The world of Apple is known to be quite the premium place to buy your new phone... or anything for that matter (remember that $19 polishing cloth!) However, the fact that the base iPhone 15 start at $799 is not a reason for panic: believe it or not, cheaper iPhones exist!


Let's clear something out first - Apple doesn't offer a dedicated budget-friendly or "affordable" iPhone. Even the SE is not actually budget-friendly, per se. Actually, the way you can get a cheap iPhone is to go for a slightly older model. 

But that's not half as bad as some people might think! With iPhones, even if you go for a two or three-year old model, it will be up to date with the latest iOS version. This is because iPhones are supported for a minimum of 5 years after their release (and remain fast, as fast as they were when they were released!)

If you choose to go for an older model, you will have to compromise on some of the flagship features we see these days(like fancy camera lenses or cinematographic video features), but you can still get a reliable, fast and capable iPhone for less money.

We're here to help you with finding the best cheap iPhone that's available right now. Now, let's get to it!

Best cheap iPhones you can buy in 2024, summarized list:

iPhone XR

Best quality/price ratio overall right now

The iPhone XR makes the head of our list for a reason. Despite being the oldest of the recommended, released in October 2018, it currently holds the title of the best cheap iPhone with its overall great balance between quality and price. Its guaranteed software updates for something like a year now, and it got iOS 17 (the OS that the latest iPhone 15 phones run). The iPhone XR offers a 6.1-inch LCD display with a more modern look than the iPhone SE 2022.
The iPhone XR has a 12MP camera and a 7MP selfie shooter, capable of producing good photos for your social media. The processor, despite being a bit older, is still fast and capable and the phone offers a lag-free experience. Currently, the iPhone XR is available for purchase on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and unlocked from Apple, with a retail price of $499. 

iPhone SE 2022

The cheapest compact iPhone with 5G right now

The iPhone SE 2022, released towards the end of 2022, is a good option if you need a cheap iPhone with 5G, as well as one of the powerful Apple processors (the A15, found in the iPhone 13 series). However, it is not exactly much different from its predecessor, the iPhone SE from 2020, and it pretty muck looks like the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8. But yeah, those phones don't have 5 years of software updates or 5G.

The SE has a single camera on the back, complemented by powerful computational photography capabilities, that assure the photos are up to par with the competition. Apple has even improved upon its battery life and the new SE now sports a slightly bigger battery cell which gives around 2 hours of additional video playback over the previous SE.

iPhone 13

If you have a slightly bigger budget

We include the iPhone 13 here, although it’s not the cheapest iPhone out there with its retail price of $599. However, if you have a slightly bigger budget, you should definitely consider the iPhone 13, as it’s a powerful iPhone with big battery, 5G, and a versatile camera system. And it's now dropped $200 thanks to having two successors already. And Apple still sells it.

The iPhone 13 comes at a comfortable size with a 6.1-inch display: not enormous, but not small either, and its battery life is way better than the iPhone SE or the XR. What’s more, the iPhone 13 has two cameras on the back: a main and an ultra-wide camera, which offer great photo quality, hardly distinguishable from some of the most recent iPhones out there.

Best refurbished iPhone deal right now

Another way to get a cheap iPhone is to go for a refurbished model. Refurbished iPhones are used iPhones that have been renewed to look and work like new. Those are often found discounted at big retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy. Even without a deal, the refurbished iPhones' prices are usually lower anyway.

At the moment, Amazon is offering a renewed iPhone XS, fully unlocked. The device is covered by Amazon’s Renewed Guarantee, ensuring you have 90 days to return it and get a refund or replacement if you’re not satisfied.

iPhone deals: don't miss out!

New iPhones are also available sometimes with generous discounts. Check out these articles to make sure you're not going to miss a killer deal:

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Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.

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