Today, you can get a whole bunch of not-so-new Low Priced iPhones for sale. Previous models are still very usable today, offering nice cameras, good all-round specs, and a premium overall quality and feel that Apple surely knows how to deliver. You can get one for a surprisingly affordable price.
And, of course, the flawless iOS experience. The Apple operating system is so well optimized it doesn’t feel like it’s aged much when considering the models from the last 5 years. In some areas like display quality and camera set-up, many older iPhones are still on par with today’s medium to high-spec devices.
If you are on the market for a new smartphone, but you’d prefer not to spend big money on the very latest releases, we have a suggestion. Why not consider the now affordable flagships from previous years?
Especially if you’re not planning on doing some heavy-duty gaming on the device. They can still run most latest games in HD resolution and medium quality settings. Most Apple iPhones were revolutionary pieces of technology and are still relevant today.
In a hurry? The iPhone 6S Plus is the best choice for an affordable iPhone if you value a bigger screen and longer running times; if you prefer higher performance, smaller size, and lighter chassis, opt for the iPhone 8.
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Discount iPhones for sale
Before we take a look at some awesome discount iPhones for sale, it’s important that you understand that many of them might be refurbished units.
There’s nothing wrong with refurbished units, in fact, they can be a great opportunity for the buyer.
What does “Refurbished” or “Renewed” mean?
A refurbished phone has been used before. Maybe it was returned to the retailer or manufacturer for a refund by a customer or came off a lease.
Many companies have a policy of trading their equipment from time to time, even if they’re performing without any issues.
If that gets you worried, don’t run off just yet. Read a bit more and you’ll feel a lot safer with these options.
Make sure you understand the difference between used and refurbished.
A product sold as used is sold as is, without any repair done or parts replaced. A refurbished product is quite different.
Before being sold as a refurbished model is thoroughly checked. Components with defects are repaired or replaced. Afterward, it is inspected. If it performs as expected, it’s good to be sold again as a refurbished unit.
That’s great news. Although it was previously used before, you can rest assured. Before being sold again as a refurbished product it’s examined and tested properly.
On top of that, you have a warranty to back it up.
Yet another great reason to buy one of these products is their price. Refurbished prices often cost considerably less than the original price they carried.
You can read more about it in Amazon’s policy.
Affordable iPhones comparison table
  iPhone 6S Plus |
 iPhone 7 Plus |   iPhone 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch | 5.5-inch | 4.7-inch |
| CPU | 1.85 GHz Dual-Core | 2.34 GHz Quad-Core | 2.39 GHz Hexa-Core |
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage | 16, 32, 64, or 128 GB | 32, 128 or 256 GB | 64, 128 or 256 GB |
| Cameras | 12-megapixel front 5-megapixel rear | 12-megapixel front 7-megapixel rear | 12-megapixel front 7-megapixel rear |
| Battery | 2750 mAh | 2900 mAh | 1821 mAh |
| Dimensions | 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inch (158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm) | 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inch (158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm) | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inch (138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm) |
| Weight | 6.8 oz (192 g) | 6.6 oz (188 g) | 5.2 oz (148 g) |
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Cheap iPhone 6S Plus
Key features
- Display: 5.5-inch 1920×1080 IPS
- CPU: 1.85 GHz Dual-Core 64-bit
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 16, 32, 64, or 128GB
- Cameras: 12-megapixel front and 5-megapixel rear
- Battery: 2750mAh
- Dimensions: 158.2 mm (6.23 in) x 77.9 mm (3.07 in) x 7.3 mm (0.29 in)
- Weight: 192 g (6.8 oz)
The iPhone 6S Plus was officially unveiled on September 9, 2015, during a press event in San Francisco. It was the second iPhone (following the 6 Plus) to offer a big LCD display with a 5.5-inch and 1080×1920 (401ppi) Full-HD resolution.
It was huge in its time and it is still fairly average and perfectly usable by today’s standards. It’s still plenty sharp and bright, on pair with the best IPS screens available on phones nowadays. With natural-looking colors and solid contrast levels for an LCD. You can happily use your iPhone 6S Plus outside without eye effort, even in the brightest sunlight.
The camera is still another of this phone’s highlights. It features a 12-megapixel resolution main camera and each pixel in its sensor is 1.22-microns with backside illumination, which increases the amount of light captured, and a reduction of noise in low-light photos. Still, it offers optical image stabilization (OIS) for an even better output. It is able to capture sharp and detailed images in pretty much all lighting conditions, being still on par with many medium-to-high specced phones of today.
Its A9 Dual-Core processor offers a perfectly fine user experience, doing anything you need from web browsing to 1080p video streaming without effort. It is still capable of running almost any game as long as it’s not in full-resolution and best quality settings.
This phone was launched with the iOS 9 operating system. Since then Apple has released an update to iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2 and, more recently, iOS 9.3. This later version brought with it a bunch of new features, including Night Shift, lockable notes, some improvements to the Apple Health dashboard, Apple CarPlay, Apple News, and 3D Touch.
Maybe not the cheapest iPhone 6S Plus but a great phone nevertheless.
Pros:
- Great Camera
- High-Quality Display
- Affordable
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack present
Cons:
- Storage can’t be expanded
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Cheap iPhone 7 Plus
Key features
- Display: 5.5 inch 1920×1080 IPS
- CPU: 2.34 GHz Quad-Core 64-bit
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32, 128 or 256GB
- Cameras: 12-megapixel front and 7-megapixel rear
- Battery: 2900mAh
- Dimensions: 158.2 mm (6.23 in) x 77.9 mm (3.07 in) x 7.3 mm (0.29 in)
- Weight: 188 g (6.6 oz)
The iPhone 7 Plus was announced on September 7th, 2016 but it’s still a popular choice today. It features the same magnificent IPS LCD as the 6S Plus, mas now with thinner bezels for a better screen-to-body ratio. It’s a crystal-clear display, very sharp and with high brightness levels that won’t let you down when used under direct sunlight.
Cameras are now a step forward in relation to their predecessor, offering even better low-light performance, thanks to a wider f.1/1.8 aperture lens that lets in more light. Also, it has OIS (optical image stabilization) for improved results in low-light conditions, reducing blur and shaking.
But the biggest improvement is the new secondary telephoto lens. This is the first iPhone featuring a dual-camera setup, now capable of zooming 2x without losing any details or generating image noise.
The telephoto lens is great for capturing landscapes, landmarks, and objects that are far away. You get better detail and improved exposure.
This model offers great cameras that are still capable of doing magnificent shots and comparable to the ones offered by the medium-high marketed phones these days.
The iPhone 7 was the first generation of iPhones featuring an IP67 rating for dust and water protection which is a nice protective for extra peace of mind.
Unfortunately, it was also the first iPhone without a headphone jack. A step that was not well regarded by many users.
Performance-wise, it is still very impressive and can perform an array of tasks without any kind of lag, even CPU-intensive ones. It is almost as powerful as many high-end devices available on the market today.
Apple’s A10 Fusion chipset is still highly capable. The phone is also very energy-efficient, a big plus for battery life.
Battery capacity may not seem that much at 2900mAh, but thanks to the mentioned above-average energy efficiency it will go all day long (and then some) on a single charge.
This device, in general, has held up remarkably well over time. In most aspects, it is still a midrange beater. If you’re after a high-quality camera with a zoom lens in a well-put-together device with a premium package, look no further and get an iPhone 7 Plus.
Is this the cheapest iPhone 7 Plus? Well, you get a great phone, that’s for sure.
Pros:
- Awesome Camera
- Performance still on par with the best
- Good battery life
- Feels premium on the hand
Cons:
- No headphone jack
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iPhone 8
Key features
- Display: 4.7-inch 1334×750 IPS
- CPU: 2.39 GHz Hexa-Core 64-bit
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 64, 128 or 256GB
- Cameras: 12-megapixel front and 7-megapixel rear
- Battery: 1821mAh
- Dimensions: 138.4 mm (5.45 in) x 67.3 mm (2.65 in) x 7.3 mm (0.29 in)
- Weight: 148 g (5.2 oz)
Apple did some changes to the iPhone 8 design compared to its predecessors. It now has a glass back instead of the all-aluminum housing. This makes this device capable of using Qi inductive charging. It was the first iPhone with wireless charging capability. However, it still looks every bit like an iPhone, of course.
The iPhone 8 remains a good value for those who want iOS and are not willing to pay the premium for it. It still packs a ton of good features like a lightning-fast A1 Bionic processor. It was Apple’s first attempt at integrating neural engine functionality into their SoC (system-on-a-chip).
It now has 6 cores, 2 high-performance and, 4 high-efficiency, and also Apple’s first, custom, 3-core graphics processor. You can virtually run everything with this phone without a fuss, including the latest game releases.
The display is Apple’s Retina. An IPS LCD with 4.7 inches and a resolution of 1334×750. Despite not being as impressive as the latest Apple OLED Liquid Retina, it still offers incredible clarity and brightness, with great sharpness levels and color accuracy. The only downside is the screen-to-body ratio which is completely dated for today’s standards with its big bezels.
Don’t be fooled by thinking the 12-megapixel rate is not a big thing compared to what’s on the market nowadays. With the camera on the iPhone 8, you can expect some of the best-looking photos you’ve seen from a phone. The sharpness and the definition in all lightning conditions are outstanding and the overall detail is nothing less than superb.
The iPhone 8 still offers some of the advantages of a modern iPhone for much less than any new iPhone. If you don’t mind the “classic” iPhone looks with thick bezels around the display, there is not much more to complain about this device.
Great performance, outstanding cameras, and Apple build quality is what you’re getting. And in almost every other aspect you still get a phone on par with the best.
Pros:
- Outstanding Camera
- Stellar performance
- Classic premium iPhone design
Cons:
- Big, old-fashioned screen bezels
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Comparison of iPhone 6, 7 and 8
Depending on your needs and your budget, you may have a tough choice between these three generations.
The iPhone 6S Plus offers you plenty of good features for a low cost. It has a great build quality and premium feel, takes awesome shots, and still delivers a great overall user experience. It is still a capable device for regular everyday use. Also, it still has a headphone jack, which is useful for many.
If you are entering the iOS world and want an affordable device, this is a great all-rounder.
If you need a bigger screen and a better screen-to-body ratio, the iPhone 7 Plus offers 5.5 inches vivid display. Still on par with many of today’s smartphones in terms of size and aligning with the best IPS LCDs ever made in its quality. It is very sharp and offers high brightness levels that won’t let you down when used under direct sunlight.
The cameras are impressive too. With optical image stabilization and a secondary telephoto lens, it’s capable of 2x optical zoom. The main camera itself takes magnificent shots in all lighting conditions. The device features an IP67 rating for dust and water protection.
The iPhone 8 offers an experience that is closer to what you can find in a current iPhone model but without paying a premium. With this phone, you’ll get wireless charging and even a better camera than the one on the iPhone 7. It is as capable as most top-end models of today, taking impressive shots in all conditions.
But, its main asset is its lightning-fast A1 Bionic processor that is capable of handling any task or game without effort. If you are a gamer and processing power is of key importance, you should make the effort of paying a little more and consider the iPhone 8.
iPhone Comparison: Battery Life
Now let’s do an iPhone comparison on battery life.
The iPhone 6s Plus features a rechargeable, non-removable lithium-ion 2750 mAh battery with up to 24 hours of talk time on 3G. It also offers up to 12 hours of Wi-Fi use on 3G, LTE, and Wi-Fi, up to 14 hours of HD video playback, and up to 80 hours of audio playback.
iPhone 7 Plus comes with a 2,900 mAh battery. It is one of the reasons this Plus version is a step forward over the standard iPhone 7, offering more hours of talk time and also a lot more screen time. It was a good improvement over the iPhone 6s Plus, not only having a bigger battery but also being more power-efficient. It comfortably lasts a full day on a single charge.
With 1821 mAh, the iPhone 8 battery lasts almost the same as the iPhone 7, offering less battery life than the 7 Plus. Despite the upgraded and more powerful internals, there is not a considerable gain in battery drain as the CPU is very power-efficient. It now has 6 cores, 2 high-performance, and 4 high-efficiency, low-powered cores.
Wrap Up
In this article, you’ll find a brief history of the iPhone line-up. It’s the iPhone order from oldest to newest, the launch dates, specifications, and specific innovations of each model.
There is also a more in-depth review between the iPhone 6s Plus, 7 Plus, and iPhone 8, which we consider to be the most interesting previous iPhones still available now.
After reading this article, we hope it is easier for you to pick the model that best suits your needs from the low-priced iPhones for sale.
For more information on iPhones, check out our awesome article on all iPhone models yet and our other useful resources: