USA TODAY International Edition
THESE IPHONES ARE BETTER DEALS
If you’re like many USA TODAY readers, you’ve probably been asking SAN FRANCISCO this question: So many i-Phones, which one is for me? There’s the $999 iPhone X, the $699 iPhone 8 and $799 8-Plus. But you can also downscale to last year’s now cheaper mode
IPHONE SE ($349)
For now, our verdict, and it’s an easy one: The best deal Apple has right now isn’t for one of the shiny new phones with all the bells and whistles, but a good, reliable classic, the SE. That’s the 2016 model that was introduced for those who didn’t want a larger iPhone. You still get the latest software updates, the ability to pay for goods with Apple Pay and a decent camera. It has the A9 processing chip, which Apple would have you believe is slow and not as fast as the others. In our experience (we have an SE in the family), the phone performs just fine.
So you won’t be able to unlock the screen with your eyes or create animated emojis from your facial expressions, like with the new X, which will be out in November. But you’ll save $650. (You won’t be able to enjoy any of the 10,000 or so new augmented reality apps that mix animation with real life in the SE. For those, you’ll need the models listed below.)
The prices listed reflect paying full price. The carriers and Apple offer financed deals that average between $20 to $30 a month.
Let’s look at the rest of the lineup:
IPHONE 6S ($449) AND 6S PLUS ($549)
The iPhone 6 models (first introduced in 2014) no longer are being sold. The number models start with the 6S (first sold in 2015), and these models have 4.7-inch and 5.5inch screens, respectively. So they’re larger than the SE, have better storage options (starting at 32 GB) than when first released (at a puny 16 GB), and if you’re fan of plugging headphones into the beloved headphone jack, the 6S and 6S Plus still have them. These models have the A9 processing chip.
IPHONE 7 ($549) AND 7 PLUS ($669)
These models come with 32 GB of storage and are great phones. Both have the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens as the 6S and 6S Plus, and the Plus model has the best camera Apple has released to date, with a dual lens system that offers both the traditional wider angle view and a portrait lens for close-ups. The 7 models have the more powerful A10 processing chip and are water resistant. If you’re looking at the 7 Plus as a camera-first phone, you might consider upping the storage — for $769 you get four times the amount to keep your 4K videos and all those selfies with 128 GB.
IPHONE 8 ($699) AND 8 PLUS ($799)
Now we’re getting into pricey territory. The new models (out Sept. 22) are basically the 7 and 7 Plus with a better processing chip, a “glass design” and the ability to charge the phones with a wireless charging pad (an accessory that will set you back $59.99). The Plus model also has another improved camera and a cool new software feature called “Portrait Lighting” that adjusts the image accordingly in low light and pulls in some fun software tricks, like the ability to eliminate, say, the background of a photo. Both models come with expanded starter storage, at 64 GBs.
IPHONE X ($999)
The latest and greatest iPhone, with a larger screen (5.8 inches) made from OLED glass, (Apple calls it “Super Retina”) which is sharper and higher definition than other i-Phones and an edge-to-edge body that eliminates the bezels. Fun new features like we mentioned — you can unlock the phone with your eye, and there’s this cool camera trick that lets you generate Animojis — animated characters based on your facial expressions. You get the same camera as the 8 Plus and a new A11 “Bionic” chip, which Apple calls the “most powerful” chip ever in a smartphone. Add extra storage to this iPhone and you’re looking at $1,149 with 256 GB of storage.
SO, LET’S LOOK AT USE CASE:
u-Buying for a student or is it a replacement phone? The SE, in a nanosecond.
uA purchase for the person who has to have the latest and greatest: Easy. It’s the X.
uThe photo buff: the 7 Plus camera is the best in any smartphone, for our money. The 8 Plus is basically the same camera, with a new software tool that will certainly be passed down to other generations in the coming months. So as much as I like the “Portrait Lighting,” trick, I’d probably spend the $669 for the 7 Plus instead of $799. On the other hand, the monthly rate is $27.88 for the 7 Plus or $39.50 for the 8 Plus. That’s only an extra $11.62 monthly for better photos that will make your Instagram fans drool. Hmmmm.
uYou want to partake in Augmented Reality, still have an older iPhone 5, 5S or 6 that won’t work with the new apps and just don’t feel like splurging for the new 8s. The 6S at $449 is the second-best deal of the bunch, a relatively current phone with the same screen size as the iPhone 7 and 8 models. And it will run the apps.