It's been (at time of writing) nearly 12 months since Apple unveiled new iPhone hardware.

The iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X were announced in September 2017; the 8 and 8 Plus went on sale the same month, while the X was delayed until November. (Apple did release a PRODUCT(RED) version of the 8 and 8 Plus on 10 April 2018, but this was just a new paint job on existing hardware.)

As for the iPhone SE, that phone is getting rather long in the tooth now, it's been two and a half years since that handset was last updated. There are some rumours about a new iPhone SE, but it may well be discontinued.

If you're wondering which of these iPhone models is best for you, read our iPhone buying guide or our roundup of the best iPhone deals.

The best time to buy an iPhone isn't necessarily when a new model launches - unless you're desperate to have the very latest hardware. You might be happy to wait a month or two after the launch and wait for supply to catch up with demand, and for any problems with the new phones to be identified and (hopefully) fixed.

We'd say that it's worth buying a new iPhone within nine months of it launching, but by June/July we'd recommend putting off your purchase until the autumn - unless your current iPhone is broken and won't tide you over for three or four more months.

It's easier to say when the worst time to buy a new iPhone is - that is without a doubt in the months leading up to September. So don't buy an iPhone in August, unless you want to be kicking yourself a month later.

You may be thinking that since you just want a new phone and aren't too bothered about the latest iPhone model, why not buy a new iPhone now?

It is our experience that after the event the prices of the current-generation iPhones will drop. And if you're really not bothered about specs, you might be able to pick up an even older iPhone that Apple has discontinued as mobile phone companies discount those models to clear stock.

Another tip: buy your iPhone in Apple's Black Friday sales at the end of November. Apple itself won't give discounts but will offer an additional gift card. Other retailers will offer discounts on iPhones and iPhone contracts.

We can't be sure that Apple will participate again, but ahead of this year's sale, you can take a look at our Black Friday deals hub where we'll be covering the best Black Friday iPhone deals, iPad deals, MacBook deals and more.

Source: macworld