Where to get the best deal on a refurbished iPhone

As much as we love the iPhone for its performance, camera quality and design, there’s one thing we’re not so keen on—the price. Thankfully, there’s a cheaper option for those on a budget who don’t want to fork out for the iPhone 14 or make the Android switch—a refurbished iPhone. Here's everything you need to know about buying a refurbished iPhone in Australia and a guide to some of the cheapest deals available. 

Sure, it’s easy to find a second-hand iPhone on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or eBay, but you can never be 100% sure of the quality or even authenticity of the device. You can also say goodbye to your consumer rights with no warranty or refund policy.

That’s why a refurbished iPhone can be a good alternative. Apple offers preloved iPhones which have been revamped with a brand new battery and outer shell, genuine Apple replacement parts (where necessary), all accessories and cables, and a one-year warranty for that added peace of mind. In return, you’ll save hundreds off the price of a new device. Unfortunately, Apple’s range of refurbished iPhones is quite limited, offering only the 11, 11 Pro and 12 at the time of writing. 

Many other retailers also offer refurbished iPhones —and often more recent models— for an even bigger discount than Apple (and usually still offer a warranty). However, these third-party refurbs generally come with the original battery and outer shell, so while the phone is guaranteed to work, it might not be at that fresh-out-of-the-box level.

2021's iPhone 13 wasn't a revolutionary improvement on the iPhone 12 from the year prior, but it did make some noticeable upgrades to any already outstanding handset. he camera and battery life in particular are standout updates that genuinely seem to address the complaints most users had about the previous generation. The 13 Pro and Pro Max were also the first two Apple handsets to introduce ProMotion; Apple's fancy name for a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate. 

Released back in 2020, the iPhone 12 family was the first to introduce the criminally underappreciated mini model. Ever since the iPhone 14, Apple has ditched the iPhone mini so your only option for downsizing is to buy an old iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini. 

Besides that, the upgrade to 12 from 11 was fairly rote with the exception of a few milestone upgrades such as 5G connectivity and MagSafe charging. The iPhone 11 is still a fantastic smartphone in its own right but the lack of 5G, in particular, will push many bargain-hunters to the iPhone 12 range. 

Here are a few standout refurbished iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max deals. 

Released in the same year as the iPhone 12, the 2020 iPhone SE brought back the budget-minded alternative to Apple's range of smartphones (which sold enough to warrant a follow-up in 2022 with the Gen 3 iPhone SE.)

More than an affordable alternative to the flagship handsets, the iPhone SE has become an option for those who yearn for the old days of Apple's smartphones. It still rocks a home button (and Touch ID) and is packing the formidable A13 Bionic chipset (also found in the iPhone 11 range,) but simplifies the camera offering in the name of cost-cutting. 

Here are some of the best refurbished iPhone SE deals we've tracked down below. 

They’ve been superseded many times over now, but we reckon the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are some of the best phones Apple has ever produced. And the good news is that you can still nab a refurbished iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro outright through sellers like Amazon and Kogan. Each retailer has its own refurbishing process and guarantees, so be sure to check the fine print before hitting ‘Buy Now’.

Here are the best offers below.

Released across 2017 and 2018, the iPhone X, XR and XS are getting on in age. That doesn't mean they aren't still great smartphones—their cameras and processors still pack a punch even today—but you do make a few compromises when opting for an iPhone released in 2018 or earlier. First of all, you'll be restricted to 4G (that was introduced with iPhone 12,) but more importantly, older phones are only supported for so long by Apple. Sure, the iPhone X, XR, XS and even the iPhone 8 are all still supported by software updates by Apple but their time is limited.

Still, if you're simply looking for the cheapest iPhone to last you long enough until you're ready to upgrade to the latest and greatest, you can still find some stellar deals on refurbished iPhone X models.

Like the iPhone X range above, the ever-popular iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are a few years old now, but they still give some more modern phones a run for their money—especially considering how much of that money you can actually save by buying an already cheaper model with that sweet, sweet refurb discount.

Besides the iPhone 7, which we wouldn't recommend at this stage, the iPhone 8 is the next cheapest iPhone you can get with a refurbished discount. But the 2017 smartphone comes with the same disclaimer as the X range—Apple might not continue support for it much longer. Now that the iPhone 7 is no longer supported, the iPhone 8 is next on the chopping block. 

Australia is home to just one phone provider who offers refurbished devices on plans—numobile. This Telstra MVNO offers a great selection of iPhones at cheap outright prices (which can also be paid in instalments) as well as monthly handset fees to go with a numobile plan. Each phone goes through an extensive 51-step testing process to ensure everything from the camera to the battery are functioning as expected.

Once you’ve picked your device, there are several plans to choose from, ranging from 3GB to 60GB per month (with limited-time promo deals for more monthly data available too.) 

Numobile offers some fairly tempting prices on refurbished iPhones but there is a catch: you don't actually own the phone. You're essentially leasing the phone over your chosen plan duration but you're expected to return it at the end of your plan or subscription, as numobile refers to it. You can technically get an iPhone 14 for as low as $52 per month, but you are required to return that handset at the end of your subscription. 

Still, if you're dead-set on getting a refurbished iPhone on a plan, follow the links before for more information. 

If you’re purchasing your refurb iPhone outright, you’re in total control of which provider you go with, how much data you get and how big your monthly bill is. That means there are some real bargains to be had on cheaper mobile plans, regardless of whether you opt for prepaid or postpaid.

Take a look below to see the most popular plans with at least 10GB data.