Which iPhone to buy? Complete comparison and reviews 2021/2022

Comparison by needs

Which iPhone to buy for photography?

The iPhone 13 Pro is the best camera phone you can find in 2021. It has three cameras on the back, and has the advantage of being more affordable than the iPhone 13 Pro Max even though it has the same sensors.

The cameras of other iPhones are also of good quality, although less efficient. They are all manufactured by Sony, an Apple subcontractor for several years.

Which iPhone to buy for filming?

The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are also the best iPhones to buy if you want to shoot videos. Note, however, that 4K resolution at thirty frames per second in ProRes is only available on the models in question which are equipped with at least 256 GB of storage. Therefore, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max with only 128 GB of internal memory are limited to 1080p at thirty frames per second.

Be aware, however, that the other iPhone 13s are also very good smartphones for clips. This is what the series provesShot on iPhoneabove.

Which iPhone to buy for a teenager?

At this age, teenagers are often looking for great selfies rather than real performances. What's better, then, than a state-of-the-art iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro? With such devices, you will be sure to offer the best Portrait mode to your children in order to allow them to capture the best frontal shots possible. Portrait mode is indeed less complete on iPhone SE, for example.

Which iPhone to buy used?

According to a SellCell study, it is the iPhone 13 mini with 128 GB of storage that loses the most value two months after being purchased. In theory, this model should only cost you around 550 euros instead of the base price of 809 euros if you wait long enough.

Which iPhone to buy refurbished?

A word of advice: for the reconditioned one, provide yourselfat Amazon. The store indeed offers a one-year warranty on used iPhones, whose battery life is greater than 80% of that of a new product. In addition, it is possible to replace it if you are not satisfied.

Which iPhone to buy for cheap?

This is apparently THE big question everyone is asking. For us, the answer is very simple: the best quality/price ratio from Apple is of course the second generation iPhone SE, since it only costs… 489 euros only! Or twice as expensive as a good iPhone 13.

Note, however, that the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 are still available from Apple, with a more attractive price than the iPhone 13 there too. A good budget alternative: the iPhone 12 mini starts at 689 euros compared to 589 euros for the iPhone 11! So of course you won't benefit from all the latest innovations, but these items remain excellent quality even in 2021.

Which iPhone has the best battery?

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is clearly the best in terms of autonomy, since it is capable of lasting up to twenty-eight hours in a row in video playback if we are to believe the official figures from 'Apple. So of course these are tests carried out in the laboratory, but the difference is clear and clear with the iPhone 13 which is limited to nineteen hours. The iPhone 13 Pro, for its part, is limited to twenty-two hours, compared to seventeen hours for the iPhone 13 mini. Of course, these numbers shrink when compared to the iPhone SE, iPhone 11, or iPhone 12.

Let's also make a quick charging point: note that while the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are MagSafe (wireless) compatible, this is not the case for the iPhone SE or the iPhone 11. On the other hand, all iPhones still on sale today are entitled to fast charging which powers 50% of their battery in just 30 minutes (with an adapter to be purchased separately).

Which iPhone is the fastest?

The two iPhone 13 Pros are the most efficient. Indeed, although they are powered by the same processor integrated into the iPhone 13 mini and the “classic” iPhone 13, they are equipped with 2 GB of additional RAM. Therefore, to play video games on Apple Arcade or even multiply tasks in the background, the iPhone 13 Pro is the best possible choice.

Of course, other iPhones are also very fast because iOS is particularly optimized to run on Apple's proprietary chips. But benchmarks will always make the difference.

Which iPhone has the best screen?

The duel to know which iPhone to buy for its screen is between the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. These are in fact the only two models at Apple to offer an imposing diagonal of 6.7 inches, where the iPhone 11 Pro Max is limited to 6.5 inches. But the iPhone 13 Pro Max has an advantage that its predecessor does not have: it is ProMotion technology. Also available on iPad Pro, this guarantees an image refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.

In addition, the brightness of the iPhone 13 Pro Max reaches 1,000 nits compared to 800 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max as standard.

The case for water resistance

The iPhone 12 range and the iPhone 13 range are the two with the best waterproofing: up to six meters deep for up to thirty minutes. The iPhone 11 collection and the second-generation iPhone SE aren't as water-resistant. However, there are waterproof pockets for going swimming, but difficult to wear on a daily basis.

Comparison of storage capacities

Available iPhones with 64GB of internal storage are iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 12. iPhone 12 Pro , iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 classic, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max start from 128 GB of memory. If you want 256 GB, you will have to turn to the iPhone 11 Pro Max, the iPhone 11 Pro, the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro Max and not any iPhone 13.

As for 512 GB, they are only offered for iPhone Pro or Pro Max, all generations combined. Finally, note that it is also possible to opt for 1 TB (perfect for videos) but with the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max only.

Presentation of iPhones

iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is THE photophone par excellence: with three lenses on the back + its LiDAR, it is the best ally you will find for your portraits or your Instagram account. What's more, unlike the iPhone 13 Pro Max, you won't run up the bill. But you will still have to pay the price: count on 1,159 euros at least to treat yourself to this nugget.

On the technical sheet side, the iPhone 13 Pro is powered by an A15 Bionic chip composed of a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU itself supported by 6 GB of RAM, compared to “only” 4 on the “Classic” iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 Pro has a diagonal of 6.1 inches, like the iPhone 13, but it is therefore more powerful. It also lasts longer: up to three hours more battery life for video, for example.

Obviously, the iPhone 13 Pro also includes everything we could hope for in terms of software with Apple One subscriptions (Music, Arcade, iCloud+, TV+, Fitness+) and all the in-house iOS 15 apps like Photos, Messages or even Shortcuts.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is undoubtedly the one to buy to achieve guaranteed flawless performance. Indeed, for us, this is the best iPhone ever created by Apple, all collections combined. What differences with the iPhone 13 Pro will you tell me? First and foremost, a bigger screen. The iPhone 13 Pro Max panel measures 6.7 inches with ProMotion technology (120 Hz refresh rate), which is ideal for streaming on Netflix or gaming.

If the camera is the same on iPhone 13 Pro Max as on iPhone 13 Pro, another criterion can however make the difference between the two: the battery. Indeed, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most durable according to its manufacturer, capable of lasting an entire day without flinching with moderate use. The storage capacities offered range from 128 GB to 1 TB.

Let's finish with the dimensions, which clearly classify the iPhone 13 Pro Max as a phablet with still more than sixteen centimeters high and almost eight centimeters wide. Its thickness is the same as the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro (7.65 mm), but it is much heavier with 238 grams on the scale. This is perhaps its only fault; This mobile may not be suitable for small hands or small jeans pockets.

iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is the best value for money of the latest generation of high-end mobiles from Apple. In fact, it has a format similar to that of the iPhone 13 Pro with a diagonal of 6.1 inches without losing many advantages since it is also 5G compatible and has a wide angle and from an ultra wide angle. So certainly the telephoto lens and the time-of-flight radar are absent, but only a few categories of customers really need them.

In addition, the iPhone 13 is cheaper: it “only” costs 909 euros, while we know that the iPhone 14 may not launch before the fateful mark of 1,000 euros. This is therefore a golden opportunity to buy a premium smartphone from Apple at the best cost. Five colors are offered by Cupertino, to suit all audiences: starlight, midnight, blue, pink and red.

Please note that the iPhone 13 is, however, a little less powerful than the iPhone 13 Pro, since its graphics card has one less core and its autonomy may require you to plug it in before the end of your day. Besides, the technical characteristics will not disappoint: Face ID, aluminum case (compared to steel for the iPhone 13 Pro) and water resistance are well there.

iPhone 13 mini

The iPhone 13 mini is perhaps the most original choice if you are looking for which iPhone to buy for the holidays. Indeed, we know that its predecessor (namely the iPhone 12 mini) did not sell very well. Some accused it in particular of not being durable enough, therefore with a bad battery. However, it seems that Apple has corrected the situation with its iPhone 13 mini, capable of playing videos for seventeen hours straight.

As its name suggests, this iPhone is also smaller with a 5.4-inch panel “only”. But this does not mean that performance is left aside, on the contrary: we hold here the successful promise of a “compact” device which condenses the best of Apple in a reduced size. Understand that Apple has integrated the same components as the iPhone 13 under the hood: Neural Engine, A15 Bionic chip, 4 GB of RAM… Everything is there.

The price, however, is more advantageous: from 809 euros. For a similar size to the iPhone SE but more efficient. Good to know, however: according to rumors, this would be the last “mini” iPhone from Apple, the iPhone 14 starting at 6.1 inches. So don't miss out if the reduced size design catches your eye.

iPhone 12

As surprising as it may seem, Apple continues to sell the iPhone 12 in 2021. In short, it is more or less an iPhone 13 a year late: the technical sheet is almost identical, with perhaps Cinematic mode, two hours of battery life and less A15 Bionic chip. Moreover, the design still features clear borders of the same length but the colors change.

The iPhone 12 is available in purple, blue, green, red, white and black and at the same price as the iPhone 13 mini: 809 euros.

iPhone 12 mini

What about the iPhone 12 mini, then? Here too, it is neither more nor less than an iPhone 13 mini, barely slower (but we will certainly not see the difference on a daily basis), which holds the charge for less time (there, however, the difference is clear ) and which is available in different shades. You should also know that the storage capacity starts at only 64 GB, for a fairly advantageous price of 689 euros, or 200 euros more than the second generation iPhone SE.

Another small difference, barely observable: the thickness, less than the iPhone 13 mini by precisely 0.25 mm. And that's it.

iPhone SE: the best value for money?

If high-end iPhones are out of your budget's reach, no worries. In fact, you just need to find which iPhone to buy from the SE range! It is, to date, quite simply the most affordable that you will find at Apple because prices start at just 489 euros for 64 GB of internal memory. A sum which rises to 539 euros with 128 GB.

The screen is smaller than that of the iPhone 13 mini, however the overall format ofthe second generation iPhone SEis more imposing because the screen is not as edge to edge and Face ID is not included. Instead, Apple wanted to keep the biometric unlock button that recognizes the fingerprint.

In terms of technical specifications, we are here with results equivalent to those of the iPhone 11 since the iPhone SE 2020 has the same A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine under the hood. However, it is entitled to 1 GB of RAM less, making do with 3 GB of RAM. Its camera is also less interesting because it only has one sensor, but the Portrait mode is indeed there at the front. This is also a good point if you are looking for which iPhone to buy for a selfie lover; social networks do not require a lot of bandwidth.

Our opinion on the iPhone 11

Finally, note that Apple also still offers the iPhone 11 in stores. Here, unlike the iPhone 12, the differences with the iPhone 13 are clear, since two years of research and development separate the two mobiles. But the almost unbeatable price of 589 euros for the iPhone 11 (just 100 euros more than the iPhone SE, for a much larger screen) is convincing!

• Also read: detailed technical sheet of the iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are no longer sold by Apple, but the classic iPhone 11 and its 6.1-inch panel is still in stock in purple, yellow, green, black, red or white. However, it is not entitled to 5G, but 4G is already more than sufficient for users like you and me. Waterproofing is also less, because the iPhone 11 withstands a depth of two meters for a maximum of thirty minutes. As for the storage capacities still offered, they are 64 GB or 128 GB, which is quite low when you shoot a lot of videos.