Every year, the calculation of which iPhone to buy becomes more and more tedious. Do you go for a standard iPhone? Splurge on the latest and greatest Pro model that might take you two years to pay off in full? Or should you buy a slightly older used or refurbished model to get the best deal possible? And of course, the safest bet is always to save money and hang on to your current phone for as long as possible.
After a day of sitting through Apple’s announcements, one thing was clear: At $799, the no-frills iPhone 16 is a bargain, at least compared to the basic iPhones of the past few years. It actually has a new processor called Apple’s A18, rather than reusing an older chip. It retains the action button from the iPhone 15 Pro, and it also has Apple’s new camera button. The iPhone 16 is relatively future-proof, thanks to support for Apple Intelligence, which doesn’t work on the non-Pro iPhone 15 or earlier models.
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The $999 iPhone 16 Pro has an additional camera and supports more powerful photography and filmmaking capabilities, but the line between that device and the standard iPhone 16 is blurred more than ever.
It definitely makes more sense to invest in an iPhone 16 right now instead of the poor, beleaguered iPhone SE. That device has the outdated A15 chip, the same tiny 4.7-inch screen of yore, and remains priced at $429, just like in 2022. There are rumors of a new iPhone SE coming sometime next year, but the current model is simply a terrible option in Apple’s current lineup.
If you don’t care about Apple Intelligence and just want to trade in your old device, you can currently find refurbished iPhone 15s on sites like Amazon for $500 to $600. But really, if you’re going to pay that much for a used device with a limited warranty, it might make more sense to just buy an iPhone 16 and pay it off over time through your carrier. Trade-in deals can also significantly reduce the price of your new phone; for example, Verizon is currently running a promotion offering $800 off a Pixel 9 or iPhone 15 if you trade in your old device.
To be clear, the advice above only applies if you need to replace a broken iPhone or if you want to try out Apple Intelligence. Judging from the latest rumors, it’s likely that we’ll see an ultra-thin iPhone model (similar to the latest iPad Pro) next year, so it might be wise to hold on to your existing device. Also, keep in mind that Apple’s AI features won’t be available immediately at launch; you’ll have to wait until the October update for the first set of features, and it won’t be until early 2025 that Siri gets all the new features.
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The iPhone 16 is Apple’s latest smartphone built with Apple Intelligence in mind.
$799 at Apple
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