Which Second-hand iPhone Should You Buy?

Apple ships a confusing number of iPhones. Three from this year, three from last year, two from the year before, plus the SE and the older models still floating around the second-hand market. This guide walks through every second-hand iPhone worth considering in the UK in 2026, ranked by who they're actually for.

Every iPhone listed here ships with our 12-month UK warranty, free UK delivery, certified battery health of 85% or higher, and a 45-day returns window. We've put together a separate writeup of our full 90-point quality check if you want to see what that means in practice.

The 30-second answer

By budget

Under £200 — the value bracket

The two contenders here are the iPhone 12 and the iPhone SE (3rd gen). The iPhone 12 wins for most people: OLED screen, flat-edge design Apple still uses today, MagSafe and 5G. The SE is the only modern small iPhone with Touch ID — pick it specifically if you want a 4.7-inch device or you actively prefer the home button.

£200–£350 — the smart-money zone

This is where the iPhone 13 (£250–£290 Pristine) and iPhone 13 mini live. You get a meaningfully better camera than the iPhone 12 (Cinematic Mode, larger main sensor), the same A15 chip as the iPhone 14 standard, and at least three more years of iOS support. Genuinely the rational pick for UK buyers who don't need the latest.

£350–£500 — the comfortable middle

iPhone 14 at around £380–£420 is the modern default. iPhone 14 Plus adds the larger 6.7-inch screen and dramatically better battery for around £40 more. The iPhone 13 Pro sneaks into this band too — adds ProMotion 120Hz and the telephoto lens at the cost of one fewer year of software runway versus the 14.

£500–£700 — the upper-mid bracket

iPhone 15 brings USB-C and the Dynamic Island down to the standard model — around £540–£600 Pristine. The iPhone 14 Pro is the same price band and adds ProMotion, telephoto, always-on display, but loses USB-C. Pick on what matters most.

£700+ — flagship territory

iPhone 15 Pro at £680–£740 is the value flagship — titanium frame, A17 Pro, Apple Intelligence, USB-C 10Gbps. The iPhone 15 Pro Max adds the 5x telephoto for around £80 more. And the iPhone 16 Pro Max tops out the catalogue at £820–£890 — covered in detail in our 16 Pro Max review.

By use case

"I just want something that works for everyday use"

Buy the iPhone 14. It's the best balance of price, longevity, screen quality and camera in the entire range. Pristine 128GB sits at £380–£420, gets iOS updates through to roughly 2028, and feels modern in the hand. If budget is tighter, drop down to the iPhone 13.

"I take a lot of photos"

Pro models are where the camera step-up actually shows. The iPhone 14 Pro added the 48MP main sensor that's still in the current line-up. The 15 Pro Max added the 5x telephoto. If you shoot a lot of zoomed shots — concerts, kids' sports, anything across a room — the Pro Max is meaningfully better. If you mostly shoot at 1x and portrait, the standard iPhone 15 is more than enough.

"I want a small phone"

Apple has effectively given up on small phones. The iPhone 13 mini is the only proper modern compact iPhone — 5.4 inches, OLED, current iOS support — and it's getting rare in Pristine condition. The iPhone SE 3rd gen is the alternative if you want the home button and Touch ID. Anything new in the standard line-up is 6.1 inches minimum.

"I want to keep this phone for 5+ years"

Buy the newest iPhone you can afford. iOS support runs roughly six years from launch. An iPhone 15 Pro bought second-hand today will receive updates through to around 2030 — the longest runway you can buy without spending iPhone 16 Pro money.

"I want Apple Intelligence"

That narrows it to iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max, or any iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence is chip-bound and won't be backported. If you specifically want the AI features in the UK — notification summaries, the rewritten Siri, image cleanup — you need one of those.

Model-by-model breakdown

iPhone SE (3rd gen) — 4.7", A15

The cheapest current iPhone with full iOS support. Touch ID, A15 chip, single camera. LCD not OLED — visibly behind the iPhone 12. Buy specifically for compact size or Touch ID.

iPhone 12 — 6.1", A14

The best value-for-money iPhone in the catalogue. Flat-edge design Apple still uses, OLED, MagSafe, 5G, sensible cameras. iOS support to roughly 2027.

iPhone 13 / 13 mini — 6.1" / 5.4", A15

Same chip as the iPhone 14 standard. Cinematic Mode, larger main sensor than the iPhone 12. The mini is the only modern small iPhone left. Pristine 13 sits around £270.

iPhone 14 / 14 Plus — 6.1" / 6.7", A15

The "comfortable default" iPhone. New crash detection and emergency satellite features, improved low-light camera, longer battery (especially Plus). Around £380–£420 Pristine.

iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max — 6.1" / 6.7", A16

First iPhone with the Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz, always-on display and the 48MP main sensor. Lightning rather than USB-C. Excellent value at £550–£700 refurb.

iPhone 15 / 15 Plus — 6.1" / 6.7", A16

USB-C, Dynamic Island brought down from the Pro line, contoured edges. The most modern "standard" iPhone on the catalogue. Around £540–£640 Pristine.

iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max — 6.1" / 6.7", A17 Pro

Titanium frame, USB-C 10Gbps, action button replacing mute switch. Pro Max gets the 5x telephoto. Apple Intelligence support. £680–£900 refurb depending on size.

iPhone 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max

Camera Control button, A18/A18 Pro, full Apple Intelligence. The 16 Pro Max is the most capable iPhone Apple has shipped. Pricing covered in the 16 Pro Max review.

All recommended iPhones at a glance

How to choose, step by step

1. Set your maximum spend. Be honest — include a case, screen protector, and the optional 24-month warranty extension if you want it.
2. Pick your iOS support window. Want updates to 2030? You need iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Happy with 2027–2028? Anything from iPhone 13 onwards is fine.
3. Decide screen size. 4.7" SE, 5.4" 13 mini, 6.1" standard, 6.7" Plus/Pro Max. Hold one if you can — size matters more than spec sheets suggest.
4. Pick your camera priority. Don't shoot a lot? Standard. Shoot zoomed? Pro. Concerts, kids' sports, low light? Pro Max.
5. Choose your condition grade. Pristine for near-new, Very Good for everyday savings, Good if you're going to put it in a case anyway.

What to avoid

• iPhone 8 and older. No longer receiving security updates. Fine as a backup; not as a daily driver.
• Listings with no battery health figure. If a refurbisher won't put a battery health number in writing, assume the worst.
• "Open box" or "manufacturer refurb" without warranty detail. Both are legitimate categories, but the protection should be spelled out.
• Buying for the colour alone. Phones spend most of their lives in cases — pick the chip and screen first, colour second.

If you're cross-shopping

Worth a look: the second-hand Samsung Galaxy range consistently undercuts iPhone equivalents by £80–£120, and the Google Pixel range beats both on camera processing for the money. We've written separate guides on choosing a second-hand Samsung and on the best second-hand phones under £300.

Frequently asked questions