Whether you want a battery that lasts for days, the best deal, or a small form factor, we’ve got some recommendations for an iPhone you’ll love.

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) it’s 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! It’s almost as confusing as trying to buy an iPad.

But fear not; there’s help. After plenty of thorough testing, day-to-day use, and many blue chat bubbles, I’m here to help you navigate Apple’s 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, we’ve got recommendations.

Apple recently announced iOS 17 with a lot of small but worthwhile updates, like improved autocorrect, live transcription for voicemail, and a new clock display for when your phone is charging. It’s all coming this fall, but you’ll need an iPhone XS or newer to download it. That means if you’re still holding onto an iPhone 8 or X, it might be time to think about upgrading. Just remember that we’re probably only a few months away from the iPhone 15 launch, and it’s rumored to be a more substantial update over the previous generation than the iPhone 14 was over the 13.

The best iPhone for most people

Screen: 6.1-inch 1170p resolution OLED, 60Hz refresh rate / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W wireless MagSafe, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

Yes, you read that right. If you’re buying an iPhone in early 2023, the smartest choice might just be 2021’s iPhone 13. This is especially true if you’re 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 it’s 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. Heck, that’s exactly what I did and I have zero regrets.

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 you’re out of cell range. Nice, but is that all an extra $100 nice? That’s up to you: on a 36-month payment plan, it doesn’t add up to much more on your monthly bill — only about $3. If you’re 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.

Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

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 Apple’s habit of supporting devices with new iOS versions for upward of five or six years.

Read our full Apple iPhone 13 review

Best high-end iPhone

Screen: 6.1-inch (Pro) or 6.7-inch (Pro Max) OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A16 Bionic Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W MagSafe wireless, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

If cost isn’t a major concern or you’re 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.

None of it is exactly life-changing, but they’re features that Apple is almost certainly going to incorporate in new models going forward, and third-party app makers will follow suit. It’s the iPhone to get if you suffer from technology FOMO.

Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The 14 Pro and Pro Max back up those new features with all-around great performance. They differ in screen size — the 14 Pro offers a 6.1-inch display and the Pro Max goes big with a 6.7-inch screen — but they’re both ProMotion displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate for super-smooth scrolling. The Pro Max has a bigger battery, too, but aside from those differences, the two phones are largely the same. There’s a new 48-megapixel main camera sensor with a neat 2x lossless crop zoom mode in addition to a dedicated 3x telephoto camera. It all adds up to a very capable camera system with some of the best video quality you’ll find on any phone anywhere.

Read our full Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max review

Best small iPhone

Screen: 5.4-inch 1080p OLED, 60Hz refresh rate / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W MagSafe wireless, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

Apple released the iPhone 12 and 13 in two sizes: one with a 6.1-inch screen and a Mini variant with a comparatively petite 5.4-inch screen. They kind of bombed, so there’s no iPhone 14 Mini. But like the iPhone 13, Apple still sells the 13 Mini new — and it might be your last chance to get this small-screen form factor before it disappears off the company’s retail shelves completely.

Aside from a smaller screen and battery, the 13 Mini includes everything we like about the 13 — good cameras, a speedy A15 Bionic processor, a robust IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and MagSafe for accessories and wireless charging. Did we mention that it fits all the way into your pants pocket? Just try that with a Pro Max.

Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

There is one major downside: the 13 Mini’s battery life isn’t great. It’s good enough to get through a day of moderate use, but if you do a lot of battery-intensive things on your phone like recording 4K video or gaming, then you’ll need to top it off during the day. Anyway, most people looking for a small phone probably don’t rank mobile gaming high on their list of priorities, so it’s likely not a concern for the Mini’s target demographic.

Read our full Apple iPhone 13 Mini review

Best cheap iPhone

Screen: 4.7-inch Retina LCD / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 7-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: Wired, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP67

The third-gen iPhone SE, released in 2022, is sort of the default winner in this category. It’s the least expensive iPhone you can buy, and for its $429 starting price, it includes some major feature upgrades most midrange phones don’t offer, like wireless charging, a flagship processor, and an IP67 rating for good water and dust resistance. For sheer ROI, the iPhone SE is a fantastic choice.

But this recommendation comes with some big caveats, starting with the screen. It’s small — at 4.7 inches, it’s significantly smaller than the iPhone 13 Mini’s display, even though the SE is slightly taller and wider than the Mini. That’s because the 2022 SE uses a very old iPhone design that dates back to the iPhone 6S. The screen feels cramped, and the LCD technology looks dated. It’s also the only iPhone left that retains the home button and its fingerprint scanner rather than Face ID, which might be preferable if you hate gesture navigation. Most of us are getting along just fine without a home button, so this one is really down to personal preference.

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

There are a couple of other low points: the camera system doesn’t have a night mode, and there’s only 64GB of storage on the base model. But if you’re accustomed to a bigger phone screen, that 4.7-inch LCD might be the thing that’s hardest to live with. There are also rumors of an iPhone SE in 2024 with a 6.1-inch OLED screen — big if true, literally. That’s an upgrade worth waiting another year for if you can hold off. But if a small screen doesn’t bother you, then there’s no better deal than the iPhone SE.

Read our full Apple iPhone SE (2022) review

The iPhone with the best battery life

Screen: 6.7-inch Super Retina OLED / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.5 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: Wired, 15W wireless MagSafe, 7.5W wireless Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

When the iPhone 14 series went on sale in September 2023, there was one model missing: the 14 Plus. It was announced at the same time as the other three devices but wasn’t available until three weeks later when a lot of the new-phone fanfare had died down. That’s a shame, too, because the 14 Plus has one legitimately great upgrade over the 13: excellent battery life.

That’s sort of a byproduct of another feature: a big 6.7-inch screen, the same size as the Pro Max’s display. Makes sense: a bigger screen makes for a bigger phone, which means more room for a bigger battery. But the Plus’ battery stamina is particularly good because its screen, with its standard refresh rate and no always-on display, isn’t as power-hungry as that of the Pro Max. In any case, the 14 Plus can get through two full days of light use before you need to charge the battery. The Pro Max can’t touch that.

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The 14 Plus has the same minor upgrades as the regular 14, too, like the satellite emergency messaging and an upgraded main camera. But with the screen size and battery advantage, it feels like a phone that’s worth spending a little extra on, whereas the 14 doesn’t quite meet that bar.

Read our full Apple iPhone 14 Plus review

Whether you want a battery that lasts for days, the best deal, or a small form factor, we’ve got some recommendations for an iPhone you’ll love.

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) it’s 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! It’s almost as confusing as trying to buy an iPad.

But fear not; there’s help. After plenty of thorough testing, day-to-day use, and many blue chat bubbles, I’m here to help you navigate Apple’s 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, we’ve got recommendations.

Apple recently announced iOS 17 with a lot of small but worthwhile updates, like improved autocorrect, live transcription for voicemail, and a new clock display for when your phone is charging. It’s all coming this fall, but you’ll need an iPhone XS or newer to download it. That means if you’re still holding onto an iPhone 8 or X, it might be time to think about upgrading. Just remember that we’re probably only a few months away from the iPhone 15 launch, and it’s rumored to be a more substantial update over the previous generation than the iPhone 14 was over the 13.

The best iPhone for most people

Screen: 6.1-inch 1170p resolution OLED, 60Hz refresh rate / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W wireless MagSafe, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

Yes, you read that right. If you’re buying an iPhone in early 2023, the smartest choice might just be 2021’s iPhone 13. This is especially true if you’re 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 it’s 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. Heck, that’s exactly what I did and I have zero regrets.

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 you’re out of cell range. Nice, but is that all an extra $100 nice? That’s up to you: on a 36-month payment plan, it doesn’t add up to much more on your monthly bill — only about $3. If you’re 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.

Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

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 Apple’s habit of supporting devices with new iOS versions for upward of five or six years.

Read our full Apple iPhone 13 review

Best high-end iPhone

Screen: 6.1-inch (Pro) or 6.7-inch (Pro Max) OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A16 Bionic Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel 3x telephoto with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W MagSafe wireless, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

If cost isn’t a major concern or you’re 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.

None of it is exactly life-changing, but they’re features that Apple is almost certainly going to incorporate in new models going forward, and third-party app makers will follow suit. It’s the iPhone to get if you suffer from technology FOMO.

Image: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The 14 Pro and Pro Max back up those new features with all-around great performance. They differ in screen size — the 14 Pro offers a 6.1-inch display and the Pro Max goes big with a 6.7-inch screen — but they’re both ProMotion displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate for super-smooth scrolling. The Pro Max has a bigger battery, too, but aside from those differences, the two phones are largely the same. There’s a new 48-megapixel main camera sensor with a neat 2x lossless crop zoom mode in addition to a dedicated 3x telephoto camera. It all adds up to a very capable camera system with some of the best video quality you’ll find on any phone anywhere.

Read our full Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max review

Best small iPhone

Screen: 5.4-inch 1080p OLED, 60Hz refresh rate / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: not advertised / Charging: wired, 15W MagSafe wireless, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

Apple released the iPhone 12 and 13 in two sizes: one with a 6.1-inch screen and a Mini variant with a comparatively petite 5.4-inch screen. They kind of bombed, so there’s no iPhone 14 Mini. But like the iPhone 13, Apple still sells the 13 Mini new — and it might be your last chance to get this small-screen form factor before it disappears off the company’s retail shelves completely.

Aside from a smaller screen and battery, the 13 Mini includes everything we like about the 13 — good cameras, a speedy A15 Bionic processor, a robust IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and MagSafe for accessories and wireless charging. Did we mention that it fits all the way into your pants pocket? Just try that with a Pro Max.

Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

There is one major downside: the 13 Mini’s battery life isn’t great. It’s good enough to get through a day of moderate use, but if you do a lot of battery-intensive things on your phone like recording 4K video or gaming, then you’ll need to top it off during the day. Anyway, most people looking for a small phone probably don’t rank mobile gaming high on their list of priorities, so it’s likely not a concern for the Mini’s target demographic.

Read our full Apple iPhone 13 Mini review

Best cheap iPhone

Screen: 4.7-inch Retina LCD / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 7-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: Wired, 7.5W Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP67

The third-gen iPhone SE, released in 2022, is sort of the default winner in this category. It’s the least expensive iPhone you can buy, and for its $429 starting price, it includes some major feature upgrades most midrange phones don’t offer, like wireless charging, a flagship processor, and an IP67 rating for good water and dust resistance. For sheer ROI, the iPhone SE is a fantastic choice.

But this recommendation comes with some big caveats, starting with the screen. It’s small — at 4.7 inches, it’s significantly smaller than the iPhone 13 Mini’s display, even though the SE is slightly taller and wider than the Mini. That’s because the 2022 SE uses a very old iPhone design that dates back to the iPhone 6S. The screen feels cramped, and the LCD technology looks dated. It’s also the only iPhone left that retains the home button and its fingerprint scanner rather than Face ID, which might be preferable if you hate gesture navigation. Most of us are getting along just fine without a home button, so this one is really down to personal preference.

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

There are a couple of other low points: the camera system doesn’t have a night mode, and there’s only 64GB of storage on the base model. But if you’re accustomed to a bigger phone screen, that 4.7-inch LCD might be the thing that’s hardest to live with. There are also rumors of an iPhone SE in 2024 with a 6.1-inch OLED screen — big if true, literally. That’s an upgrade worth waiting another year for if you can hold off. But if a small screen doesn’t bother you, then there’s no better deal than the iPhone SE.

Read our full Apple iPhone SE (2022) review

The iPhone with the best battery life

Screen: 6.7-inch Super Retina OLED / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.5 main with sensor-shift IS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: Wired, 15W wireless MagSafe, 7.5W wireless Qi / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

When the iPhone 14 series went on sale in September 2023, there was one model missing: the 14 Plus. It was announced at the same time as the other three devices but wasn’t available until three weeks later when a lot of the new-phone fanfare had died down. That’s a shame, too, because the 14 Plus has one legitimately great upgrade over the 13: excellent battery life.

That’s sort of a byproduct of another feature: a big 6.7-inch screen, the same size as the Pro Max’s display. Makes sense: a bigger screen makes for a bigger phone, which means more room for a bigger battery. But the Plus’ battery stamina is particularly good because its screen, with its standard refresh rate and no always-on display, isn’t as power-hungry as that of the Pro Max. In any case, the 14 Plus can get through two full days of light use before you need to charge the battery. The Pro Max can’t touch that.

Image: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The 14 Plus has the same minor upgrades as the regular 14, too, like the satellite emergency messaging and an upgraded main camera. But with the screen size and battery advantage, it feels like a phone that’s worth spending a little extra on, whereas the 14 doesn’t quite meet that bar.

Read our full Apple iPhone 14 Plus review

]]> https://www.latest-apple-news.com/2023/06/05/watchos-10-is-bringing-back-widgets-in-a-big-way/ Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:10:19 +0000 https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23738826/apple-watch-watchos-10-features-updates-wwdc-2023

Apple announced watchOS 10, its “milestone” next-gen smartwatch platform, today at WWDC. As in past years, it’ll be available for developers to start tinkering with today, while a public beta is expected sometime next month. Users can expect to see the final version arrive later this fall alongside the forthcoming Apple Watch Series 9.

Widgets are back on the menu, friends. Turning the digital crown will bring up your widget stack and let you scroll through for quick and easy access to information. It’s a major shift in how users have thus far interacted with the Apple Watch and is reminiscent of the Siri watchface introduced a few years ago in watchOS 3.

Apple Watch apps — including Weather, Stocks, Home, Maps, Messages, and World Clock — are also getting a more glanceable look. In essence, apps will be able to show you more information that utilizes the entirety of the watch’s display.

Image: Apple

Another shift is how users will use the watch’s buttons. Currently, pressing the digital crown launches the honeycomb app grid or the app list, depending on how you’ve configured your watch. Control Center can also be accessed using the side button while double-clicking the crown will bring you back to recently used apps.

It’s not a watchOS update without new watchfaces. This year, we’re getting a new palette watchface, as well as a new one featuring Snoopy and Woodstock. The Palette watchface is similar to what we’ve seen before, with the main difference being that it uses three overlapping layers of color that shift as time passes.

For health updates, mental health is also getting the spotlight in watchOS 10 with the ability to log your moods in the Mindfulness app. Turning the crown allows you to scroll through emotions represented by abstract shapes. You’ll also be able to take standardized assessment quizzes in the Health app to determine your risk level for anxiety and depression and then create a PDF to share with your doctor. The Health app will also let you see what lifestyle factors like sleep or exercise may be contributing to your state of mind.

Image: Apple

On the fitness front, Apple is also adding new cycling features. For starters, there are new workout views, which include custom workouts, race routes, elevation, and cycling speed views. Cycling can also be viewed as a live activity on your iPhone in the event that you want to mount your phone on a bike. When tapped, you’ll get a full-screen look at various workout views. Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories like power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors will also be able to automatically connect to the watch. That’ll enable new metrics like cycling power and RPM. If you use a power meter, watchOS 10 will also display Functional Threshold Power — or the highest level of intensity you can maintain for an hour.

Hikers will get to view trails and trailhead info directly from the wrist. That includes information like trail length, type, and difficulty. Thanks to the altimeter, you’ll also be able to view a new 3D map of your waypoints. Some new waypoints include the last place you had cell data and the last place you can make an emergency call using any carrier’s network. US users will also get topographic maps, which feature contour lines, hill shading, elevation details, and points of interest. On the iPhone, you’ll also get access to offline maps for turn-by-turn navigation and estimated time of arrival. These offline maps will be viewable on paired Apple Watches. These are big updates for Apple Watch Ultra users, as it closes the gap with maps you’ll find on watches from Garmin.

Image: Apple

One fitness feature that went under the radar is custom Fitness Plus plans. Subscribers will get new workout and meditation schedules based on day, duration, and workout type. Apple is also taking a page from Peloton’s book by including Stacks — which let you take multiple workouts or meditations back-to-back — as well as the ability to tweak audio mix. For instance, if you want to focus on the instructor’s voice, you can decrease the music volume.

Vision is also getting added to the Health app. The Apple Watch can now measure how much time you spend in daylight via the ambient light sensor. Parents will also be able to view how much time their kids are spending outside via Family Setup. The Health app will also track screen distance — how far away you’re holding an iPhone or iPad — using the TrueDepth camera. If you hold it closer than 12 inches for an extended period of time, you’ll receive a notification. Both mental health and vision health data will be encrypted on the app. The Medications app will also get a minor update. If you don’t take your medications within 30 minutes of the scheduled time, you’ll get a follow-up reminder.

Image: Apple

watchOS 10 also ties into some other features that Apple introduced in iOS 17. For instance, you’ll be able to use NameDrop by bringing your watch closer to another person’s iPhone or by tapping the Share button in My Card within the Contacts app. My Card will also be available as a complication. You’ll also be able to playback FaceTime video messages from the wrist, and Group FaceTime Audio will be supported on the Apple Watch, too.

It’s not surprising that Apple is focusing on software updates for its smartwatches in 2023. Last year featured not one but three new Apple Watches, so it’s not really time for another massive hardware overhaul, and rumor has it MicroLED Apple Watches won’t arrive until 2024 or 2025. Plus, Series watches have been getting incremental hardware updates for ages now — we don’t yet know whether the Ultra will be updated yearly, and the budget second-gen SE is less than a year old.

watchOS 10 will be available in the fall for the Series 4 or later.