Fresh proof from the iPhone Photography Awards 2026 shows that a newer phone is not always the deciding factor in competition. Several winning images came from older models, including the iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6 Plus.
The annual contest, which draws entries from more than 140 countries, highlighted a familiar truth for smartphone photography: strong vision can still outweigh age of device. In several categories, older iPhone hardware stood beside newer generation models without looking out of place.
Older iPhones still reached the podium
Among the standout devices, the iPhone X delivered one of the highest results. Introduced by Apple in 2017, the model helped Gellért Gombai secure a Gold award, the second-highest ranking in IPPA 2026.
His winning photo shows two young children in black and white. The shadow of a badminton racket covers part of their faces, creating a dramatic composition.
The iPhone 8 Plus also performed strongly in the winners’ list. That 2017 model helped Barry Mayes from the UK take first place in the Abstract category with an image that resembles icy crystal patterns.
| Winning Model | Photographer | Category or Result |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone X | Gellért Gombai | Gold, second-highest award |
| iPhone 8 Plus | Barry Mayes | 1st place, Abstract |
| iPhone 7 Plus | Leping Cheng | Honorable Mention, Architecture |
| iPhone 6s | Chunsui Yu | Honorable Mention, Abstract |
| iPhone 6 Plus | Jiro Shiraishi | Honorable Mention, Landscape |
Architecture, abstract art, and landscape all made room for older hardware
The iPhone 7 Plus, launched in 2016, appeared in the Architecture category through a photo by Leping Cheng from China. His image focuses on a white building with a curved roofline that forms a minimal composition.
That photograph earned an Honorable Mention and reinforced the idea that older devices can still deliver detail and balance when the framing is right. The result was not only competitive, but also visually restrained in a category that rewards structure and clarity.
Another older model, the iPhone 6s from 2015, also earned recognition. Chunsui Yu from China used it to capture the silhouette of a plant behind a pink curtain, and the image received an Honorable Mention in Abstract.
Even the iPhone 6 Plus, released in 2014, reached the winners’ list. Jiro Shiraishi from Japan used it to photograph snowy mountains reflected on a lake, earning an Honorable Mention in Landscape.
IPPA 2026 ultimately underlined an important point for mobile photographers. Creative execution, timing, and composition still matter greatly, and older iPhone models continue to prove they can compete on a world stage.