Which iPhone to buy in 2026? Complete lineup guide

From the $599 iPhone 17e to the 17 Pro Max: we analyze Apple's entire range as of July 2026, with a comparison table and which suits your budget.

Apple’s 2026 lineup is the widest in its history: five models ranging from $599 to $1,199, including the ultra-thin iPhone Air. This guide summarizes what each one offers and who it suits, with the new twist that Apple now splits its launches between fall and spring.

The current lineup at a glance

ModelDisplayStarting price
iPhone 17e6.1”$599
iPhone 176.3”$799
iPhone Air6.5”$999
iPhone 17 Pro6.3”$1,099
iPhone 17 Pro Max6.9”$1,199

iPhones on sale, by price

iPhone 17 Pro Max$1,199iPhone 17 Pro$1,099iPhone Air$999iPhone 17$799iPhone 17e$599
Original chart built from the data in our tier comparison.

Entry tier: iPhone 17e ($599)

It’s the iPhone “for everyone”: an A19-series chip (enough for years of iOS and Apple Intelligence), a single 48 MP camera and the classic design. You give up 120 Hz and the extra cameras, but it’s the cheapest way to enter —or stay in— the ecosystem with a current device.

For whom: anyone coming from an iPhone from 4–5 years ago who wants to spend just enough.

🛒 Check the iPhone 17e on Amazon

Mid-range: iPhone 17 ($799) and iPhone Air ($999)

iPhone 17 — Apple’s best value

The big news of this generation: there’s finally a 120 Hz display on the base model, something Android offered years ago in the mid-range. With the A19 and an improved main sensor, for most people this is the iPhone to buy.

🛒 Check the iPhone 17 on Amazon

iPhone Air — design first

At ~5.6 mm thick it’s the thinnest iPhone in history and feels futuristic in the hand. The price of the wow factor: a contained battery (~3,200 mAh) and no telephoto. Buy it for the design, knowing what you’re sacrificing.

🛒 Check the iPhone Air on Amazon

Premium tier: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

This cycle’s Pros took a real leap: 256 GB base, a vapor chamber to sustain performance in games and video, a 5x periscope telephoto and adaptive ProMotion. The Pro Max adds the 6.9” display and the best battery an iPhone has ever had.

For whom: content creators, serious photography and those who change phones every 3–4 years and want it to hold up like new all that time.

🛒 Check the iPhone 17 Pro on Amazon 🛒 Check the 17 Pro Max on Amazon

iOS lineup comparison table

Budget tier (under ~$300)

ModelDisplayChip · RAMCameraBatteryApprox. price
iPhone 17eApple6.1" OLEDApple A19 · 8 GB48 MP única~4,000 mAh$599View

Mid-range (~$300 – $600)

ModelDisplayChip · RAMCameraBatteryApprox. price
iPhone 17Apple6.3" OLED 120 HzApple A19 · 8 GBDual 48 MP~3,700 mAh$799View
iPhone AirApple6.5" OLED 120 HzApple A19 Pro · 12 GB48 MP única (sin tele)~3,200 mAh$999View

Premium tier ($700+)

ModelDisplayChip · RAMCameraBatteryApprox. price
iPhone 17 ProApple6.3" OLED ProMotion 120 HzApple A19 Pro · 12 GBTriple 48 MP · tele 5x~3,900 mAh$1,099 (256 GB base)View
iPhone 17 Pro MaxApple6.9" OLED ProMotion 120 HzApple A19 Pro · 12 GBTriple 48 MP · tele 5x~5,000 mAh$1,199 (256 GB base)View

Buy now or wait?

Apple will unveil the next Pro generation in September 2026, and with the new split calendar, the base/budget models refresh in spring. In practice:

  • If you need a phone today, the iPhone 17 ($799) is the most sensible buy.
  • If you want a Pro and can wait until September, do it: you either get the new one or grab the 17 Pro at a discount.
  • The 17e usually has the best deals outside launch season, which is right now.

📌 Apple’s prices barely drop through official channels, but on Amazon there are one-off discounts of $50–150, especially on less popular colors. It’s worth checking before paying list price.


Back to home · Looking to compare prices and specs? Check the tier comparison.