Best Used iPhones to Buy in 2026, by Budget

The right used iPhone depends on what you spend and what you need it to do. This guide goes tier by tier: who each model suits, what it does well, where it falls short, and what to know about battery and software support.

A note on the prices

Used prices vary with condition, storage, battery health and seller, so treat any number here as a rough guide. The market benchmarks below come from Swappa's U.S. price list, the version dated March 10, 2026 (Swappa price list). Swappa shows average prices across listings. The page didn't say which condition or lock status those averages cover, and they're seven months old, so they show relative value more than today's prices.

One more distinction. Trade-in and buyback offers are always lower than what buyers pay at retail, because dealers have to cover costs and make a margin. If you see a very low "what's my iPhone worth" number, that isn't the price you'll pay for the same phone.

As of October 16, 2026, our own listings are the iPhone SE 3, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, all unlocked. Prices and stock change, so check the product pages. For anything else, ask us.

Under about $250: iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 12

iPhone SE 3 (2022). We list it at $149. It has the A15 chip, 5G, Touch ID and a 4.7-inch screen with a home button.

• Who it suits: a first smartphone, a backup phone, anyone who likes a small phone with a home button.
• Strengths: fast for its price, small and light, and an inexpensive way to run current iOS.
• Limits: a small, older-style screen, one rear camera, and a battery that's smaller than most. It's fine for calls, texting, maps and music, and weaker for video or gaming.
• Battery and software: it's on the iOS 27 support list, but it's also an older design, and older designs are the first to be dropped. Ask for the battery health figure.
• Versus the next step up: the iPhone 13 has a bigger OLED screen, a second camera and better battery life, for a modest price jump.
• See the iPhone SE 3

iPhone 12 (2020). Swappa's average was $227.

• Who it suits: someone who wants a full-size OLED screen and 5G on the lowest budget.
• Strengths: a good screen, MagSafe, two cameras.
• Limits: it's the oldest iPhone we'd recommend, and its batteries have had the most time to wear.
• Battery and software: supported by iOS 27. We'd call it a budget compromise, not a long-term buy.
• Versus the next step up: the iPhone 13 has noticeably better battery life and is usually worth the extra money.

About $250 to $350: iPhone 13 and iPhone 14

iPhone 13 (2021). We list it at $295; Swappa's average was $290.

• Who it suits: most people who want a good phone for as little as possible.
• Strengths: the A15 chip is still quick, the camera is good, and battery life is a clear step up from the iPhone 12.
• Limits: it uses Lightning, not USB-C, and it doesn't have Apple Intelligence.
• Battery and software: supported by iOS 27. Apple designs batteries in the iPhone 14 and earlier to keep about 80 percent of their capacity after 500 charge cycles, so on a three-to-four-year-old phone, the health figure matters (Apple Support).
• Versus the next step up: the iPhone 14 is a small upgrade.
• See the iPhone 13

iPhone 14 (2022). We list it at $345; Swappa's average was $323.

• Who it suits: a buyer who wants a newer model than the iPhone 13 for a modest step up in price.
• Strengths: a better main camera than the 13, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS via satellite.
• Limits: it uses the same A15 chip family as the 13, so day-to-day speed is similar, and it still has Lightning and no Apple Intelligence.
• Battery and software: supported by iOS 27, with the same 500-cycle design benchmark as the 13.
• Versus the next step up: the iPhone 15 adds USB-C, the Dynamic Island and a 48-megapixel main camera.
• See the iPhone 14

13 or 14? If the 14 costs about $50 more, the camera and safety features may be worth it. If you only need a phone that works, the 13 is the better value.

About $400 to $600: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16

iPhone 15 (2023). Swappa's average was $436.

• Who it suits: someone who wants USB-C and a newer camera and will keep the phone for years.
• Strengths: USB-C, the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel main camera.
• Limits: it doesn't support Apple Intelligence, which needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer (Tom's Guide).
• Battery and software: Apple designs the iPhone 15's battery for about 1,000 cycles to 80 percent, double the older models' benchmark.
• Versus the next step up: the 15 Pro adds a faster chip, a telephoto lens and Apple Intelligence.

iPhone 15 Pro (2023). Swappa's average was $539.

• Who it suits: buyers who want the AI features of iOS 27 without paying for a newer phone.
• Strengths: it and the 15 Pro Max are the oldest iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence, plus a titanium body, an Action button and a telephoto camera.
• Limits: it costs noticeably more than the 15, and its price sits close to a used iPhone 16.
• Versus the next step up: the iPhone 16 has a newer chip and Camera Control, and costs about $20 more on Swappa's averages.

iPhone 16 (2024). Swappa's average was $560.

• Who it suits: someone who wants a recent phone with current features.
• Strengths: Apple Intelligence support, the Action button, Camera Control.
• Limits: the used discount is smaller, since it's only two years old.

About $700 and up: iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro (2024). Swappa's average was $745.

• Who it suits: heavy photo and video users who want a recent flagship at a clear discount to a new iPhone 18 Pro.
• Strengths: a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, a telephoto lens, and the A18 Pro chip.
• Limits: it costs more than twice an iPhone 13, and everyday tasks feel similar on both.

How long will it keep getting updates?

iOS 27 supports every iPhone that runs iOS 26, so the iPhone 11 and newer (AppleInsider). Support for the current iOS doesn't promise several more years of major updates. Apple dropped the iPhone XS and XR with iOS 26, and the oldest supported phones are usually the first to go. Nobody outside Apple knows the exact cutoff, so a newer phone is a safer bet if you plan to keep it a long time.

Before you buy any of them

Check battery health, carrier lock, Activation Lock and the return terms. Our used iPhone checklist walks through each one. For what "used" and "refurbished" mean, see our buyer's guide.

Ask us

Tell us your budget and your carrier, and we'll check what's available and confirm any phone works with your carrier before you pay. Browse our iPhones or all phones, or send us a message.