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Best apple phones for students (2026)

Ranked for students. Editorial scores, MSRP bands, and links to full guides—no sponsored picks.

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Top picks

Top pick

iPhone 16e

$599–$989

The iPhone 16e (2025) — a Apple phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

iPhone 16e guide
Strong alternative

iPhone 16e (Unlocked)

$599–$689

The iPhone 16e (Unlocked) (2025) — a Apple phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

iPhone 16e (Unlocked) guide
Also consider

iPhone 13

$599–$1,034

The iPhone 13 (2021) — a Apple phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

iPhone 13 guide

Why these phones?

We start from every device in our catalog with validated US MSRP bands, apply your filters, then rank using the same 1–10 category scores documented in our methodology. “Top pick” is the highest composite for this page’s intent—not a paid placement.

Full ranked list

A1

iPhone 16e

Apple · 2025

$599–$989
Upper middle
PerformanceBattery
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A(

iPhone 16e (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$599–$689
Upper middle
PerformanceBattery
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A1

iPhone 13

Apple · 2021

$599–$1,034
Upper middle
BatteryPerformance
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A1

iPhone 17e

Apple · 2025

$599–$989
Upper middle
BatteryPerformance
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A(

iPhone 17e (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$599–$779
Upper middle
BatteryPerformance
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Ag

iPhone SE (3rd gen)

Apple · 2022

$429–$700
Bottom quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 15 Plus

Apple · 2023

$899–$1,559
Top quartile
BatteryPerformance
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A(

iPhone 15 Plus (Unlocked)

Apple · 2023

$899–$989
Top quartile
BatteryPerformance
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AP

iPhone 14 Plus

Apple · 2022

$899–$1,559
Upper middle
BatteryCamera
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A1

iPhone 15

Apple · 2023

$799–$1,319
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 15 (Unlocked)

Apple · 2023

$799–$879
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A1

iPhone 16

Apple · 2024

$799–$1,429
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 16 Plus

Apple · 2024

$899–$1,499
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 16 Plus (Unlocked)

Apple · 2024

$899–$1,034
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 16 (Unlocked)

Apple · 2024

$799–$959
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A1

iPhone 17

Apple · 2025

$799–$1,429
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 17 (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$799–$919
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AA

iPhone Air

Apple · 2025

$899–$1,499
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone Air (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$899–$1,079
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A1

iPhone 14

Apple · 2022

$699–$1,249
Lower middle
BatteryPerformance
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AM

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Apple · 2023

$1,199–$1,949
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 15 Pro Max (Unlocked)

Apple · 2023

$1,199–$1,439
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AM

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple · 2025

$1,199–$1,724
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 17 Pro Max (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$1,199–$1,439
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 15 Pro

Apple · 2023

$999–$1,559
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 15 Pro (Unlocked)

Apple · 2023

$999–$1,149
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 16 Pro

Apple · 2024

$999–$1,559
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AM

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple · 2024

$1,199–$1,799
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 16 Pro Max (Unlocked)

Apple · 2024

$1,199–$1,439
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
Scan this phone →
A(

iPhone 16 Pro (Unlocked)

Apple · 2024

$999–$1,099
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 17 Pro

Apple · 2025

$999–$1,689
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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A(

iPhone 17 Pro (Unlocked)

Apple · 2025

$999–$1,299
Top quartile
PerformanceDisplay
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AP

iPhone 14 Pro

Apple · 2022

$999–$1,494
Top quartile
DisplayCamera
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AM

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Apple · 2022

$1,099–$1,539
Top quartile
CameraPerformance
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Related guides

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