• Costco's new CFO took care last week to assure members that the $1.50 hot dog combo is "safe."
• For 40 years now, the price of the meal has remained unchanged.
• Accomplishing this has helped the company to figure out ways to offer low prices on other key items.

For nearly as long as Costco has existed, there has been a hotdog and soda combo for members to munch on during their warehouse visit.

And for almost 40 years now, the price has been a tidy $1.50 — long after the amount stopped making economic sense.

As cofounder Jim Sinegal famously told former CEO Craig Jelinek, "If you raise [the price of] the effing hot dog, I will kill you."

True to form, the company's new CFO Gary Millerchip took care last week during the company's earnings call to assure members that the $1.50 hot dog combo is "safe."

The solution turned out to be a business concept known as vertical integration, which is when a company brings more processes under its direct control, rather than relying on other suppliers or vendors.

"We've gotten into vertical integration and sourcing as the need arises," current CEO Ron Vachris said during the earnings call. "If you think back the infamous story about the hot dog and coke at $1.50 and how are you going to figure out how to keep that price there, well, we're going to open our own meat plants."

Costco now has a production operation to keep its warehouse food courts supplied with over 100 million hotdogs per year — more than are sold at all Major League Baseball stadiums combined.

But the company didn't stop there.

"As we looked at the prices of optical lenses going up, we opened up our optical grinding plants," Vachris said. The company now offers some of the most competitive prices for prescription and reading glasses.

Even the $5 rotisserie chicken, which is famously sold at a loss to get customers in the door and spending on other items — is the result of vertical integration.

"The chicken plant came because we saw an inflection point where supply was not going to meet demand, so we had to get involved," Vachris said.

While hotdogs, glasses, and chicken represent three products that Costco members have developed a strong attachment to, Vachris said the company is highly selective about the areas it chooses to plant a stake in the ground against the inexorable rise of inflation. (The hotdog combo should cost about $4.40 today.)

"Let's not try and be everything, no," Vachris said. "We're not going to get vertically integrated just because it's something we can do."

But, he added, "we continue to keep that in our back pocket should we need to."

• Three people who've earned $100,000 annually said it reduced stress but wasn't life-changing.
• Higher incomes allowed them to focus on personal growth, relationships, and financial security.
• Despite the rising costs of food, housing, cars, and childcare, a $100,000 income remains impactful.

When Joshua first earned a $100,000 salary about five years ago, it didn't impact his lifestyle much.

"I wasn't able to splurge or to afford luxurious things," the 30-year-old fintech professional, who's based in Georgia, told Business Insider via email.

But increasing his income to that level did do one important thing: It helped him worry much less about his finances. Joshua said the boost to his financial security also made his relationships with his friends and family more comfortable.

"There was no longer the strain of borrowing and paying back money, no longer going out to eat to get a quick meal and being anxious about if I could foot the bill," he said.

A $100,000-a-year salary doesn't go as far as it used to in an economy where the rising costs of food, housing, cars, childcare, and other expenses are weighing on people's finances. Last year, Americans said they'd need to earn $233,000 a year to feel financially secure and $483,000 to feel rich, according to a Bankrate survey conducted in June 2023. What's more, a survey conducted by the New York Fed in March found that the average reservation wage for Americans with a college degree — the lowest annual wage they'd be willing to accept for a new job — rose to a high of about $99,000.

However, for many Americans, reaching a six-figure income could still have a significant impact on their finances and well-being. As of March, the average annual salary for full-time workers was about $84,000, according to a New York Fed survey.

Business Insider asked three people who've made over $100,000 a year how becoming a six-figure-earner did — and didn't — change their lives and relationships. While it didn't make them feel rich, they said it reduced their financial-related stress by several notches. BI has verified their earnings.

Having money allows you to focus more on other things you care about

Cole H. Mattes made his first $100,000 in 2020 by selling thermometers on eBay, he told Business Insider via email. Last year, the 24-year-old entrepreneur, who's based in California, took home $250,000 as the owner and founder of the public relations agency Monarch Media.

Mattes said that making six figures "isn't really all that life-changing" but that the extra income has had two big benefits.

First, it's allowed him to worry much less about his finances and concentrate on other areas of his life.

"You start to focus on things that really matter, like traveling, dating, and cultivating important relationships," he said. "Once you no longer have to focus on hustling to pay for rent and other basic necessities, because you are no longer financially burdened, that is when life really starts because you can focus on the amazing things life has to offer."

Second, he said having money has opened doors for him in the business world.

"Successful people do business with other successful people," he said. "Money provides status, and that is the real value you get by becoming rich — not a new pair of jeans."

However, Mattes said that making more money can sometimes negatively impact relationships.

"When you become successful, you will lose friends and family who become jealous of your income," Mattes said. "Losing people might be hard, but it should really be looked at positively because those types of people don't want the best for you."

To be sure, while a $100,000 salary wouldn't be enough to put a person in the top 1% of their state's earners, it could be the difference between a financially vulnerable lifestyle and a secure one.

At least 32% of the population of every US state qualifies as an ALICE — asset limited, income constrained, employed — according to data from the nonprofit organization United Way. ALICEs are Americans who are struggling to pay the bills but make too much money to qualify for government assistance like food stamps.

For many of these people, a $100,000 salary could, in fact, be life-changing.

It can take years for the impacts of a six-figure income to be fully felt

For Maksim Sonin, crossing the six-figure threshold didn't feel particularly impactful because his income had grown steadily over time, he told Business Insider via email.

However, as Sonin's income rose well into the six-figures working in the oil and gas industry abroad, he said the benefits of his higher income have become more noticeable. He said it's allowed him to help pay for his brother's education, strengthen his finances, and enroll in graduate school — he's currently pursuing a master's degree at Stanford University.

While he's grateful for the perks and financial security that a higher income has provided, he said he wants to ensure that his children remain humble.

"They don't care much, nor are they even aware of how much money I began to earn after that pivotal $100,000 mark," he said.

Staying humble is something Joshua has focused on as well. Given he didn't grow up around a lot of money, he said learning how to wisely use his extra income has been a work in progress. While he's increased his discretionary spending a bit, he said he's put a lot of his extra income toward investments and side hustles.

Joshua, who made about $150,000 in 2023, said reaching six figures several years ago was a significant milestone, but that it took time for the benefits of his higher income to be fully realized.

"It was the consistency of earning over $100,000 that positioned me to be financially secure," he said.

Are you making over $100,000 a year? Are you willing to share your story and the impact this income has had on your life? If so, contact this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.

• AI researcher Roman Yampolskiy estimates a 99.9% chance of AI leading to human extinction.
• He said no AI model so far has been safe, and it's unlikely that future models will be bug-free.
• Other AI researchers have said been more moderate in estimates about AI leading to extinction.

Podcaster Lex Fridman said in a recent episode that most AI engineers he speaks with estimate between a one and 20% chance that artificial general intelligence will eventually kill off humans.

The prediction varies depending on how you ask. For example, a recent study conducted with 2,700 AI researchers indicated there's only a 5% chance that AI will lead to human extinction.

But Fridman said it's important to talk to people who estimate a much higher likelihood AI could wipe us out — like AI researcher Roman Yampolskiy, who told the podcaster in an interview released Sunday that he pegs it as 99.9% within the next hundred years.

The AI researcher teaches computer science at the University of Louisville and just came out with a book called "AI: Unexplainable, Unpredictable, Uncontrollable."

He discussed the risks of AI for over two hours on Fridman's podcast — and his predictions were pretty bleak.

He said the chances that AI will wipe out humanity depend on whether humans can create highly complex software with zero bugs in the next 100 years. Yampolskiy said he finds that unlikely since no AI model has been completely safe from people attempting to get the AI to do something it wasn't designed to do.

"They already have made mistakes," Yampolskiy said. "We had accidents, they've been jailbroken. I don't think there is a single large language model today, which no one was successful at making do something developers didn't intend it to do."

The first few versions of AI models in the last two years have raised various red flags for potential misuse or misinformation. Deepfakes have created fake pornographic images of female public figures and threatened to influence elections with AI robocalls imitating President Biden.

Google AI Overviews, based on Google's Gemini AI model, is the latest product rollout that didn't stick the landing. The new feature on Google Search was meant to provide quick informative overviews for certain inquiries presented at the top of search results. Instead, it went viral for coming up with nonsense answers, like suggesting making pizza with glue or stating that no countries in Africa started with the letter K.

Yampolskiy said in order to control AI, there needs to be a perpetual safety machine. Yampolskiy said even if we do a good job with the next few versions of GPT, AI will continue to improve, learn, self-modify, and interact with different players — and with existential risks, "you only get one chance."

The CEO of ChatGPT developer OpenAI, Sam Altman, has suggested a "regulatory sandbox" where people experiment with AI and regulate it based on what "went really wrong" and what went "really right."

Altman once warned — or maybe he was joking — back in 2015 that "AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies."

More recently, Altman has said that what keeps him up at night is "all of the sci-fi stuff" related to AI, including the things that are "easy to imagine where things really go wrong."

Since ChatGPT took the world by storm in November 2022, various predictions have been made about how AI could lead to humanity's downfall in regard to AI.

But Yampolskiy also cautioned that "we cannot predict what a smarter system will do." He compared humans to squirrels in the context of AGI, or artificial general intelligence, and said AI will come up with something that we don't even know exists yet.

According to Yampolskiy, however, there are three realms of outcomes that he predicts. One risk is that everyone will die, another is that everyone will suffer and wish they were dead, and another is that humans have completely lost their purpose.

The last one refers to a world in which AI systems are more creative than humans and can perform all the jobs. In that reality, it's not clear what humans would do to contribute, Yampolskiy said, echoing some concerns about whether AI will start to take humans' jobs.

Most people in the field acknowledge some level of risk with AI, but they don't think it's as likely that things will end badly. Elon Musk has predicted a 10-20% chance that AI will destroy humanity.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said the real dangers of AI, which are cyber and biological attacks, will come in three to five years. If AI develops free will, Schmidt has a simple solution: humans can just unplug it.

• Spotify's CEO is clarifying comments he made about content creation after drawing backlash.
• Daniel Ek said last week the cost of content creation was "close to zero," and people got upset.
• On Sunday, he said his words were "far too vague" and "clumsy" in his initial post.

Spotify's CEO is doing some damage control after upsetting users with "reductive" comments about content creation.

The saga began last week with a post from Daniel Ek on X, formerly Twitter.

"Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content," he wrote. "This has sparked my curiosity about the concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life. While much of what we see and hear quickly becomes obsolete, there are timeless ideas or even pieces of music that can remain relevant for decades or even centuries."

His comments about the cost of making content being "close to zero" rubbed many people the wrong way, and they quickly sounded off in his replies — with some criticizing Spotify's royalty payments to artists.

"Good content costs money to make. Especially if you're an artist who gets paid fractions of a cent for their 'content,'" one person wrote.

"Music will still be valued in a hundred years. Spotify won't. It will only be remembered as a bad example of a parasitic tool for extracting value from other peoples music. (or "content" as some grifters like to call it) AI will seal your fate," another person added.

Ek responded to the backlash in a subsequent post on Sunday.

"Obviously seeing the feedback to this one and wanted to respond. It's clear I was far too vague in the post, including with my clumsy definition of content. I understand how it came across as very reductive and that wasn't my intent," he wrote. "Just to clarify – my original point was not to devalue the time, effort, or resources involved in creating meaningful works, whether it's music, literature, or other forms of creative expression."

He also tried to reword his original remarks.

"The significant drop in the cost of creation tools (microphones, laptops, cameras) has led to an unprecedented explosion in the volume of what people are able to produce," he said. "Creation is only part of the equation."

Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It makes sense that Ek is looking to address the criticism from his original post. Spotify has been trying to position itself as a creator platform in recent years, and angering or alienating content creators — who go through the effort to make the music and podcasts that keep people coming back to Spotify — wouldn't be good for business.

The company in 2022 said it had a "vision to become the world's creator platform." Spotify has been trying to compete with TikTok on short video and discovery and YouTube on video podcasts.

Spotify is also raising prices in the US, announcing on Monday that Premium plans would be increasing in July. An individual plan will now cost $11.99 a month, a student account $5.99, a "Duo" plan $16.99, and family plans $19.99.

• The DOJ says releasing the Biden-Hur audio recordings is too risky.
• The feds are concerned that the recordings could spark a surge in Biden deepfakes.
• Republicans and conservative groups have demanded access to the audio; a transcript is already available.

The Department of Justice really doesn't want Biden to become the subject of another audio deepfake.

Republicans and conservative groups have waged a legal battle to get their hands on the audio recordings of Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur, who oversaw the DOJ's investigation into the president's handling of classified documents and ultimately decided not to pursue charges, citing Biden's age and poor memory.

The DOJ clapped back against the groups in a legal filing late last week, arguing that releasing the audio could ignite an AI-powered, deepfake frenzy.

"The passage of time and advancements in audio, artificial intelligence, and 'deep fake' technologies only amplify concerns about malicious manipulation of audio files," the DOJ wrote in its filing. "If the audio recording is released here, it is easy to foresee that it could be improperly altered, and that the altered file could be passed off as an authentic recording and widely distributed."

Among the worries for the DOJ: "A malicious actor could slow down the speed of the recording or insert words that President Biden did not say or delete words that he did say."

Even though there are already recordings of Biden's voice that could be used to create deepfakes, any faked audio may be easier to pass off as the real thing if news spreads that a Biden audio was released, prosecutors argue in the filing.

Though a full transcript of the Biden-Hur interview was released in March, Republicans have been demanding the DOJ release the audio recordings. Conservative organizations Judicial Watch and Heritage Foundation joined in, suing the DOJ in an attempt to get their hands on the audio.

Nearly a dozen other news outlets, including Business Insider, have also sued to get the audio released, Politico reported.

The DOJ has argued that Republicans only want the tapes to serve their own political agenda and that they are escalating the conflict "for conflict's sake." A politics and national security expert previously told Business Insider that Republicans could, for example, use the tapes as "raw material for campaign ads."

Biden is already no stranger to deepfakes of his voice. In January, a political phone call scheme used an AI-generated version of his voice to tell Democratic voters in New Hampshire not to vote in the state's primary election.

Lawyers for the lawsuit's plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI, nor did the DOJ.

• Abortion rights has become a major issue in the 2024 election.
• President Joe Biden has repeatedly promised to enshrine Roe into law.
• Former President Donald Trump says he wants to leave the issue to each state.

The Supreme Court's landmark reversal of Roe v. Wade unleashed a torrent of emotions that upended the 2022 midterms. Two years later, abortion rights remain a major issue in the 2024 election.

Polling at both the state and national level shows that abortion is likely President Joe Biden's best issue. But alone, it's unlikely to be enough to save him.

Just look at Arizona: Advocates there are hoping to put a measure guaranteeing a right to an abortion until fetal viability, roughly 22 to 25 weeks of pregnancy, before voters this November. A recent CBS News-YouGov poll showed 65% of Arizonans would vote in favor of such a ballot measure. In the same survey, Biden still trailed former President Donald Trump in the state among likely voters 47% to 52%.

There's also confusion about the issue that could dampen Biden's advantage.

Nearly one in five voters (17%) in six key swing states incorrectly said Biden is responsible for the end of nationwide abortion rights, according to New York Times/Siena College polls. The Supreme could only overturn Roe thanks to the three Trump-appointed justices. On multiple occasions, Trump has emphatically bragged that he killed Roe.

Here's a guide on where Biden and Trump stand on the issue.

Where Joe Biden stands on abortion rights

Biden has repeatedly promised that he would restore Roe. It's not a simple endeavor. Biden would need Democrats to hold a trifecta again, which would require him to win reelection, Democrats to keep the Senate, and to retake the House. Political pundits currently favor the GOP to retake the chamber, given that some of the most closely-watched races are taking place in states Trump won in 2020.

Even controlling Congress likely wouldn't be enough. The Senate filibuster requires a de facto 60-vote majority for legislation that would enshrine nationwide abortion rights protection into law. It's difficult to see how Democrats could net nine additional seats they would need for a filibuster-proof majority. Democrats could change or completely end the filibuster, but such efforts have fizzled in the past. Ending the filibuster would also open the door to Republicans' passing a nationwide abortion ban in the future.

Some legal experts have also questioned whether Congress has the power to guarantee abortion access. It's almost certain that anti-abortion rights groups would file legal challenges if Democrats were able to pass such a law.

There are other ways Biden could affect abortion access if he remains in power. The Biden administration has defended access to the abortion drug mifepristone all the way up to the Supreme Court. Under Biden's direction, the Pentagon has a policy of reimbursing servicemembers who travel for an abortion if they cannot obtain the procedure in the area where they are stationed.

A Biden White House would also likely challenge Republican-led states that try to restrict abortion rights further. For example, Biden and the Justice Department have vowed to defend the ability for women to travel between states if they want to obtain an abortion.

Where Donald Trump stands on abortion rights

While there's little doubt Trump has done more to limit access to abortion in the US than any other president, he has recently tried to avoid the topic entirely, saying that the issue should be left up to individual states.

"The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land," Trump said in a recent video. "In this case, the law of the state."

The former president did not mention the role of state Supreme Courts, an issue that came to a head days after Trump's abortion announcement when the Arizona state Supreme Court found that an 1864 near-total ban on abortions was enforceable. Trump and many Republicans said Arizona went too far amid an uproar after the ruling. (Ultimately, Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, signed a repeal of the territorial-era ban into law.)

Trump has been less clear on what else he believes about the topic. He has repeatedly promised to outline his views on mifepristone but has failed to do so. He hasn't said how he will vote as a Florida resident on a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee access to abortion to the fetal viability or "when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."

Trump's allies want to go even further. Project 2025, an unofficial partnership of right-wing think tanks, has outlined an ambitious series of plans to curtail abortion rights if Trump wins in November. While Trump's campaign has distanced itself from the group, many of the authors of its plans held key positions in his administration. The plan calls for a future GOP president to take action to reverse FDA approval of mifepristone and to restrict "mail-order abortions."

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It's strange to think Apple started with a single iPhone model back in 2007 when the company has eight to pick from in 2024. For some, having so many iPhones available complicates choosing the best iPhone. On the other hand, it also means you can find the one that's right for you.

Whether your decision-making is based on performance, features, display size, or price, our buying guide can help you home-in on the best iPhone. Collectively, our tech reviewers have tested and reviewed iPhones since the first device, so our picks can assure you. Many of our tech reviewers also use iPhones daily as personal devices, and we can confidently comment on their long-term use and identify shortcomings.

After extensive usage and testing, we determined that the iPhone 15 is the best iPhone for most people. It has the fewest compromises for the best value. For those on a budget, we recommend the iPhone 13 for its overall similarities to the iPhone 15 for a lower price.

Our top picks for the best iPhone

Best overall: iPhone 15 – See at Best Buy

Best budget: iPhone 13 – See at Best Buy

Best premium: iPhone 15 Pro – See at Best Buy

Best battery life: iPhone 15 Plus – See at Best Buy

Best small size: iPhone SE (2022) – See at Best Buy

Best overall

The iPhone 15 is the best option for most people. Besides being one of the latest models you can buy, it's a big update over the iPhone 14 in features and performance. It uses the A16 Bionic chipset and Dynamic Island feature introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro.

Performance has increased, which couldn't be said for the iPhone 14 since that model repurposed the same A15 Bionic chipset used in the iPhone 13. In our benchmark tests, the iPhone 15 showed a notable uptick from its predecessor, while the iPhone 14 and 13 yielded similar results. In day-to-day use, you won't notice a huge performance difference right now, but that gap will widen as apps and iOS updates become more advanced over the years. With that said, the A16 is technically an older processor.

Battery life is roughly on par with the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 Pro. Your mileage will vary depending on your usage, but you will likely need to charge the iPhone 15 each night. Only the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max lasted longer due to their larger batteries.

One criticism of the iPhone 14 is that because it wasn't a big leap over the iPhone 13, both phones felt similar. While the iPhone 15 retains the same design, the user experience is now akin to the newer Pro models, thanks to the inclusion of Dynamic Island. Located at the top, where the front camera and Face ID sensor are, Dynamic Island is a novel way to interact with notifications, alerts, and app shortcuts. It's a clever way to display information without covering the entire screen.

Since Apple is moving away from the Lightning connector, the iPhone 15 uses USB-C for charging and data transfer; there's also MagSafe and wireless charging. The move standardizes the cables you'd need for electronics, but Lightning-based iPhone owners would need to buy new cables, chargers, and adapters. 

However, unlike the USB-C ports in the iPhone 15 Pro models that support faster USB 3 transfer speeds, the iPhone 15's connector only handles USB 2, comparable to Lightning. Technologically, in this implementation, the iPhone 15's move to USB-C offers no advantage over Lightning. And unless you already own USB-C accessories, it will be more of an inconvenience for those who have been living in a Lightning-only world.

The iPhone 15's main camera also gets upgraded from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro. Optical zoom reaches farther, at 2x. Users can save photos in 24-megapixel high resolution, which allows for greater quality, particularly in low light. In Portrait mode, you have greater control over subject focus and depth of field, and Apple claims the detailing and coloring are stronger. The iPhone 15 even captures depth information in standard mode, so you can enable Portrait features afterward, like blurring. 

In our opinion, the iPhone camera system has been stellar for several generations, and most users will find it difficult to see the differences when viewing on a small screen. Still, you're getting the second-best iPhone camera system (after the iPhone 15 Pro) available, which will more than satisfy most casual photographers and videographers for some time.

One new feature that didn't get trickled down from the Pro series is the always-on display. However, the screen's resolution and maximum peak brightness did get a boost.

The iPhone 15 marks Apple's most transformative change to its standard model since the iPhone 12. While it isn't revolutionary — we don't think iPhone 14 users need to trade in unless they want a slightly faster processor, Dynamic Island, USB-C, and enhanced camera — there are enough new things to make it a worthwhile upgrade. 

Read our full iPhone 15 review and see our guide to the best iPhone 15 cases to protect the phone. 

Best budget

The iPhone 13 stretches the definition of a "budget" option with its $599 starting price, especially when the iPhone SE (2022) is less expensive at $429. However, the iPhone 13 comes more highly recommended over the iPhone SE because the former offers a better value and experience in the long run. 

The iPhone 13 could also be considered a cheaper version of the latest model, the iPhone 15, while the iPhone SE is the last of a dying breed of older iPhones and targets a niche preference for small phones.

In many ways, the iPhone 13 is similar to the iPhone 15. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display and many of Apple's modern features that aren't available on the iPhone SE, like Face ID, MagSafe wireless charging, mmWave 5G support (the super-fast 5G network), an ultrawide camera, Night Mode for low-light photography, and a better selfie camera. 

While its cameras are not as upgraded as those on the iPhone 15, the iPhone 13 still takes beautiful photos that are hard to complain about. 

The iPhone 13's performance isn't far behind the iPhone 15's, seeing as the former runs on Apple's A15 processor and the latter runs on the A16 processor. The iPhone 13 should still have plenty of life ahead of it despite being a couple of years older than the iPhone 15.

The iPhone SE (2022) also runs on the same A15 processor. Despite its low price, we hesitate to recommend the iPhone SE due to its small screen, antiquated design, short battery life, and lack of modern Apple features. The SE has limited appeal (our pick for the best small iPhone), but you should consider your needs besides price.

The iPhone 14 is a very good phone on its own, but the value isn't there for its $699 starting price. It runs on the same processor as the iPhone 13 and essentially offers an identical experience overall. The only reason you'd buy the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13 is for Apple's Crash Detection and satellite-based Emergency SOS safety features. 

However, based on Apple's product refresh cycle, the iPhone 14 will supersede the iPhone 13 as the budget option this fall, so you could hold off until around September to snag the more recent model at a lower price.

Best premium

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the only current options in the Pro series, so for advanced users, the decision boils down to size preference and camera features (more on that later). Both share the same high-end components, so everyday performance is mostly on par with the exception of battery life. The Pro Max can accommodate a larger battery, which results in an almost 10% advantage over the standard Pro model.

The phones carry over features introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro, like Dynamic Island, always-on display, Crash Detection, and satellite-based Emergency SOS. But the iPhone 15 Pro has several new features that may make iPhone 14 Pro users — particularly those with demanding workflows, like videographers — ponder upgrading.

The iPhone 15 Pro launches the new A17 Pro chipset with a six-core GPU that delivers better graphics performance over the Bionic's four- and five-core GPUs, according to Apple. This enhancement means games, animations, and other effects should look even smoother. Most users will have difficulty noticing the difference — benchmark tests reveal a slight improvement over the A16 Bionic's numbers — but we're likely to see it down the road when more apps take advantage of the chipset.

Like the regular iPhone 15, Apple standardized the connector from Lightning to USB-C. What's unique to the Pro models is that the USB-C port supports faster data transfers (USB 3). For advanced users, this is a game changer: it allows for faster file transfers between the iPhone 15 Pro and a Mac or hard drive, as well as connecting to peripherals like 4K displays. 

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't include a cable that supports fast transfers or a charger — just a basic USB-C variant for charging — so upgraders may need to add one. Existing iPhone Pro users will likely already have USB-C accessories they can repurpose, particularly those who own newer iPads, Macs, and PCs.

Another new feature is the Action Button above the volume buttons on the phone's left side. It's used for switching between ring and silent modes, but it can be customized to quickly access commonly used functions like the flashlight, camera, shortcuts, and more. It's handy, but our gripe is that it can only be used for one function at a time, and you'd need to dive into the settings menu to remap the button. 

Apple upgraded the iPhone 15 Pro's body material from stainless steel to titanium. When bonded with aluminum using a novel manufacturing process, Apple says the titanium frame is super-strong and allows for thinner borders and contoured edges. It also gives it a unique metallic finish. While looks are subjective, the iPhone 15 Pro is beautiful, but we aren't sold that it looks any more attractive than the iPhone 14 Pro, as both use a matte glass back. 

The titanium body is also lighter than stainless steel. The iPhone 15 Pro is 0.67 ounces lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro, and Apple says it's more comfortable to hold. For us, it was difficult to spot the contrasts.

The camera system, perhaps the phone's most sophisticated feature, got upgraded. The main camera is still 48 megapixels, but there's now a 24-megapixel mode that creates high-resolution photos with improved lighting and details. Like the iPhone 15, the Pro lineup gets improved Portrait mode, but there's a third, telephoto lens that's not available in the standard model. On the iPhone 15 Pro Max, that telephoto lens now has a longer 5x zoom versus 3x in the iPhone 15 Pro. There are lots of features designed for advanced photographers and videographers, but they could be overkill for the casual user.

Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, but the iPhone 15 Pro also has a 128GB entry-level model for those who want a sub-$1K Pro model.

The iPhone 15 Pro is not only the fastest iPhone you can buy right now, but it's loaded with features that appeal to advanced users or those who simply want the best and newest. The Pro Max version increases the screen size and battery life. That said, the iPhone Pro is not for every user. Most people will find the Pro an overkill and be satisfied with the standard iPhone 15 models, not to mention the cost savings. 

See our guides to the best iPhone 15 Pro cases or best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases to protect either phone. 

Best battery life

The iPhone 15 Plus is identical to the iPhone 15 (our overall recommendation) in terms of performance and features. The two big exceptions are the size (6.7-inch display) and larger battery, which Apple claims is enough for 26 hours of video playback versus 20 hours in the smaller iPhone 15.

If you want longer battery life, don't mind (or prefer) a bigger screen, and need to stay on budget (Apple's other 6.7-inch option is the pricier iPhone 15 Pro Max), the iPhone 15 Plus is a winner.

Our tests yielded approximately 66% battery life remaining after we played a 4K YouTube video for two hours, streamed music to a Bluetooth speaker for an hour, and ran several benchmark tests that taxed the chipset's processors. That's 14% more than the iPhone 15. Your mileage will vary, but in terms of real-world performance, you could get more than a day's worth of use before recharging.

While the large screen is great for viewing, the device's overall size may not be for everyone.

See our guide to the best iPhone 15 Plus cases to protect the phone. 

Best small size

Now that Apple has gotten rid of its Mini series of iPhones, your best (and only) bet for a small iPhone in Apple's current lineup is the third-generation iPhone SE, released in 2022.

With its 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE is the smallest iPhone you can buy. While it lacks the modern features of other iPhones, it appeals to buyers who want a smaller device and older but familiar tech, like Touch ID. Just be aware that the phone has an outdated user experience.

Powering the iPhone SE is Apple's A15 Bionic processor — the same one that's used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 — which is still powerful and fast enough to run any app or game in the App Store. It also supports some of the most popular features on the iPhone, like iMessage and FaceTime, and is compatible with Apple's ecosystem of devices, like the Apple Watch and AirPods. 

Our main gripes with the iPhone SE are its short battery life compared to larger iPhones and that it's a little spartan in terms of features and design. It has a single camera lens, no MagSafe technology (although it supports wireless charging), and a dated design with huge borders below and above the display to accommodate the front camera, earpiece speaker, and home button for Touch ID. And the entry model only offers 64GB of storage, which goes fast if you shoot many photos and videos.

If you want a more substantial and up-to-date iPhone experience with two cameras and modern features like Face ID and MagSafe, check with your carrier to see if the iPhone 13 Mini is still available, or buy one refurbished through Apple.

Avoid these iPhones

We don't recommend buying the iPhone 11 or any older model. You might find them refurbished for less than the iPhone 13, but you won't be getting your money's worth, whatever the price, as they won't last very long in terms of performance or iOS updates for new features and security patches. 

If you're looking to spend under the iPhone 13's $599 starting price for a modern-looking iPhone, a refurbished iPhone 12 for around $300 or less can still be worthwhile, but expect a shorter lifespan in iOS upgrades and support from Apple.

Which is the best iPhone?

The best iPhone for most people is the iPhone 15. Starting at $799, it offers most of Apple's latest smartphone technologies at an unrivaled value. Those who crave longer battery life or a larger screen (or both) should look at the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Pro models are the very best iPhones you can buy, but their premium features and build quality cost significantly more.

Specs	iPhone 15	iPhone 13	iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 15 Pro Max	iPhone 15 Plus	iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Starting price	$799	$599	$999	$1,199	$899	$429
Processor	A16 Bionic	A15 Bionic	A17 Pro	A17 Pro	A16 Bionic	A15 Bionic
Release date	September 2023	September 2021	September 2023	September 2023	September 2023	March 2022
Screen size	6.1 inches	6.1 inches	6.1 inches	6.7 inches	6.7 inches	4.7 inches
Rear cameras	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop)	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop), 12MP 3x zoom	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop), 12MP 5x zoom	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop)	12MP main
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB

How we test iPhones

To test iPhones, we use them as if they were our main daily drivers for at least a week, if not longer. That way, we can get an overall sense of their performance, camera quality, battery life, and new features and compare them to our experience with other models within the same generation and previous iPhone generations. 

We expect the latest iPhones to run quickly, smoothly, and flawlessly. To test performance, we run popular and widely used apps and look for any sign of stuttering or slower-than-expected loading times. We also run the Geekbench 6 benchmark to give us an idea of performance improvements over the previous generation.

To test camera quality, we take photos of the same scenes and subjects with each lens and compare them to the same images taken with different phones. For greater consistency, we've started taking photos of our typical scenes at the same time and place with all the latest, generationally current phones available in the US. 

We also take several, often hundreds, personal photos with iPhones, like those of friends and family, which we aren't comfortable posting in our review for the sake of privacy. However, these photos weigh heavily in our assessments, as they reveal positives and negatives that testing scenes don't, like the ability to capture a clear image of moving subjects and the everyday experience of using the cameras. 

For battery life, we put each iPhone through a stress test that simulates a blend of typical casual and intensive daily usage that includes two hours of video streaming at a set brightness, one hour of music streaming while connected to Bluetooth speakers, five runs of the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark test, and two runs of the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test. We then note the remaining battery percentage.

FAQs

Which iPhone has the best camera?

Currently, the best iPhone camera systems are those in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, followed by the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

In addition to the latest camera hardware and software technologies, the Pro models use three lenses: main, ultrawide, and telephoto. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus make do with main and ultrawide lenses, but the main lens doubles for telephoto. While the Pro models have advanced features for shooting photos and videos, the standard iPhone 15 camera system can capture great image quality that should satisfy most users, especially for social media.

Even older iPhone models like the iPhone 13 have great cameras. The "worst" camera may be the iPhone SE, which has a single-lens system, but even that model captures great-looking photos under good lighting conditions.

When is the best time to buy a new iPhone?

There is no objective "best time" to buy an iPhone. However, it can be argued that it's better to buy a new iPhone sooner rather than later after a new iPhone launch, which typically happens in September. 

If September is nearing when you're considering a new iPhone, you may be better off waiting until September to see what the new model has in store. Also, older iPhone models that Apple keeps selling after a new release tend to get an additional $100 price cut.

If you need a new iPhone because your current one is broken or not working, the best time to buy a new iPhone is now.

Where is the best place to buy an iPhone?

Carriers tend to have the highest trade-in values for your old phone. We've seen trade-in deals where you can get the latest iPhone model for free by trading in an older iPhone. We've also seen carriers trade significantly older iPhones for the same value as a year-old iPhone around when a new iPhone is released.

Do iPhones need cases?

We generally recommend that iPhone owners use cases. A naked iPhone undoubtedly looks and feels the best, but all it takes is one drop from a decent height onto a hard floor to crack the phone's back or front glass. 

Some people accept the risk, and some buy AppleCare Plus for this very reason, which offers unlimited repairs for accidental damage with a $29 fee per incident for back or front glass damage on top of the cost of AppleCare Plus.

However, a case is the best and most cost-effective way to ensure your iPhone's hardware stays in working order. If you're leaning toward our top pick, the iPhone 15, see our guide to the best iPhone 15 cases to protect the phone and extend its longevity. 

• Home prices are dropping thanks to high mortgage rates weighing on demand. 
• The 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged up last week, hovering above 7%. 
• Real estate experts expect affordability to slowly improve as inventory rises and borrowing costs ease. 

Home prices are falling at the fastest pace in over a year, thanks to demand plunging amid stubbornly high mortgage rates, according to Redfin.

Across the US, 6.4% of sellers issued a price cut in the month leading up to May 26, the real estate listing site said in a recent report. That's the highest percentage of sellers that have slashed prices since November 2022, when the 30-year fixed mortgage rate spiked past 7% for the first time in more than 20 years.

Price cuts have been steep enough to lower the average US home price, which recently notched a fresh record. The median price for a home fell $3,000 last week to $416,623, according to Redfin data. That's the first decline recorded so far in 2024, though home prices are still up around 4% year-over-year, it noted.

"Together, those metrics suggest sale-price growth could soften in the coming months as persistently high mortgage rates turn off homebuyers," the report said. 

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has ticked higher, spiking past 7% in the last week of May, according to according to Freddie Mac data.

High borrowing costs have been a major deterrent to prospective home buyers, many of whom are choosing to wait out the market until rates fall. 

"The market is slower than usual," Christine Chang, a California-based Redfin agent said in a statement. "People who are buying right now are typically doing so because they're having a baby or looking for a more family friendly home."

That pullback has helped ease the imbalance of supply and demand, given that the shortage of inventory pushed home prices higher for most of the past year. Redfin data shows that pending home sales are now down 3% year-over-year, while new listings are up 7.8%.

Real estate experts are generally expecting the housing market to become more affordable in the coming years, as more inventory makes its way to the market and borrowing costs ease. Home prices have probably peaked, according to Charles Schwab strategists, who are anticipating a "stabilization" in sales and price growth ahead.

• Paramount and Skydance have agreed to terms on a merger, according to multiple reports.
• The deal is valued at $8 billion, according to CNBC, but has yet to be signed by Shari Redstone.
• The deal would mark a Hollywood coup for David Ellison.

After weeks of negotiations, a Paramount and Skydance merger is happening, according to reports in CNBC and Deadline.

The deal has yet to be signed by Shari Redstone, who owns a controlling stake in Paramount, but will be formally unveiled in days, according to CNBC.

Skydance — the media company owned by David Ellison, son of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison — is being backed in its bid for Paramount by investment firms RedBird Capital Partners and KKR.

The deal would elevate Ellison to a major Hollywood player.

A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment. Skydance did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Paramount has fielded other offers — including one from Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures. But Redstone preferred the Skydance deal, CNBC reports, because it would keep Paramount together rather than Apollo's plans to break apart the media conglomerate.

CNBC reports the Skydance deal is valued at $8 billion. Redstone will receive $2 billion for National Amusements — a holding company that owns the majority of Paramount's voting shares. Skydance will also buy roughly 50% of Paramount class B shares, and allocate $1.5 billion toward Paramount's balance sheet, CNBC reports.

The deal will not require a shareholder vote, according to CNBC, though the company's annual stockholder meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.

In April, Paramount announced a leadership shakeup at the top, with CEO Bob Bakish stepping down to be replaced by a trio of senior execs known as the "Office of the CEO."

• The F-method helps recruiters identify key info by structuring résumés for how they read them. 
• This approach can help job seekers because recruiters might spend only seconds looking at a résumé.
• Highlighting key skills and accomplishments up top can help hiring managers and scanning software.

Sometimes, an F can be a good thing.

Take the so-called F-method. It's a way of organizing your résumé so that a recruiter can read the most important parts across the top — like the upper portion of the letter F.

The next most essential info goes farther down with keywords or points sticking out like the arm on an F.

The idea behind the framework is to help someone looking over your résumé get to the good stuff right away. That's because recruiters might spend only seconds scanning your work history and other accomplishments, and you need to make sure you really stand out, really quickly.

"The skills section on my résumé is in that 'F.' It's in that direct line of sight," Lee Woodrow, owner and principal consultant at Bigger Fish Executive Branding, told Business Insider.

Highlighting the top information right away is all the more important in an environment where it's getting harder to get desk jobs — and where the ease of applying means recruiters are often overrun with applications.

'Buzzword bingo'

Woodrow, who's been writing résumés for others for many years, said the top of a CV built around the F-method should include essential information about the value you bring: details like who you are professionally, what area your expertise is in, and which industries you've worked in.

"It's an elevator pitch," he said. That information belongs at the top near your name, he said, so that it gets seen. "That entices the reader to read on."

It's also important, Woodrow said, to have the right words and phrases up high where a busy recruiter can see them.

"It's like buzzword bingo," he said.

This is often important when recruiters are trying to fill technical roles. They might not have a lot of background in the particulars of a job, so they might be on the hunt for phrases or words that a hiring manager has flagged.

Setting your résumé up with the F-method can mean a break from traditional formats, such as listing your work experience in reverse chronological order, which may surprise some.

But Woodrow said floating the most important ideas to the top makes sense if, for example, your most relevant experience for a job isn't tied to your latest role. Or, in other cases, he said, a job posting might call for someone with a master's degree or a Ph.D.

"Why would you put it lower down on page two or three? You'd want it on page one somewhere — highlighting it in that area which is in the 'F,'" Woodrow said.

In any case, he said, it's important to keep the most relevant information on the first page of a résumé.

Have a few goals in mind

Woodrow said one goal for your résumé should be ensuring it can be easily read by the applicant-tracking software companies often use to sift through job applications. Another aim should be having clear section titles so the document is a breeze for a recruiter to navigate. Highlight things like relevant job experience for a role you're going for, he said.

Last, Woodrow said, a résumé needs to influence a decision-maker by giving proof of your accomplishments. He recommends including three brief examples on the first page about how you solved a problem. To do this, describe a situation, give context, and use metrics from the business, if possible, to demonstrate how you improved a situation.

It's an abbreviated version of the STAR technique, sometimes used in interviewing, and involves describing a situation or task, actions, and results.

Kyle Samuels, founder and CEO of the executive search firm Creative Talent Endeavors, told BI that using the F-method to lay out a résumé can make sense for technical roles where a recruiter needs to know you have a certain amount of experience with, say, a particular programming language or modeling.

But in other cases, where a job might be more senior, artificial intelligence tools that do a first pass on a stack of résumés might make the F idea somewhat moot because AI bots can scoop up huge volumes of information.

"It kind of feels like a poor man's AI," Samuels said, referring to the F-method.

He said that with a role like a VP of marketing, you might have several candidates who would be a great fit.

"We're not expecting to see the exact same formatting or skills or experience, and so we really pore through the résumé," Samuels said.

That's why, especially when recruiting for more senior roles, there's little substitute for reading a résumé thoroughly, he said.

"I study it like the Torah," Samuels said.