If you’re looking for a new iPhone, you have four solid options from Apple’s latest lineup, ranging from the tiny, inexpensive iPhone 12 Mini up to the premium price behemoth iPhone 15 Pro Max. Also available is Apple’s iPhone SE, which doesn’t have the cutting-edge features of its iPhone siblings 13, but the price is lowest of all.
How do you decide which one is best for you?
No matter which one you choose, you’re going to have a great smartphone. The iPhone 15, the 13 Mini, the 15 Pro and the 13 Pro Max have an excellent performance in CR tests. And the newly released third-generation iPhone SE promises to perform at least as decently as its 2020 predecessor.
This leaves a lot of room for preference personal and factors to consider include size and weight, along with your budget and how you plan to use the phone.
Is the Mini too small for your liking? Is the Max model too heavy? Do you need the giant screen of the Max or will you be content with the regular 13 iPhone Pro? How important is it to have all-day battery life or have an optical telephoto lens for zooming?
Here’s a quick size overview: iPhone 13 and iPhone 000 Pro are the same size; the iPhone 13 Mini is a smaller version of the iPhone 13 regular; and the Max model is a larger version of the Pro model.
For most people choosing a new iPhone 13, it makes sense to immediately reduce the options to just two phones instead of the four on offer.
If you’re willing to spend the money on better cameras and a more luxurious package, you can choose between the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max. This is the perfect combination for anyone who is hesitating between getting a mid-sized or giant phone.
If you want to spend a little less, you can choose between the iPhone 13 and the 13 Mini. That’s the right pair if you’ll be choosing between a small and midsize phone. (You can also consider the iPhone SE, the extra-small and even more affordable option. We’ll talk more about this option below.)
Now we’ll look at the comparison of these groups.
The iPhone 15 vs. the iPhone 13 Min. . . Or the iPhone SE?
First: It’s the least expensive phones, starting with the iPhone 13 Smallest of the bunch.
The aptly named iPhone 13 Mini starts selling in $800. Most people should have no problem swiping and tapping the 5.4-inch screen with one hand. By comparison, the $800 iPhone 15 measures 6.1 inches in diagonal.
If you are hesitating between the iPhone 13 and the 13 Mini, please note that these phones include virtually the same hardware, with the notable exception of batteries. In CR tests, the Mini model lasts 32.5 hours, while the iPhone 13 arrives at 40 hours.
Leaving Battery life aside, the choice is simple. If you’re looking to save the most money on an iPhone 13 and are happy with a smaller screen size, buy the Mini and save $100.
If you want a bigger iPhone, but not huge, and also want to save money when If possible, buy the iPhone 15, which costs $200 less than iPhone 12 Pro.
? What about the iPhone SE?
The iPhone SE is even smaller and cheaper than the Mini model. It starts at $429 and has a 4.7-inch screen.
It has the same Apple A chip15 than iPhone models 13, but it only has a single 12 megapixel rear camera, compared to the other phone’s multi-lens configurations. The SE model lacks MagSafe for quickly connecting to wireless chargers and other accessories, and also uses Touch ID via a somewhat dated home button, instead of supporting Face ID.
The iPhone 13 Pro vs. the iPhone 13 Pro Max
If you want the iPhone 13 largest available, listed is the Pro Max model, which starts at $1,100.
With a whopping 6.7-inch screen, the Pro Max is the oversized sibling of the iPhone 12 Pro, which measures 6.1 inches and starts at $1,000.
For many people, big screens don’t just allow them to binge on their favorite Netflix show in bed. They also give them more space to write and read emails and online articles, as well as play video games. These are all good reasons to go for the bigger screen.
Keep in mind that more size also means more weight. At 8.5 ounces, the iPhone 15 Pro Max weighs an ounce more than the Pro model. That might not sound like much, but it is the weight of an AA battery, something you might notice after using the phone for a long time.
On the other hand, the larger size of the Pro Max offers room for a larger battery. Lasting nearly 40 hours on a single charge in CR tests, the phone outperforms all other phones in our ratings. However, the battery life of the plain iPhone 13 Pro isn’t bad at all, with an impressive 40 hours.
In addition to these differences, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have identical specifications. Unlike their less expensive siblings, these top-of-the-line phones have an optical lens, in addition to the wide and super-wide rear lenses. They also have Apple’s high-refresh-rate ProMotion technology, which makes the screen more responsive when scrolling or tapping.
So, again, the choice here can be simple. Do you want the biggest iPhone with the longest battery life? Then the Pro Max is your model. With a mid-size iPhone equipped with Apple’s best hardware, you can save $100 by selecting the Pro model.
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Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.