Technology

iPhone Tier List

Compare Apple iPhone generations from the original iPhone 2G through iPhone 17 Pro, including SE, Pro, mini, e, and Air models. Rank each phone by design, performance, camera capability, software longevity, innovation, value, or personal nostalgia.

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Meet every option in iPhone

Rank the major iPhone generations in this template, from the original iPhone 2G to newer models such as iPhone Air, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Pro. Consider how each device changed the lineup, introduced notable features, balanced size and performance, or remained memorable over time. You can rank by objective capability, everyday experience, historical importance, value, or nostalgia.

Editorial review: 2026-08-21

  1. iPhone 2G

    Apple’s first iPhone, introduced in January 2007 and released in the United States on June 29, combined a mobile phone, widescreen iPod, and internet communicator. Its defining hardware was a 3.5-inch multi-touch display, quad-band GSM, EDGE, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, and visual voicemail, establishing the design language for every later iPhone generation.

    Official source

  2. iPhone 3G

    iPhone 3G retained the original iPhone’s touch-first experience while adding faster 3G cellular networking, built-in GPS, and iPhone 2.0 software. It also introduced the App Store era, giving users wireless access to native third-party applications. Compared with the first model, its major advance was broader connectivity and a dramatically lower starting price.

    Official source

  3. iPhone 3GS

    iPhone 3GS focused on speed and capability rather than a major exterior redesign. Apple described it as up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G, while adding a 3-megapixel autofocus camera, video recording, voice control, longer battery life, and iPhone OS 3.0 features such as Cut, Copy, Paste, MMS, and Spotlight Search.

    Official source

  4. iPhone 4

    iPhone 4 marked a substantial design and display milestone with a glass-and-stainless-steel enclosure and Apple’s high-resolution Retina display. It added FaceTime video calling, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, 720p HD recording, the A4 chip, and a three-axis gyroscope. Its iOS 4 software introduced features including multitasking and folders.

    Official source

  5. iPhone 4s

    iPhone 4s kept the iPhone 4’s glass-and-steel silhouette but delivered a major internal upgrade. Its dual-core A5 chip improved performance, while the new camera added advanced optics and 1080p HD video recording. Most notably, iPhone 4s introduced Siri, alongside iOS 5 and iCloud, making voice assistance and device synchronization central parts of the experience.

    Official source

  6. iPhone 5

    iPhone 5 introduced a taller 4-inch Retina display, a thinner and lighter 7.6-millimeter anodized aluminum body, and Apple’s A6 chip. It was the first iPhone to support LTE, while iOS 6 added Apple-designed Maps, Passbook, deeper Facebook integration, and expanded Siri features. Its proportions increased screen space without making the phone wider.

    Official source

  7. iPhone 5c

    iPhone 5c paired the familiar performance of iPhone 5 with a colorful polycarbonate enclosure reinforced by a steel frame. It retained the 4-inch Retina display and A6 chip, while adding a FaceTime HD camera, iOS 7, and support for up to 13 LTE bands. Its identity centered on vivid hardware colors rather than flagship-level silicon.

    Official source

  8. iPhone 5s

    iPhone 5s was the premium sibling to iPhone 5c and the first smartphone with a 64-bit A7 chip. It introduced Touch ID for fingerprint unlocking and authorization, plus an improved 8-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash. Running iOS 7, it combined the compact iPhone 5 design with a significant leap in processing architecture and security.

    Official source

  9. iPhone 6

    Released in 2014, iPhone 6 marked Apple’s shift to a larger 4.7-inch Retina HD display while retaining the familiar Home button and Touch ID. Its A8 chip, 8-megapixel camera, aluminum body, and Apple Pay support made it a clear step above the iPhone 5s, especially for users wanting more screen space without choosing the larger Plus model.

    Official source

  10. iPhone 6s

    iPhone 6s refined the iPhone 6 design with stronger 7000-series aluminum, an A9 chip, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and the debut of 3D Touch. It also introduced Live Photos, which captured motion and sound around a still image. Compared with iPhone 6, this model delivered a major camera and interaction upgrade while keeping the same 4.7-inch format.

    Official source

  11. iPhone SE (1st generation)

    The first-generation iPhone SE combined the compact four-inch body of the iPhone 5s with much newer internal hardware. It used the same A9 chip and 12-megapixel camera generation as iPhone 6s, while adding Live Photos, 4K video, Touch ID, and Apple Pay. Its defining advantage was flagship-era performance in Apple’s smallest modern iPhone design.

    Official source

  12. iPhone 7

    iPhone 7 introduced several design changes that defined Apple’s next phase: water and dust resistance, stereo speakers, a wider-color Retina HD display, and a pressure-sensitive solid-state Home button. Its A10 Fusion chip improved performance over iPhone 6s, while the 12-megapixel camera gained optical image stabilization and a brighter ƒ/1.8 aperture. It was also the first iPhone without a headphone jack.

    Official source

  13. iPhone 8

    iPhone 8 preserved the classic Home button and 4.7-inch form factor but replaced the aluminum rear with glass, enabling Qi wireless charging. Its A11 Bionic chip brought a substantial performance increase, while True Tone improved display color adaptation. Compared with iPhone 7, it added wireless charging, a glass-and-aluminum design, and stronger augmented-reality capabilities without adopting the iPhone X interface.

    Official source

  14. iPhone X

    iPhone X celebrated the iPhone’s tenth anniversary by replacing the Home button with an all-screen 5.8-inch OLED display. It introduced Face ID through the TrueDepth camera system, along with Animoji, gesture navigation, wireless charging, and an A11 Bionic neural engine. Its dual rear cameras supported optical stabilization, while the stainless-steel frame and glass body created a distinctly new flagship design.

    Official source

  15. iPhone XR

    iPhone XR brought the iPhone X design language to a lower starting price by using a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD instead of OLED. It featured the A12 Bionic chip, Face ID, wireless charging, Dual SIM support, and a single 12-megapixel rear camera capable of Portrait mode. Its aluminum frame and six bright finishes gave it a more colorful identity than the premium XS models.

    Official source

  16. iPhone XS

    iPhone XS was the direct refinement of iPhone X, retaining its 5.8-inch OLED display, Face ID, stainless-steel frame, and dual-camera layout. The A12 Bionic chip improved performance and efficiency, while Smart HDR, adjustable Portrait depth, faster Face ID, and Dual SIM support expanded its capabilities. Compared with XR, XS offered OLED contrast, a telephoto camera, and a more premium build.

    Official source

  17. iPhone 11

    Introduced in 2019, iPhone 11 combines an A13 Bionic chip with a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display. Its dual 12MP camera system pairs Main and Ultra Wide lenses, adding Night mode and 4K video. Compared with the Pro models, it uses aluminum rather than stainless steel and lacks a dedicated Telephoto camera.

    Official source

  18. iPhone 11 Pro

    iPhone 11 Pro is the compact 2019 flagship with a 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, A13 Bionic, and a stainless steel frame. Its triple 12MP camera system adds a Telephoto lens to the Ultra Wide and Wide cameras, supporting 2x optical zoom in and out. It also offers up to 512GB of storage.

    Official source

  19. iPhone SE 2

    iPhone SE 2, introduced in 2020, brings the A13 Bionic chip to Apple’s familiar 4.7-inch design with a Home button and Touch ID. It has a single 12MP Wide camera rather than the multi-camera layouts of contemporary iPhone 11 models, while retaining Portrait mode, optical image stabilization, wireless charging, and capacities up to 256GB.

    Official source

  20. iPhone 12 mini

    iPhone 12 mini is the 2020 compact model with a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display and the A14 Bionic chip. Its flat-edged aluminum design supports 5G and MagSafe, while the dual 12MP Main and Ultra Wide cameras mirror the standard iPhone 12. Its smaller body weighs 133 grams and starts at 64GB.

    Official source

  21. iPhone 12 Pro

    iPhone 12 Pro is a 2020 Pro model built around a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, A14 Bionic, and a stainless steel frame. Its triple-camera system includes Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lenses, plus a LiDAR Scanner for low-light portraits and depth sensing. Storage rises to 512GB, with Apple ProRAW support.

    Official source

  22. iPhone 13

    Introduced in 2021, iPhone 13 upgrades the mainstream line with an A15 Bionic chip, a brighter 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, and 128GB as its base capacity. Its dual cameras add sensor-shift stabilization, Photographic Styles, and Cinematic mode for 1080p video, while the flat aluminum design supports 5G and MagSafe.

    Official source

  23. iPhone 13 Pro

    iPhone 13 Pro is the 2021 professional model distinguished by a 6.1-inch OLED display with adaptive ProMotion refresh rates up to 120Hz. Its A15 Bionic uses a five-core GPU, and the triple-camera system adds macro photography, 3x optical zoom, improved Night mode, Apple ProRAW, and LiDAR. Storage extends from 128GB to 1TB.

    Official source

  24. iPhone SE 3

    iPhone SE 3, introduced in 2022, keeps the 4.7-inch LCD screen, Home button, and Touch ID format while adding the A15 Bionic chip and 5G connectivity. Its single 12MP Main camera supports Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, and Deep Fusion. Compared with iPhone SE 2, it offers newer processing and network hardware in nearly the same body.

    Official source

  25. iPhone 14

    Introduced in 2022, iPhone 14 combines a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with the A15 Bionic chip and a dual 12MP camera system. Its notable safety additions include Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection. Compared with the Pro model, it uses an aluminum frame, lacks ProMotion and Always-On display, and offers no telephoto camera.

    Official source

  26. iPhone 14 Pro

    iPhone 14 Pro is the 2022 professional model with a 6.1-inch Dynamic Island display, Always-On capability, and adaptive ProMotion refresh rates up to 120Hz. It introduced Apple’s 48MP Main camera to iPhone Pro, alongside Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras, plus LiDAR. Its A16 Bionic chip and stainless steel construction distinguish it from standard iPhone 14.

    Official source

  27. iPhone 15

    Released in 2023, iPhone 15 brings the Dynamic Island and USB-C to the mainstream 6.1-inch iPhone line. It uses the A16 Bionic chip, a 48MP Main camera with a 2x optical-quality telephoto option, and a 12MP Ultra Wide camera. Its aluminum frame and color-infused glass back make it lighter and less camera-focused than iPhone 15 Pro.

    Official source

  28. iPhone 15 Pro

    iPhone 15 Pro is a 2023 premium model built around a titanium frame, A17 Pro chip, and 6.1-inch ProMotion display. Its Pro camera system supports 48MP photography, a dedicated 3x Telephoto lens, LiDAR, ProRAW, and ProRes. USB-C also supports USB 3 transfer speeds up to 10Gb/s, making it substantially more capable for professional capture and file workflows.

    Official source

  29. iPhone 16e

    Introduced in 2025, iPhone 16e is a streamlined 6.1-inch model with the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence support, an Action button, and USB-C. Its 48MP Fusion camera combines a Main camera with a 2x Telephoto option, while the C1 modem provides Apple-designed cellular connectivity. It omits MagSafe and uses a single rear-camera system rather than dual or Pro cameras.

    Official source

  30. iPhone 16

    iPhone 16 is the 2024 standard model with the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence support, an Action button, and Camera Control. Its 48MP Fusion camera offers a 2x optical-quality telephoto option, while the autofocus Ultra Wide camera adds macro photography. Compared with iPhone 16 Pro, it has an aluminum frame, a 60Hz display, and a simpler dual-camera arrangement.

    Official source

  31. iPhone 16 Pro

    iPhone 16 Pro is Apple’s 2024 professional model, featuring a larger 6.3-inch ProMotion display, titanium construction, A18 Pro performance, and Camera Control. Its upgraded camera system includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera, 48MP Ultra Wide camera, and 5x Telephoto lens. It also supports 4K Dolby Vision recording at up to 120 fps, making it a stronger choice for advanced video work.

    Official source

  32. iPhone Air

    iPhone Air is Apple’s ultra-thin 2025 model, measuring 5.6mm and weighing 165 grams while still using an A19 Pro chip and a 6.5-inch ProMotion display. Its 48MP Fusion Main camera provides a 2x Telephoto option, and the 18MP Center Stage front camera supports flexible portrait and landscape framing. The titanium design prioritizes lightness over a multi-camera rear system.

    Official source

  33. iPhone 17

    The iPhone 17 is the standard 2025 model, pairing a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120Hz, an A19 chip, and a 48MP Dual Fusion camera system. It also introduces an 18MP Center Stage front camera, Ceramic Shield 2, Apple Intelligence, and up to 30 hours of video playback.

    Official source

  34. iPhone 17 Pro

    The iPhone 17 Pro is Apple’s professional 2025 model, distinguished by a heat-forged aluminum unibody, A19 Pro chip, vapor cooling, and a Pro Fusion camera system. Compared with iPhone 17, it targets demanding photography and video workflows with stronger sustained performance, advanced zoom capabilities, and configurations reaching up to 2TB of storage.

    Official source

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iPhone comes with preloaded items so you can begin ranking immediately, but the board is still flexible enough to reflect your own criteria.