What iPhone Model Is Best For You?

Choosing an iPhone can feel overwhelming. The truth is that the "best" iPhone depends on who you are and how you use it. That is why I created a perfect guide for those struggling to find the phone of the right fit.

For the Average Person: iPhone 17. 

Most Scarsdalians and Edgemontians fall into this category; especially students. They spend time on their phone mainly texting friends, scrolling on TikTok or Instagram, and taking photos. For most people, this phone is the best deal for your money, not too far behind the iPhone 17 Pro, despite being $300 less.

For the People Who Want Everyone to Know They Have the Newest Phone: iPhone 17 Pro 

Let's be real: there are always people who upgrade to the newest iPhone the second Apple releases it, just so they can show it off. 

While the iPhone 17 Pro is the second most expensive and second most powerful model Apple sells, with a great camera and battery life, it is not necessarily miles ahead of the lower models. If you are using your iPhone for work purposes, professional photography, or other very advanced tasks, I recommend this iPhone. Otherwise, I would stick to the regular iPhone 17 models.

For the Photographer: iPhone 17 Pro Max

If your camera roll contains thousands of photos, and you plan to take thousands more with an amazing camera, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is for you.

The camera upgrades are impressive, and photographers will notice the difference. Most people won't need these features, and if you need a cheaper model as a photographer, the 17 is still great.

For People on a budget: iPhone 17e

The iPhone 17e is a decent deal as the cheapest iPhone model on the market. A bit pricey for what it is, though, and honestly, I think the regular iPhone 17 is worth the $200 more.

For Parents and Grandparents: iPhone 16

Many older adults aren't worried about having the latest technology. They want a phone that works reliably, takes good "family photos," and isn't too complicated.

The iPhone 16 has a familiar experience, good battery life, and a great performance at a lower price than the newest models.

For the "If It Isn't Broken, Don't Fix It" Crowd: Keep Your Current Phone

Some people upgrade their phone every year or every few years. Others don't care.

If your iPhone 13 or 14 still works well, it's okay to keep it! Modern iPhones have reached the point where yearly upgrades produce smaller and smaller differences. Sometimes the smartest financial decision is simply keeping what you already have.

The only time I would definitely recommend an upgrade is if your phone doesn't update to the latest operating system. iOS 27, coming in late 2026, will support iPhone 11 to the newest models.