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Apple's iPhone lineup has grown more complicated over the years, with multiple models targeting different kinds of buyers. Some prioritize camera performance and display quality while others focus on design or price, and not everyone needs the most powerful option on the shelf. If you're planning an upgrade, the challenge isn't whether Apple makes a good phone; it's figuring out which iPhone actually makes sense for you based on how you use it.
We test every new iPhone Apple releases, comparing performance, cameras, battery life and long-term value. In this guide, we break down the current lineup to highlight the best iPhones for different needs, from the best all-around picks to more specialized options that trade raw power for affordability or style.
For consistency, our recommendations are based on Apple's standard pricing for unlocked models sold directly through Apple. Deals from carriers, third-party retailers or refurbished sellers can shift the value math, but this guide is meant to help you choose the right model first — then decide where to buy it.
Best iPhones for 2026
The rest of Apple's iPhone lineup in 2026
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 Super Bowl LX is today, and there is a way for U.S. viewers to watch for free. Our instructions below are focused on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, but this method will of course work across a variety of devices.
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It might be near impossible to be a kid these days without a smartphone, but AT&T wants to offer parents a decent compromise. The wireless carrier launched its AmiGO Jr. Phone, which combines Samsung hardware and AT&T's app, to offer kids a smartphone that has parental controls baked right in.
The AmiGO Jr. Phone is just a Samsung Galaxy A16, which still remains a solid budget smartphone pick with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 6.7-inch display and reliable battery life. However, AT&T tweaked the Samsung hardware into its kid-friendly smartphone by including features like live location tracking, safe zones and screentime restrictions that can be controlled via the AmiGO app. It's not the first time we've seen a smartphone with parental controls, since competitors like Bark and Pinwheel have been on the market for a couple of years now, but it's the first time a major mobile carrier is offering its own standalone product.
As for the AmiGO Jr. Phone, it's now available on AT&T's website for $3 a month, but you'll have to commit to a 36-month contract that provides bill credits.
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Apple is keeping the entry level for iPhones at $599, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest Power On report, Gurman said that the iPhone 17e is "due imminently" and will keep the same price as its predecessor.
Considering we're about a year away from the iPhone 16e's announcement, we're due for a successor to Apple's more affordable smartphone. According to Gurman, Apple upgraded the new budget-friendly iPhone with MagSafe charging and the A19 chip that's seen in the iPhone 17 base model. The iPhone 17e will also get Apple's latest in-house cellular and wireless chips, Gurman reported.
In our review of the iPhone 16e, we weren't particularly sold because of its limited camera capabilities, particularly when compared to the iPhone 17's release a few months later. However, for the same $599 price, Apple's iPhone 17e is getting a few notable upgrades and will compete with Google's
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Although still months away, the next iPhone model is already starting to take shape based on informed speculation online.
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Super Bowl LX is this Sunday, February 8, and there is a way for U.S. viewers to watch for free. Our instructions below are focused on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, but this method will of course work across a variety of devices.
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First think about physical security
Your laptop should be a prized possession to look after. But what does that mean exactly? It means doing everything you can to prevent damage and/or theft. First off, you're going to need a drop resistant and waterproof laptop sleeve to prevent physical damage. The Voova Laptop Sleeve Case, for example, comes in various sizes and colors, and costs less than $20.
You should also always use a laptop lock if you're using your laptop out and about. It's not guaranteed protection, but it can be a big deterrent for thieves. Well-reviewed locks can also be found for as less than $20.
Eating and drinking near your laptop is risky business, especially drinking. All it takes is one spill to destroy a keyboard
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The appeal of promising network technologies can be jaded by pressure to adopt untested ideas. When I look over the comments I've gotten from enterprise technologists this year, one thing that stands out is that almost three-quarters of them said that entrenched views held by company executives is a "significant problem" for them in sustaining their network and IT operations.
"Every story that comes out gets me a meeting in the board room to debunk a silly idea," one CIO said. I've seen that problem in my own career and so I sympathize, but is there anything that tech experts can do about it? How do you debunk the "big hype" of the moment?
For starters, don't be too dismissive. Technologists agree that a dismissive response to hype cited by senior management is always a bad idea. In fact, the opening comment that most technologists suggested is "I agree there's real potential there, but I think there are some near-term issues that need to be resolved before we could commit to it." The second-most-cited opening is "I've already launched a study of that, and I'll report back to you when it's complete." There's usually a grain (yeah, often a small grain) of truth underneath the hype pile, and the best approach is to acknowledge it somehow and play for time. Hype waves are like the tides; they come in and they go out, and many times management will move on.
To read this article in full, please click here
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