Methodology

Last updated

This page explains how we source data, update pages, visualize size, and route commercial links. It applies site-wide unless a specific page notes an exception.

Specification data

Primary physical dimensions (height, width, depth, weight) come from Apple’s published technical specifications. The homepage chart, comparison tools, and model pages all draw on the same specification data, which is checked automatically for matching dimensions, weight, and screen values, so a phone keeps the same measurements across the site.

Fields Apple does not publish — such as RAM on many models — are labeled with their non-Apple source or omitted rather than guessed.

Review dates

A “last updated” or “reviewed” date on a page means a human verified the facts on that page against current sources. The date changes only when someone rechecks the page, not when unrelated parts of the site change.

Size visualization

Interactive tools render phones at a fixed pixel-per-millimeter ratio so relative proportions between models are accurate. Absolute on-screen size depends on your display, browser zoom, and device pixel ratio. At typical desktop settings, 2 px/mm is roughly half of physical size — not a calibrated life-size rendering. We describe comparisons as proportional unless you perform an explicit calibration step (not yet offered site-wide).

Foldable models show folded dimensions by default; open dimensions are listed in spec tables where Apple publishes them.

Comparison URLs

We maintain two complementary page types:

Reversed model-pair URLs redirect to a single canonical URL (for example /compare/iphone-16-vs-iphone-17/). Size and full comparison pages intentionally remain separate when their content purpose differs.

Buying and trade-in links

Outbound merchant links may pass through a redirect on our own site. Click counting on that redirect is currently switched off. Unless we have an active affiliate program with that merchant, the link takes you to a standard page on their site. When an affiliate program is active, we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

We add a short disclosure near commercial modules on each page so you can see the relationship before you click.

Published offers

Some trade-in and refurbished pages show dated price snapshots from named sources: Apple Trade In, Apple Certified Refurbished, SellCell, and Gazelle. Each figure shows the date we read it and links to the page it came from. These are published figures, not live quotes, and we never label them current.

“Up to” is the most a source says it may pay for a model; your own offer depends on condition, storage, and the buyer’s inspection. “From” is the starting price a seller showed for an in-stock variant; other grades and storage sizes can cost more. Apple Trade In figures stay on the site for 30 days after we read them and figures from other sources for 14 days. Once that window passes, the figure drops out at the next site build and the page says no dated value is on file until we check the source again.

Recommendations

Buying guides rank options against stated criteria (size, budget, condition, support needs). We state where a choice loses — battery life, remaining iOS support, condition risk, or total cost — not only why it wins.

Corrections

Report errors on the corrections page. Verified mistakes are fixed everywhere the same specification appears — charts, tools, and related guides — not only on the page where the error was reported.