Apple has released its latest flagship iPhones, and the company now sells seven models spanning from the $699 iPhone 17e to the $1,999 iPhone Duo. The new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are available now at $1,199 and up, while the more affordable iPhone 18 models are not expected until spring 2027. The iPhone Duo is coming soon, though some initial hands-on details are available.
For most buyers, the iPhone 17 remains the top recommendation and is priced at $899. Apple upgraded the screen's refresh rate to 120 Hz on this model, a change that makes everything feel smoother and more responsive. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are positioned as the ultimate option for users who want the most capable hardware.
Apple has raised prices across its iPhone lineup and introduced the Apple Upgrade leasing option, which replaces the discontinued iPhone Upgrade Program. That program does not include AppleCare, requires the leased phone to be returned in good condition to avoid extra charges, and is generally not worth the cost for people who do not upgrade every year or two. The iPhone Upgrade Program's AppleCare inclusion ended with the switch.
Buyers in the US face a choice between carrier and direct purchases. Carrier phones are locked to that network, which complicates switching carriers and using international SIM cards or eSIMs. Buying directly from Apple offers an unlocked device through the connect-to-any-carrier-later option, and carrier choices through Apple.com also yield unlocked phones, except purchases made with AT&T on an installment plan or financed through AT&T and Boost Mobile.
Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI features, requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, including the iPhone 16e. It includes real-time transcription in Voice Memo and Notes, call recording with transcriptions saved to Notes, a redesigned Siri that can connect to ChatGPT, and writing tools for adjusting tone and proofreading. Genmoji and the Image Playground app arrived in iOS 18.2, and iOS 27 added a conversational Siri that understands personal context and can retrieve information from messages, emails, and photos. Users who do not want Apple Intelligence can turn it off.
MagSafe magnetic wireless charging is available on iPhone 12 through iPhone 18 models except the iPhone 16e. Qi2 accessories work as well, since Qi2 is the open standard while MagSafe is proprietary. Cases with MagSafe embedded are recommended to maintain a strong magnetic connection, and a case is a sensible investment because iPhones use glass that can break.
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