If you are looking to buy a new iPhone but don’t need the iPhone 17 completely, it can be difficult to find something because your budget is tight. Certainly, Apple offers the iPhone 16E for $599, but not everyone knows it’s a compelling phone. Luckily there are plenty of great options if you want to use it. We’ll explore five great picks for different needs.
#1 – iPhone 15 Pro
If you’re chasing high-end features like promotional displays, Apple Intelligence, telephoto lenses, and more, the iPhone 15 Pro has the best overall picks, making it a budget possible.
Runs the A17 Pro chip (still used on the latest generation iPad Mini). It’s perfect for Apple Intelligence features and provides ample power for years to come.
At the time of writing, Amazon’s unlocked 128GB iPhone 15 Pro can be updated for $640, making it a little more expensive than the new iPhone 16e while packing a ton of premium features. If your screen size is large, you can grab an unlocked iPhone 15 Pro Max for $70 for $710 with double the storage.
#2 – iPhone 15
If you want the cheapest iPhone with USB-C or Dynamic Island, the iPhone 15 is a great choice. Get a nice 48MP camera sensor. If you’re interested in a physical mute switch, the iPhone 15 is the last iPhone to offer it. The battery life is very good and there is a pretty compelling lineup of colours.
You can now pick up an unlocked 128GB iPhone 15 on Amazon Reneded for $478. If your big phone is a jam, you can get a 128GB iPhone 15 Plus for $522.
#3 – iPhone 13 Mini
If you’re a small phone fan, the iPhone 13 Mini remains the best option for you. Because Apple has decided to give up on creating smaller iPhones. The A15 Bionic Chip is still very capable, but you need to live with the lightning charging port. In any case, thanks to 800 NIT OLED displays and a sweet camera system, this phone, despite being four years old, should not be too outdated.
The iPhone 13 Mini currently fetches around $265 in a 128GB configuration, making it one of the cheapest iPhones to pick from this list. It’s something special.
#4 – iPhone 14 Plus
Conversely, if you want the cheapest big iPhone (at least not older), the iPhone 14 Plus is the best choice for your overall choice. It has a powerful camera system and even more powerful battery life. This is a strong colour arrangement with a fantastic yellow finish. This phone was successful with the aforementioned iPhone 13 Mini.
There’s not much to say about the iPhone 14 Plus. This is a solid device that just does everything you need from a larger screened iPhone. Currently, you can get one on Amazon Renewed for around $359, making it a huge option.
As an honorable mention, you could also consider the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It offers high-end enthusiasts features such as promotions, telephoto camera lenses, stainless steel builds and more. They get around $445 for 128GB.
#5 – iPhone SE 3
Last but not least, the iPhone SE3. It’s packed with A15 chips and 5G, making it a good phone for 2025, but it has a much older form factor. Just like the iPhone 8, it still has a 4.7-inch LCD screen and home button. Also, there is only one rear camera. That said, if you want your iPhone to have a naked essential, the iPhone SE 3 can be found quite cheaply.
For just $149, you can update your Amazon iPhone SE 3. If you need an iPhone, this is as cheap as they get, and still stacks up very favorably. You can opt for 128GB for $179 if it seems like it will work well for you, as 64GB of storage can turn out to be a bit tight.
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