 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro 128GB | 2021 | $294 | $999 | 51.1 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 11.97 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 13 Pro 256GB | 2021 | $328 | $1099 | 51.1 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 11.97 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro 512GB | 2021 | $437 | $1299 | 51.1 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 11.97 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 Pro 1024GB | 2021 | $478 | $1499 | 51.1 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 120Hz | 11.97 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 128GB | 2023 | $375 | $799 | 50.0 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.98 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 15 256GB | 2023 | $446 | $899 | 50.0 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.98 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 15 512GB | 2023 | $455 | $1099 | 50.0 | A16 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.98 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Plus 128GB | 2022 | $275 | $899 | 47.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 14 Plus 256GB | 2022 | $291 | $999 | 47.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 Plus 512GB | 2022 | $337 | $1199 | 47.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 16.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 128GB | 2022 | $274 | $799 | 39.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 14 256GB | 2022 | $313 | $899 | 39.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 14 512GB | 2022 | $347 | $1099 | 39.4 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.68 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB | 2020 | $267 | $1099 | 33.2 | A14 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 14.13 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB | 2020 | $287 | $1199 | 33.2 | A14 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 14.13 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 512GB | 2020 | $325 | $1399 | 33.2 | A14 Bionic | 6.7" 60Hz | 14.13 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 128GB | 2021 | $240 | $799 | 26.2 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.41 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 13 256GB | 2021 | $256 | $899 | 26.2 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.41 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 512GB | 2021 | $308 | $1099 | 26.2 | A15 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 12.41 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 Pro 128GB | 2020 | $215 | $999 | 26.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 Pro 256GB | 2020 | $222 | $1099 | 26.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 Pro 512GB | 2020 | $206 | $1299 | 26.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 12 64GB | 2020 | $166 | $799 | 21.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 12 128GB | 2020 | $180 | $849 | 21.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 256GB | 2020 | $206 | $949 | 21.0 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" 60Hz | 10.78 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 mini 128GB | 2021 | $225 | $699 | 18.7 | A15 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 9.34 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 13 mini 256GB | 2021 | $289 | $799 | 18.7 | A15 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 9.34 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 13 mini 512GB | 2021 | $378 | $999 | 18.7 | A15 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 9.34 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 mini 64GB | 2020 | $139 | $699 | 14.5 | A14 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 8.57 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone 12 mini 128GB | 2020 | $163 | $749 | 14.5 | A14 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 8.57 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone 12 mini 256GB | 2020 | $222 | $849 | 14.5 | A14 Bionic | 5.4" 60Hz | 8.57 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone SE (3rd Gen) 64GB | 2022 | $133 | $429 | 12.9 | A15 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 7.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone SE (3rd Gen) 128GB | 2022 | $185 | $479 | 12.9 | A15 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 7.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone SE (3rd Gen) 256GB | 2022 | $263 | $579 | 12.9 | A15 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 7.75 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) 64GB | 2020 | $86 | $399 | 0.0 | A13 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 6.96 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | Yes |
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) 128GB | 2020 | $100 | $449 | 0.0 | A13 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 6.96 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) 256GB | 2020 | $119 | $549 | 0.0 | A13 Bionic | 4.7" 60Hz | 6.96 Wh | BM AMZ SWP | - |
Methodology
Tuning Performance
When you increase the Performance weight in the tuning panel, the Pareto frontier favours phones with higher composite benchmark scores. Performance is an aggregate of 8 underlying criteria: CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, RAM, battery, camera, screen size, and refresh rate.
Use the Fine-tune panel to adjust how much each sub-criterion contributes to the overall performance score. The Pareto frontier recalculates in real time.
Performance Score formula
Each criterion is min-max normalized to [0, 1] across all phones, then averaged with equal weight:
Performance = mean(norm(CPU Clock), norm(GPU Cores), norm(Neural Engine TOPS), norm(RAM GB), norm(Battery Wh), norm(Camera Score), norm(Screen Size), norm(Refresh Rate Hz))
Only specs shared by all models are used. Pareto frontier uses these 8 criteria plus cost (inverted) to determine dominance.
The Fine-tune panel can be found below the Performance axis tuning slider. Use it to adjust how much each criterion contributes. The Pareto frontier recalculates in real time.
Camera Score formula
Camera Score combines sensor size and megapixel count, each min-max normalized to [0, 1], then averaged:
Camera Score = mean(norm(Sensor Size), norm(Main Camera MP)) × 100
Sensor size is parsed from the spec string (e.g. 1/1.14" → 0.877). Larger values mean a physically larger sensor, which captures more light and produces better detail. Megapixels alone are a poor differentiator (only 12 or 48 MP across all iPhones), so combining with sensor size gives a more granular camera quality signal.
Tuning Price
When you increase the Price weight in the tuning panel, the Pareto frontier favours cheaper phones. Price is inverted internally so that "lower price = better score", just like "higher performance = better score."
By default this uses refurbished prices. You can switch to launch prices or enable Total Cost of Ownership via the price configuration panel above the chart.
Price
Launch prices are the original MSRPs sourced from EveryMac's historical records.
Refurbished prices are average market prices collected from Amazon Renewed and Back Market listings. Currently updated manually; automatic scraping is planned.
When TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is enabled, it applies to whichever price source is selected (refurb or launch). It calculates the real cost of owning the phone over 5 years at 7% annual interest, minus an estimated 20% resale value:
TCO = selected price × ((1 + 0.07)⁵ - 0.20)