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We’ve had 17 generations of iPhones so far, with the latest models, the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, introduced in September 2023. Apple typically follows an annual update cycle, introducing new high-end flagship models while often discounting prior-year models and selling them at more affordable price points. iPhone vs Android Over the years, the Android and iPhone platforms have evolved to the point where feature-wise, they’re similar in function. Android smartphones are made by multiple manufacturers, but the core operating system is provided by Google, which leads to a wider variety of phones and price points to choose from, but poorer integration between software and hardware. Apple’s control of both the iPhone and the operating system (iOS) results in a more consistent experience plus ongoing support. With iOS 17, Apple supports all iPhones that were introduced in the last four years, so the majority of active iPhone owners can and doBoth iPhones have edge-to-edge OLED displays with slim bezels, a "Ceramic Shield" front cover that offers better drop protection, and a pill-shaped Dynamic Island that houses the front-facing camera technology and Face ID hardware. Apple is still using an all-glass body, but the company adopted a new titanium frame this year. Titanium is more durable and lighter weight than stainless steel. The Dynamic Island has been incorporated into the iPhone’s interface and it is able to show various notifications and app information for phone calls, timers, Face ID, Bluetooth connections, and more. The two iPhones are available in new colors that include natural, blue, black, and white titanium. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are equipped with the A17 Pro chip, and this year, they are the only iPhones to use it. The standard iPhone 15 models have an A16 chip that was previously used in the iPhone 14 Pro models. The A17 Pro is built on Apple’s 3-nanometer node, bringing notable performance and efficiency improvements. Along with up to 20 percent faster GPU performance, the chip includes support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, allowing for console-level gaming. There continues to be a three-lens camera setup with a 48-megapixel Main camera that offers improved low-light performance, a Telephoto lens, and an Ultra Wide camera, but there have been improvements to the Telephoto lens. In the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple is using Tetraprism technology to enable 5x optical zoom. The smaller iPhone 15 Pro has 3x optical zoom. Crash Detection, a feature added last year, is able to determine if you’ve been in a serious car accident, alerting emergency services, and Apple has also added Emergency SOS via satellite. This feature allows you to get emergency help using satellites if you are out of the range of Wi-Fi and cellular. Apple added a new Action button to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and it can be activated to do things like launch the camera, turn on Flashlight, record a Voice Memo, or launch a Shortcut. All flagship iPhone models in 2023 have a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, allowing them to be charged with USB-C cables like the iPad and the Mac. Other features include IP68 water resistance, 8GB RAM, ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, faster 5G, anThey do not offer ProMotion display technology and thus do not support an always-on display, but Apple did bring the Dynamic Island to the standard iPhone lineup this time. There is no longer a notch, and the Dynamic Island takes up less of the screen space while still offering the same front-facing camera and Face ID functionality. The regular iPhone 15 models and the iPhone 15 Pro models have different chips. While the iPhone 15 Pro uses an A17 Pro chip, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have the prior-generation A16 chip with upgraded GPU that was originally used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. There is a dual camera system that features an Ultra Wide and Main (Wide) lens with no Telephoto lens. Apple upgraded the Main lens in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, introducing a 48-megapixel camera on par with the camera used in the iPhone 15 Pro models. The iPhone 15 models have support for mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G and use the same X70 Qualcomm chip as the Pro models, plus they’re equipped with a magnetic ring for use with MagSafe accessories. Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite are available, and there is a new USB-C port that replaces the Lightning port. Compared to the Pro models, the standard models lack the titanium chassis, the Telephoto camera lens, the A17 Pro chip, and the Action button. Between the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the features are identical with the exception of screen size and battery, as the iPhone 15 Plus can accommodate a larger battery size. Key Features : Diagonal dual-lens camera: Main (Wide), Ultra Wide Crash Detection USB-C port Dynamic Island 5G support A16 chip Bottom Line: The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus offer some of the same features as the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max at a more affordable price. The differences are limited primarily to the camera and the display, and may not be of interest for those who are not heavily invested in iPhone photography, making the $200+ savings worth it for some people. iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus ($699+) The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are Apple’s prior-generation mainstream smartphone models, and they are now offered as lower-cost options that are a generation behind the iPhone 15 models. The iPhone 14 features a 6.1-inch display while the iPhone 14 Plus features a 6.7-inch display, and they are essentially identical in size and design to their iPhone 15 counterparts. They feature a glass body and aluminum frame, along with a notch rather than a Dynamic Island at the front for the front-facing camera hardware. The models include a Lightning port, and they have a prior-generation A15 chip that is not as advanced as the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 models. The dual-camera system has an Ultra Wide and Main (Wide) lens, but the Wide lens is 12 megapixels rather than 48. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus do support Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. Key Features: Diagonal dual-lens camera: Main (Wide), Ultra Wide Crash Detection Emergency SOS via satellite 5G support A15 chip Bottom Line: The...