Which iPhone should you buy right now? (October 2026)

Apple sells seven iPhones right now, from $699 to $1,999. That’s a lot of choice, but the decision is simpler than it looks: most people should buy the iPhone 17. Spend more only if you know exactly what the extra money gets you.

All prices are Apple’s US starting prices, checked on October 22, 2026 (Apple). Specs are from Apple’s compare page.

The quick answer

• Best for most people: iPhone 17 ($899). 6.3-inch screen, A19 chip, two cameras, and up to 30 hours of video playback (Apple’s figure).
• Tightest budget: iPhone 17e ($699). The same A19 chip in a 6.1-inch phone with one rear camera.
• Best camera and battery: iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) or 18 Pro Max ($1,299). The new A20 Pro chip and a three-camera Pro system.
• Biggest screen in your pocket: iPhone Duo ($1,999). Apple’s first foldable, on sale October 23. Read what the iPhone Duo gets you first.

Every iPhone Apple sells, side by side

Prices checked on Oct 22, 2026. Check the pricing page before you buy; carrier deals and trade-ins change the real cost.

One thing that surprised us: don’t buy the iPhone 16

The iPhone 16 costs $100 more than the iPhone 17e, but it has an older chip (A18 vs A19) and less battery (22 vs 26 hours of video, per Apple). Its only advantage is a second (Ultra Wide) camera. Unless you really want that second lens, the 17e is the better buy, and the iPhone 17 is only $100 more than the 16 with a newer chip, a bigger screen and 8 more hours of video.

Who each iPhone is for

iPhone 17e ($699). For anyone who wants a new iPhone for messages, photos, maps and banking, and doesn’t care about zoom or ultra-wide shots. The cheapest way into a current-generation chip.

iPhone 17 ($899). The default choice. Bigger screen than the 17e, two cameras and the best battery under $1,000. If you’re unsure, pick this one.

iPhone Air ($1,099). For people who care most about a thin, light phone and a big 6.5-inch screen. You give up battery (27 hours vs 30 on the iPhone 17) and the second camera, and you pay $200 more. That trade only makes sense if thinness really matters to you.

iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and Pro Max ($1,299). For photography, video and battery life. Apple’s new main camera has a variable aperture, and the Pro Max has the longest battery claim of any iPhone (up to 45 hours of video). The 18 Pro models start at 256GB.

iPhone Duo ($1,999). For people who want a phone that opens into a small tablet. It’s a first-generation foldable, so we’d read owner reviews first.

Before you buy: 3 money-savers

1. Check trade-in value. Apple and carriers give credit for your old phone; compare both.
2. Don’t overbuy storage. If you keep photos in iCloud or Google Photos, the base storage is enough for most people.
3. Count the subscriptions, too. A new phone often comes with “free months” of services that renew. Our AI Cost Calculator helps you add up what you pay each month.

Which iPhone are you using, and would you buy it again? Join the thread in the Phones & Gadgets forum.

Sources

• Official Buy iPhone, US prices (checked Oct 22, 2026)
• Official Compare iPhone models (checked Oct 22, 2026)
• Official Apple debuts iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max (Apple Newsroom)
• Official Apple unveils iPhone Duo (Apple Newsroom)