Best Cheap iPhones (2023)

Best Cheap iPhones (2023) is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

If you want to buy an iPhone, but can’t afford a device like the iPhone 15, there’s no need to panic. There are a ton of affordable iPhones on the market, some better than others.

We’ve already taken a look at the cheap iPhones you shouldn’t buy in 2023 and today we want to highlight the inexpensive models worth buying.

Before we dig in, it’s important to note that Apple doesn’t sell some of these devices via its website any more. We’ll make a note when this is the case and provide you with alternative places to shop.

You may also find that retailers are selling refurbished versions of these devices. In most cases, this is perfectly fine, but make sure you dig into reviews and warranty options before you commit.

We’ve focused on sub-$300 iPhone models in this guide. There are plenty of great $300+ iPhone models out there, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 so make sure you investigate those as well.

Table of Contents

So without further ado, here are our picks for the best cheap iPhones you can buy in October, 2023.

iPhone SE 3

First on the list is Apple’s third-generation iPhone SE which arrived on shelves in the beginning of 2022. It’s the cheapest iPhone model Apple sells and it should be on your list if you want a solid list of specs and excellent software support without breaking the bank.

The iPhone SE 3 is the cheapest iPhone with 5G connectivity. So if 5G is on your wish list, and you don’t have a ton of money to spare, this is the way to go.

It also has an A15 Bionic chip inside. This is the same processor that powers Apple’s iPhone 13 and it means you’ll get excellent battery life and speeds.

Beyond hardware, the iPhone SE 3 runs Apple’s latest operating system for iPhone, iOS 17, and the device is poised to receive updates for many years to come. This means you’ll be able to hold onto it for awhile, unlike other cheap iPhone models.

Apple sells the iPhone SE 3, starting at $429, but you can find it at retailers like Amazon for less than $300 if you’re willing to buy it refurbished.

iPhone XR

Apple no longer sells the iPhone XR, but you can find one of the best cheap iPhones at a variety of retailers and carriers including Amazon and Verizon.

The iPhone XR is Apple’s colorful iPhone model from 2018. The device launched alongside the company’s higher-end iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Don’t be fooled though, the iPhone XR is more than capable.

The device comes with a spacious 6.1-inch display, an aluminum frame, 12MP rear camera which has been upgraded thanks to iOS software, and Apple’s A12 Bionic processor which is the same chip inside the XS and XS Max.

Apple recently upgraded the iPhone XR with iOS 17. And while the device may not get iOS 18 next year, you can expect an additional year of security updates. This means you’ll be able to hold onto the iPhone XR, if you buy it right now, for two years.

iPhone 11

We also recommend taking a look at the iPhone 11, one of Apple’s flagships from 2019.

The iPhone 11 is part of the iPhone 11 family of devices which includes the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. It’s the base model, but it should be more than enough for most people looking for a budget iPhone in 2023.

It comes equipped with a large 6.1-inch display, 12MP rear camera that can still shoot solid photos and video in 2023, Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, and iOS 17.

We expect the iPhone 11 to get upgraded to iOS 18 next year which means you should get at least three years of software support moving forward.

That’s good value considering you can find the iPhone 11 at places like Amazon for less than $300.

6 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 16 & 6 Reasons Not To

Wait for Performance Improvements

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The iPhone 16 series should come equipped with a new processor (likely the A18), but performance improvements will likely go beyond that.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple might have support for Wi-Fi 7. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the standard could provide speeds up to 30Gbps.

It also says it will "support reduced latency and jitter for time sensitive networking applications including AR/VR, 4K and 8K video streaming, automotive, cloud computing, gaming and video applications."

Kuo's information has been backed up by Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu.

Pu claims the base iPhone 16 models, presumably called iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, will come with Apple's A18 chip and 8GB of RAM while the higher-end models would come with an A18 Pro processor. He's reiterated this stance in a newer note.

This has been backed up by a report from a user on Weibo who says the lower-end models will come with the first Apple chip specifically designed for the standard models.

This is an interesting development because it means the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would skip the company's A17 chip.

Jeff Pu also says the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will sport Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X75 modem. This should lead to faster, and more efficient, 5G connectivity.

Pu believes the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will keep the Snapdragon X70 modem from Apple's iPhone 15 lineup.