A cheap iPhone is easy to find. A cheap iPhone that will still get security updates in two years is a different question, and it is the one that decides whether you save money or waste it. This guide covers the budget end of the iPhone lineup: which models are still worth buying, what they cost on Swappa right now, and which bargains have quietly aged out of Apple’s support list.
Quick Answer
The iPhone 13 is the best cheap iPhone for most people in 2026, starting around $176 used with typical listings near $298. If your budget is tighter, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) runs the same A15 Bionic chip from roughly $88, and the iPhone 12 sits in between. Below that, stop at the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation): those are the oldest models Apple still supports with iOS 27, and everything older has fallen off the update list. Browse used iPhones on Swappa to compare current listings.
The One Rule for Buying a Cheap iPhone
Start with the iOS support window, not the price tag. Apple typically ships major iOS updates to an iPhone for six to seven years after release. Once a model drops off that list it stops getting security patches, and apps begin requiring a newer OS within a year or two.
As of September 2026, iOS 27 is the current release, and Apple’s compatibility list reaches back to the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE (2nd generation). That is the floor. An iPhone X, XR, XS, 8, 7, 6S, or original SE is cheaper than anything in this guide, and it is cheaper because it is finished receiving updates.
This is the single biggest change at the budget end of the lineup in the last few years, and it is why older buying advice for cheap iPhones no longer holds. For more on how long a phone keeps getting patches, see How Long Will a Used Phone Get Updates?.
Cheap iPhones to Skip in 2026
| Model | Starts Around | Why to Skip It |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS | $98 | Off the iOS 27 list, no further security updates |
| iPhone XR | $88 | Off the iOS 27 list, no further security updates |
| iPhone X | $110 | Off the iOS 27 list, aging OLED, no further updates |
| iPhone 8 | $65 | Off the iOS 27 list, 2017 hardware |
| iPhone 7 | $36 | Long off the update list, thin app support |
| iPhone 6S | $34 | Long off the update list, thin app support |
These still have a narrow use as a spare, a backup line, or a device that never touches a browser or a banking app. They are not a primary phone in 2026.
Best Cheap iPhones Under $300
Every model below is still on Apple’s iOS 27 compatibility list. Prices are current Swappa figures for September 17, 2026, shown as the starting listing price and the typical selling price. They move with condition, storage, carrier, and demand.
| Pick | Model | Starts At | Typical | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | iPhone 13 | $176 | $298 | 6.1″ |
| Best value | iPhone SE (3rd gen) | $88 | $146 | 4.7″ |
| Best middle ground | iPhone 12 | $149 | $227 | 6.1″ |
| Best tight budget | iPhone 11 | $124 | $193 | 6.1″ |
| Best small | iPhone 13 mini | $196 | $281 | 5.4″ |
| Best big screen | iPhone 11 Pro Max | $165 | $264 | 6.5″ |
| Best camera | iPhone 12 Pro | $203 | $289 | 6.1″ |
| Cheapest supported | iPhone SE (2nd gen) | $65 | $107 | 4.7″ |
Prices vary with condition, storage, and demand. Check current Swappa prices before you buy.
Best Cheap iPhone Overall: iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is the pick if you want one phone to stop thinking about. It runs the A15 Bionic, has an OLED display, a solid dual camera with Cinematic mode, and the longest battery life Apple had shipped in a 6.1-inch iPhone up to that point. It came out in 2021, which leaves it comfortably inside the support window.
Used listings start around $176 and typically land near $298 depending on storage and carrier status. The 128GB unlocked configuration is the one to target: it is the most common listing by a wide margin, which keeps its pricing competitive.
The iPhone 13 mini is the same phone in a 5.4-inch body, starting around $196. It is the last true compact flagship Apple made, and small-phone buyers keep demand high enough that it does not always undercut the standard model.
Shop used iPhone 13 listings on Swappa
Best Value: iPhone SE (3rd Generation)
The iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the cheapest way to get a current-generation chip. It carries the same A15 Bionic as the iPhone 13 in a 4.7-inch body with a home button and Touch ID, starting around $88 with typical listings near $146.
What you give up is real: a small LCD screen with large bezels, a single rear camera, no Face ID, and the weakest battery life of anything in this guide. What you get is a phone that will handle iOS updates and demanding apps for years, for well under half the price of an iPhone 13.
This is the right call for a first phone, a work phone, or anyone who genuinely prefers a small device with a home button.
Best Middle Ground: iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 introduced the flat-edge design, OLED, and 5G, and it starts around $149 with typical listings near $227. It is the cheapest iPhone here with a modern screen and modern build quality.
The catch is the calendar. Released in 2020, the iPhone 12 is the model most likely to fall off the iOS update list first among the phones in this guide, probably within the next major version or two. If you plan to keep a phone for three or more years, spend the extra and take the iPhone 13. If you are replacing a phone every couple of years anyway, the iPhone 12 is good value.
The iPhone 12 Pro at around $203 adds a telephoto lens, LiDAR, and a stainless steel frame, and it is the best cheap iPhone camera you can buy without crossing $300.
Best Tight Budget: iPhone 11
At roughly $124 to start, the iPhone 11 is the cheapest iPhone here with Face ID and an edge-to-edge screen. Battery life is genuinely good, and the dual camera still holds up for everyday shooting.
It is also the oldest model Apple still supports, so treat it as a two-year phone rather than a five-year one. For a larger screen at a similar price, the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts around $165 and gives you 6.5 inches of OLED plus a telephoto lens.
If You Can Stretch Past $300
Above this band the calculus changes, and the phones stop being budget picks and start being mainstream ones. The iPhone 14 starts around $267, the iPhone 15 around $299, and both have far more support runway than anything above. Apple’s September 2026 price increase pushed every new carryover iPhone up by $100, which widened the gap between new and used rather than closing it.
For the full generation-by-generation breakdown, including the Pro tier and the models worth paying up for, see Used iPhone Buyer’s Guide: Every Generation Ranked (2026).
If you are not locked into iOS, Best Budget Android Phones to Buy Used covers the same price bands on the other platform. Resale is the other side of that decision, and iPhone vs. Android Resale Value has the data.
What to Check Before You Buy
Four things separate a good cheap iPhone from a bad one. Each has a full guide behind it.
- Battery health. Swappa has no minimum battery-health percentage to list, but iPhone sellers must disclose when health is below 80% and the Apple battery message is showing. Budget $50 to $100 for a replacement if you are buying at the bottom of the range. Details in iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone.
- Activation Lock. An iPhone still tied to a previous owner’s Apple Account cannot be set up. Swappa listings are staff-reviewed for this, which is the main reason to avoid open marketplaces at this price point. See iCloud Activation Lock: How to Avoid It on a Used iPhone.
- IMEI status. A blacklisted or finance-locked IMEI cannot be activated on a US carrier. See IMEI Check: What It Reveals About a Used Phone.
- Carrier status. Unlocked costs a little more and is worth it. See Unlocked vs. Carrier-Locked Phones, or go straight to unlocked listings on Swappa.
Storage matters more at the budget end than people expect. 128GB is the practical floor. The 64GB configurations that show up in the cheapest listings fill up fast, and the savings rarely justify the headache.
Buying a Cheap iPhone Safely
The cheaper the phone, the thinner the margin for a bad purchase. Every Swappa listing is reviewed by staff before it goes live, and devices must have a clean IMEI/ESN, no Activation Lock, no cracked glass or water damage, and a fully functional battery.
Payments run through PayPal, with buyer and seller protection and dispute resolution, or Stripe for select sellers. If a device is not as described, you are entitled to a return and refund. Swappa’s fees are flat: a 3% seller fee and a 3% buyer fee already included in the listing price, which is lower than typical auction-site fees, and the buyer fee is refunded on a proper PayPal refund. Support is staffed 24/7/365, with an average response around 20 minutes.
Buying used is typically 30% to 60% cheaper than new across categories, and iPhones sit at the higher end of that range once a model is a few years old. You can see current figures for any model on Swappa’s price pages or read the full fee breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest iPhone worth buying in 2026?
The iPhone SE (2nd generation), starting around $65 on Swappa, is the cheapest iPhone still receiving iOS updates. It is best suited to a spare phone, a first phone, or a light-use line. For a primary phone, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) at around $88 is a better buy because it has the newer A15 Bionic chip and several more years of support ahead.
Is the iPhone 13 still a good buy in 2026?
Yes. The iPhone 13 is the best balance of price, performance, and remaining software support at the budget end of the lineup. It starts around $176 used with typical listings near $298, runs the A15 Bionic, and was released in 2021, which leaves it well inside Apple’s usual six to seven year support window.
Which cheap iPhones no longer get iOS updates?
As of September 2026, iOS 27 supports the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer. The iPhone X, XR, XS, XS Max, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and the original iPhone SE are all off the list and no longer receive security patches. They are cheap for that reason.
How much should I pay for a used iPhone 12?
Used iPhone 12 listings start around $149 and typically sell near $227, with price depending on storage, carrier status, and condition. Unlocked 128GB models sit in the middle of that range. Check the Swappa price page for the model before buying, since these figures move week to week.
Does battery health matter on a cheap iPhone?
It matters more than on an expensive one, because a replacement costs $50 to $100 and that is a large share of a $150 phone. Swappa has no minimum battery-health percentage to list a device, but iPhone sellers must disclose when health is below 80% and the Apple battery warning is showing, so check the listing before you buy.
Should I buy a 64GB iPhone to save money?
Usually not. 128GB is the practical floor for a phone you will keep for a few years, and the price difference between 64GB and 128GB listings is often smaller than the cost of running out of space and dealing with it later.
The Bottom Line
The best cheap iPhone in 2026 is the iPhone 13 for most buyers, the iPhone SE (3rd generation) on a tight budget, and nothing older than the iPhone 11 under any circumstances. The bargains below that line are cheap because Apple has stopped updating them.
