Buying guides

Which used iPhone to buy for your budget

The used iPhone models we sell, grouped from lower to higher budgets, with what each one does well and why the condition grade is the easiest place to save.

The 3ASH DEVICE team 7 min read

In this guide
  1. Which models suit a lower budget?
  2. Which models suit a middle budget?
  3. Which models suit a higher budget?
  4. How to choose by what matters to you
  5. How the condition grade lowers the price
  6. Storage and SIM layout
  7. Frequently asked questions

Start with the newest generation your budget reaches, then save on the condition grade. As a guide, iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 suit a lower budget, iPhone 13 to iPhone 15 a middle one, and iPhone 15 Pro and later models a higher one. Every grade works fully: Good costs the least, and Excellent looks closest to new.

Every pre-owned iPhone we sell is Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH: inspected with Phonecheck in more than 80 checks, covered by a 12-month 3ASH warranty, with 10-day returns and free delivery to all seven emirates. Prices move with the market, so treat the groups below as a guide and check today's figures on our used iPhone price page.

Which models suit a lower budget?

Here you will find earlier generations and compact models, and each one supports iOS 27.

Which models suit a middle budget?

Which models suit a higher budget?

Recent generations also include iPhone 17, with a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, iPhone Air, just 5.64 mm thin, and iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e, which pair Apple Intelligence with a 48MP Fusion camera. If you would rather have a new phone, we also sell iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max sealed in their box, with Apple's one-year limited warranty.

How to choose by what matters to you

If the camera matters most

For zoom, look at the Pro models. The iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro models and iPhone 15 Pro reach 3x optical zoom, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max reach 5x, and iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max offer 8x optical-quality zoom. A 48MP main camera arrived with the iPhone 14 Pro models and reached the standard models with iPhone 15. Every iPhone we sell records 4K video.

If the screen matters most

Many models measure 6.1 to 6.3 inches. The Plus models offer 6.7 inches, as do the Pro Max models from iPhone 12 Pro Max to 15 Pro Max, while iPhone 16 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max reach 6.9 inches. For smoother scrolling, ProMotion up to 120Hz comes on every Pro and Pro Max model from iPhone 13 Pro onwards, on iPhone 17 and on iPhone Air.

If you want Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence runs on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone Air and every iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 model, including 16e and 17e. It needs the iPhone and Siri set to the same language, one of the languages Apple supports, and Apple notes that availability can vary by region.

If you want a small phone

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini measure 131.5 by 64.2 mm, with Face ID and an all-screen OLED display. If you prefer a Home button with Touch ID, choose iPhone SE (3rd generation), which has a 4.7-inch screen.

If your phone has to last a long day

In Apple's own figures, the Pro Max of each generation from iPhone 11 to iPhone 17 offers the longest video playback, and each Plus model outlasts the standard model of its generation. Whichever model you choose, we test the battery as part of the inspection.

How the condition grade lowers the price

We sell each pre-owned model in three grades. The grade describes how the device looks, never how it works: every grade passes the same inspection and comes with the same 12-month 3ASH warranty.

  • Excellent: looks close to new, with very fine marks visible only up close. No visible scratches on the screen, and the lenses are intact.
  • Very Good: light signs of use on the body or screen that do not affect use.
  • Good: visible signs of use on the body, with full performance. The screen is intact and may show light scratches.

Good costs the least and Excellent looks closest to new. If you keep your phone in a case, Good or Very Good can bring a newer model within your budget. Our condition guide explains each grade with illustrative photos.

Storage and SIM layout

Storage changes the price too, so read how much storage your iPhone needs before you decide. If a model comes in more than one SIM layout, the product page names it and our SIM guide explains each one.

Frequently asked questions

Which used iPhone do you recommend on a lower budget?

Our advice is iPhone 12: 5G, an OLED display, MagSafe charging and support for iOS 27. If you can spend a little more, iPhone 13 adds the A15 Bionic chip and Cinematic mode.

Does a Good grade iPhone work as well as an Excellent one?

Yes. The grade describes cosmetic condition only. Whatever the grade, the device passes the same inspection of more than 80 checks and carries the same 12-month 3ASH warranty, so Good gives you full performance for less.

Does every model you sell run the latest iOS?

Yes. Every iPhone we sell, from iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (3rd generation) onwards, supports iOS 27, Apple's latest version.

Should I spend more on the model or on the condition?

If features matter most, such as the camera, the screen or Apple Intelligence, spend your budget on the model and choose Good. If a model from an earlier series covers your needs and you want a phone that looks close to new, spend it on the condition and choose Excellent. Both come with the same warranty and 10-day returns.

To compare current prices, open our used iPhone price page or browse every iPhone model. If you are torn between two models, contact our team and we will help you choose.

Devices in this guide

iPhone 12 iPhone 12 From AED 729 iPhone 13 iPhone 13 From AED 1,139 iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro From AED 2,049 iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16 Pro Max From AED 2,999

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