Ranking every iPhone Pro ever made

We're doing something a little different today. We're ranking every single iPhone Pro ever introduced by Apple. From the original 11 Pro back in 2019 all the way to the concept designs for the upcoming 17 Pro. That's seven generations of flagship phones.

We've seen some massive changes over the years. We went from rounded edges to sharp flat sides, and then back to slightly contoured titanium. We've seen camera bumps grow from subtle triple lenses to massive plateaus. And we've had some absolutely iconic colors like Midnight Green and Sierra Blue along the way.

In this post, we'll walk through the evolution of the Pro lineup, look at the key design shifts for each generation, and finally, deliver the definitive ranking from worst to best. Let's get into it.

Where it all started

The iPhone 11 Pro was the very first model to carry the "Pro" name. It launched in 2019 and introduced the triple camera system that we're all familiar with today. At the time, people made plenty of memes about it looking like a stove top, but it set the standard for mobile photography.

Key design features

It introduced the Matte Frosted Glass back, which was a huge upgrade in feel and texture
It kept the comfortable Rounded Edges from the iPhone X and XS era
The frame was made of heavy, polished Stainless Steel
It launched in the gorgeous Midnight Green colorway

Overall, this was an amazing first introduction to the Pro line. It felt premium, comfortable to hold, and distinct from everything else on the market.

The flat edge era

With the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple completely shifted gears. We went back to the iPhone 4 and 5 aesthetic with hard, flat edges. This design language stuck around for three generations—the 12, 13, and 14 Pro.

The 12 Pro gave us Pacific Blue, a fan favorite. Then the 13 Pro brought us Sierra Blue and finally introduced 120Hz ProMotion. By the time we got to the 14 Pro, we saw the introduction of the Dynamic Island and the deep, rich Purple finish.

Pro tip: The 13 Pro is often considered "Peak Design" by many. It balanced the camera bump size with the new ProMotion display perfectly before the bumps got too massive on the 14 Pro.

The shift to Titanium

Starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple ditched Stainless Steel for Titanium. This was a massive change for weight reduction and heat dissipation. The edges also got slightly more rounded, making them much nicer to hold without a case.

The 16 Pro refined this with the new Camera Control button, and looking ahead to the 17 Pro, rumors suggest a shift to a new horizontal camera plateau and potentially an aluminum back.

The Official Ranking

We've looked at the design, the colors, and the impact of each model. Here is the definitive ranking of every iPhone Pro, from worst to best.

The Countdown

iPhone 16 Pro (7th Place): It's the newest, but design-wise, it's very similar to the 15 Pro. The Camera Control button is useful, but not a massive design revolution.
iPhone 15 Pro (6th Place): A huge step forward with Titanium, but the Natural Titanium color was a bit bland compared to previous years.
iPhone 17 Pro (5th Place): Based on the leaks, the camera plateau and shift to aluminum might be great for durability, but it's a controversial look.
iPhone 12 Pro (4th Place): The start of the flat-edge era. Pacific Blue was stunning, but the hard edges weren't the most comfortable.
iPhone 14 Pro (3rd Place): One of my personal favorites. Deep Purple was an incredible color, and the Dynamic Island was a fresh UI change.
iPhone 11 Pro (2nd Place): The original. The rounded edges feel amazing in the hand, and Midnight Green is still iconic.
iPhone 13 Pro (1st Place): The winner. Sierra Blue is arguably the best color Apple has ever made, and this phone represented peak refinement.

What's your pick?

That's the list. The iPhone 13 Pro takes the crown for its stunning Sierra Blue finish and refined design, while the newer models suffer a bit from feeling too iterative.

I'd love to hear what your favorite iPhone Pro was. Did you love the boxy design of the 12, or do you miss the rounded curves of the 11? Let me know in the comments.