Which iPhone is worth buying refurbished in 2026? Honest picks
Refurbished iPhone in 2026: which models are still worth it, which to skip, and when the Pro premium pays off — with current prices across providers.
Buying refurbished is almost always smarter than new in 2026. You save 20-60%, get the same device freshly checked, and reduce e-waste. Question is: which one?
We compare all major providers daily — Refurbed, Swappie, Backmarket, Apple, Clevertronic — and see which models genuinely balance price and modernity. Here's our 2026 picks, sorted by use case.
1. Best all-rounder: iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 is the smartest standard pick for 2026. USB-C, 48 MP main camera, Dynamic Island, and an A16 chip that will run current iOS for years. Refurbished it lands 200-300 € below Apple's new price.
If you don't need Apple Intelligence on day one, the 15 delivers nearly the entire Apple experience at a fair price.
2. Best value: iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is the quiet star of the refurbished market in 2026. Likely getting iOS 19 and 20, OLED display, dual camera, solid A15 chip, and a battery that makes the older 12 look weak.
Refurbished often under 300 € — tough to beat for everyday communication, photos, browsing.
3. Cheap Apple Intelligence: iPhone 16 or 16e
Want Apple Intelligence from day one? Look at the iPhone 16 or 16e. The 16e is Apple's budget version with the A18 and a single camera — fine if you're not a photo power user. The 16 gives you the dual camera and the Camera Control button.
Both often 100-200 € below Apple's new price refurbished.
4. Pro for serious users: iPhone 15 Pro or 16 Pro
The iPhone 15 Pro with titanium, A17 Pro, 120 Hz and 3x telephoto stays the best price-conscious Pro for 2026. Refurbished often 400-500 € below new.
If you take more photos, get the 16 Pro — 5x tele and 48 MP ultrawide are real upgrades. The 17 Pro is only worth it if you want max and the gap to the 16 Pro is under ~350 €.
5. What to skip refurbished in 2026
The iPhone XR and SE (2020) lose iOS 18 — their update life is ending. Even with cheap prices these phones only make sense as secondary devices or for very limited use.
The iPhone 11 is borderline: still on iOS 18, likely not on iOS 19. For a 3+ year hold, go at minimum iPhone 12, ideally 13.
Our verdict for refurbished iPhones in 2026
The sweet spot for 2026: iPhone 15 as standard, iPhone 13 as budget, iPhone 15 Pro as Pro. The 14 series sits so close in price to the 15 that the premium is almost always worth it.
Compare providers — gaps are real. That's what Secondcall is for: all providers in one place, automatic deal of the day, free.
→ Compare current pricesModels from this article
iPhone 15
A16 Bionic
iPhone 13
A15 Bionic
iPhone 16
A18
iPhone 15 Pro
A17 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
A18 Pro
iPhone 16e
A18
Frequently asked
- Is a refurbished iPhone 11 still worth it in 2026?
- Barely. The iPhone 11 will likely get iOS 18 but not 19. For a 3+ year hold, the iPhone 13 is the smarter pick.
- iPhone 16 vs 16e refurbished — what's the difference?
- The 16e is cheaper but has a single camera and Apple's own C1 modem. The 16 has dual camera, the Camera Control button, and a better modem. If you shoot photos, get the 16.
- Wait for the iPhone 17 or grab the 16 refurbished?
- The 17 launched fall 2025 but refurbished is still pricey. The 16 refurbished in 2026 is almost always the better deal — Apple Intelligence and a modern chip at a low price.
- How long will refurbished iPhones keep getting iOS updates?
- Apple typically supports older iPhones for 5-7 years. iPhone 15 (released 2023) is likely supported through iOS 20-21, iPhone 16 one year longer.