Journalists tested Apple’s current lineup of smartphones and selected the best models to buy in the spring of 2026. The standard iPhone 17 was named the best choice for most people. Experts have noticed that Apple has made it more blurry between the base model and the “Pro” models by equipping the iPhone 17 with a 120Hz ProMotion display, an A19 chip, better battery life, and new camera features, while keeping the price the same as the Pro version. The iPhone 17 Pro was named the best smartphone for mobile photography, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max was recognized for its long battery life. In the affordable device category, the winner was the iPhone 17e, which costs $599: Apple fixed the main problems with older budget models by increasing the base storage to 256 GB and adding MagSafe support.
CNN put the latest Apple smartphones through their paces and picked the best ones for different uses. They named the standard iPhone 17 the top iPhone to buy in spring 2026—experts say it’s the best choice for most people.
The authors say that Apple has made it so that the standard iPhone and the Pro version are pretty much the same. The iPhone 17 has a 120Hz ProMotion display, a powerful A19 processor, better battery life, and new camera features that were only available on higher-end models before.
The phone costs $200 less than the Pro version.
“The iPhone 17 is a clear upgrade for anyone using an iPhone 15 or older. Even people who are already thinking about replacing their iPhone 16 will find plenty of interesting improvements here,” the experts note.
The iPhone 17 Pro has been called “the best iPhone for mobile photography.” This model’s got some pretty sweet cameras and a bunch of cool professional shooting features. The iPhone 17 Pro Max set a new record for battery life, with journalists calling it the “longest-lasting” iPhone in the current lineup.
If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, the iPhone 17e is a solid choice. Apple has addressed the main shortcomings of its predecessor by adding MagSafe magnets and increasing the storage in the base model to 256 GB, while keeping the starting price at $599.Other industry publications have reached similar conclusions. For example, Tom’s Guide and Engadget also call the iPhone 17 the best iPhone “for the money,” and the 17 Pro Max the most advanced option for those who prioritize camera quality and battery life.