By any standard, iPhones are incredible machines. With each new generation of smartphones, Apple continues to improve its technology without ever sacrificing its sleek and modern design. And whether you have an ancient iPhone 8 with a cracked screen or a brand new iPhone 11 Pro, these phones always have an intuitive interface that everyone from young children to Baby Boomers can handle. At this point, there’s no shortage of available models, so how do you pick the best iPhone for you?
When you’re looking for new iPhones for sale, you need to answer four questions:
- How much do you want to spend on an iPhone?
- Is the camera the most important factor for you?
- How much do you care about having the newest model?
- What size phone are you looking for?
For instance, the only real difference between an iPhone 11 Pro and the 11 Pro Max is screen size and, of course, an extra hundred dollars. The iPhone SE, 11 Pro, and 11 all have the same A13 chip inside, while the XR and XS come with last year’s A12, which is still nothing to scoff at.
iPhones SE and XR are the respective generation’s budget picks — with the iPhone SE being the newest iPhone offering. They are easily the best iPhones under $500, which is pretty enticing.
If having a great camera is your M.O., then there’s no choice but the iPhone 11 Pro. Testing and thousands of iPhone reviews prove that these smartphones come with technology that puts $5,000 professional cameras to shame. And with the processing power of the A13 chip, the iPhone 11 Pro can run multiple apps without slowing down your phone and shoot 4K video with ease. Still, most people don’t actually need to shoot 4K video for their Instagram feed. If you don’t mind an older generation model, you should consider the iPhone XS, which you can pick up for under $900 and still get an incredible display and camera system.
Below you’ll find our recommendations for the best iPhones for sale in 2020. Regardless of your choice, you’ll be buying one of the greatest smartphones ever made. And if absolutely none of these do it for you, maybe try switching camps with a quality budget Android.
1. iPhone 11 Pro & Pro Max
BEST OVERALL
This is the best iPhone offering to date. The A13 chip is incredibly fast, with the ability to open and run multiple apps without bogging the phone down, as well as the firepower for gaming and augmented reality. The new iPhone also boasts a large Super Retina XDR display. But the real draw is the three camera system, which produces incredible wide-angled shots, shoots 4K video at 60 fps, and captures low-light pictures that are unbelievably vibrant and clear. There are two versions: the iPhone Pro 11 and Pro 11 Max, with the only difference being the Max sports a slightly larger screen.
The iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8‑inch display (across the diagonal) and measures 2.81-inches wide and 5.67-inches tall. The iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch display and measures 3.06-inches wide by 6.22-inches tall.
Pros: Incredibly crisp Super Retina XDR display. Powerful cameras capable of professional-quality photos and video. Fast processing speeds.
Cons: Base price of $1,000 on the iPhone 11 Pro. Large screens are a major drawback if you like keeping your smartphone in your pocket. Lacks Touch ID.
2. iPhone SE
BEST VALUE
The iPhone SE is the newest offering from Apple, serving up the super speedy A13 chip found inside of the 11 Pro, but in a 4.8-inch display, iPhone 6-style body. It forgoes facial recognition to bring back touch ID and only has a single camera on the back, but with the A13 chip, you still get features like Portrait Mode, Depth Control and smart lighting. And the best part, it won’t set you back $1000! When you go for the 64GB model, it only runs you $400. When it comes to Apple phone pricing, all we can say is, wow. In short, this is the budget iPhone we’ve always wanted.
The iPhone SE has a 4.7″ screen size (across the diagonal) and is 2.65-inches wide by 5.45 inches tall.
Pros: An extremely affordable iPhone with the same processing power of new iPhone 11 models. Smaller screen size is a major plus for users who prefer more compact iPhones. The return of touch ID.
Cons: Much less powerful camera compared to the best iPhones. Battery life is only on par with the iPhone 8.
3. iPhone 11
RUNNER UP
The iPhone 11 is slightly less expensive than the Pro, but still has the same speedy A13 chip and facial recognition. The big differences is the dual camera system and the screen size compared to the Pro’s triple threat system and OLED display. You’ll lose a little zooming capability with the dual camera, and the Liquid Retina LCD display isn’t as crisp as the OLED you’ll get with the Pro and Pro Max. That being said, it’s still far better than most other smartphones. In short, it’s only a slight step down from the Pro 11 but costs $300 less, and it’s a premium phone nonetheless.
The iPhone 11 has a diagonal display size of 6.1-inches and measures 2.98-inches wide by 5.94-inches tall.
Pros: Powerful camera capable of shooting 4K video. Slightly stronger battery compared to the iPhone XR. Fast processing powered by the latest A13 chip.
Cons: Large screen size will be a con for some customers. Camera isn’t as powerful as the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. No OLED display. Lacks Touch ID.
4. iPhone XR
BEST UNDER $600
The best iPhones are at the peak of smartphone technology, and the iPhone XR is one small step below the iPhone 11. It has the same Liquid Retina display as the iPhone 11 and the same single camera setup as the iPhone SE. The iPhone XR also comes with the previous generation A12 chip. You still get Face ID, Portrait Mode and Depth Control with this model, and a 6.1-inch display without bezels, yet it is still slightly more expensive than the brand new iPhone SE. However, you’ll want this budget iPhone if you can’t picture yourself going back to a 4.8-inch display. For an even more affordable iPhone, buy an Amazon refurbished iPhone XR for under $500.
The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch display and measures 2.98-inches wide by 5.94-inches tall, the same size as the iPhone 11.
Pros: Large and crisp display. Affordable iPhone model with advanced features like Portrait Mode and Face ID.
Cons: Comes with the previous generation A12 chip. No OLED display or Touch ID.
5. iPhone XS
HONORABLE MENTION
Even though Apple is up to iPhone 11, this slightly older model is still a great phone in its own right. With a 5.8-inch Retina OLED display and dual 12MP camera with Portrait, Depth and Smart Lighting, don’t forget that this phone was the best smartphone in the world only a short time ago. And now that Apple has moved onto the iPhone 11 Pro, you can pick up this powerful phone for around $900. There’s no shame in going with a previous generation phone, especially when it comes to saving a few hundred dollars.
With a 5.8-inch diagonal display, the iPhone XS measures 2.79-inches wide by 5.6-inches tall.
Pros: Super crisp OLED display. Mid-size display among the best iPhone models. Capable of shooting 4K video.
Cons: Expensive for a previous generation phone. Doesn’t feature the A13 chip or Touch ID. Less powerful cameras compared to the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.
Refine Your Back Pocket Game with a JimmyCase iPhone Wallet Case