Which old iPhone to buy in 2026? The 10 best

Which old iPhone should you buy in 2026? If you don’t need the iPhone 17, the iPhone 16 ($699, still sold new at the Apple Store) is the safest pick; if your budget is tighter, a refurbished iPhone 15 or 14 gets you a more than decent camera and display for less than half the price. Here are the 10 past-generation models that actually pay off, with real pricing and how long you can expect support.

📌 On iOS updates: all 10 models in this list run iOS 26 today without issues. Apple never announces years in advance when it will stop updating a model, but based on chip history, the iPhone SE and iPhone 13 (the oldest here) likely have the shortest runway left, while the 16 and 16e have the longest. No cutoff year in this article is an Apple promise — these are estimates from tech outlets based on past generations.

The ranking at a glance

1. iPhone 16 Plus — the “old” model with the most battery

Why it’s the best: Apple still sells it new in its official store, with the A18 chip and the largest display (6.7”) among pre-17 models available today.

Features: the A18 chip, a dual 48 MP camera, Apple Intelligence, and battery life that comfortably covers a long day.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants a big screen and battery to spare without paying iPhone 17 prices.

Why it’s recommended: brand new, with full Apple warranty, from $799 after the September 2025 price cut.

2. iPhone 16 — the most recommendable

Why it’s the best: it’s the only “old” (non-17) iPhone Apple still sells new alongside the 16 Plus, with the same A18 chip in a more compact 6.1” size and a better price.

Features: the A18 chip, a dual 48 MP camera, the Action button, USB-C, Apple Intelligence.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants a current iPhone with full warranty, spending $100 less than the iPhone 17.

Why it’s recommended: the safest option on this list — zero refurbished risk, from $699.

3. iPhone 16 Pro — refurbished Pro camera

Why it’s the best: Apple sells it refurbished by Apple itself (with official warranty) since it was discontinued in September 2025, with the A18 Pro chip and a telephoto camera.

Features: the A18 Pro chip, Dynamic Island, a triple camera with telephoto, a titanium frame.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants “Pro” specs — zoom, more RAM, a better ProMotion display — while paying less than a new iPhone 17 Pro.

Why it’s recommended: officially refurbished by Apple from $759, with the same warranty as a new iPhone — the safest way to buy “used” on this list.

4. iPhone 16e — the most recent to drop in price

Why it’s the best: discontinued in March 2026 (when the 17e arrived), Apple started officially selling it refurbished on June 30, 2026 — it’s the most recent “old” generation available with Apple’s warranty.

Features: the A18 chip, a single 48 MP camera, Apple Intelligence, no native MagSafe.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants the newest possible chip in a budget model, without needing the just-released 17e.

Why it’s recommended: officially refurbished from $419 (128 GB) — almost $200 less than the 17e, with a chip just one generation behind.

5. iPhone 15 Pro — titanium and USB-C for half the price

Why it’s the best: it was the first iPhone with a titanium frame and a USB-C port, two changes that carry through the current lineup.

Features: the A17 Pro chip, a triple camera with telephoto, Dynamic Island, the Action button.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants recent “Pro” design and materials without paying recent-flagship pricing.

Why it’s recommended: around $513 on Amazon Renewed (128 GB, “Excellent” condition) — a market price that fluctuates, so compare sellers before buying.

6. iPhone 15 — entry-level Dynamic Island

Why it’s the best: it brought the Dynamic Island — previously exclusive to Pro models — to a mid-priced iPhone, alongside the A16 chip.

Features: the A16 Bionic chip, a dual 48 MP camera, USB-C, a 6.1” OLED display.

Why people buy it: anyone coming from a classic-notch iPhone who wants the most noticeable design jump without paying Pro pricing.

Why it’s recommended: around $413 on Amazon Renewed (128 GB) — again, verify the exact listing price when buying, it varies by seller.

7. iPhone 14 Pro — debuted the Dynamic Island

Why it’s the best: it was the first iPhone with a Dynamic Island and an always-on display, two years before those features reached the rest of the lineup.

Features: the A16 Bionic chip, a triple 48 MP camera, a 120 Hz ProMotion display.

Why people buy it: anyone who wants recent-generation “Pro” features at current mid-range pricing.

Why it’s recommended: around $459 on Amazon Renewed (256 GB) — great value for double the storage compared to other models on this list.

8. iPhone 14 — for anyone coming from a much older iPhone

Why it’s the best: with the A15 Bionic chip (the same as the iPhone 13) and an improved camera with sensor-shift stabilization, it still feels smooth for daily use in 2026.

Features: the A15 Bionic chip, a dual 12 MP camera with better low-light processing, Crash Detection.

Why people buy it: anyone coming from a 2018-2019-or-older iPhone looking for a clear jump in camera and performance without spending much.

Why it’s recommended: Renewed prices vary quite a bit by storage and seller (one 512 GB listing runs around $458); compare a few listings on Amazon before deciding.

9. iPhone 13 — the cheapest one with an OLED display

Why it’s the best: it’s the oldest model on this list that still has an OLED display and performance (A15 Bionic) that still doesn’t feel slow in 2026.

Features: the A15 Bionic chip, a dual 12 MP camera, a Super Retina XDR display.

Why people buy it: tight budget, but not wanting to drop all the way to the iPhone SE’s notched, pre-2022 design.

Why it’s recommended: around $318 on Amazon Renewed (128 GB), the best middle ground between price and display on this list.

10. iPhone SE (3rd gen) — the most affordable entry point

Why it’s the best: the cheapest iPhone on this list and the only one with Touch ID, ideal as a second phone or a first purchase on a very tight budget.

Features: the A15 Bionic chip (same as the iPhone 13), a single 12 MP camera, a classic design with a home button.

Why people buy it: anyone who prioritizes price above everything else, or prefers Touch ID over Face ID.

Why it’s recommended: on sale around $199-202 (64 GB) on Amazon Renewed — the cheapest iPhone with an Apple chip you can buy today.

Quick verdict

• Zero risk, new with full warranty → iPhone 16 ($699).
• Pro camera without recent-flagship pricing → officially refurbished iPhone 16 Pro ($759).
• Best price-to-design balance secondhand → iPhone 15 Pro (~$513, titanium and USB-C).
• The cheapest one that’s still fast → iPhone 13 (~$318).
• Lowest possible budget → iPhone SE 3rd gen (~$199).

FAQ

Is it safe to buy a refurbished iPhone on Amazon? Yes, if you buy one labeled “Amazon Renewed” (with Amazon’s 90-day warranty) or, even better, an Apple-refurbished unit when available (like the 16 Pro or the 16e), which ships with the same warranty as a new iPhone.

How many more years of updates does an old iPhone have left? All the models on this list receive iOS 26 today. Apple doesn’t publish cutoff dates in advance, but based on recent history (some chips have reached 8 years of support) it’s reasonable to expect the 13 and the SE to lose major updates first, with the 16 and 16e getting several more years.

Is it worth paying more for the 15 Pro or 14 Pro instead of a non-”Pro” model? Only if you care about optical zoom, the 120 Hz ProMotion display, or the titanium frame (15 Pro). For normal daily use, the plain iPhone 15 or 14 covers you more than well enough without that premium.

Prefer something brand new? Check the full current iPhone lineup guide or the Top 10 iPhones.

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