TL;DR – What’s The Best Unlocked Refurbished iPhone To Buy Right Now?
The best unlocked refurbished iPhones right now are the iPhone 15 (best for most), the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (best premium buys), and the iPhone 14 Plus (best budget option).
- Although, there’s also a very solid case to be made for the iPhone 15 Pro Max which we’ll get to below.
- All these options deliver reliable iOS support, strong real-world performance, and genuine long-term value, and all without the new-phone premium.
- Unlocked models in particular are worth seeking out because they come with no carrier restrictions, no pre-installed apps you’ll never use, and the freedom to switch networks or sell on without hassle.
Recommended iPhone 15 Models
iPhone 15 Pro Max 1000GB – Blue Titanium – Unlocked
Pro iPhone power at half price with years of updates left.
- Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz
- Processor: Apple A17 Pro
- RAM: 8GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 12MP triple camera
- A17 Pro crushes all tasks
- 6-7 years of iOS updates
- Strong triple cameras
- All-day battery life
- 20W charging feels slow
- Heavy at 221g
Go for this if you want the biggest iPhone screen and pro performance with updates for years ahead. Refurb saves over $500—grab 256GB or higher for storage you won't outgrow. Buy it now from Back Market.
iPhone 15 Plus 512GB – Pink – Unlocked
Big-screen iPhone power at mid-range prices from Back Market.
- Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP dual camera
- Huge 6.7-inch OLED screen
- A16 chip still handles everything
- All-day battery life
- 6-7 years of iOS updates
- Stuck at 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto lens
Big-screen iPhone fans should grab this for reliable performance and endless updates. Refurbished from Back Market saves you $400+ easily. I'd recommend the higher storage option—you'll thank yourself later.
iPhone 15 128GB – Black – Unlocked
iPhone 15's A16 power and 6+ years of updates at refurb prices.
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP dual camera
- A16 chip still handles everything smoothly
- 6-7 years of iOS updates guaranteed
- IP68 build survives real life
- 48MP camera reliable for daily shots
- 60Hz display lags behind 120Hz rivals
- Battery average for heavy users
This is for anyone needing a dependable daily driver with long support on a budget. Refurb from Back Market at under $580 delivers huge savings without compromises on basics. Buy the 128GB unless you hoard files—it's plenty.
Recommended iPhone 14 Models
iPhone 14 Pro 1000GB – Space Black – Unlocked
Pro camera and display at half the new phone price.
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 12MP triple system
- 48MP camera with excellent detail and zoom performance
- 120Hz OLED display is bright and smooth
- A16 chip still handles heavy apps and games
- Six to seven years of iOS updates guaranteed
- Battery life is good but not exceptional — expect one full day
- No USB-C yet; still uses Lightning charging
Buy this if you want a proper flagship camera and display without spending £1000+ on a new phone. The refurbished angle makes it a no-brainer — you're saving serious money on a phone that will get updates for the next six or seven years. Back Market's refurbs come in great condition with warranty backing, so you're not buying blind.
iPhone 14 Pro Max 1000GB – Space Black – Unlocked
Pro-grade iPhone power at under $600 from Back Market.
- Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 12MP triple
- 6-7 years of iOS updates
- A16 chip still flies
- 48MP camera holds up
- All-day battery
- Heavy for one-handed use
- No USB-C port
Grab this if you want Pro Max screen and cameras with years of updates, without new-phone costs. Back Market refurbs at $415-$563 deliver huge savings and reliability. Go for 256GB—storage regrets hurt more than the small premium.
iPhone 14 Plus 256GB – Midnight – Unlocked
Big-screen iPhone battery life at under $400 refurbished.
- Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 12MP wide + 12MP ultra wide
- All-day-plus battery life
- Long iOS updates ahead
- Large sharp OLED screen
- Solid build and water resistance
- 60Hz refresh rate lags rivals
- Slow 20W charging
Big battery fans upgrading from older phones should jump on this—years of updates keep it fresh. Refurb savings from Back Market hit 40-50% off new prices. Go for it, I'd take the higher storage option.
iPhone 14 256GB – Purple – Unlocked
iPhone 14's A15 power and iOS 18 support at under $300 refurb.
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Main Camera: 12MP + 12MP dual camera
- A15 still handles everything smoothly
- iOS 18 support for years ahead
- IP68 build survives real life
- Solid cameras for everyday snaps
- 60Hz display lags behind 120Hz rivals
- Battery average for heavy users
Budget iOS users upgrading old phones should pick this for reliable performance and long updates. Refurb from Back Market at $266-$418 beats new prices easily. Go for 128GB minimum—I'd never regret the extra space.
iPhones dominate the conversation for one simple reason: Apple’s software support cycle is unmatched.
You’re looking at six-plus years of iOS updates on current hardware, which means a refurbished iPhone bought today has a genuinely long useful life ahead of it.
Apple’s quality control is also the best in the business which means you’re less likely to run into issues or bugs with one of its phones versus, say, something from Google’s Pixel lineup.
What’s The Best Unlocked Refurbished iPhone To Buy Right Now?
Best Overall: iPhone 15 128GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: The majority of people who want a modern iPhone without overpaying.
The iPhone 15 128GB is the pick for most buyers in 2026. Apple moved it to the A16 Bionic chip — the same silicon that powered the iPhone 14 Pro — so you’re getting genuine flagship-tier processing at a mid-range refurbished price.
Dynamic Island replaces the notch, USB-C replaces Lightning (an important future-proofing win), and the camera system is a meaningful step up from the iPhone 14 baseline.
Why the iPhone 15 holds up:
- A16 Bionic — still fast for everything short of ProRes video editing; handles gaming, multitasking, and AI features without breaking a sweat
- USB-C — charges with the same cable as your laptop or iPad; the Lightning era is over and it matters for accessories
- 48MP main sensor — a genuine upgrade over the 12MP system in the iPhone 14, with much improved low-light performance
- iOS longevity — expect updates well into 2030 based on Apple’s historical support cadence
The 128GB model is adequate for most people, but if you store video locally or have a large photo library, nudge up to the iPhone 14 Plus 256GB, pay slightly more and get more storage, a bigger display and better battery life.
Best Premium Buy: iPhone 16 Pro 256GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: Power users, content creators, anyone who wants maximum runway without buying new.
The iPhone 16 Pro 256GB is where to spend if your budget stretches. The A18 Pro chip is a meaningful jump with its faster neural engine, hardware ray-tracing, and full Apple Intelligence compatibility.
That last point matters more than people give it credit for: Apple Intelligence features require at least an A17 Pro, so anything older than the iPhone 15 Pro is already locked out of where iOS is heading.
With performance, this phone is a monster. The camera tech is also the best in the business right now for video and still photography. You’ll pay more, of course, but it is still much cheaper than buying the very-similarly-specced iPhone 17 Pro.
What justifies the premium:
- A18 Pro — the fastest mobile chip Apple has shipped; significant for gaming, video processing, and on-device AI tasks
- Titanium frame — lighter and more durable than aluminium; noticeably better in-hand feel compared to standard models
- 5x optical zoom — a game-changer for portraiture, wildlife, sport, and any scenario where you can’t physically get closer
- 256GB base — the sweet spot; you won’t be managing storage anxiety on this one
If you want the bigger display and absolute best-in-class video performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB is available too if you’re shooting ProRes 4K regularly or using your phone as a primary camera, the extra storage and screen real estate earn their keep.
Creators serious about mobile filmmaking should also check our best phones for content creators rundown, which covers the full picture.
Best Camera and Video: iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: Photographers, videographers, and anyone who shoots more than they realise.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the camera phone argument settled on a budget. For the price of a mid-range new Android, you’re getting a triple-lens system with 5x optical zoom, ProRes video recording over USB-C at up to 4K/60fps, and a 48MP main sensor with second-generation sensor-shift OIS.
The titanium frame means it’s lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max steel chassis despite being comparably sized.
For most people, this is all the phone you’ll ever need. This is the model I ended up going with earlier this year, and it has been impressing me ever since.
I came from an iPhone 13, so the performance uplift and the difference in camera tech was mind blowing.
The camera spec that matters:
- Tetraprism 5x optical zoom — a proper telephoto lens, not digital crop; makes a tangible difference for portraits and events where you can’t be right up close
- ProRes video — professional-grade codec with minimal compression; edit in Final Cut or Premiere without artefact-fighting
- USB-C with USB 3 speeds — offload a full shoot to a drive or SSD at up to 10Gbps; the iPhone 14 Pro and older still use USB 2 speeds despite having a Lightning connector
For anyone shooting YouTube, short-form content, or serious photography, this is the best used iPhone for video recording at this price point.
Best Budget Pick: iPhone 14 Plus 128GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a big screen, great battery, and wants to keep costs down.
The iPhone 14 Plus 128GB gets underrated because it launched in the shadow of the iPhone 14 Pro. Strip that comparison away and you have: a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, A15 Bionic performance, and genuinely outstanding battery life. Apple rated it at up to 26 hours of video playback — more than any other iPhone in its era.
What you’re getting:
- A15 Bionic — same chip as the iPhone 13 Pro; still handles everything comfortably in 2026
- 6.7-inch display — max-size iPhone experience without the Pro price
- Battery life — the Plus/Max form factor has always had the edge here; all-day use with screen-on time to spare
- Dual 12MP camera — capable system, particularly in Photonic Engine processing; not the same league as the Pro Max but more than competent
The honest caveat: it still uses Lightning. That’s a trade-off at this price tier. It’s not a deal breaker but it is worth knowing if you’re going all-USB-C in your accessories.
If Lightning isn’t a dealbreaker and budget is the primary filter, this is one of the strongest affordable iPhone deals on the refurbished market right now.
For reference, the standard iPhone 14 128GB saves you more if you don’t need the larger screen.
Best Ultra-Budget: iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: Bargain hunters who still want Pro features and aren’t fussed about the latest chipset.
The iPhone 13 Pro 256GB is as low as we’d reasonably go in 2026. A15 Bionic, ProMotion 120Hz display, a proper triple-camera system with macro capability, and 256GB storage.
What you’re accepting is a smaller software window: Apple typically supports iPhones for six years from launch, which puts the iPhone 13 series approaching the end of its update life in the next couple of years.
Buy this if the price delta between this and an iPhone 15 is a material consideration; it remains a fast, capable phone. Don’t buy it expecting five more years of iOS support.
Worth Considering: iPhone 16e 128GB Unlocked
Who it’s for: Apple Intelligence access on the smallest possible budget.
The iPhone 16e 128GB is Apple’s budget entry for 2026 — and it’s interesting precisely because the A16 chip qualifies it for Apple Intelligence.
Single rear camera, smaller 6.1-inch display, no Dynamic Island, no MagSafe. But it runs iOS cleanly, handles all core tasks well, and is the lowest-cost path into Apple’s AI feature set. It’s the right buy if you want modern software support and genuinely can’t stretch further.
What to Avoid
- iPhone 12 series — acceptable as a minimum floor if the price is right, but the A14 Bionic is showing age and you’re cutting close to the iOS support edge. Not recommended.
- iPhone 11 and older — hard avoid. iOS 18 is the last update the iPhone 11 received. You’re buying a device that will receive no further security patches, which is a problem for mobile banking, payment apps, and general security hygiene. The saving isn’t worth it.
Know Your Mobile Verdict
The unlocked refurbished iPhone market in 2026 is mature enough that you can buy with real confidence, provided you stay iPhone 13 or newer and prioritise certified-grade stock from reputable sellers.
- The iPhone 15 remains the rational pick for most people: modern enough to have serious longevity, cheap enough that the refurbished saving is genuinely meaningful.
- The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the sweet spot for anyone that wants or needs Pro Max features for a fraction of the price you’d pay for a new model. This is the phone I currently use and it is an absolute beast, even in 2026.
Step up to the iPhone 16 Pro if you want Apple Intelligence and the best camera hardware the refurbished market currently offers. Just be prepared to be quite a bit more than the 15 series Pro Max models. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it; the iPhone 15 Pro Max is practically as good where it counts.
Pro-Tip:
When buying any refurbished iPhone, check the battery health figure before committing.
- A lithium-ion cell below 85% capacity will cause noticeable performance throttling under load and reduced standby times. Certified refurbishers should disclose this metric upfront — if they don’t, treat that as a red flag.
- A battery replacement at time of sale, or a guarantee of 85%+ capacity, should be standard.
Have more questions before you buy? Our refurbished phone FAQ hub covers grading systems, warranty expectations, and how to verify an unlocked iPhone before purchase.
Browse the full range of quality pre-owned handsets at our refurbished phones database.
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