The holidays are approaching and for many people new smartphones are at the top of their lists. Every year and a half (or so) Apple not only releases a new iPhone model but they unveil two or three different models as well. In 2013 they unveiled the 4s, 5c, and 5s alone. If you have one of the 75 million iPhones sold this year, then you're the result of really great marketing.

Why, you ask?

We're sure you have been faced with the dilemma where you just bought a new iPhone, then 6 months passed and another one was released. You asked yourself if you really needed the new version or if you should just update the iOS and wait it out. Then you found yourself caving because, even though you’d end up paying more, the financing plan is feasible and it looks great. Plus, there's always eBay to sell your old device. There you have it, you have a new phone that does everything your old phone did, plus a little more.

To help make your transition into a new phone easier this year, we’re going to outline the differences in available iPhones. Plus, to show you the improvement Apple has made over the years, we’ll also include a comparison with the very first iPhone.

iPhone 7

Released: September 2016

iPhone 7

Released: September 2016

iPhone 6s

Released: September 2015

iPhone 6 SE

Released: March 2016

iPhone 1st Generation

Released: June 2007

So, should you go for the latest most expensive iPhone? Should you save some money and go for a slightly older version?

However marginal, there is a difference between each iPhone released. If you’re in the market for a new phone consider what you will use the phone for most. To maximise video and image quality, go for the iPhone 7 Plus which has the highest resolution and widest display with twice as much digital zoom as the iPhone 7. If you make a lot of calls you may find that any of the latest models will provide you with at least 14 hours of talktime on 3G. Personally, I believe that if you’re in the market for a new phone and you insist on Apple as your brand, go for the latest model. Although functional, older models of the iPhone are obsolete when it comes to updating the latest apps as well as the restriction of app downloads. In addition, Wi-Fi, data storage, and data networks have all grown with each year an iPhone was released. For more information on a comparison of all smartphones, view the chart