Which iPhone should I buy?

Why buy a used or refurbished iPhone?

If you’re buying a new iPhone, you don’t really have too many options. There are only a handful of current models being offered, and probably only one that really fits your needs and budget. However, once you look at the used/refurbished market, you'll start to realise that you have many more choices. You’ll start to see used iPhones with bigger screens, smaller screens, notched screens, no headphone jacks etc.

Anyways, we’ve all heard of the Myers-Briggs personality test, but where's the test for what iPhone model you should buy? That's why we decided to compile this list to give you a better idea of which refurbished iPhone you should buy :)

Fun Fact: Did you know that despite the iPhone 5S being released in 2013, it regularly received the newest updates until 2019 when iOS 13 was released? That’s a very long time for a device to be on the cutting edge! iPhones are updated for much longer than Android phones and thus hold their value better. Yay for refurbished iPhones!

I'm looking for a cheap iPhone

If you want to find cheap iPhone deals, refurbished iPhones are the best way to get a cheap iPhone. As mentioned, the selection is huge; from the older iPhone 8 to the iPhone X to the latest iPhone 13 models - which one should you buy? 

👉 If you are interested in a high-end iPhone, we recommend reading our comparison of the iPhone 11 vs 12 vs 13.

Instead of paying close to £1,000 for Apple's newest smartphones, you can get a used iPhone refurbished between 30% and 70% cheaper than a new one. In addition, a refurbished iPhone achieves top quality ratings thanks to the professional technicians we have on our site, since obsolete parts have been replaced. At Back Market you also get a 12-month extra guarantee and a 30-day right to return if unsatisfied. So you can try it out without any worry whether the mobile phone really suits you or not.

Looking for a new set of headphones to compliment your commute? Back Market's selection of refurbished headphones is pretty amazing!

I'm looking for the iPhone with the best performance

The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are undoubtedly the best iPhones if performance is what matters most to you. As they have the latest A15 Bionic processor and the most memory of any iPhone, they clearly lead the way when it comes to speed. Since the iPhone 13 Pro Max price is a bit higher though, you can also fall back on the previous models of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 series if you prefer a slightly cheaper iPhone with equally excellent performance.  

👉 Reading tip:  iPhone 12: price, release date and technical sheet

I'm looking for a reconditioned iPhone that takes the best pictures

The iPhones 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are not only the iPhones with the highest performance, they are also the iPhones that take the best pictures! Thanks to the improved camera sensor, detailed photos can be taken in poor lighting conditions. Even in daylight, the images look professional, with a very high level of detail, realistic colours and strong contrast.

A special highlight is the cinema mode, in which objects in the foreground can be recognised by the camera system and differentiated from the background. Under the right conditions, this can then look like this:

👉 Reading tip:  Which iPhone has the best camera?

I'm looking for a practical iPhone

If you like handy iPhones that are easy to use with one hand, then small iPhones with a manageable screen are for you. The iPhone SE 2022 is the latest in the series of small iPhones and is very practical with its 4.7-inch screen. Alternatively, older models such as the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 are a good alternative to get hold of a handy smartphone. All three have Touch ID and the screen has a thin black border, unlike the iPhone 11 or the iPhone X series. 

👉 Reading tip: How does the iPhone 12 measure up against previous iPhone models?

I'm looking for the best value for money

This is the most difficult section, because price-performance is interpreted differently by many. However, we'll give it a try; If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, then we have two suggestions for you, broken down by aesthetics:

If you're a fan of borderless iPhones (minus the old-fashioned black border), then the iPhone XS is still worth buying in 2022. Because it will receive updates for a long time to come and in terms of design, it will not go out of fashion anytime soon. You can get an iPhone XS with 64 GB  for less than £250 on Back Market.

If you are looking for a cheap iPhone and at the same time up to date when it comes to technology, then we can recommend the slightly older iPhone SE 2020. It has a whole different feel to the design than the iPhone XS, however if you currently own an iPhone 6 or iPhone 7 then the jump definitely makes sense and is inexpensive on top of that. You can currently get the iPhone SE 2020 for less than £100.

One thing that is certain, is that you can find the cheapest iPhone to buy outright only at Back Market; with 1-year warranty across all devices, and a 30-day return policy to give you peace of mind when shopping.  

👉 Check out our mobile phone comparison tool and find your dream iPhone!