Buying Guide: What's the Best iPhone to Buy in 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
This list is currently imported from the US version of PC Mag. If you would like to see the localized version of best phones in the Middle East, then head over to this article.
You may have heard that "the iPhone" is the most popular smartphone in the US. But that's not quite accurate, because Apple currently sells a lot of different iPhone models (eight, at the time of this writing). Survey the shelves at the three major US carriers, as well as Cricket and Metro, and that number might rise even higher.
Apple's eight models include the older iPhone 12 and 13 mini, along with the refreshed iPhone SE, as well as the latest iPhone 14 and 14 Pro Max. Each has a specific appeal, whether it's in terms of price, size, features, battery life, or a combination thereof.
We've tested every Apple phone since the first-generation iPhone in 2007. Here's what we've learned about how to choose the best iPhone right now.
Apple iPhone 14
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Solid performance | - Not that different from the iPhone 13 |
| + Capable cameras | - Dated design and Lightning connector |
| + Helpful emergency features |
Apple iPhone 14
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 walks a solid middle ground for most buyers. It's the latest model, with mostly new hardware. It may have carried over the 2021-era A15 Bionic processor, and it lacks the exciting screen changes of the Pro line, but just about everything else gets a refresh of some sort. The $799 price isn't too high, though it's not quite what some would call affordable. Between the upgraded performance, appealing screen, and attractive design, there's plenty to like about the iPhone 14.
Who It's For
This is the perfect iPhone for, well, anyone. It handles all the modern smartphone basics with aplomb and tosses in several bonus features from Apple, including crash detection and emergency SOS via satellite for those moments when you really need help. It's the phone for those who want something that is simple to use and gets the job done day in and day out. Basically, if you're the kind of person who wants a great phone, but doesn't necessarily need the best phone, the iPhone 14 is for you.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + High-quality hardware | - Pricey |
| + Always-on display includes widgets | - Dated design and Lightning connector |
| + Top-notch cameras | |
| + Stellar wireless performance |
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Why We Picked It
While there are eight iPhone models, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the biggest and best model on the market. It comes with every feature Apple offers, including the most capable cameras; the largest, brightest screen; and the biggest, longest-lasting battery. We gave the iPhone 14 Pro Max the highest review of any recent model. It's our Editors' Choice for 2022 iPhones.
Who It's For
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple's top-tier model. If you're the type of buyer who wants the best-possible version of whatever it is that you're buying, this is the model to pick. Moreover, if long battery life is high on your list of must-haves, the 14 Pro Max outlasts nearly every other phone on the market. Last, it's also for people with deep pockets. The $1,099 starting price is nothing to blink at, even if carrier deals break that down over time.
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Most powerful small smartphone | - Shortest battery life of iPhone 13 family |
| + Beautiful build | |
| + Better battery life than iPhone 12 mini |
Apple iPhone 13 mini (512GB)
Why We Picked It
We had to include a small iPhone on the list, and this is the smallest one of the bunch. Apple dropped the mini from its iPhone 14 model lineup in 2022, leaving the 2021 device on its own. While the iPhone SE is also small, it can't hang with the iPhone 13 mini in terms of power and performance. Just because you want a small phone doesn't necessarily mean you're willing to give up power.
Who It's For
Not everyone wants a big, bulky phone. That's where the iPhone 13 mini comes in. It's the smallest iPhone still available, and it's perfect for people who look back longingly on the days of more compact phones that were easy to tote about. It's still relatively current in terms of hardware and software support, so you're getting a fast phone with great performance in a smaller—and relatively cheaper—package.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Excellent build quality | - Recycled design and dated Lightning connector |
| + Stellar cameras | - Weaker battery life than Pro Max model |
| + Always-on display | |
| + Top-notch wireless performance | |
| + Useful safety features |
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 Pro is the phone to pick for anyone who wants high-end performance, an excellent display, the latest features, and the best cameras, all while avoiding the size and price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It's a fantastic phone with everything you could want, and its reduced footprint may feel more comfortable if you have smaller hands or don't like the biggest phones.
Who It's For
This is for the iPhone shopper who wants all the features of the Pro line but wants to save a little money on something that's not quite as large.
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Most affordable new iPhone | - Outdated body design |
| + Speedy performance | - No Night mode in camera |
| + Longer battery life than the previous model | - Shortest battery life of any current iPhone model |
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Why We Picked It
Apple products aren't always known for affordability, but the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) bucks the trend by offering many of the features that make the iPhone so beloved at a substantially lower price. Moreover, the iPhone SE is the second-smallest iPhone available from Apple right now (only a bit bigger than the iPhone 13 mini), so it works well for people who don't want to carry around a big phone. It's also the last iPhone to offer Touch ID.
Who It's For
The iPhone SE is perfect for the budget-conscious shopper who likes iOS, but doesn't need one of the more advanced models or want to spend more than $500. The iPhone SE is also the last iPhone to include Touch ID for security. If you'd rather use your fingerprint to unlock the iPhone than your face, this is the only option.
Apple iPhone 12
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Excellent Night mode camera | - Several similar; but not-quite-the-same models |
| + Better 4G (and 5G) than previous iPhones | - Charging and power adapter situation is confusing |
| +Beautiful build | |
| + Solid battery life |
Apple iPhone 12
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 12 might be two models removed from the newest iPhone 14 family, but it still comes with lots of features that make it worthwhile. It ships with the capable A14 processor, a dual-camera system with Night mode, 5G connectivity, and at least three more years of software support from Apple, which make it a perfectly viable option even in 2022.
Who It's For
The iPhone 12 is great for anyone who wants an affordable 5G iPhone. Because it's a slightly older model, Apple sells it for hundreds less than current models. Despite its age, the iPhone 12 is still plenty powerful.
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Outstanding hardware | - Dated design and Lightning port |
| + Big, high-res screen | - No telephoto camera |
| + Excellent battery life | |
| + Clean cameras | |
| + Swift performance |
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 Plus is a new model from Apple. It's designed to offer the larger screen size of the iPhone 14 Pro Max but at a significantly lower price. It's a powerful phone with the A15 processor and killer battery life, though it lacks the premium camera and display features found in the Pro Max.
Who It's For
Just because you want a big screen doesn't mean you want to spend a lot of money. The iPhone 14 Plus is designed for exactly that person. You get a large phone at a $200 discount compared with the costly iPhone 14 Pro Max.
When Is the New iPhone Coming Out?
The next iPhone release will be the iPhone 15 line, likely in September of 2023. We could see an iPhone SE refresh in the early months of 2023, but that remains to be seen. The latest iPhone SE arrived in March 2022, and the iPhone 14 line followed in September 2022.
The Most Powerful iPhone
Every year brings faster and more powerful iPhones. If you tend to play a lot of games or even surf a lot of image-heavy web pages, a faster processor is better. Apple's top iPhones are the Pro models.
We expect a 15% to 20% jump in overall performance, including web browsing, for each new generation of Apple's A-series chips. There's not that big a difference between the A15 Bionic (in the iPhone 13) and the A16 Bionic (in the iPhone 14), but there's a palpable difference between either of those and the A13 (in the iPhone 11).
Do You Need a 5G iPhone?
The iPhone 12, 13, and 14 series (namely, all the iPhones Apple sells) are all 5G devices that support the new C-band networks. That's a strong argument for not choosing anything older than the iPhone 12. Fast 5G coverage isn't yet universal, but it's getting there. T-Mobile has already expanded its speedy mid-band 5G network to much of the country, and Verizon launched C-band that covers about 100 million Americans in January 2022. Both systems make a considerable difference in connection speed and performance. AT&T is catching up, but it falls a bit behind the other two.
We explore some hands-on test results that show the difference between 4G and 5G performance on iPhones in our story on whether you need a 5G iPhone.
To see if 5G really matters where you live, head over to our story on the Best Mobile Networks.
The Best iPhone Camera
How serious are you about taking photos with your smartphone? That can help determine your choice of iPhone.
All iPhones have a main camera that shoots solid images in the day. Night mode, introduced several years ago with the iPhone 11, assists in low-light settings.
The vanilla iPhone 12, 13, and 14 models each have wide-angle cameras, too, which help you fit more scenery into a shot. They're great if you're trying to take photos of groups or crowds of people. Pro iPhones, meanwhile, have 2x or 3x telephoto cameras that help with crisp close-ups thanks to optical zoom.
Our photo expert Jim Fisher goes into much more depth in his story on the iPhone 13's camera. (This applies to the iPhone 14 camera, as well.) Put simply, to get the best camera, one of the Pro models is the way to go.
The Best iPhone Size
Some people like big phones. Some like small phones. The iPhone lineup offers both.
If you're upgrading from a very old iPhone, all of the new phones will seem large. The iPhone SE is the same size as the old iPhone 8 and will be most familiar to folks with devices from 2016 or older. The iPhone 13 mini is the smallest currently available iPhone—and yet it has a bigger screen than the SE because of its smaller bezel and deleted home button.
The iPhone 13 mini is perfect if you're a fan of smaller phones. It combines a relatively hand-friendly and pocket-friendly size with many of the latest features.
If you have poor eyesight or shaky hands, you might like the larger touch targets and bigger screens on the Plus or Max models. These are also great if you watch a lot of videos on your phone, but they can be heavy.
Larger iPhones generally have longer battery life than smaller iPhones (because they have larger batteries), but the new iPhone 14 models all have better battery life than the same-sized iPhone 13 models, so going with a newer model will get you some extra juice.
Touch ID and Headphone Jacks
Two features have mostly vanished from the iPhone line: Touch ID and the headphone jack.
The iPhone SE is the only current iPhone with a physical Home button and Touch ID scanner. The aging and outdated iPhone 8 series also has Touch ID. All non-SE models from the 2017-era iPhone X and up rely on Apple's Face ID as your main point of security. If Touch ID is your thing, your options are limited to the iPhone SE or a used iPhone 8.
The last iPhone with a headphone jack was the 2015-era iPhone 6s, meaning that ship has long-since sailed. At this point, you should have already given in and picked up wireless earbuds or an adapter for your Lightning port.
The iPhone 13 (front) has a smaller notch than the iPhone 12 (rear)
Your iPhone Is a Ticking Clock
iPhones do eventually run out of software support. The latest iPhone operating system, iOS 16, only runs on the 2017-era iPhone X or later models. Expect that each year, a generation of iPhones will get sloughed off as the latest software requires more powerful processors than the very old models have.
We no longer recommend phones older than the iPhone 11 line; they will likely get at least two more years of OS support. If you want a phone with long-term resale value, go for the iPhone 12 generation or higher.
And if your heart isn't set on an iPhone, alternatives abound. Check out our favorite Android phones and the best phones overall.