Best iPhones 2024: the top options for music and movie lovers rated

The iPhone is one of the most influential tech products ever made, and a very good portable video and music player as well. The latest range – the iPhone 16 family – has some subtle but significant improvements in these two areas, while also adding artificial intelligence, new processors and new camera controls.

Of course it's the AV skills we're focussed on. The below iPhones have been evaluated mainly on their audio-visual abilities, but we have also considered their other talents (no one buys a phone purely to use it as a portable media player, after all).

Wondering which iPhone is best for you? We've rounded up the best for different use-cases, based on our recent reviews. We come to our review verdicts as a team rather than individuals, in order to stamp out bias. Between us, we have over 100 years' experience of testing devices, so we know a good iPhone when we use one. You can read more about how we test iPhones below.

The quick list

Joe Svetlik

Thanks to a sneaky US import, I was one of the first UK journalists to try the original iPhone when it launched in 2007. I've been testing iPhones ever since, and have used one full-time since 2016 when I made the switch from Android. Today's models are not only some of the best smartphones around, they're some of the best devices for music and movies on the go. Whatever your needs, chances are there's an iPhone for you.

Best overall

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If you want a powerful new iPhone that's equipped with all the latest features (including Apple Intelligence) but don't want to spend too much, you'll be best served by the iPhone 16.

Its screen might be marginally smaller than the 16 Pro's (and quite a bit smaller than the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max's), and lacks the 120Hz 'ProMotion' refresh rate with always-on tech, but it's still a beauty. The 460ppi pixel density makes for a sharp picture, and it's bright, going up to 2000 nits peak brightness. It also supports the HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats of HDR.

Sonically, it's well equipped, with Dolby Atmos and Apple Spatial Audio (through supported AirPods or Beats headphones). Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board, though it only supports the LE and A2DP codecs.

As ever, there are picture and sound improvements that Apple hasn't made a big deal about (or even mentioned). It produces a rich, three-dimensional image with crisp details and tangible texture. Colours are balanced but engaging, while motion remains smooth throughout.

The sound quality is similarly rich, detailed and engaging with lashings of warm bass. As we'll see, the 16 Pro is a real step up, but for this money, the standard 16 is the finest iPhone currently available.

Read the full Apple iPhone 16 review

Best for power

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Like the bigger, pricier 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro is powered by Apple's A18 Pro chip, alongside a 6-core CPU and GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. And it shows.

It flies through the iOS 18 operating system, and doesn't struggle even with multiple processor-intensive apps running at once. You also get console-quality gaming courtesy of the GPU.

The screen is a bit bigger than the 15 Pro Max's, and with a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz, it's able to conserve power on static images and show the fastest-moving movies and games with no blurring. The always-on feature is a neat addition too, especially if you're using your phone as a bedside clock.

In terms of picture quality, the iPhone 16 Pro is noticeably better than the standard iPhone 16 at handling brighter sections of the picture, losing less detail around the brightest spots. As a whole, the picture is rich and punchy, and beautifully balanced, while motion remains as smooth as it comes.

The 16 Pro is also the best-sounding phone we've heard all year. It's typically warm, smooth and dynamic, but with an extra level of detail that's missing from previous iPhones.

Read the full Apple iPhone 16 Pro review

Best big-screen value

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iPhones are never exactly cheap, but the 15 Plus represents great value. Consider this – it packs a mammoth 6.7-inch screen, but costs £100 less than iPhone 16 Plus. True, it lacks the Action button, and Apple Intelligence, but for a big screen blower on a budget, it takes some beating.

The 6.7-inch screen is better protected than that on older iPhones, thanks to Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass. The handset's extra size allows for a bigger battery, which equals 20 hours of video streaming, and so could last you two days of use, unless you're really rinsing Netflix.

2000 nits peak brightness makes for very bright highlights, and the big screen makes it much more of an immersive viewing experience than smaller phones. Blacks are very deep and inky (as you would expect from an OLED display), skin tones are natural, and colours have plenty of punch.

Sonically, it's full-bodied, forward and exciting, with a slightly cleaner treble than previous-generation iPhones. And Apple Spatial Audio with dynamic headtracking is onboard through compatible headphones. Add the big screen, and it's a lot of bang for not that much buck.

Read the full Apple iPhone 15 Plus review

Best small-screen value

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At £599, the iPhone 14 is half the price of the 16 Pro Max. Admittedly there are plenty of compromises (a smaller screen with half the refresh rate, no Apple Intelligence, less capable cameras), but if it's a relatively affordable iPhone with a modestly-sized screen you're after, the 14 ticks all the boxes.

It has the same chassis, screen and processor as the iPhone 13, but all three still stand up by today's standards. The screen remains bright and sharp (though it's not as advanced as Apple's latest models), with punchy colours and plenty of detail. It still impresses on the audio front too, with weighty bass, snappy timing and plenty of space to the presentation. Even the built-in speakers are pretty decent (though not a patch on a dedicated Bluetooth speaker).

So yes, there are compromises, and it still has a Lightning port, not the USB-C of more recent models. But for the price, the iPhone 14 is a compelling proposition.

Read the full Apple iPhone 14 review

Also consider

• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Apple no longer sells this handset (it wants to push you towards the latest model), but you can still find it at other retailers. It packs a lot of what makes the 16 Pro Max so great, including a ProMotion display and Apple Intelligence.
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: Again, Apple no longer sells this one – and given its age, it's a bit harder to find at third-party retailers. Again, you get a big screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, always-on capabilities and the Dynamic Island for (comparatively) not much money.
• Apple iPhone 13: It's getting on a bit now, but this is very similar to the iPhone 14, only with a slightly inferior camera. It is still on sale though, so if you want the same AV skills as the 14 and aren't bothered about the camera, it could be a wise buy.

How to choose the best iPhone for you

The Apple iPhone range covers lots of different screen sizes and prices, but which is the best iPhone for you? Do you want an older, entry-level handset to handle the basic tasks of making calls, web browsing and taking the occasional picture? Or do you want something more powerful in a premium package with flagship tech and a massive screen? Either way, Apple has an iPhone for you and they all run its iOS operating system, which is a doddle to use.

Screen size is also important. A smaller size is more pocketable, but a bigger screen will be better suited for films, games and TV shows. So think about how you'll use it before you buy. Apple's iPhones use LCD or OLED displays, depending on the model – the iPhone 12 and later ranges are all comprised of OLED models, while the older ranges' cheaper models use LCD. (All of those featured here have OLED displays.)

Then there's the camera. The more expensive iPhones have incredible cameras, but it's worth investigating the cheaper models too. If all you need it for is pointing and shooting, without delving into all the various shooting modes available, chances are they'll more than suffice.

In our experience, iPhones tend to be some of the best-sounding smartphones, while the quality of their screens is always up there with the very best at the money. The only extra bit of kit you might want to factor in is a pair of headphones – either wired (Lightning for pre-iPhone 15, USB-C for the iPhone 15 range and later) or wireless, depending on your personal preference. The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2 are good headphones, but their sound quality is bettered by the best wireless headphones around.

• OS agnostic? These are the best smartphones for music and movies
• And the best Android phones available

How we test iPhones

While we have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door, iPhones are on-the-go products that deserve to be tested as such.

To that end, we live with each iPhone as if we had bought it. We see how they fare in audio-visual terms, of course, loading up a variety of different streaming services to watch and listen to content in all resolutions. But we also use them for the mundane day-to-day stuff: checking emails, setting timers, even making calls.

Being an AV title, the cameras might not be our priority but we recognise they're still a vital part of any smartphone. And so we put them through their paces as well, taking a range of photos and videos in all different settings and conditions. An iPhone is a big investment, and with any luck, it'll be with you for a few years, so you want to know you're getting value for money in all areas of the phone's performance.

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, with What Hi-Fi? proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for decades.

Read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi?.

FAQ

Recent updates

• 20th December 2024: Switched to new format. Updated list to include newer iPhones. Added 'Also consider' section.

MORE:

Read the full iPhone 16 review

And the iPhone 16 Pro review

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: should you upgrade?