The best iPhones to buy used in 2024

Our top used iPhone recommendations at a glance

1. Best for young hustlers: iPhone 14 Pro - The iPhone 14 Pro is a powerhouse with the A16 Bionic chip, offering excellent performance, battery life, and the Dynamic Island feature for multitasking on the go. It's perfect for young hustlers who need a reliable and efficient device to manage multiple tasks.

2. Best for minimalists: iPhone SE (3rd Generation) - The iPhone SE (3rd Gen - 2022) offers essential features with a compact design and lower price point. It’s perfect for minimal users who want a straightforward, powerful device without unnecessary extras.

3. Best for gamers: iPhone 13 Pro Max - With its large 6.7-inch display, A15 Bionic chip, and ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers an immersive gaming experience with smooth graphics and responsive gameplay.

4. Best for social media addicts: iPhone 14 Pro Max - The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s advanced camera system, including ProRAW and ProRes video capabilities, combined with a large, bright display, makes it ideal for content creators and those who live on social media.

5. Best for eccentric musicians: iPhone 14 Pro Max - The iPhone 14 Pro offers impressive audio recording capabilities, including support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Its ability to handle high-quality audio editing apps and accessories makes it a great tool for musicians who want to experiment and create on the go.

6. Best for young professionals: iPhone 13 Pro - The iPhone 13 Pro balances performance, camera quality, and design, making it perfect for young professionals who need a versatile and stylish device for work and personal use.

Best used iPhone for young hustlers

If you’re a young hustler, juggling multiple gigs, side projects, or startups, you need a phone that can keep up with your fast-paced life. The iPhone 14 Pro is your go-to device. Equipped with the latest A16 Bionic chip, it’s lightning-fast, ensuring that multitasking between apps, managing your calendar, and handling business communications happen seamlessly. The new Dynamic Island feature is a game-changer, allowing you to stay on top of notifications, calls, and other essentials without disrupting your workflow.

Beyond performance, the iPhone 14 Pro boasts a stunning 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display that’s perfect for reviewing documents, presentations, and social media updates. The battery life is solid, offering up to 23 hours of talk time, so you won’t find yourself scrambling for a charger in the middle of a busy day. Plus, the camera system is top-notch, allowing you to capture professional-quality photos and videos for your personal brand or business. If you're looking at used and refurbished models, expect to pay around $600 for a quality device.

Best used iPhone for minimalists or tight budgets

For those who prefer simplicity and minimalism at a great price point, the iPhone SE (3rd Generation) is the perfect choice. This model is designed for users who want the essentials—a phone that just works, without the bells and whistles. It features the powerful A15 Bionic chip, the same one found in the iPhone 13 series, ensuring that you get fast performance for everyday tasks like browsing the web, messaging, and using apps. The 4.7-inch Retina HD display is compact and easy to use with one hand, making it ideal for those who don’t need a massive screen.

Despite its simplicity, the iPhone SE doesn’t skimp on important features. It supports 5G, ensuring fast data speeds for streaming and browsing. The single 12MP rear camera is more than capable of taking great photos, whether it’s capturing memories or snapping quick shots for social media. Plus, Touch ID makes unlocking your phone and making payments super easy. A refurbished iPhone SE 3 can be found under $200, making it a budget-friendly option for light smartphone users.

Best used iPhone for gamers

Serious mobile gamers need a device that can handle the most demanding titles with ease, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers on all fronts. With its A15 Bionic chip and 5-core GPU, this phone offers exceptional performance, ensuring smooth gameplay even in graphically intensive games. The ProMotion display, with a 120Hz refresh rate, enhances the gaming experience by providing fluid motion and responsiveness, making every swipe and tap feel incredibly natural. The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display also ensures that every detail in your games pops with vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Battery life is crucial for gaming, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max shines here, offering up to 28 hours of talk time, which translates to extended gaming sessions without the need to constantly recharge. Additionally, with 5G connectivity, you can enjoy multiplayer games with low latency, even when you’re on the move. If you’re considering a refurbished model, the iPhone 13 Pro Max will cost somewhere in the $500 range, which is a great bang for your buck.

Best used iPhone for social media addicts

For social media enthusiasts who live for likes, shares, and comments, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the ultimate tool. This phone is packed with an advanced camera system, including a 48MP main sensor and improved low-light performance, ensuring that your photos and videos are always Instagram-worthy. The ProRAW and ProRes video recording capabilities let you shoot and edit professional-grade content directly from your phone, perfect for creating TikToks, Reels, or YouTube videos that stand out.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max also features a large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, making it ideal for editing content, watching videos, and engaging with followers. The Dynamic Island feature keeps you connected with notifications and alerts without interrupting your browsing or posting. Plus, with the A16 Bionic chip and 5G support, you’ll never have to worry about lag when streaming or uploading content. Right now, you can find refurbished models in the $600 range.

Best iPhone for eccentric musicians or sound buffs

The iPhone 14 Pro makes its way back onto our list for musicians who are always on the go, recording ideas, or experimenting with new sounds. This model supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, providing an immersive listening experience that’s perfect for musicians who want to experience their music in 3D. The phone’s high-quality microphones and audio recording capabilities make it ideal for capturing song ideas or even full-on live performances with incredible clarity.

The iPhone 14 Pro also handles high-end audio editing apps like GarageBand and Logic Remote with ease, thanks to its A16 Bionic chip. Whether you’re mixing tracks on the fly or collaborating with other musicians remotely, this phone won’t let you down. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display provides a vibrant and detailed interface for all your audio editing needs. As a reminder, the iPhone 14 Pro is available in the $600 range when you shop from a verified refurbished seller.

Best used iPhone for young professionals

Young professionals need a device that can transition seamlessly between work and play, and the iPhone 13 Pro fits the bill perfectly. With the A15 Bionic chip, this phone delivers fast and reliable performance, whether you’re managing emails, video conferencing, or working on documents. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display is ideal for reviewing presentations, browsing reports, or catching up on the latest industry news.

The iPhone 13 Pro’s camera system is also a standout feature, offering three 12MP cameras (wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto) that are perfect for capturing high-quality photos and videos, whether for work or personal use. The phone’s sleek design and premium build quality also make a strong statement, helping you look professional and put-together in any setting. A refurbished iPhone 13 Pro is one of the more affordable options on this list, listing for around the $400 range, making it an excellent choice for young professionals who need a quality device for a lower price.

Why refurbished iPhones are the best iPhones

If you’re buying a new iPhone, you don’t really have too many options. There’s a fairly small selection of new models available at any time, and probably only one that really fits your needs and budget. However, you’ll have a much bigger selection to choose from if you look at the used and refurbished iPhone market.

Buying a used iPhone gives you many more models to choose from. You’ll find every size, from an iPhone mini to a Pro Max. You can choose the iPhone that has features you actually want and need, whether it’s a headphone jack, home button, or wireless charging. With this wide selection, though, it can be hard to decide which used iPhone to buy. Trade-in deals often make it easier to acquire the latest iPhone model, and comparing the different iPhone models and options can help you understand their strengths, weaknesses, and pricing to find the best one choice for you.

Maybe you’ve taken a test to find out your spirit animal, your personality type, or your love language—but where's the test for what iPhone you should buy? That's why we created this list to help you find the best cheap iPhone for your unique needs.

💫 Fun Fact: The iPhone 5S was released in 2013, and it continued to get the newest iOS updates until 2019. 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.

Where is the best place to buy a used iPhone?

If you’re shopping for a used iPhone, keep in mind that there’s a difference between used and refurbished phones. Both are pre-owned and more sustainable than buying a new iPhone, but a refurbished phone is professionally cleaned, repaired, and tested. A used phone simply means it’s pre-owned.

At Back Market, we're trying to reduce the risk of buying refurbished devices. We only work with vetted, trusted sellers to guarantee that every device is 100% functional. Plus, every purchase comes with at least a 12-month warranty and 30 days to change your mind. That’s why we think Back Market is the best place to buy a used and refurbished iPhone. Back Market also offers the latest models, like the Apple iPhone 15, with various features and upgrades.

Are you a student? Save an extra $20 off purchases of $250 or more on Back Market with our student discount!

Other used iPhones that didn't make this list

As much as we love all the Apple iPhone models here at Back Market, there are a few models that we wouldn't suggest buying today, due to their age. In particular, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 models are still highly popular on our marketplace in 2024. Of course, we left off iPhone X models and older because they are no longer able to run the newest version of iOS, Apple's iPhone operating system. 

Couldn't find an iPhone for you? If you prefer an Android phone, we have plenty of used and refurbished Android phone deals too!