The 10 Best iPhones in the UK Compared for 2023

The best iPhones come with powerful processors for the highest levels of performance, quick refresh rates for smooth transitions, and class-leading cameras for unmatched photography. iPhone is truly unrivaled as far as providing a well-rounded experience is concerned, and no matter the variant, there’s little not to like. You’ll benefit from several smart features such as Airdrop, a responsive voice assistant (Siri), quick Face ID, and top-notch security.

However, with so many Apple iPhone models around, choosing one can be quite difficult. That’s why we’ve done the hard yards for you and found and reviewed the 10 best iPhones in the UK based on criteria such as pricing, battery life, camera setup, storage options, and the processor used. Dig in to find out why the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, and the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max are among the best iPhones you can get right now.

Ranking the Top iPhone Models in the UK for 2023

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max isn’t just the best iPhone but also one of the best cell phones across the board as of now, and with almost all the features Apple has to offer, including the much-talked-about Dynamic Island and new-age safety tech. Here’s how it fares against other iPhones on our list:

1. iPhone 14 Pro Max — The latest iPhone with the best of everything, from great cameras, powerful performance with the A16 Bionic chip, and a long-lasting battery.
2. iPhone 14 Pro — A cheaper and smaller version of the iPhone 14 Pro Max with the same cameras. A 6.1-inch screen makes it an ideal choice for those who want a compact iPhone.
3. iPhone 13 Pro Max — Excellent for those who’d like the smaller notch for a better viewing experience that’s further enhanced by a 120Hz refresh rate.
4. iPhone 14 Plus — The best budget iPhone with a large screen and one of the longest battery lives on an iPhone ever.
5. iPhone 14 — The cheapest iPhone of the entire 14 lineup, jam-packed with new features like the Action mode and car crash detection.
6. iPhone 13 Pro — A smaller and cheaper version of the latest models and a slightly better pick than the iPhone 14 if you don’t mind losing the Dynamic Island and some camera add-ons.
7. iPhone 13 Mini — Ideal for those looking for a small iPhone, the 13 Mini packs a powerful punch thanks to the A15 Bionic chipset.
8. iPhone SE — The cheapest iPhone and the best budget buy for iPhone fans. With a 4.7-inch screen, it’s also the smallest and most lightweight iPhone we’ve ever seen.
9. iPhone 12 — The first iPhone to offer 5G connectivity and wireless charging. Its features are identical to the iPhone 13, and it’s now cheaper than ever.
10. iPhone 11 Pro Max — A powerful and big-screen iPhone great for photography enthusiasts on a budget, with three rear cameras at this price point being a total steal.

How Different is the Latest iPhone Model From the Cheapest iPhone?

The latest iPhone is the 14 Pro Max, and the cheapest has always been the iPhone SE. If you compare the two, you’ll notice the differences are quite stark, and understandably so. Here are the key differences outlined in a table:

As you can see, the iPhone 14 Max Pro is better in every way. However, if you’re looking for a cheaper and smaller iPhone with decent features and the good ol’ iPhone’s premium feel, the iPhone SE is the way to go.

Which iPhone Has the Best Camera? 

As you can see below, there isn’t much of a difference as far as the front camera is concerned. Apart from the iPhone SE, all models feature a 12MP front camera. And since the iPhone SE is actually a budget phone, its 7MP front camera is perfectly justified as it’s catered to a more budget-conscious audience.

Here’s a quick overview of the camera specifications of some of the top models from the world of iPhones:

Now, coming to the main camera, it’s quite clear that iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best iPhone camera of the lot. We didn’t put the 14 Pro up there because it’s almost exactly the same as the 14 Pro Max. They have a triple-camera system at the back where the main camera is 48MP — the best on the list. All other models have 12MP cameras at the back, with some having two or three cameras.

The ones that have dual camera systems, i.e.the 14 Plus and the 13 Mini are actually lacking the telephoto lens. This lens is used to zoom into distant objects without the picture turning grainy. All in all, unless you’re a photography enthusiast, the lack of a telephoto lens shouldn’t be a concern.

Speaking of optical zooming, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, together with the 13 Pro Max, are the most competent of the lot. Unfortunately, the iPhone SE lacks zoom functionality. So, to sum it up, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has the best camera.

It combines the best of everything that Apple has to offer, from image stabilization and a macro mode to its proprietary Photonic Engine-powered low-light mastery and 4K video shooting at 60fps. For those that would like a cheaper option with the same camera, go for the iPhone 14 Pro.

The 10 Best Apple iPhones in the UK Reviewed for 2023

Excited to learn more about the best iPhones so that you can pick one for yourself? Read on as we discuss in detail the best features, pros, cons, and pricing of each of our top picks. Which is the best iPhone for you? Let’s find out.

1. iPhone 14 Pro Max — Best iPhone in the UK in 2023

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the latest addition to Apple’s dazzling line of products, and naturally, it comes with a better camera, a bigger battery, and more power under the hood. As one of the best camera phones on the market right now, this phone features an improved 48MP camera – a significant jump from the old 12MP camera lens.

As pixels are the tiny building blocks of an image, the more you have in your pictures, the clearer they’ll be. As such, this will capture better pictures and videos than any of its predecessors. Its ultra-wide capabilities have also improved massively, and the 2x and 3x telephoto cameras are a huge plus for long-distance snaps.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s Action mode deserves a special highlight. It allows you to capture steady shots even when you, your subject, or both are on the move. This feature is ideal for street photography, where you have to be quick with your snaps. And another brilliant new addition is the always-on display – the iPhone finally gets it.

Although a common one for Android for quite some years now, it’s been a much-requested feature by iPhone users. It dims your lock screen to the point that the background is mostly just black, and then useful information like notifications and the time is presented on top of it at all times, which makes the phone more power-efficient.

The processor has gone through a major update as well. All the phones in the iPhone 14 series feature the new-gen A16 Bionic processor — the brain of a device responsible for carrying out necessary functions. And this processor is capable of handling up to 17 trillion operations a second, ensuring blistering speeds.

2. iPhone 14 Pro — Compact Version of the 14 Pro Max

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro is a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro Max in every sense. The only significant differences between the two models are in battery life and display size. While the iPhone 14 Pro features a 3,200 mAh battery, the iPhone 14 Pro Max tops our charts with its 4,323 mAh battery.

The 14 Pro’s display is the conventional 6.1 inches, whereas the 14 Pro Max boasts a massive display of 6.7 inches. That said, both come with 6GB RAM — ensuring apps run fast — and the new and powerful A16 Bionic processor. As far as this goes, iPhone’s 6GB RAM is among the most powerful you’ll find.

The camera, both front and back, is the same as well — main, telephoto, and ultrawide lenses. As is the case with both of them, the front camera comes with autofocus now. And the Pro model, too, features a Dynamic Island instead of a notch.

iPhone’s Dynamic Island is very functional, and apart from housing Face ID sensors and the front camera, it contains notifications from various apps such as Spotify, not to mention how it cranks up the overall aesthetic appeal of the phone as well. So, all in all, the 14 Pro is a superb choice if you’re looking for the most powerful iPhone without having to splurge on the 14 Pro Max.

3. iPhone 13 Pro Max — Affordable iPhone With Powerful Cameras

The iPhone 13 Pro Max was way ahead of its time. The model came out in September 2021 and was an instant hit, as it brought together great battery life, a quality camera setup, and a stellar display, all in a beautiful yet reasonably-priced package. Although the Dynamic Island is great, iPhone 13 and other older models feature a small notch, making multimedia viewing and gaming very immersive.

It comes with a Cinematic mode which uses the ultra-wide lens at the back to seamlessly shift focus from one subject to another. In your usual day-to-day, the focus is only on the subject at the front. With the Cinematic mode, the lens is always on the lookout for new subjects entering the frame, changing focus as needed, which ultimately helps you tell a story.

There are no second thoughts when it comes to recommending this phone to photography enthusiasts. With a telephoto lens, which is often used for zooming into far objects, you can venture into wildlife photography, whereas with a wide and ultra-wide lens, you can masterfully capture landscapes.

Other features are quite similar to the iPhone 14 series, such as the 120Hz refresh rate, which determines the number of frames that are displayed on the screen per second — a high refresh rate like this ensures your visuals won’t lag. The only difference between the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s refresh rate and the ones of higher-end models is that the latter is adaptive.

This means those models will change the refresh rate based on the phone’s current activity to preserve the battery. All in all, though, the difference isn’t huge because even without an adaptive refresh rate, the iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts the best battery iPhone has to offer. A 4,353 mAh battery is simply massive, far ahead of newer models such as the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro.

4. iPhone 14 Plus — Best Budget iPhone for Large Screen Lovers

The iPhone 14 Plus offers a larger display at a cheaper price, perfect for those looking for the best viewing experience in an iPhone without needing to spend heaps on the 14 Pro Max. The 6.7-inch OLED screen is iPhone’s finest — These are far better than LCD or Plasma screens due to their better brightness, refresh rates, and efficiency.

The iPhone 14 Plus also comes with much better battery life. On testing with continuous video playback, the iPhone 14 Pro lasted 23 hours (which is very good), but the iPhone 14 Plus lasted an additional 3 hours.

When continuously playing audio, the iPhone 14 Pro lasted 75 hours, whereas the 14 Plus lasted 100 hours. This is fantastic value for money, considering that it’s $200 cheaper than the 14 Pro Max. That said, there are a couple of compromises to be made here – no telephoto lens and a 60Hz refresh rate.

Telephoto lenses are used for clicking objects far, far away, so essentially zooming. That said, the 14 Plus features the A15 Bionic chip – the same as the iPhone 13 Pro, and although not as powerful as the A16, it packs a heavy punch and gives almost every Android device — including the best Samsung phones — a run for its money.

5. Apple iPhone 14 — Cheapest iPhone in the 14 Series

The iPhone 14 is the base model of the Apple 14 series, which naturally means it’s also the cheapest and the best iPhone 14 deal. Despite lacking the Dynamic Island, the Action mode makes it a much-revered choice for anyone looking for a superb camera phone on a budget.

You get a dual-camera system consisting of a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The resulting images are simply fantastic. 12MP pulls through nicely and accurately balances quality pictures with minimal storage space and processing speed.

The iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chipset is slightly better than that of the iPhone 13, given that it comes with an extra GPU core to deliver greater power and speed. The entire 14 series also boasts a satellite-backed SOS feature and an all-new car crash detection technology.

Although we hope you never have to use them, they’re very handy add-ons to have and certainly amp up the iPhone 14’s appeal, given it’s the cheapest in the series. Many other features are also similar to the higher-end versions. For starters, the iPhone 14 meets the same design standards as its successors.

It consists of a ceramic shield front which is considered as good as, and sometimes even better than, Gorilla glasses. The back of the phone is aerospace-grade aluminum making it more durable. What’s more, it comes with more interesting color options than the iPhone 14 Plus, including gold, purple, red, yellow, and blue.

6. iPhone 13 Pro — More Value for Money Than the iPhone 14

The iPhone 13 Pro is a great alternative to the iPhone 14, and with a minimal price difference, it makes a very good case for itself. If you’re looking for a small and lightweight phone with features close to the latest models, the 13 Pro is your ideal pick.

Also, unlike some of the latest models, the 13 Pro model has a 6.1-inch screen that can easily fit into your pocket, making it great for corporate professionals. It’s also more lightweight — While the 13 Pro Max weighs 8.5 ounces, the 13 Pro only weighs 7.2.

The battery life is slightly better than the iPhone 14, clocking 11+ hours when tested on web surfing. Also, it’s only an hour or two less than the 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro. The iPhone 13 also charges quicker than the iPhone 14, and to top it all off, even the refresh rate of 120Hz is better – it’s better than even the 14 Plus model, which, like the iPhone 14, features a 60Hz refresh rate.

Like all the higher-end iPhone models, this version, too, comes with an industry-leading IP68 waterproof rating. The rear camera setup is the same, with three 12MP cameras. And finally, the iPhone 13 was the first to introduce the macro mode that’s used to take crystal-clear pictures of small objects.

7. iPhone 13 Mini — Best Small iPhone With An A15 Bionic Chipset

The iPhone 13 Mini is the best small iPhone — easily one of the best compact phones across the board. It’s here to remind you that size doesn’t matter as long as the features are packed to the brim. The display is just 5.4 inches – standard iPhone screen sizes are 6.1 and 6.7 inches. The display is also brighter than the iPhone 12 Mini.

Next, you have the A15 Bionic chipset, which is only second to Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chipset. The low-light photography here is impressive and definitely worth a mention, and an ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view puts it on par with any iPhone camera going around.

A noticeable difference in the design of the phone is the notch – the opaque area at the top which houses the front camera. The notch of this model is 20% smaller, which means you have more screen area and a larger, uninterrupted display.

Also, it doesn’t look like Apple has plans to add any more phones to the Mini Series, making the iPhone 13 Mini the last of its kind, at least for the time being. Overall, if you’re big on small displays and want your iPhone to stand out from the crowd, the 13 Mini, with all its retro iPhone glory, will be your best friend.

8. iPhone SE — Best Cheap iPhone and the Smallest Screen

The iPhone SE was launched with one goal and one goal only – to make an iPhone for the masses by making it as cheap as possible. As the best budget iPhone and one of the best cheap smartphones, we recommend the iPhone SE to anyone looking for the security of an iOS at a pocket-friendly price.

One 12MP main camera pairs with a 7MP front camera to offer a decent experience all around. It’s certainly unfair to compare it with its seniors. But when put up against other phones in its price segment – it shines through nicely.

The display is also quite decent. It’s not an OLED display, but the Retina HD display technology makes for a smooth and crisp, high-resolution display. The resolution is 1344 x 750 pixels which means there are 1344 pixels horizontally and 750 pixels vertically. To the naked eye, the overall visual experience will be quite pleasant.

In terms of processing speed, it’s rather impressive that the iPhone SE uses the A15 Bionic processor – putting it on par with both the iPhone 11 and 12 series in terms of speed – which makes hopping from one app to another pretty fast, and it definitely feels premium.

Picture and video editing also went through a significant update with the SE, and it comes with an improved rendering speed credit again to the powerful A15 at its heart. Support for a 5G connection is much appreciated as well. So, to conclude, the iPhone SE will do more than a decent job at an incredible price point.

9. iPhone 12 — Offers 5G Support and Wireless Charging

The iPhone 12 is the only phone still available from the entire 12 lineup. It costs under $600, and we believe the prices will continue to drop. It was the first iPhone to come with support for 5G connectivity. Up until that, all the other models, such as the iPhone 11 series and iPhone SE, were limited to 4G.

Although it might seem the bare minimum now, it was quite revolutionary at the time. It was also the first iPhone to work with MagSafe — Apple’s proprietary magnetically attached power connectors.

The iPhone 12 matches the iPhone 13 as they both offer wireless charging, can survive in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes, and have two optical zoom options (0.5x and 1x). In fact, even the camera is the same on both — a 12MP main camera paired with an ultra-wide camera of the same megapixel count.

It’s worth noting that although the camera specifications of the iPhone 12 are similar to previous models, it performs better in real-time owing to all the software iPhone upgrades in recent times. The front camera employs TrueDepth technology, which is a master at distinguishing between foreground and background in the image and is also great for shooting in low light conditions.

Other notable features include its 6.1-inch OLED display and decent battery life – it lasted around 17 hours on audio playback. The fact that it has the same screen size as the costlier alternatives is a huge perk in itself too. Yes, 64GB storage on the base model is a bit of a bummer, but it still is a great choice for budget-conscious users.

10. Apple 11 Pro Max — Best iPhone Deal for Camera Enthusiasts

The iPhone 11 Pro Max was the best of the iPhone 11 lineup. Unlike the latest 14 series, where the difference between each model is very subtle, the 11 series had some major upgrades with each version, and the 11 Pro Max got the bragging rights, and by a fair stretch.

For starters, it had the largest screen size at the time, which remains one of the best even today. While the 11 Pro had a screen size of 5.8 inches and the iPhone 11 had a screen size of 6.1 inches, the iPhone 11 Pro Max bossed around with 6.5 inches — even bigger than some of the latest models in the 13 and 14 series.

Also, unlike some of its successors, such as the iPhone 12 and 13 Mini, the 11 Pro Max has a triple camera system – a banger in 2019 when it first came out. The camera setup consists of a 12MP main, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens with three optical zoom options ranging from 0.5x to 2x.

A revolutionary Night Mode and the ability to shoot videos in 4K, including 120fps slow-motion videos on the front camera, make the 11 Pro Max still relevant, even today. With adequate zooming capacity and an iPhone-standard resolution of 12 MP, this phone was and still is a delight for budding photographers.

Storage options start from 64GB and go all the way up to 512 GB. Unless you’re looking for 1TB storage, which is the highest possible storage capacity at the moment, the 11 Pro Max will do just fine as far as accommodating your files and apps is concerned.

Despite being such an old model, the battery lasts up to 20 hours on audio playback, which is on par, if not better, than some newer models, including the iPhone 13, so overall, if you’re on the lookout for the best iPhone prices, nothing beats this.

The Best iPhones to Buy Compared

Here’s a crisp table highlighting the key differences between each of our top recommendations so that you can compare the iPhones and make a well-informed yet quick decision:

Important Dеtails to Considеr Whеn Choosing thе Right iPhonе for You

With an array of iPhonе modеls, еach boasting uniquе fеaturеs and capabilitiеs, choosing thе pеrfеct iPhonе to suit your nееds can be a daunting task. Whеthеr you’rе a tеch еnthusiast sееking cutting-еdgе innovations or a budgеt-conscious user looking for a rеliablе dеvicе, thеrе arе important dеtails to considеr whеn choosing one.

Storagе 

Each storagе option offers diffеrеnt lеvеls of flеxibility and usability. For usеrs who primarily usе thеir iPhonеs for basic tasks likе calls, mеssagеs, and moderate app usagе, a lowеr storagе capacity, likе 64 GB, might bе sufficiеnt.

Howеvеr, for individuals who hеavily rеly on thеir iPhonеs for photography, vidеo rеcording, gaming, or professional work, opting for a highеr storagе capacity, such as 256GB or morе, is еssеntial to storе a vast amount of mеdia filеs and applications without running out of spacе.

Battеry Lifе and Charging 

iPhonеs vary in battеry life and charging capabilities, so it’s vital to consider your usage patterns. For individuals who usе thеir iPhonеs еxtеnsivеly throughout thе day, a dеvicе with longеr battеry lifе, such as thе iPhonе 14 Pro Max or 14 Plus, is morе suitablе.

Additionally, considering charging capabilities is еssеntial for convеniеncе and productivity. Somе iPhonеs support fast charging, allowing for quickеr charging timеs. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports 27W charging.

Othеr models may not offеr this fеaturе. For example, the iPhone 12 supports only 20W charging. Morеovеr, somе iPhonеs support wirеlеss charging, offеring an addеd convеniеncе for charging without dеaling with cablеs.

Procеssor Spееd

For usеrs rеsourcе-intеnsivе tasks likе gaming, vidеo еditing, or running complеx apps, opting for an iPhonе with a fastеr procеssor, such as thе latеst A-sеriеs chip, еnsurеs a smoothеr and morе еnjoyablе еxpеriеncе. Additionally, fastеr procеssors contribute to quickеr app launch timеs and ovеrall systеm pеrformancе, making daily tasks and intеractions morе sеamlеss.

As apps and softwarе еvolvе to takе advantage of thе latеst procеssing capabilitiеs, oldеr iPhonе modеls with slowеr procеssors may strugglе to kееp up with thе dеmands of modеrn applications. Considеr thе procеssor spееd to futurе-proof your dеvicе for upcoming advancеmеnts in technology and softwarе.

Build and Durability

Applе offеrs various builds across its iPhonе linеup, ranging from different matеrials, form factors, and lеvеls of durability. Considеring thе build of an iPhonе is еssеntial as it directly impacts thе dеvicе’s aеsthеtics, durability, and usеr еxpеriеncе.

For еxamplе, somе iPhonе modеls fеaturе a glass back, such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, contributing to a prеmium, slееk appеarancе and еnabling wirеlеss charging. On the other hand, iPhonеs with aluminum sides and backs offеr a morе lightwеight fееl. Thе choicе of matеrials can affеcts thе dеvicе’s robustnеss and rеsistancе to wеar and tеar.

Opting for iPhonеs with watеr and dust rеsistancе, likе thе iPhonе Pro modеls, are morе suitablе if you prioritizе durability. Additionally, thе build can influеncе thе dеvicе’s grip and convenience, affеcting how comfortablе it fееls with prolongеd usе.

Camеra

For photography еnthusiasts, iPhonеs with advancеd camеra systеms, likе thе iPhonе Pro sеriеs, offеr fеaturеs likе Night modе, Dееp Fusion, and ProRAW, for grеatеr control ovеr imagе capturе. Additionally, highеr-еnd modеls may include tеlеphoto and ultra-widе lеnsеs, еxpanding crеativе possibilitiеs for composing shots.

For thosе who еnjoy capturing sеlfiеs and making vidеo calls, front-facing camеra quality bеcomеs crucial, and somе iPhonе modеls offеr еnhancеd front-facing camеra capabilitiеs for improvеd sеlfiе shots and FacеTimе intеractions. Considеr thе camеra fеaturеs and sеlеct an iPhonе that bеst suits your photography nееds.

Display 

Thе display sizе and rеsolution dеtеrminе thе visual quality and contеnt viеwing еxpеriеncе. Largеr displays, such as thosе found on thе iPhonе Pro Max sеriеs, provide a morе immеrsivе еxpеriеncе for multimеdia consumption and gaming. On the other hand, compact displays likе thosе on thе iPhonе Mini modеls appеal to usеrs sееking pockеt-friеndly, onе-handеd usability.

Morеovеr, thе technology usеd in thе display affеcts its pеrformancе. For instance, thе introduction of thе Always-On Display on thе iPhonе 14 allows usеrs to glancе at important information likе timе, notifications, and battеry status without waking up thе dеvicе, saving powеr and providing convеniеncе.

Furthеrmorе, thе ProMotion display technology, introduced with thе iPhonе 13 Pro modеls, offеrs a highеr rеfrеsh ratе for smoothеr animations and morе rеsponsivе touch input. So considеr thе display technology when choosing an iPhonе to еnsurе it mееts your spеcific prеfеrеncеs and usagе rеquirеmеnts.

Pricе 

Apple offers various iPhones, from more affordable models like the iPhone SE to high-end flagship models like the iPhone Pro Max series. Thе pricе diffеrеncе is typically influеncеd by thе display sizе, camеra capabilitiеs, storagе capacity, and additional fеaturеs. For usеrs sееking an affordablе option without compromising pеrformancе, thе iPhonе SE is a solid option.

On the other hand, thosе who dеsirе cutting-еdgе technology, advancеd camеra systеms, and largеr storagе options should opt for thе highеr-pricеd iPhonе Pro modеls. Whilе thе latеst flagship modеls offеr thе latеst features, morе affordablе options can still dеlivеr an еxcеllеnt iPhonе еxpеriеncе for еvеryday tasks and communication. Assеssing your nееds and prioritiеs is vital to dеtеrminе which iPhonе modеl fits your budgеt and rеquirеmеnts.

Conclusion – What’s the Best iPhone to Buy in the UK for 2023?

Our list of the best iPhones has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a flagship iPhone with all the latest features or a camera-oriented iPhone that can click professional-level photos, you’ll surely find the best Apple iPhone deal for you on our list. However, regardless of your need, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is a no-brainer pick.

With features like a powerful 48MP primary camera, a unique Action Mode, an attractive Dynamic Island, an always-on 6.7 inches display, and a powerful A16 Bionic processor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has set a new benchmark in phone performance. Grab your very own now.

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