Is the iPhone 13 worth buying in 2026? Yes, with one important catch: Apple discontinued it in 2023 and no longer sells it new or through its own refurbished store, so today it’s only available via Amazon Renewed or other third-party refurbished channels — and it has one of the shortest remaining iOS update windows of any phone we cover on this site, tied with the iPhone SE (3rd gen). If the price still makes it worth it, the iPhone 13 with 128GB is the smartest buy: an OLED screen, performance that never feels sluggish, and a price that runs at less than half of what Apple’s cheapest new iPhone costs today. Here are the 10 configurations that actually make sense depending on what you’re after — battery, camera, size or storage — and the obvious alternative if you’d rather not gamble on a 2021 phone.
What actually matters before you buy
- How much software support is left is the number one thing here — more than in any other iPhone guide on this site. The iPhone 13 launched in September 2021 and, as of this guide, it already got iOS 27 (released September 14, 2026): the same list of compatible models as iOS 26, with no iPhone dropped. Apple never announces years ahead when it’ll stop updating a model, but the brand’s historical pattern is around 6 years of major updates — and the 13 has already gone through 6 major iOS versions since launch (15, 16, 17, 18, 26 and 27). That doesn’t guarantee iOS 28 (2027) will drop it, but it does mean it’s in the final stretch of its window, closer to the cutoff than the iPhone 14 or the 15.
- Same chip, different GPU. All four models run the A15 Bionic, but the 13 and 13 mini get the 4-core GPU (no ProMotion, 60Hz display), while the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max get the 5-core GPU, a 120Hz ProMotion display and 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB — the real difference between “Pro” and non-Pro in this generation.
- No Apple Intelligence. Apple’s AI features need an A17 Pro chip or newer (iPhone 15 Pro and up), so none of the iPhone 13 models run them. If that matters to you, the minimum jump is a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro or a new iPhone 16.
- Battery health from a 2021 phone, not from the factory. With more than four years of use behind it, check battery health before you pay: below 85% (Settings → Battery → Battery Health), you’ll notice several fewer hours of real-world battery life than the factory numbers below suggest.
- The obvious alternative if you’d rather not gamble: the iPhone 17e, Apple’s cheapest new iPhone, went up in price on September 9, 2026 (from $599 to $699). That’s double or more what a refurbished iPhone 13 costs, but it comes with full Apple warranty, the current A19 chip, and several more years of support ahead.
Approximate iPhone 13 price today, by version (Amazon Renewed, 128GB)
Going from the mini to the Pro Max adds almost 80% to the price, but even the priciest of the four (the Pro Max) still lands well under Apple’s cheapest new iPhone today (17e, $699).
The ranking, at a glance
| # | Configuration | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iPhone 13 (128GB, Midnight) | The smartest buy on this whole list |
| 2 | iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB, Sierra Blue) | The biggest battery in the iPhone 13 generation |
| 3 | iPhone 13 Pro (128GB, Graphite) | ProMotion and zoom without paying for the Max |
| 4 | iPhone 13 mini (128GB, Starlight) | The smallest and cheapest of the four |
| 5 | iPhone 13 (256GB, Blue) | More storage without moving up a model |
| 6 | iPhone 13 Pro Max (256GB, Graphite) | Photos, video and storage to spare in one package |
| 7 | iPhone 13 (512GB, (PRODUCT)RED) | The one that takes longest to run out of space |
| 8 | iPhone 13 Pro (256GB, Sierra Blue) | For shooting 4K video without watching your storage |
| 9 | iPhone 13 mini (256GB, Pink) | Compact, with more storage headroom |
| 10 | iPhone 13 Pro Max (512GB, Silver) | Built to last as long as its software support does |
1. iPhone 13 (128GB, Midnight) — the smartest buy
Why it’s the best pick: it splits OLED screen, dual 12MP camera and A15 Bionic performance right at the sweet spot — no size trade-off like the mini, no premium like the Pro.
Features: A15 Bionic chip (4-core GPU), 6.1” OLED display, 3,227mAh battery, dual 12MP camera with Cinematic mode.
Why people buy it: anyone who wants mid-range iPhone performance without flagship pricing, or a second phone / a hand-me-down for a family member that still feels smooth day to day.
Why it’s recommended: it runs about $318 on Amazon Renewed (128GB) — the most balanced price-to-spec ratio in the whole iPhone 13 family.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 132. iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB, Sierra Blue) — the generation’s battery champion
Why it’s the best pick: at 4,352mAh, it’s the biggest battery in the entire iPhone 13 lineup — the extra runway over the plain 13 is something you actually notice day to day, not just on a spec sheet.
Features: A15 Bionic (5-core GPU), 6.7” ProMotion display at 120Hz, triple 12MP camera with 3x optical zoom, 6GB of RAM.
Why people buy it: people who are on their phone all day and don’t want to plug in before dinner, without paying current-flagship prices.
Why it’s recommended: it runs about $436 on Amazon Renewed (128GB) — still under two-thirds of what the iPhone 17e costs new today.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max3. iPhone 13 Pro (128GB, Graphite) — ProMotion without the Max price
Why it’s the best pick: it packs the exact same 120Hz ProMotion display and the same optical-zoom camera system as the Pro Max, in a smaller, cheaper body.
Features: A15 Bionic (5-core GPU), 6.1” OLED ProMotion display, triple 12MP camera with 3x optical zoom, 6GB of RAM.
Why people buy it: anyone who wants the “Pro” feel — smooth scrolling, real zoom — without needing the Max’s bigger screen.
Why it’s recommended: it runs about $367 on Amazon Renewed (128GB) — the point where ProMotion stops being a recent-flagship luxury.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 Pro4. iPhone 13 mini (128GB, Starlight) — the smallest and cheapest
Why it’s the best pick: at 5.4”, it’s by far the smallest iPhone that still makes sense to buy today, and the cheapest way into the whole iPhone 13 family.
Features: A15 Bionic chip (4-core GPU), 5.4” OLED display, 2,406mAh battery, dual 12MP camera.
Why people buy it: anyone who wants a phone that fits in a pocket and works one-handed, and uses their phone moderately.
Why it’s recommended: here’s the mandatory warning — it has the smallest battery of the four because of its size. It runs about $241 on Amazon Renewed (128GB) — the cheapest phone on the refurbished market that doesn’t feel like it’s running an old chip.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 mini5. iPhone 13 (256GB, Blue) — more storage without moving up
Why it’s the best pick: the same iPhone 13 from spot #1, with double the storage — the logical pick if you don’t want to be deleting photos two years in.
Features: A15 Bionic, 256GB, 6.1” OLED display, dual 12MP camera with Cinematic mode.
Why people buy it: anyone who shoots a lot of photos and video, or would simply rather overshoot on storage than come up short later.
Why it’s recommended: going from 128GB to 256GB on refurbished units usually adds $50-90 (estimated over the position-1 base price — there’s no fixed rate) — compare a few listings before buying, refurbished pricing swings more than a new iPhone’s does.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 (256GB)6. iPhone 13 Pro Max (256GB, Graphite) — photos, video and storage to spare
Why it’s the best pick: it pairs the best camera and battery of the iPhone 13 generation with double the storage of the base Pro Max from spot #2.
Features: A15 Bionic (5-core GPU), 256GB, 6.7” ProMotion display, triple 12MP camera with 3x optical zoom.
Why people buy it: anyone who shoots a lot of 4K video or keeps years of photos, and doesn’t want to depend on iCloud to avoid running out of space.
Why it’s recommended: it starts at the ~$436 of the Pro Max in spot #2, plus whatever the 256GB jump costs from the seller — either way, it’s still well under any current iPhone Pro Max.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max (256GB)7. iPhone 13 (512GB, (PRODUCT)RED) — the one that takes longest to fill up
Why it’s the best pick: it’s the largest capacity Apple ever offered on the plain iPhone 13, and since its 12MP camera doesn’t shoot the heavier video formats of newer iPhones, that storage stretches further.
Features: A15 Bionic, 512GB, 6.1” OLED display, dual 12MP camera.
Why people buy it: anyone who doesn’t want to think about storage management for years, or keeps a lot of offline music and video.
Why it’s recommended: it costs more than the 128GB version from spot #1 but less than an iPhone 13 Pro Max — it’s worth it over jumping to a Pro Max if what you need is space, not camera.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 (512GB)8. iPhone 13 Pro (256GB, Sierra Blue) — shoot without watching your storage
Why it’s the best pick: the same optical-zoom camera system as the Pro Max in spot #6, with double the storage of the base Pro from spot #3.
Features: A15 Bionic (5-core GPU), 256GB, 6.1” ProMotion display, triple 12MP camera with 3x optical zoom.
Why people buy it: anyone who shoots long clips or edits video right on the phone and doesn’t want to be freeing up space every week.
Why it’s recommended: add the 256GB jump to the ~$367 of the Pro in spot #3 — the middle ground between Pro camera and storage on this list.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 Pro (256GB)9. iPhone 13 mini (256GB, Pink) — compact, with more headroom
Why it’s the best pick: the same pocket-friendly size as the mini in spot #4, with double the storage for anyone who already knows they run out of space fast.
Features: A15 Bionic, 256GB, 5.4” OLED display, 2,406mAh battery.
Why people buy it: anyone who’s already decided they want the mini size and would rather not risk running out of space to save the $50-90 the storage jump costs.
Why it’s recommended: add the 256GB jump to the ~$241 mini from spot #4 — still, by far, the cheapest way into a compact iPhone.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 mini (256GB)10. iPhone 13 Pro Max (512GB, Silver) — built to outlast its own support window
Why it’s the best pick: if you’re planning to keep an iPhone 13 until it stops getting updates, this is the configuration that won’t run out of space before the software does.
Features: A15 Bionic (5-core GPU), 512GB, 6.7” ProMotion display, the biggest battery in the iPhone 13 generation.
Why people buy it: anyone who found a good one-off deal at this capacity and would rather not touch the storage question again while the phone still gets iOS updates.
Why it’s recommended: as the largest capacity built on top of the ~$436 Pro Max from spot #2, it’s the priciest configuration on this list — at this price, it’s worth comparing first against a refurbished iPhone 15 or a new iPhone 16, both of which actually run Apple Intelligence.
🛒 Search for the refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max (512GB)Quick verdict
- Not sure which one to get → iPhone 13 (128GB).
- Battery is your priority → iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB).
- You want ProMotion without paying for the Max → iPhone 13 Pro (128GB).
- Minimum budget or you want the most compact one → iPhone 13 mini (128GB).
- Worried about losing support soon → check the iPhone 16 instead, or the rest of the older models in which old iPhone should you buy in 2026?, which have several more years of runway ahead.
Looking for the full ranking of iPhones on sale today, or want to compare by tier? Check out the Top 10 iPhones or the comparison by tier.
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