What is considered the Best iPhone out there?

"Best" in terms of eligibility for future iOS updates would probably be a 16-series phone, with a 15-series phone being a close second. Historically, a lot of iPhones have gotten five major updates. The older the iPhone, and the more major updates it has gotten already, the fewer it is likely to get in the future. iPhone 11-, 15-, and 16-series phones will all get iOS 26, but for the 11-series phones, this will be their sixth (and last?) major update, whereas for 16-series ones, it will just be their first.

As Mr. Timmons points out, "best" in terms of other things depends very much on your preferences.

If you want the absolute best value, get the iPhone 13 series. Best battery life and best processor speed compared to other phones in a similar price range.

Whichever model you choose, to me, the single most important thing is ensuring the phone you purchase has enough memory to meet your current and future needs. iOS gets bigger and more complex. The cameras take better photos, but they take up more space than lower resolution photos from just a few years ago. Once purchased, the amount of storage on the device is fixed and can never be increased. If you think one level is enough, spend a few more dollars and get the next level. We have never had anyone come to this forum and complain because their iPhone has too much memory. But daily we see people complain they don't have enough memory.

Apple Intelligence requirements for iPhone

• [all] iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max

... and NO older models.

Visit an Apple Store or authorized reseller, and look.

We answer technical questions here. This is not a place to solicit opinions.

Decide for yourself.

iPhone - Compare Models

"Best Performance?"

"Best Value?"

"Best Looking?"

"Best Storage?"

Best performance is the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but I have no idea what you might really need, and frankly no one else would either.

In what specific ways does you current phone fall short of your expectations?

Absolutely! Storage is huge.