- The iPhone 13 still runs iOS 27, and Apple hasn’t announced when support will end, though we’d expect it to happen in and around 2030/31 given Apple’s usual support cycle.
- It remains an OK budget buy: refurbished iPhone 13 deals in our collection start at $229.
- But the smart money is the iPhone 15. It’ll cost you $384 in our collection, and the extra $155 gets you a much better camera, Dynamic Island, USB-C and a newer chip.
The iPhone 13 still gets updates
The iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are all compatible with iOS 27, released in 2026. Apple hasn’t given any of these models an official end-of-support date.
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But we do know for a fact how long Apple supports its iPhones because we have years worth of data.
So while there’s no confirmed year when iPhone 13 updates stop, we’d expect the iPhone 13 to get iOS updates for several more years, taking you up to or just inside the 2030s.
Here’s how it breaks down across all iPhone 13 models:
| iPhone 13 model | Runs iOS 27? | Expected EOL |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | Yes | 2030/31 |
| iPhone 13 mini | Yes | 2030/31 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | Yes | 2030/31 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | Yes | 2030/31 |
Apple stopped selling the iPhone 13 models at different times, but that doesn’t tell you when their software support ends. The standard iPhone 13 was discontinued in 2024, while the mini and Pro models left Apple’s lineup earlier. They still run iOS 27 today.
The iPhone 13 can’t run Apple Intelligence, so if you want that, again, your best bet is the iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max or the newer iPhone 16 or iPhone 16e.
Apple Intelligence needs newer hardware, and the standard iPhone 15 can’t run it either. You need an iPhone 15 Pro or a newer supported model for Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 13 is still an OK value option
A refurbished iPhone 13 costs from $229 in our iPhone 13 collection. At that price, it’s still a decent way to get a capable iPhone without spending much.
It handles everyday use well: messaging, browsing, streaming, email and social media. And because it still supports iOS 27, buying one doesn’t mean you’re stuck on old software today.
The trade-off is that it’s a five-year-old phone. Its 12MP main camera, A15 Bionic chip and Lightning port are all older now and are starting to show their age.
I used an iPhone 13 from launch until earlier this year, when I switched up to a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max (I paid $589 for mine) and I’ll probably run it for the next five to six years or so.
The point I’m trying to make is this: the iPhone 13 is now cheap for a reason, so if spec and hardware is important, you’ll want to go with a newer refurbished model.
I’d recommend the iPhone 15 series for value and the iPhone 16 series if you want things like Apple Intelligence.
You don’t have to pay $1,000+ for a new phone. Buying refurbished saves you, on average, 40% to 50%.
Which means you skip the inflationary price hikes, side-step the 2026 memory cost crisis, and still get the flagship performance and specs you want.
Recommended Options For 2026Why the iPhone 15 is the smarter buy
A refurbished iPhone 15 costs from $384 in our iPhone 15 collection. That’s $155 more than the cheapest iPhone 13 in our collection.
For that extra money, you get a phone released two years later, with a 48MP main camera, Dynamic Island, USB-C and the newer A16 Bionic chip. The camera is the upgrade you’re most likely to notice: it captures more detail than the iPhone 13’s 12MP main camera and gives you an optical-quality 2x option for tighter shots.
Dynamic Island replaces the notch with a more modern display design, while USB-C means you can use the same kind of cable as many newer devices. The A16 is also a generation newer than the A15, giving the iPhone 15 more performance headroom.
The iPhone 15 is likely to receive major iOS updates for longer because it launched two years after the iPhone 13. Apple hasn’t published an end date for either model, so that’s a sensible expectation rather than a guarantee.
Which refurbished iPhone should you buy?
- If you need to spend as little as possible, the iPhone 13 is still an OK buy at $229. It runs iOS 27 and remains capable for everyday use.
- The iPhone 13 series is lowest we’d recommend going though. Models older than this just don’t have enough support window left.
- If you can stretch to $384, get the iPhone 15.
For $155 more, you get a better camera, a newer chip, Dynamic Island, USB-C and a later starting point for future updates.
That makes it the best value refurbished iPhone for most people right now.
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Resources
- Apple: iPhone models compatible with iOS 27
- Apple: Security content of iOS 27
- Apple: iPhone 13 technical specifications
- Apple: iPhone 15 technical specifications
- Apple Support: Apple Intelligence device requirements
Keep reading
More useful guides from this section of KnowYourMobile.
