Which iPhone is the best for you in 2022: Part 1
Posted by Tehillah Mwakalombe on 23rd Mar 2022
Apple's iPhone lineup ranges from roughly K7,900 - K26,900. Here are the best iPhones to match your needs and budget.
Back in 2021, Apple released four new iPhone 13 models featuring a lot of significant upgrades, including new cameras, bigger batteries, more storage and brighter screens. The iPhone 12 lineup was excellent the previous year, and the iPhone 13 range was a good upgrade regardless. But that also means that Apple currently has a total of eight iPhone variants on the market right now (that they still sell and not from resellers), with prices ranging from K7,900 for the iPhone SE to K40,800 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max, when configured with the maximum 1TB of storage.
Apple's iPhone line-up used to be simple, compared to picking a Samsung phone. When Steve Jobs announced the original iPhone over 14 years ago, there was just one phone. The only decision you had in 2007 was whether you wanted 4 or 8GB of storage. But today, there's an iPhone to fit basically every need and every budget. So how do you know which one is best for you?
We've broken down all the iPhone models on the market so you can decide. Miss the home button, Then check out the iPhone SE. Like the iPhone 13 design, but think it’s too pricey? Consider last year's iPhone 12 and 12 Mini. Want a small phone with a good battery? Then the iPhone 13 Mini is the best. And what about the two-year-old iPhone 11, is it still worth it? Of course!
CURRENT IPHONES, COMPARED
| Model | Starting price | Screen size | No. of rear cameras | CPU | Release date |
| iPhone SE | K7,900 | 4.7 inches | 1 | A13 Bionic | April 2020 |
| iPhone 11 | K10,950 | 6.1 inches | 2 | A13 Bionic | September 2019 |
| iPhone 12 Mini | K14,850 | 5.4 inches | 2 | A14 Bionic | November 2020 |
| iPhone 12 | K15,500 | 6.1 inches | 2 | A14 Bionic | October 2020 |
| iPhone 13 Mini | K17,100 | 5.4 inches | 2 | A15 Bionic | September 2021 |
| iPhone 13 | K18,700 | 6.1 inches | 2 | A15 Bionic | September 2021 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | K24,500 | 6.1 inches | 3 | A15 Bionic | September 2021 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | K26,900 | 6.7 inches | 3 | A15 Bionic | September 2021 |
Additionally, some iPhones have two cameras, others three and others four (including the front-facing selfie camera). There's also the fact that almost every current iPhone model has Face ID except one: the iPhone SE. Having a lot of options isn't bad, but can feel overwhelming when buying a new iPhone.
iPhone 13
Best iPhone for most people
The K18,700 iPhone 13 is a decent upgrade to last year's iPhone 12. Familiarity has been one of the keys to Apple's success with the iPhone. The iPhone 13 has a nearly identical squared-off design as the iPhone 12. It supports 5G and MagSafe charging.
It comes with new cameras that are the same quality with the ones from last year's top-of-the-line iPhone 12 Pro Max. It also gets a larger battery which tests lasted 4.5 hours more on a single charge than the iPhone 12.
Add in the A15 Bionic chip, a new Cinematic mode which is basically a video version of Portrait mode and iOS 15 and you have an excellent phone.
iPhone 13 Pro
Best/Most popular iPhone
The K24,500 iPhone 13 Pro is widely considered the best phone Apple has ever made. With the latest iPhone series, Apple further defined the difference between its Pro and non-Pro phones by packing the 13 Pro with a high-refresh rate display, macro photography mode, ProRes video recording and the best cameras on any iPhone ever made.
In terms of design, the 13 Pro has an elegant matte finish back and shiny stainless steel sides. Compare that to the glossy back and matte aluminum sides on the iPhone 13. The display on the 13 Pro supports what Apple calls ProMotion. Depending on what's being shown on the screen, the refresh rate switches between 10 and 120Hz. In use, the screen looks Amazing. Animations look smooth, graphics appear crisp and even simple things like scrolling feeds look better.
It runs iOS 15 and supports 5G and MagSafe charging. Like the regular iPhone 13, the 13 Pro has an A15 Bionic chip but gets an extra GPU core which gives the phone a boost for gaming and video editing.
iPhone 12 and 12 Mini
Best iPhone value
With support for 5G being top feature, the K15,500 iPhone 12 marked the beginning of a new generation of iPhone. It has a flat-sided design with matte aluminum sides, a 6.1-inch OLED screen, an A14 Bionic chip, support for MagSafe charging and Apple's Ceramic Shield covering on the front to help reduce scratches and damage from drops.
The iPhone 12 Mini is simply a smaller version of the 12 with a 5.4-inch display and a price tag that's less than a K1,000 cheaper than the 12.
The selfie, wide and ultrawide cameras on the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are good, but definitely a small step down from those on the newer iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. If you choose to get an iPhone 12 or 12 Mini and can afford to pay we always recommend upgrading from 64GB of storage to 128GB.
Stay tuned for part 2, which will comprise of the remaining models; iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone 13 pro max and the iPhone 13 mini.