2026 Guide To Buying The Best Refurbished iPhones

A refurbished iPhone gives you genuinely flagship hardware at a fraction of the cost. The catch? Choosing the right model from a lineup that now spans nearly a decade of releases.

This guide cuts through all of it: every current option from the budget iPhone 13 up to the just-landed iPhone 17 Pro, with honest pros and cons at each price point so you can spend confidently.

Is buying a refurbished iPhone actually worth it?

Yes, almost always. A certified refurbished iPhone goes through inspection, part replacement where needed, and factory reset before resale.

You get the same iOS experience, the same App Store, and the same software update window as a new device, typically at 20–40% less than retail price.

The key is sticking to reputable sources and knowing which models still have enough update runway ahead of them.

Compare that to buying a cheap new Android at a similar price point.

• With a top-rated refurbished iPhone, you are getting hardware that was genuinely flagship-grade when it shipped.
• A budget Android at the same price was never flagship-grade at all.

The thing most people overlook is software longevity. Apple supports iPhones with full iOS updates for around six years from launch.

So a refurbished iPhone 15 bought today is still getting security patches and feature updates well into 2030.

That matters a lot for the long-term value calculation.

For a deeper breakdown on this, our iOS update lifespan guide runs through exactly how many years each model has left.

The full refurbished iPhone lineup at a glance

Here is every model currently worth considering, with storage sweet spots and the one reason to pick each tier.

Models below the iPhone 13 are not listed because iOS update support is either already gone or approaching end-of-life.

Model	Sweet-spot storage	Chipset	USB-C?	Best for	Verdict
iPhone 13	256GB	A15 Bionic	No (Lightning)	Tight budgets	Minimum floor. Buy no older.
iPhone 13 Pro	256GB	A15 Bionic	No (Lightning)	Pro camera on a budget	Great camera deal but Lightning is a drag.
iPhone 14	256GB	A15 Bionic	No (Lightning)	Everyday reliability	Solid step up, still Lightning.
iPhone 14 Pro	256GB	A16 Bionic	No (Lightning)	ProMotion + better camera	Great value, Dynamic Island debut.
iPhone 15	256GB	A16 Bionic	Yes	Most buyers	Best overall pick.
iPhone 15 Pro	256GB	A17 Pro	Yes (USB 3)	Power users, creators	Best refurb Pro value right now.
iPhone 16	256GB	A18	Yes	Apple Intelligence features	Step up if AI tools matter to you.
iPhone 16 Pro	256GB	A18 Pro	Yes (USB 3)	Max performance, full AI suite	Top-tier without the Pro Max price.
iPhone 16e	128GB	A16 Bionic	Yes	Price-first buyers only	Weak camera, no MagSafe. Know the trade-offs.
iPhone Air	256GB	A18	Yes	Ultra-slim, lightweight build	Interesting option if design is a priority.
iPhone 17 Pro	256GB	A19 Pro	Yes (USB 3)	Latest and greatest	Premium pick for those who want the newest.

What is the best budget refurbished iPhone right now?

The refurbished iPhone 13 is the lowest model worth considering.

It runs a capable A15 Bionic chip, handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat, and still receives full iOS updates.

If you need to spend as little as possible while staying on a genuinely usable phone, this is your floor.

Go no older: the iPhone 12 is approaching the edge of Apple’s update window and is not worth the saving.

iPhone 13: what you’re getting

The iPhone 13 was a serious leap from the 12. Battery life improved dramatically (Apple cited up to 2.5 extra hours of daily use over its predecessor, and our real-world tests confirmed this was a conservative estimate).

The dual camera system gained sensor-shift OIS on the main lens, which makes a noticeable difference in low-light shots.

Cinematic Mode for video arrived with this generation too, which is still a feature many Android rivals have not matched convincingly.

What you are giving up is USB-C (the 13 uses Lightning) and the always-on ProMotion 120Hz display that arrived on the Pro models.

If you can stretch the budget at all, the iPhone 13 Pro is worth the extra outlay.

You get the triple camera system with a telephoto lens, ProMotion, and a premium stainless steel frame, all at a deeply discounted refurb price now that the 15 and 16 series have pushed older stock down.

iPhone 14: is it worth the step up from 13?

Honestly, the iPhone 14 over the 13 is a smaller jump than Apple’s marketing suggested.

The main camera improved somewhat, and the 14 introduced Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite.

If you find an iPhone 14 at a meaningful discount over the 13, take it.

If the price gap is small, the 13 or even the 14 Pro (which used the A16 chip) becomes the smarter route.

The iPhone 14 Pro was actually a bigger generational leap than the base iPhone 14, thanks to the A16 Bionic chip, the introduction of Dynamic Island, and a 48MP main sensor that shot significantly better photos.

If your budget sits between 13 and 15, go straight to a refurbished iPhone 14 Pro and skip the base 14 entirely.

What is the best all-round refurbished iPhone to buy?

The refurbished iPhone 15 is the sweet spot for most people. It moved to USB-C, bumped the main sensor to 48MP, runs Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, and still has a strong iOS update runway ahead of it.

You get all the hardware maturity of a two-year-old flagship without paying a new flagship price.

At 256GB, it handles almost every user’s needs comfortably.

iPhone 15: the USB-C upgrade that changed things

The shift to USB-C with the iPhone 15 is more significant than it sounds in a spec list.

It means the same cable works for your MacBook, iPad, Nintendo Switch, and phone.

No more hunting for a Lightning cable in a world that has moved on.

The Dynamic Island replaced the notch, bringing a genuinely clever use of screen real estate for notifications and live activities.

Battery life on the 15 is excellent for its size. In real-world use, you will get through a full day without anxiety, and moderate users will see it make two days.

If you are streaming a lot of video or using GPS navigation heavily, keep a charger handy. For everything else, it just keeps going.

iPhone 15 Pro: the best refurbished Pro buy right now

The iPhone 15 Pro is where refurbished buying really earns its reputation. The A17 Pro chip in this phone is still exceptionally fast.

The titanium frame is lighter than steel and more premium-feeling than aluminium.

The third camera lens with 3x optical zoom is a genuine creative tool for travel photography and social content.

USB 3 speeds through the USB-C port on the Pro mean that if you film in ProRes video and transfer to a laptop, it is genuinely fast rather than frustratingly slow.

For anyone who shoots content seriously, the 15 Pro is a compelling argument for buying refurbished over buying a new mid-range phone.

You can explore more ideas along those lines in our guide to the best refurbished phones for creators.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max adds a 5x tetraprism zoom lens, which is exceptional for portraits and detail shots from a distance.

If the zoom lens matters to your photography or videography, the size trade-off is worth it.

If not, the standard 15 Pro gives you the same chip and camera platform in a more pocketable body.

The high-end options: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max

If you want Apple Intelligence (Apple’s suite of on-device AI features), you need a minimum of the iPhone 16 or an iPhone 15 Pro.

That is the hardware compatibility line Apple drew.

For many buyers this will not be a make-or-break factor right now, but if you want to be fully future-proofed for where iOS is heading, it is worth knowing.

iPhone 16: refined across the board

The refurbished iPhone 16 brings the A18 chip to the base model for the first time, a dedicated Camera Control button on the side (genuinely useful for quick video capture), and improved thermal performance over the 15.

The base camera system has also been upgraded. If you are upgrading from anything older than an iPhone 13 and want the cleanest, most modern experience possible at a sensible price, the 16 at 256GB is a great call.

iPhone 16 Pro: the best of everything in the 16 generation

The iPhone 16 Pro is a significant camera upgrade over the 15 Pro. The main sensor is larger, video capture in Log format arrived on the base Pro model (previously Pro Max only), and the display got slightly larger at 6.3 inches.

The A18 Pro chip handles every demanding task without throttling, including locally-run Apple Intelligence features.

If you are going to be shooting video seriously, the 16 Pro is the model where Apple’s computational photography and Log recording genuinely compete with dedicated cameras for short-form and social content.

That is not a small thing to be able to say about a phone.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max gives you a 6.9-inch display, an even larger battery (Apple claims up to 33 hours of video playback), and the full 5x tetraprism zoom camera.

It is the top of the lineup and the pricing reflects that, even refurbished.

Buy it if battery life and screen size are your two non-negotiables. Otherwise, the 16 Pro hits the same performance ceiling in a more manageable form factor.

Should you buy a refurbished iPhone 16e or iPhone Air?

Both are interesting for specific buyers, but neither is a straightforward recommendation.

The iPhone 16e is the budget pick of the 16 generation, and the iPhone Air is Apple’s ultra-thin design experiment.

They each have meaningful trade-offs that most guides will not be upfront about.

iPhone 16e: know what you’re giving up

The iPhone 16e runs the A16 Bionic chip and supports a subset of Apple Intelligence features, which makes it genuinely capable. It uses USB-C and supports Face ID.

So far, so good.

But the camera is a single-lens system with no ultra-wide, and there is no MagSafe.

The display is also OLED at 60Hz, not ProMotion. At 128GB it also fills up quickly if you shoot video.

If someone in your family needs a cheap, modern, secure iPhone and does not care about cameras or wireless charging, the 16e makes sense.

For most other use cases, a refurbished iPhone 15 at 256GB is a better overall phone for similar or slightly more money.

iPhone Air: the thin-and-light wildcard

The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever at 5.5mm. If you have been waiting for Apple to take the slim-phone route seriously, this is the answer.

It runs the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, has a single camera system similar to the 16e (no ultra-wide), and the battery is smaller than the standard 16 as a result of the wafer-thin chassis.

It is a phone for people who genuinely prioritise pocketability and aesthetics over raw capability.

If that is you, the Air at 256GB via our refurbished phone database is worth a look.

If you want the most capable iPhone for the money, you will be happier with the 15 Pro or 16 Pro.

Is the refurbished iPhone 17 Pro worth it?

If you want the very latest Apple hardware at a lower-than-new price, yes.

We now have refurbished iPhone 17 Pro stock in the database, which is remarkable given how recently it launched.

The A19 Pro chip, significant camera improvements, and the longest iOS update runway of any current model make it the most future-proof option available.

The price gap versus new will be smaller, but it is still real.

One thing to flag: the 17 Pro Max is also in stock, currently with the larger storage configurations (up to 2TB).

These are premium prices even refurbished.

Unless you are a prolific creator who genuinely needs the largest possible display and the most storage, the standard 17 Pro will do the same core job.

Pro Tip: When browsing refurbished iPhones, always check the listed battery health percentage before purchasing.

We recommend a minimum of 85%.

A battery at 79% might look like a good deal, but the degradation you experience in daily use will be noticeable quickly, and out-of-warranty battery replacement adds cost back in.

A well-priced phone with 90% battery health beats a cheaper phone at 75% almost every time.

For a full breakdown on what to look for, our refurbished phone FAQ hub covers all the common questions.

What to check before buying a refurbished iPhone

Not all refurbished iPhones are equal. “Refurbished” can mean anything from a factory-reset trade-in with a new screen to a professionally inspected, graded, and warranted device.

Here is what to look at before committing.

1. Battery health: Go to Settings, Battery, Battery Health. You want 85% or above. Below 80% is a dealbreaker. Most reputable sellers will list this upfront.
2. Grade: A/Grade A typically means minimal cosmetic wear. B/Grade B usually means light scratches on the body or back glass. Grade C means visible wear. The screen condition matters most since you look at it all day.
3. Unlocked status: Always confirm the device is network unlocked before buying. Almost everything in our database is unlocked, but verify with any third-party seller. A carrier-locked iPhone is worth significantly less and may not work with your SIM.
4. Warranty: Reputable sellers include at least 12 months of warranty. Some offer up to 24 months. No warranty is a red flag.
5. IMEI check: Run the IMEI on a free checker before completing the purchase. This confirms the phone has not been reported lost or stolen and clears it for use on any network.
6. Where to buy: Stick to established sellers. Our roundup of the best refurbished phone sites covers the UK’s most trusted retailers with verified grading systems and clear return policies.

If budget is a significant factor and you are weighing a refurbished iPhone against a new cheap Android, our guide to affordable phones covers both sides of that comparison honestly.

Know Your Mobile Verdict

For most people, the refurbished iPhone 15 at 256GB is the definitive answer.

It has USB-C, a 48MP camera, a strong update runway, and has now hit a price point where the value case over buying new is very clear.

If you want to go further up the ladder, the 15 Pro remains the best-value Pro iPhone in the current lineup.

And if you specifically need Apple Intelligence features and are willing to pay a bit more, the 16 or 16 Pro delivers everything the 15 series has and then some.

Pro Tip: Whatever model you choose, always buy at 256GB if you can. It is the storage sweet spot that avoids the constant management anxiety of 128GB without the premium of 512GB. You will thank yourself two years down the line.

Browse the full range of current refurbished iPhone deals and filter by model to find live pricing across all the models covered in this guide.

Ready to find your next handset? Browse the full selection of quality pre-owned Apple devices in our refurbished smartphones hub.