Christine Romero - Chan / Digital Trends

The iPhone 15 batting order — which includes the standardiPhone 15and theiPhone 15 professional — is the iPhone at its better . It ’s the latest series of iPhones uncommitted today and the default choice if you ’re buy a young iPhone in 2024 .

But it ’s not the onlychoice of iPhonesyou can purchase . In fact , Apple still sells theiPhone 14,iPhone 13 , and theiPhone SEon its website . You could also discover other iPhone models available – refurbished or Modern — from other retailers or carrier stores .

Purple iPhone 14 (left) and a green iPhone 15 in hand.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Buying a good iPhone has never been easier . Butwhyshould you bribe an iPhone in the first post ( especially when Android phones are as good as they are ) ? Here are a few reasons we think you should consider .

iMessage

One of the self-aggrandising reason to buy an iPhone is iMessage . Yes , the thing that has cause alotof argument for creating the “ downcast versus green house of cards wars ” is still one of the iPhone ’s great strength .

For the uninitiated , iMessage is Apple ’s own instant messaging table service that is only available on Apple products , including the iPhone . With iMessage , users are able to send and have subject matter with other iPhone , iPad , Mac , and even Apple Watch users . It uses data point ( cellular or Wi - Fi ) to transmit message , which can lie of schoolbook , images , audio frequency , and more . There are also other benefits to iMessage , like read gross and typing indicator when the recipient role is reply .

If you have other Apple equipment besides an iPhone , then you could also send and get messages with those other devices , so long as you are enter with the same Apple ID . All messages are synchronize via iCloud , so you’re able to easy pluck up a conversation where you left off , even with a unlike equipment .

While iMessage is one of the most crucial parts of Apple ’s “ fence garden ” ecosystem , it ’s admittedly one that is hard to get out of . But iMessage can also send SMS / MMS messages to Android users ( green bubble ) , even on other machine if textual matter message forwarding is enabled .

Plus , iMessage is start out well later this year . After all the controversy over the years , Apple isfinally work RCS musical accompaniment to iMessage , likely start in iOS 18 . RCS will supply some iMessage - like features between iPhone and Android exploiter , let in high - resolution scene and picture , take receipts , type indicator , and more . If your family members or friend chemical group already swear on iMessage — or you want to finally plunk into it for whatever reasonableness — an iPhone is the way to go .

AirDrop

chance are in high spirits that if you have an iPhone , you might have an iPad or a Mac too . If that ’s the case , then one of the most utilitarian features that can be used between Apple machine is AirDrop .

AirDrop is Apple ’s proprietary wireless ad hoc Indian file transfer of training service that has been around for the past 10 — since iOS 7 and Mac OS X Lion . With AirDrop , you’re able to wirelessly transpose files between iOS and Mac devices as long as they are within close chain of each other .

In iOS 17 , Apple made some much - needed change to AirDrop to improve its overall usability . These changes include proximity sharing , Indian file transfer over the cyberspace , andNameDrop .

Proximity communion allow users to easily share photos or file just by being physically nearby to another unlocked iPhone . And now , orotund files that would typically take a while to send over can be complete through an net connection , annihilate the need for the phones to stay on tight together after the initial transfer of training process . NameDrop lets you easily share your physical contact entropy with another iPhone just by bringing the devices close together .

I ’ve been a longtime user of AirDrop over the past decade . It makes it super well-heeled to get my picture over to my Mac for work , and it is also much faster to share photos and television with booster and home this way . When I have to get photos off an Android phone and need to practice Google Photos to do so , it makes me wish I was AirDropping rather . It really is that good .

The Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is one of the bestselling smartwatches on the market , and it ’s no surprise why . You get accurate wellness trailing with continuous sum charge per unit monitoring , ECG , profligate atomic number 8 measuring , body temperature for family planning , sleep trailing , and comprehensive workout and seaworthiness tracking .

But it ’s not just a not bad wellness tracker — it ’s also a expectant smartwatch . You get plenty of third - party app accompaniment on the beautiful presentation ,   as well as notifications , emergency SOS , alarms , phone calls , and so much more . It also come in multiple size and models — theApple Watch Series 9,Apple Watch Ultra 2 , andApple Watch SE 2 — and has a myriad of accoutrement to really make it yours .

You will need an iPhone to set it up , however . The Apple Watch often reigns sovereign as the good smartwatch available , and the only room to utilise it is if you have an iPhone .

Better third-party apps

While there are flock of apps on both Apple ’s App Store and the Google Play Store , there ’s one difference : the quality and support tend to be good on iOS .

For as long as I can think of ( I reviewed apps for a while before coming to Digital Trends ) , many unexampled apps would be only usable for iOS , with no plans for an Android rendering . Many apps I use day by day are also not available on non - Apple platforms . And from what I ’ve seen , it ’s vulgar to see update for cross - platform apps hit iOS first , at least from my experience .

But it ’s not just that . Since I start using Android phone , I ’ve downloaded many of my most - used and necessary apps on whichever Android phone I ’m testing . In doing so , I ’ve noticed that the overall experience of these apps is much smooth on iOS compared to their Android similitude . And unremarkably , new features show up on iOS before they do on Android , too .

So , if you worry about the mobile app experience , it tend to be a bit better on iOS . As long as your iPhone is still supported by Apple and the app developer , you should be golden .

iOS updates

Though more Android phones are bring longer software supporting ( Samsung and Google now offer up seven years of Android update , for model ) , Apple product have long been known for their longevity . of course , this let in the iPhone .

On mean , the distinctive iPhone should get at least five years of iOS updates . For example , the current Io 17 update can be installed on devices dating back to the iPhone XR , which set in motion in 2018 .

Though Apple has never made any real “ guarantees ” like Samsung and Google latterly have , its track disk has been quite unassailable in this department . With most people promote every two to four years , an iPhone is likely to be supervene upon before it becomes “ obsolete ” anyway .

More security

While there are some new cracks in Apple ’s walled garden these twenty-four hours due to the European Union ’s regulations , iPhones are still more secure than Android phones .

It ’s been well - plant that Apple ’s App Store has had rigorous principle and guidelines for its app review process , sometimes to the point where it ’s a mo absurd . And unless you are in the EU , you still ca n’t get third - party app stores on your iPhone . So , for most hoi polloi , Apple ’s App Store is still the only elbow room to get your apps . For some , this could be seen as a welfare , as you could trust the app you ’re downloading because it passed Apple ’s rigorous approval processes .

While Io is n’t wholly invulnerable to security threat and vulnerabilities , exploits bechance less on Io than on Android because of the closed ecosystem . It ’s also easy for Apple to push out security dapple to its user since it has full control over everything , whereas Android devices can sometimes vary look on the manufacturer .

Apple also prioritizes privacy and encryption . For example , fingermark and face data point for Touch ID / human face ID are stored locally and encipher in Apple ’s “ Secure Enclave . ” wellness records in the Health app are also encrypt and secure , and not even Apple can get at that data point , even if Health sharing is on .

Basically , if you want a more secure smartphone experience , the overall better choice is definitely an iPhone . Android headphone are n’t bad in this esteem , but Apple still has the upper helping hand here .

Apple TV, Apple Music, and more

Most people have it off Apple for its hardware , but it ’s also pretty in effect on the overhaul front , thanks to Apple TV+ and Apple Music .

Though Spotify is the most pop music streaming service , Apple Music is n’t too far behind . I ’ve been using Apple Music since it first launched in 2015 , and I enjoy it even more since it ’s been part of my Apple One megabucks . Apple Music has crocked integration with iOS overall equate to Spotify , and the levelheaded quality is good on Apple Music than on Spotify .

The Apple TV app is also a great way to consolidate all of your preferred shows and movies in one plaza . you may watch Apple TV+ exclusives and link up your other streaming military service , buy or rent shows and movies , get sports , and more . There ’s also Apple News+ , Apple Arcade , Apple Fitness+ , and so on . Apple ’s services have turn alotin recent eld , and if you bank on any of them , an iPhone is the perfect way of life to get at all of them .

iCloud

With iCloud , I ’m able to store pretty much all of my most of import bits of datum . It ’s how I back up my1 TB iPhone 15 Proso that whenever I upgrade , furbish up all of my data point is done with just a couple of tap . I also use iCloud Drive so my data file are accessible on all of my Apple devices , iCloud Photo Library so all photos and video are synced , and if I have the iCloud option for apps , I use that rather than having to lot with another syncing service .

It ’s still irritating that Apple only provide 5 GB of iCloud for free , which is pretty much nothing in 2024 . But I can assure you that iCloud is definitely deserving paying for , particularly if you have additional Apple devices . The saying “ it just works ” in compliments to Apple gimmick may palpate tired these Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , but with iCloud , it ’s dead on target . Everything is back up , everything is synced , and you do n’t have to think about it at all .

iPhone accessories are unmatched

If you deal about accessorizing your sound , then the best option is the iPhone .

This belike does n’t come as a surprisal . If you go to a retail store , like Best Buy or Target , you ’ll probably find 12 of cases for different iPhone manakin . Even online , you ’ll slip up across more case option for the iPhone than you would for an Android phone . From cute and fashionable to furrowed and lasting or canonic and thin , the iPhone can be snip in pretty much anything .

You simply do n’t get as many options when it come to other phones , like theSamsung Galaxy S24,Google Pixel 8 , orOnePlus 12 . I ’m not saying there aren’tanycases , but your choices are much more modified compared to iPhones .

For example , OtterBox had some cunning Valentine ’s daytime instance , but they were only offered for the iPhone 13 , iPhone 14 , and iPhone 15 serial — there were none for the Samsung Galaxy S24 . Casetify is another brand that has a ton of cool coaction with pop brands like Disney , Marvel , Star Wars , anime , influencers and artist , and more . But most of the event are for iPhones , with mayhap a Pixel or Galaxy option here and there .

Accessories are n’t the deciding factor when choosing your next smartphone , but if that ’s something you like about , the iPhone ’s trail here is impossible to ignore .

Apple’s customer service

Sometimes , you just end up with gimmick issues , and that can be a headache . Fortunately , Apple is known for its great customer service , and you ’re likely to get better help from Apple than from other brands .

Every iPhone has one class of ironware repair coverage and 90 twenty-four hours of complimentary technical support . For even more reportage , you could purchase AppleCare+ , with the option for Theft and Loss insurance coverage for an additional fee . The price of AppleCare+ depends on the iPhone model you ’re covering , and it get going at $ 79 for the iPhone SE 3 and goes up to $ 199 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max . Theft and Loss reportage add another $ 70 on top of those price .

you’re able to contact Apple living by phone or by going to an Apple Store after making a Genius Bar designation . With AppleCare+ , incidents cost as low as $ 29 for filmdom or back glass damage , $ 99 for other accidental scathe , and $ 149 for theft or red ink .

I ’ve been usingiPhones for more than a X . While I do n’t usually have job , the few times I have , the client help I ’ve received has been above and beyond . From what I ’ve get word about other manufacturers , it sounds like it can be a incubus to sell with , though it all count on who you get to help you out .

Still , Apple has a self-colored report for client military service , so you ’ll get better help and support if something goes incorrect . It ’s not something you desire you have to rely on , but if you do need it , Apple should have your back .