Based on current UK refurbished pricing these are the Best second hand iPhones, Apple’s current software support, and the general Reddit buyer consensus around value and longevity, here’s the cleanest list and it’s backed up pretty much by the only phones I’ve been selling locally recently.
The biggest pattern is this: in 2026, the real sweet spots are SE (2022), iPhone 12/12 mini, and iPhone 13. Reddit users keep steering people away from the XR now, and Apple’s current compatibility list backs that up because iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 or later, plus iPhone SE (2nd gen) or later.
My picks by budget
£50 budget — iPhone SE (2020)
but only as an emergency buy
At this level, there really is not a genuinely “best” modern iPhone in the UK refurbished market. The closest sensible option is the iPhone SE (2020), which is starting around £71 on Back Market. It still gets iOS 26 because Apple includes SE (2nd gen) in the supported list, but you are getting an older design, weaker battery life, and a single camera. I would treat this as a stopgap phone, not a 2–3 year purchase.
£100 budget — iPhone SE (2022)
This is the strongest value buy around £100. Current UK refurbished pricing starts around £103, so it is basically a £100-class phone in real terms. It gets current iOS support, has the newer A15 chip, and Reddit-style budget advice consistently favours the SE (2022) over older unsupported Face ID models when money is tight. The downside is the dated screen/body and smaller battery, but for pure longevity per pound, this is the best pick.
£150 budget — iPhone 12
This is the first bracket where I think you get a properly good buy. The iPhone 12 starts around £138–£145 in the UK refurbished market, so it fits comfortably. It brings OLED, 5G, MagSafe, a much more modern design than the SE, and current iOS support. Reddit sentiment and buyer behaviour both point this way: once people can stretch past the SE, they usually prefer a 12-series phone because it feels much more current day to day.
£200 budget — iPhone 13
This is the best all-round second-hand iPhone buy in 2026 for most people. UK refurbished pricing starts around £185–£189, which puts it right inside your bracket. It has the same general design language as newer iPhones, strong battery life, very solid cameras, 5G, and current iOS support. Back Market also says the iPhone 13 series remained a top seller, with 31,458 devices sold globally in the last 30 days in 2025, which matches the broader “best value” reputation it has among buyers.
Here’s the blunt version:
- £50: iPhone SE (2020) — only if you absolutely must keep it cheap.
- £100: iPhone SE (2022) — best longevity per pound.
- £150: iPhone 12 — best value step-up into a modern iPhone.
- £200: iPhone 13 — best overall buy.
A few quick notes that matter:
The iPhone XR looks tempting because current refurbished prices start around £96–£103, but I would not make it the main recommendation in 2026 because Apple’s current support list is effectively iPhone 11-and-newer, plus SE 2020 and newer. Reddit users also describe the XR as feeling slow by 2026, which lines up with avoiding it unless the price is too good to ignore.
The iPhone 11 is still a decent budget phone and starts around £110, so it narrowly misses your £100 bracket. If you hate the SE form factor, this is the one I would pick instead once you can stretch slightly above £100. It still has software support and a more modern Face ID design than the SE.
The iPhone 12 mini is a very good alternative at around £128–£131 if you want a smaller phone. At £150, I would usually still take the regular 12 over the mini for battery life, but the mini is a strong pick for compact-phone fans.
My actual buying order would be: iPhone 13 > iPhone 12 > iPhone SE (2022) > iPhone 11 > iPhone SE (2020).
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