iPhone Diff

What will you use your iPhone for?

Taking photos

Which iPhone is enough, from what Apple and app makers publish. Where nobody publishes a figure, our own rule of thumb is marked as such.

What Apple and app makers say

The levels

Works

Every current iPhone has a 48MP main camera, which is plenty for everyday photos.

  • 48MP main camera or moreOur rule of thumb (not Apple's)

Comfortable

Macro needs an Ultra Wide camera, 2x zoom frames people naturally, and the Camera Control button gets you shooting faster.

The Works conditions, plus:

  • Macro photographyApple says
  • 2x optical-quality zoom or moreApple says
  • Camera Control buttonApple says

Heavy use

Distant subjects like sports or birds need a long telephoto, and editing RAW files needs a Pro model.

The Works conditions, plus:

  • 8x optical-quality zoom or moreApple says
  • Apple ProRAW photosApple says

Current models for this

Models Apple sells new today, cheapest first within each level.

Comfortable

  • iPhone 18 Pro$1,199 at launchHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max$1,299 at launchHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable

Works

  • iPhone 17e$599 at launchWorks
  • iPhone 17$799 at launchComfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone 16$799 at launchComfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone Air$999 at launchHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or more, Apple ProRAW photosWorks
  • iPhone Duo$1,999 at launch · Not released yetComfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks

Your older model?

Every iPhone we have checked, by release year.

2023–
  • iPhone DuoComfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone 18 ProHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 18 Pro MaxHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 17eWorks
  • iPhone 17Comfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone AirHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or more, Apple ProRAW photosWorks
  • iPhone 17 ProHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 17 Pro MaxHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 16eWorks
  • iPhone 16Comfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone 16 PlusComfortable: can't confirm 2x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone 16 ProHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 16 Pro MaxHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreComfortable
  • iPhone 15Works
  • iPhone 15 PlusWorks
  • iPhone 15 ProHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
  • iPhone 15 Pro MaxHeavy use: can't confirm 8x optical-quality zoom or moreWorks
2018–2022
2013–2017
2007–2012

How we decide

Each use has up to three levels: Works, Comfortable and Heavy use. Comfortable and Heavy use each add their own conditions to the Works conditions, and a model gets the highest level whose conditions it meets.

"Apple says" and "The app's maker says" mark requirements that Apple or the app's maker publishes. "Our rule of thumb (not Apple's)" marks our own suggestion, used where nobody publishes a figure.

Memory and storage are judged on the standard configuration. When ordering more memory or storage would reach a higher level, we add a "configurable" note.

When a spec is not published by Apple or not in our data, we say "Can't confirm" instead of guessing, and the condition does not count as met.

App and system requirements change with new versions. The date at the bottom of each page shows when we last checked them.

Heavy use:
Meets the minimum and the conditions for big projects or heavy daily use.
Comfortable:
Meets the minimum and the conditions for everyday use without waiting around.
Works:
Meets the minimum conditions: the apps and features for this run.
Can't confirm:
A spec the minimum needs is not published by Apple or not in our data, so we do not count it as met.
Not enough:
Misses at least one of the minimum conditions.

Requirements checked on 2026-10-11.