It's easy to get carried away and lose sight of just how far we've come in the smartphone world. Apple's iPhone 14 is 7.8 millimeters thick but can communicate directly with satellites, boasts photographic talents that eclipse dedicated cameras and action cams, and does so starting at just $799.

Improved low-light camera performance, Clever safety features (you hope you won't need)

Improvements feel evolutionary, eSIM may prove a headache, iPhone 13 offers much the same for $100 less

The iPhone 14 is very similar to the iPhone 13, which itself was very similar to the iPhone 12. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone — it’s just less of an upgrade for anyone using a phone that’s only two years old.

Apple's latest non-Pro iPhone is superb - it's just that it's strikingly similar to last year's effort.

Still an incredible smartphone, Brilliant battery life gets a bit better, Excellent camera system gets a bit better

Last year’s Pro hardware, Wireless charging slow by modern standards, No USB-C; it’s now well overdue

While the iPhone 15 might not have the advanced features of the pro model, it’s an impressive phone that feels great in the hand. Not only is it powerful, thanks to the A16 Bionic chip but the new 48MP camera means it takes incredible photos too.

Great-looking device, Feels solid and well made, Impressive performance

Lacks always-on display, Some users may miss a long lens, Slower USB 2 transfer

There are upgrades across the board for the iPhone 15 – even if we’ve seen them on other iPhone models before. The camera benefits from a higher-resolution main sensor, the Dynamic Island is an obvious improvement over the notch and there’s even been a slight price cut in the UK.

Welcome switch to USB-C, Really good camera, Far more ergonomic than iPhone 14, Dyanmic Island is much better than the notch

No true telephoto camera, Still no 120Hz display, USB-C doesn’t improve charging or data speeds

Overall performance tweaks and a USB-C transition means that the iPhone 15 is a predictably great phone.

Great 48MP main camera, Bright, redesigned screen, The Dynamic Island is now on the vanilla iPhone range, too, USB-C charging

The Ultra-Wide camera could be better, It’s a very minor update over iPhone 14, Only the Pro models include fast USB-C file transfer

The iPhone 15 may not represent a massive shift in iPhone development, but it does improve on many aspects of using the phone. The camera is better, the screen is brighter, the phone is more comfortable to hold, and it can finally charge through USB-C.

Great colors, USB-C, Dynamic Island, Good camera quality, Solid performance

No telephoto camera

The iPhone 15 may not reinvent the wheel, but it does improve on the iPhone experience in a series of key ways.

Great colors, USB-C, Dynamic Island, Good camera quality, Solid performance

No telephoto camera

The Apple iPhone 15 doesn't have all the bells and whistles its Pro sibling does, but don't overlook it. It's the model that sees the greatest enhancements, all of which contribute to a superb overall experience.

Superb design, Great performance, Excellent camera results, including 2x zoom, Good display upgrades

No Always-On Display, Only 60Hz

Slightly better cameras but otherwise, not much of an update - buy the iPhone 14 Pro or switch to Android instead

Better low-light photography, Slightly longer battery life, Action mode gives super stabilised video

The same performance as the iPhone 13, No Dynamic Island or Always-On display, 60Hz screen