Cheap doesn't mean compromised
Every iPhone on this list still receives current iOS updates, still runs modern apps smoothly, and still comes with the same minimum 12-month warranty as a pricier refurbished purchase. "Cheap" here means genuinely good value, not a compromise you'll regret — every price below is real and current.
1. iPhone SE (2022) — best overall value
From £99.95 refurbished
Apple's most affordable current-generation iPhone, built around the A15 Bionic chip — the same chip used in the iPhone 13 and standard 14 — inside a smaller, classic iPhone body with a physical home button and Touch ID.
Why buy it: genuine current-generation performance at the lowest price point that still feels properly modern.
Don't buy it if: you want a larger screen or Face ID — the SE's compact design is a deliberate trade-off, not an oversight.
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2. iPhone 11 — best value for a larger screen
From £109.99 refurbished
A genuinely capable phone that still holds up well, with a larger display than the SE and a dual-camera system that remains solid for everyday photography.
Why buy it: more screen and a better camera system than the SE, at a similar price point.
Don't buy it if: Face ID speed and newer software features matter to you — later models handle both more smoothly.
Compare iPhone 11 prices →
3. iPhone 12 — best balance of age and capability
From £114.99 refurbished
The first iPhone generation with 5G support and a genuine design refresh (flat edges rather than curved), the 12 sits at a real sweet spot between age and capability.
Why buy it: 5G support and a still-modern design, at barely more than the older 11.
Don't buy it if: you specifically want the smallest possible size — the 12 mini below covers that need at a similar price.
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4. iPhone 12 mini — best compact option
From £119.95 refurbished
All the iPhone 12's genuine improvements — 5G, the flat-edge design — in Apple's smallest modern form factor, for anyone who specifically wants a phone that fits comfortably in one hand.
Why buy it: the most compact modern iPhone available at this budget, without sacrificing 5G or the current design language.
Don't buy it if: battery life is a bigger priority than size — smaller phones inherently have smaller batteries.
Compare iPhone 12 mini prices →
5. iPhone 13 — best all-round cheap iPhone
From £189.99 refurbished
The same A15 Bionic chip used in the standard iPhone 14 a year later, meaning genuinely identical day-to-day performance to a phone that cost considerably more when it was new.
Why buy it: the same core performance as the iPhone 14, at a real, meaningful saving.
Don't buy it if: you want USB-C or Dynamic Island — those arrived with the 15, a full two generations later.
Compare iPhone 13 prices →
Why the chip matters more than the model number
This is the single most useful thing to understand about buying a cheap iPhone: Apple frequently reuses a chip across two consecutive years, meaning the older, cheaper phone can deliver essentially identical day-to-day performance to a newer, pricier one. The iPhone 13 and standard 14 share the A15 Bionic; the iPhone 11 and SE (2020) shared the A13. Knowing this lets you buy based on genuine performance rather than paying extra purely for a newer model number.
This matters most for anyone whose main uses are calls, messaging, browsing, and social media — for those tasks, the difference between an A13 and the newest A18 chip is genuinely far smaller in practice than the price gap between the phones running them suggests.
How much storage do you actually need at this budget?
Every phone on this list is available in multiple storage sizes, and getting this right matters more at the cheap end, since upgrading storage later isn't possible on an iPhone.
64GB (where available on older models) suits very light use — someone who relies almost entirely on cloud storage and installs few apps. This is genuinely tight for most people today, given how large modern apps and photos have become.
128GB is the realistic minimum for comfortable everyday use in 2026 — enough for a reasonable photo library, several apps, and some offline content without constant management.
256GB, where available on these models, is worth the modest extra cost if you take a lot of photos or video, or keep several offline playlists or downloaded shows — it removes the "delete something to make room" problem entirely for most users.
What you genuinely give up at the cheap end
Being honest about the real trade-offs: older iPhones lack USB-C (arriving with the 15), Dynamic Island (15 onward for standard models), and have noticeably smaller camera sensors than current-generation phones — casual photos look fine, but low-light and zoom performance is genuinely a step behind newer models. Software support windows are also shorter the older the phone, so it's worth checking how many more years of updates a specific model realistically has left.
It's worth being specific about degree here rather than treating all older phones the same. The iPhone SE (2022) and 13, sharing the A15 chip, are genuinely closer in real-world feel to a 14 than to an 11 or SE (2020) running the older A13 — the gap within "cheap iPhones" is itself meaningful, not just the gap between cheap and flagship.
Comparing the real generational value at this budget
iPhone SE (2020) territory (A13): the absolute cheapest entry point, genuinely dated by 2026 standards but still functional for the most basic needs — calls, texts, simple browsing.
iPhone 11/12 territory (A13/A14): a real step up in camera quality and display size over the SE, genuinely solid for everyday use without demanding tasks.
iPhone SE (2022)/13 territory (A15): the strongest value tier in this guide — the same chip that powered the standard iPhone 14, at a fraction of what that phone cost when new.
Understanding which chip tier you're actually buying into, rather than just the model name, is the single best way to avoid overpaying for an older phone or underpaying for a genuinely capable one.
Battery health matters more here than anywhere else
Since every phone on this list is at least a few years old, battery health is a genuinely more important check here than on a newer refurbished purchase. Always confirm the stated battery health percentage before buying — GadgetRank's compared retailers guarantee a minimum floor, typically 80% or above, but a phone at the higher end of that range will noticeably outlast one just scraping past the minimum.
If keeping the phone for several more years is your plan, it's worth specifically seeking out a listing with battery health closer to 90-100% rather than settling for the minimum — the extra cost, if any, is typically modest compared to the cost of a battery replacement or early upgrade a few years down the line.
Is buying a cheap iPhone actually better than a similarly-priced new Android phone?
This is a genuine, fair question worth addressing directly. A brand-new budget Android phone at £100-150 will often have a larger screen and sometimes more RAM on paper than an equivalent cheap iPhone. What it won't match is the iPhone's build quality, typically longer software support runway, and — if you ever decide to sell it on — meaningfully stronger resale value. The choice comes down to whether you specifically want to be in Apple's ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple ID integration with other devices) or simply want the best hardware for the money regardless of brand.
Frequently asked questions
Is a £100 refurbished iPhone actually reliable?
Yes, provided it comes with a genuine warranty — every retailer GadgetRank compares offers a minimum 12-month warranty on refurbished stock, regardless of how affordable the specific model is.
Which cheap iPhone has the best camera?
The iPhone 12 and 13 have a genuine edge over the SE and 11 in low-light performance, thanks to Night mode support that the older models lack.
How long will these older iPhones keep receiving updates?
This varies by specific model — generally, the newer the phone (13 being the newest on this list), the longer its remaining support window. Worth checking Apple's current support commitments for your specific model before buying if longevity matters to you.
Is the iPhone SE a good choice for someone who's never had an iPhone before?
Yes — its familiar physical home button and Touch ID can actually make it a gentler introduction to iOS than Face ID-only models, alongside being the most affordable entry point into current software support.
Should I buy 64GB or pay extra for more storage?
Unless your budget is extremely tight, 128GB is the more sensible minimum for comfortable daily use in 2026 — 64GB fills up faster than most people expect given current app and photo sizes.
Is it worth paying more for the iPhone 13 over the older 11 or 12?
If budget allows, yes — the 13's A15 chip is a genuinely meaningful step up in longevity and performance over the A13/A14 in the 11 and 12, and it's the closest thing to "future-proof" within this specific budget tier.
All prices above are live and checked daily — compare every option side by side to see today's actual figures.
Related reading: Should I buy an iPhone 13 in 2026? · Best Phone Under £300 UK 2026 · Refurbished iPhone 13 UK 2026 · Best Battery Life Phone 2026 · Compare all refurbished phones · Condition grades explained
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