Meta is throwing its resources behind a new super PAC in California. According to Politico, the group will support state-level political candidates who espouse tech-friendly policies, particularly those with a loose approach to regulating artificial intelligence. The budget behind the social media company’s new super PAC, dubbed Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, is reported to be in the tens of millions of dollars, but no exact figure has been disclosed.

California has made several efforts, with varying degrees of success, to enact protections against potentially harmful AI use cases. The state passed a law in 2024, but has faced challenges to a bill that blocked and to one that more broadly sought caused by AI.

This creation of the super PAC puts Meta into a prominent position to influence races in 2026, when California will have midterm elections and vote for a new governor. “Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California’s technology leadership at risk,” said Brian Rice, vice president of public policy at Meta. Politico reported that Rice and Meta policy executive Greg Maurer are likely to lead the political fundraiser.

Meta hasn’t been shy about throwing money into politics to advance its business interests. According to OpenSecrets, the company has spent on lobbying to date this year. Its roughly $8 million lobbying spend in the first quarter of 2025 vastly that of other tech majors.

Following the wide rollout last week, release notes for Google Home 3.39 are now available with a trio of new features listed.

Home & Away status can now change “based on when your mobile device connects or disconnects from a selected Wi-Fi network.” To set, to the Home app’s Settings tab > Presence Sensing. There’s a new “Home Wi-Fi networks” menu to make a selection:

You can add a home network for Wi-Fi presence. Once your phone connects or disconnects, the signal is used to determine if everyone’s away or someone has returned.

Meanwhile, Google is reiterating how it introduced temperature, sensor, and fan scheduling for the 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E. All thermostats benefit from more vibrant control colors and an updated energy dashboard.

August 19, 2025

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Features

• Full schedules support for older Nest Thermostat models: Temperature schedules, sensor schedules and fan schedules for Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd gen and Nest Thermostat E. 

• Controls improvements for all thermostats:
  • Making it easier to clearly see your thermostat’s heating and cooling state in the Google Home app, with more vibrant colors and updated descriptions.
  • Refreshed energy dashboard that shows separate totals for heating and cooling, a breakdown of usage by stage and heating type if present in your system (e.g. alternative heat, auxiliary heat, first and second stage), and a weekly year-over-year comparison of your monthly energy usage.
• Wi-Fi presence: Added support in presence sensing to adjust Home & Away status based on when your mobile device connects or disconnects from a selected Wi-Fi network. Learn more about how Home & Away Routines can start.

Bug Fixes

• iPad freezing: Fixed an issue where the Google Home app would freeze on iPads after tapping on a household member.
• Misaligned video on iOS: Fixed an issue on iOS where Nest Doorbell video was misaligned during event playback and after switching back to live view.
• Passcode error on iOS: Resolved a “Something went wrong” error that occurred on iOS when attempting to set a lock passcode.

“Which iPhone should I buy?” It’s a question you might have heard many times over the years. Much of the time, the answer is simple: Get the best one you can afford. And if you’re happy with your current iPhone, don’t feel the need to make a change at all. But if you’re ready to upgrade, allow us to help. We’ve reviewed just about every iPhone ever released, so we’ve picked through all nine models in Apple’s current smartphone lineup and highlighted the ones that should satisfy most people below.

Before we dive in, note that we’ve based our guide on the list prices of new, unlocked iPhones on Apple.com. If you can find a steep discount from another trusted retailer or a good deal on a refurbished model, that could change the value equation.

We’ll also note that right now is arguably the worst time to buy a new model. Apple has released its latest iPhones each September like clockwork for several years, and we expect that trend to continue with the inevitable iPhone 17 series (and the full iOS 26 update) next month. So if you can hold out a little longer — even if it’s just to save another $100 or so on last year’s iPhone 16 devices, which will likely receive a price cut — you should. But if you can’t wait, here are the best iPhones you can buy as of summer 2025.

Table of contents

Best iPhones for 2025

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Original release date: September 20, 2024 | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Screen size: 6.3 inches | Features: A18 Pro chip, Always-on 120Hz ProMotion display, USB-C port (USB 3), Titanium frame, Camera Control button, Action button, 25W MagSafe charging, Apple Intelligence | Cameras: 48MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto, 12MP front | Color options: Natural Titanium, Desert, White, Black | Dimensions: 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.32 inches | Weight: 7.03 ounces

Read our full iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max review

The iPhone 16 Pro is the iPhone we’d recommend to most people. Yes, its starting price of $999 might be steep, but a smartphone is a long-term investment. If the question is “which iPhone is most likely to keep you happy for the next three to five years,” we think the iPhone 16 Pro’s advantages over the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are still meaningful enough to be worth the extra $100-200 — even if the gap isn’t as wide as it’s been in years past.

For one, the iPhone 16 Pro’s blasted titanium frame feels higher-quality than the aluminum one on the base iPhone 16. It’s a bit heavier than the standard 16 and the older iPhone 15 Pro, but it’s far from an anchor, and its slightly curved edges are pleasing to hold. It runs on the slightly faster A18 Pro chip, which doesn’t make a huge difference with everyday tasks but is more future-proof all the same, particularly if you have any interest in gaming or content creation. And while every iPhone 16 has a USB-C charging port, the Pro models support faster data transfer speeds (provided you have the right cable).

The most prominent upgrade is the display. While the OLED screens on the iPhone 16 Pro and standard iPhone 16 are equally sharp and bright, the former’s is more spacious at 6.3 inches (instead of 6.1 inches), despite the phone itself only being 0.08 inches taller and 0.02 inches thicker. This is mainly due to the Pro’s thinner bezels, which grant you more room for streaming videos and reading web pages in a device that isn’t significantly more cumbersome to hold.  

On top of that, the Pro’s screen has an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, which can make scrolling web pages, gaming and streaming video noticeably smoother. Some will tell you that the average person doesn’t need this, and it’s true that not everything plays at 120Hz. But using a smartphone is nothing if not interacting with a small screen, and once you’ve seen a faster refresh rate in action, it is difficult to give up.

It’s a frustrating situation: You can get a budget Android phone with a 120Hz display for around $300, yet Apple continues to use “ProMotion” as a way to upsell people from devices that already cost hundreds more. Nevertheless, our job is to tell you what’s best — and the Pro’s screen is simply more modern. It’s also an always-on display, unlike the panels on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so you can view your notifications at a glance without having to physically touch the device.

Another step up is the camera system. The iPhone 16 Pro has a trio of rear cameras: a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48MP ultrawide shooter and a 12MP telephoto camera. That last one is the biggie, as the regular iPhone 16 lacks a dedicated telephoto lens entirely. Beyond that, the Pro’s main camera has a larger sensor, so it’s a bit better in low-light environments, plus it supports portrait mode at night. You can take sharper macro shots for close-ups, and there are other enthusiast features like the ability to shoot ProRAW or record 4K Dolby Vision and ProRes video up to 120 frames per second. 

If none of this jargon means anything to you, know the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are still great point-and-shoot cameras. Those devices can now take macro photos as well, plus they have the same upgraded Photographic Styles feature that can help touch up shots you may find overprocessed. They also share the Camera Control button for quickly (if sometimes awkwardly) accessing the camera app, adjusting settings and snapping pics. All that said, the 16 Pro is better, especially if you take your photos with a little more intent.

The Pro gets slightly better battery life as well, though it’s not the longest-lasting smartphone we’ve tested. Apple rates it at up to 27 hours of video playback, up from 22 hours with the standard iPhone 16, but both devices will likely need a top-up before you go to bed. The base model’s battery is easier to replace, too, which is aggravating for Pro owners given the higher price. 

Apple is very bluntly selling each iPhone 16 on how well they’ll work with its new “Apple Intelligence” AI features, but you shouldn’t base any purchasing decisions on that functionality right now. As of this writing, the tricks include a marginally more robust Siri, ChatGPT integration, email and notification summaries, writing assistance and image generation tools, a Clean Up feature that can remove unwanted objects from photos (much like Google’s Magic Eraser) and a “Genmoji” custom emoji maker, among others. More updates will arrive over time. 

Some of these AI features can be useful at points; other times… not so much. Little about them will truly change the way you use a smartphone today, and whether anyone really needs them to write a paragraph-long email or read a brief article is up for debate (to put it charitably). For now, it might be best to view Apple Intelligence as an intriguing first step toward a future that may or may not be realized down the road.

Pros

• Powerful performance
• Excellent 120Hz display
• Premium titanium design
• Fast camera with high quality video capture
• Photographic Styles are effective and pretty

Cons

• Costs $200 more than iPhone 16
• Shorter battery life than iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Camera Control button can be finicky

$999 at Apple

Brian Oh for Engadget

Original release date: September 20, 2024 | Storage capacity: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Screen size: 6.9 inches | Features: A18 Pro chip, Always-on 120Hz ProMotion display, USB-C port (USB 3), Titanium frame, Camera Control, Action button, 25W MagSafe charging, Apple Intelligence | Cameras: 48MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP 5x telephoto, 12MP front | Color options: Natural Titanium, Desert, White, Black | Dimensions: 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches | Weight: 7.99 ounces

Do you want a larger device than the iPhone 16 Pro? Are you willing to trade pocketability for longer battery life? Are you cool with spending at least $1,199 on a smartphone? If your answer to those questions is “yes,” skip the 16 Pro and get the iPhone 16 Pro Max instead.

It has all the same benefits of our top pick, but with a roomier 6.9-inch display and the longest-lasting battery of any iPhone. It can last closer to two days per charge, whereas the smaller Pro is more likely to tap out around one day. It also starts with 256GB of storage, which doubles that of the Pro and helps justify the increased cost at least somewhat.

The downside is that it’s a tank. The iPhone 15 Pro Max wasn’t exactly tiny, and this latest model is slightly taller and wider, so you’ll probably need two hands to operate it comfortably if your mitts aren’t on the larger side. Ultimately, we’re assuming that most people would prefer the more hand- and pocket-friendly size of the regular 6.3-inch Pro, even if it means sacrificing a half-day or more of battery life. That’s an easier call to make now that there’s no difference between the two phones’ camera setups. But if you just want the biggest beast of an iPhone, the 16 Pro Max is it.

Pros

• Long-lasting battery
• Powerful performance
• Great cameras with minimal shutter lag
• Excellent 120Hz display
• Premium titanium design

Cons

• Most expensive iPhone
• Might be too large for some
• Camera Control button can be finicky

$1,199 at Apple

Brian Oh for Engadget

Original release date: February 28, 2025 | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Screen size: 6.1 inches | Features: A18 chip (4-core GPU), 60Hz display, USB-C port (USB 2), Aluminum frame, Action button, 7.5W Qi wireless charging, Apple Intelligence | Cameras: 48MP rear, 12MP front | Color options: White, Black | Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches | Weight: 5.88 ounces

Read our full iPhone 16e review

Here’s the reality: There’s no such thing as a true budget iPhone in 2025. The $429 iPhone SE was the closest thing Apple had to a value-oriented model coming into the year, but it was officially discontinued in February, and its severely outdated design made it difficult to recommend long before that. The new iPhone 16e is the SE’s ostensible replacement, but it costs $599, well above what anyone could call “affordable” when there are so many genuinely decent Android phones that sell for hundreds of dollars less.

So when we recommend the iPhone 16e in this spot, think of it less like a budget pick and more like “the cheapest competent iPhone you can reliably buy.” It’s easy to see how it could be better, but it still gets you most of what makes the iPhone experience worthwhile. It looks and feels much more substantial than the old iPhone SE, with a larger and more vivid 6.1-inch OLED display, cleaner lines and flat aluminum edges. Its A18 chip is nearly the same as the one in the standard iPhone 16, just with one fewer GPU core; either way, it’s powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence and most games fine. Its battery life is fantastic, with an even higher video playback rating (26 hours) than the base iPhone 16. It has a USB-C port, Face ID and the programmable Action button. Most importantly, it’s the least expensive route into iMessage, Apple Pay, FaceTime, AirPlay and all the other iOS perks locked in Apple’s walled garden, for better or worse.

However, the standard iPhone 16 does bring meaningful upgrades for $200 more. The main one is a better camera setup, as it has a second, 12MP ultrawide lens and a larger main sensor with better image stabilization. The 16e’s single-camera system is still perfectly fine for most situations, but night shots look softer, portraits are a bit blurrier and there’s no macro mode. Annoyingly, the iPhone 16e also lacks MagSafe, locking it out of a host of useful accessories, and it’s limited to slow 7.5W wireless charging. There’s no ultra-wideband chip to more precisely locate AirTags, and the standard iPhone 16’s display can get brighter. (Both are stuck at 60Hz, though.) That screen also has the Dynamic Island, which makes it easier to check timers, Uber ETAs, sports scores and the like at a glance. The 16e, by comparison, has the static “notch” from older iPhones. The standard 16 is also available in more colors, whereas the 16e only comes in a more basic black or white.

In many ways, the iPhone 16e feels like it was designed backwards to make the regular iPhone 16 look like a better value. Nevertheless, if you can afford an iPhone 16 or 16 Plus but can’t spend another $200 or $300 for a 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max, you should still get one of the base models over the 16e.

Really, bargain hunters should look to the refurbished market for discounts on older iPhones first. If you can find an iPhone 15 from a reputable seller for $100+ less than the 16e, that’d be ideal, as it offers many of the 16’s core upgrades and anything older won’t have a USB-C port. If you see an iPhone 15 Pro around the same price, it’s no contest — that one is better than the 16e pretty much across the board. But even a refurbished 15 is unlikely to be all that cheap, and every older iPhone will inevitably lose update support sooner. Still, that might not matter so much if you just want an Apple phone for basic iOS things and can find an acceptable price-to-storage ratio. Taking advantage of trade-in deals or, to a lesser extent, monthly installment plans that lower upfront costs seems especially prudent these days as well. 

As it stands now, the lack of a competitive budget model in the iPhone lineup is disappointing, and it appears that won’t change anytime soon. Apple will be Apple. But if you just want to walk into an Apple store and buy an iPhone that works, the 16e is fine enough, even if it’s not a slam-dunk value.

Pros

• Solid performance
• Long battery life
• Clean, durable design
• Bright, vibrant OLED display

Cons

• 60Hz display
• Only one rear camera
• No MagSafe and slow wireless charging
• Expensive compared to previous iPhone SE

$599 at Apple

The rest of Apple’s iPhone lineup in 2025

Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have made genuine improvements over their predecessors and generally feel more “Pro-like” than they have in years past. They also come in a range of vibrant colors. If the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max are just too pricey, especially if you want extra storage space, they’re fantastic compromises. Still, they are compromises. If you can afford it, the Pro should hold up a bit better over time.

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus still get you many key upgrades over the iPhone 16e, including a superior two-camera system, a brighter display, MagSafe and the Dynamic Island. The 15 Plus is particularly appealing as the most affordable big-screen iPhone in Apple’s current lineup. It has excellent battery performance as well.

At $699 or $799, though, both phones are priced in something of a no man’s land. Most people who care about ultrawide cameras and MagSafe support should just spend another $100 for the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus, which add AI features, a slightly improved ultrawide lens with macro support, an extra hour or two of battery life, faster wireless charging (25W vs. 15W), a quicker processor, more RAM, the Action button and the Camera Control button.

Those who aren’t as particular about specs, meanwhile, are probably happy to save an extra $100 on the iPhone 16e, which is still better equipped for the long-term thanks to its faster chip and Apple Intelligence support. As a result, the 15 and 15 Plus will probably make the most sense if you can find a good price on a refurbished model.

iPhone FAQs

When is the best time of year to buy an iPhone?

The best time to buy an iPhone, or really any product, is whenever you need one. But if you want to maximize how long your iPhone is considered “current,” plan to upgrade in late September. Apple almost always introduces its new core models around then. SE and “e” iPhones, meanwhile, have arrived between February and April, but those aren’t guaranteed annual releases.

Cash discounts on new unlocked iPhones are rare, so there usually isn’t much reason to wait for a deal before buying (as is often the case with Samsung or Google phones). Carriers will run their own sales, but those typically involve locking you into years-long service plans. The exception would be if you specifically want an older iPhone, since Apple typically cuts the price of its last-gen devices by $100 or more when it introduces a new model. So, for instance, if you know you won’t care about the inevitable iPhone 17’s upgrades, you could wait until that device is announced and get the iPhone 16 for a little cheaper.

How long does an iPhone last?

This depends on the person and how they define “last.” If we had to give a broad estimate, we’d say most iPhone users keep their device between two and four years. If you’re particularly sensitive to performance and camera improvements, you might want to upgrade on the earlier side of that timeline. If you’re not as picky, you could hold out for even longer — though you’ll likely want to get a battery replacement sometime around the three- or four-year mark (or whenever you notice your battery life has severely degraded).

Software support shouldn’t be a problem regardless: Apple is renowned for keeping its devices up-to-date long-term, and the current version of iOS 18 is available on iPhones dating back to 2018. (Though the forthcoming iOS 26 update will push the cutoff line up a year.) Most of those older phones don’t support Apple Intelligence, so there isn’t total parity, but that’s not a big loss in the grand scheme of things.

How do I know how old my iPhone is?

Go to your iPhone’s Settings, then tap General > About. You should see the Model Name right near the top. You can also tap the Model Number below that, then verify the resulting four-digit code on Apple’s identification page to further confirm.

If you don’t want to use software, for whatever reason, you can also find your iPhone’s model number printed within its USB-C or Lightning port, if the device lacks a SIM tray. For older devices, you can alternatively find that number within the SIM slot or — if you’re still hanging onto an iPhone 7 or older — right on the back of the handset.

Recent updates

August 2025: We’ve taken another pass to ensure our advice is still up-to-date and noted that we expect to Apple to launch new phones soon in September.

June 2025: We’ve lightly edited this guide for clarity and added a few common FAQs. Our picks remain unchanged.

February 2025: The new iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus as our “budget” pick. We’ve also removed our notes on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE (3rd generation), as each has been formally discontinued.

January 2025: We’ve made a few minor edits for clarity and ensured our recommendations are still up to date.

December 2024: We’ve made a few edits to reflect the release of Apple Intelligence, though our picks remain the same.

The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.

The following first-party apps comprise the “Google System”:

A feature appearing in the changelog does not mean it’s widely available. Some capabilities take months to fully launch.

Google Play services v25.33 (2025-08-25)

Account Management

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• [Phone] You can now manage storage across Android in one place.

Developer Services

• [Phone] New developer features for Google and third party app developers to support Maps related processes in their apps.

Google Play Store v47.7 (2025-08-25)

• [Wear] With this update, you can now find warning messages on detail pages for watch face apps that drain battery.

Google Play services v25.32 (2025-08-18)

Account Management

• [Phone] With this update, low or full storage alerts from your device make it easier to manage your Google Account storage.

Device Connectivity

• [PC, Phone] Wi-Fi Sync lets you share and sync trusted Wi-Fi networks across all your devices for easy connectivity.
• [Phone] With this update on Quick Share, the new landing page now has separate “Send” and “Receive” tabs.

System Management

• [Phone] With this update, you’ll find an updated open source licensing page.

Utilities

• [Phone] Autofill users in Japan can now autofill card information with enhanced security.

Google Play Store v47.6 (2025-08-18)

• [Phone] After your pre-registered games are installed, you can easily find them in the Recently Installed apps list.
• [Phone] You can now find top trending movies and TV shows in your region.
• [Phone] You can now auto-install preregistered games when on cellular data.

Google Play services v25.31 (2025-08-11)

Developer Services

• [Auto, Phone, TV] New developer features for Google and third party app developers to support Utilities related processes in their apps.
• [Phone] New developer features for Google and third party app developers to support Maps related processes in their apps.

Device Connectivity

• [Auto] Bug fixes for Device Connections related services.

System Management

• [Phone, Wear] Updates to system management services that improve Device Connectivity.
• [Auto, PC, Phone, TV, Wear] Updates to system management services that improve Privacy.

Utilities

• [Phone] New developer features for Google and third party app developers to support Utilities related processes in their apps.

Wallet

• [Phone, Wear] Bug fixes for Wallet related services.
• [Phone] If you’re eligible, you’ll now find an invite to add Pix account in Wallet.

Google Play Store v47.6 (2025-08-11)

• [Phone] At the top of the Apps tab, we’ve added a new featured format.

Google Play services v25.30 (2025-08-04)

Account Management

• [Auto] We’ve improved the onboarding and sign-in process for Automotive.

Security & Privacy

• [Phone] With this new feature, you can now add an optional security question for Remote Lock.

Utilities

• [Phone] Bug fixes for Utilities related services.
• [Phone] You can now use the Autofill with Google shortcut on Gboard to fill in credentials and payments faster.

Wallet

• [Phone, Wear] With this update, you can now access multi-family residential in Google Wallet.
• [Phone] With this feature, Pix users in Brazil get a tone and vibration after a tap transaction completes.

Google Play Store v47.4 (2025-08-04)

• [Phone] With this update, quests now give you Play Points when you play and rediscover games you love.
• [Phone] You can now see paragraph review summaries and review topic chips on details page and review topic level summaries on all reviews page.

Despite all the division and controversy rife in the modern era, sometimes the Internet does manage to collectively agree on something. Right now, they agree that they hate Imgur parent company MediaLab.

After being by MediaLab in 2021, the once famously open-to-anything image-sharing service began placing on content in 2023. More recently, the site has experienced service issues, including problems with notifications. Many members of the Imgur community have that MediaLab fired most of its US content moderation team in favor of AI, while others have said that the site is or content that is critical of the owner and its policies.

The exact timeline, as well as what brought things to a tipping point, is still fuzzy at best. But for hours today, the Imgur homepage has been dominated by spammed images of a John Oliver meme in protest of what users see as MediaLab’s poor management of the platform. Whatever team is currently working at Imgur appears to be unable to handle the rate that the memes are being posted, so it’s anyone’s guess how long the spam protest will dominate the front page.

The piecemeal redesign of Google Photos continues with the new viewer now available on Android after coming to iOS last month.

This new “Photo view” starts with the date, time, and location being shown at the top. This very conveniently saves you a swipe. In the corner, the only actions you get are a star for favoriting and the three-dot overflow.

Old vs. new

No longer a carousel in the bottom sheet (which is now focused on library and image details), this menu contains:

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• About: Can still access by sliding up and now focused Location and Details rather than actions
• Google Lens: Presumably no longer in the bottom toolbar given wide Circle to Search availability
• Create: Movie, Collage, Cinematic photo, Photo to video

• Order photo
• Use as
• Slideshow
• Cast
• Download or Delete from device
• Print

Beyond the “simpler, more modern, and more intuitive UI,” a light (background) theme is now available.  Meanwhile, pill-shaped badges near the top let you:

• Change the photo’s category
• Play or pause a Live or Motion photo
• Save a shared photo to your library
• Back up a photo or manage your storage

Next is the ability to manage photo stacks and bursts with a “three-dot icon attached to the selected thumbnail.” 

This is where you can change your top pick, remove from stack, unstack, or multi-select to take bulk actions on the photos in the stack.

At the bottom, you get Share, Edit (new icon), Add to (Album, Archive, or Locked folder), and Trash. We’re seeing this viewer redesign widely rolled out with version 7.42 of Google Photos for Android.

More on Google Photos: