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The best cheap iPhone you can buy in 2025

By Iskra Petrova

Updated: May 07, 2025, 3:02 AM

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The best cheap iPhone you can buy in 2025

The world of Apple is known to be a very expensive universe. Yep, we still remember that $19 polishing cloth... However, Apple has revamped its iPhone lineup in 2025, and we have a good reason to be excited. The Cupertino tech giant is ready to enter the mid-range market with full force with the new iPhone 16e.

Older iPhone models are no longer available, at least not officially on the Apple store. And as such, Apple is not giving many options to people seeking to spend less and still rock an iPhone.

Well, the option it's giving is more than enough...

So which is the best affordable iPhone model to get in 2025? Let's find out.

Best cheap iPhone you can buy in 2025:

iPhone 16e: best cheap iPhone with Apple Intelligence
Bonus category: the best refurbished iPhone deal right now

iPhone 16e

Best lower priced iPhone

Right now, the iPhone 16e is the best cheap iPhone to get. At $600, this iPhone isn't exactly cheap, but it's good value for the money (and there are no cheaper options!).

So why do we recommend it?

A few reasons:

It has a modern design with an OLED screen
It uses a USB-C port, like all other gadgets
It has a super powerful A18 chip with 8 GB of RAM
It supports Apple Intelligence
Its single rear camera is very capable
It has the best ever battery life of a 6.1-inch iPhone

These capabilities combined give you 90% of the iPhone 16 experience at a much lower price of $600.

Is there any reason to spend a $100 more to get an iPhone 15? That phone has a slower chip, doesn't support Apple Intelligence and has slightly worse battery life.

Are there reasons to spend $200 more an go for the iPhone 16? Not many: the processor is the same, they have the same features, the iPhone 16 has an ultra-wide camera, but the 16e has slightly longer battery life.

Overall, the iPhone 16e makes a few compromises (missing MagSafe is one of the bigger ones), but for most people, it would be the sensible and most affordable iPhone to buy without sacrificing too much at all.

Read more: iPhone 16e review

Best refurbished iPhone deal right now

Another way to get an iPhone for less is to buy a refurbished one. These are used iPhones that have been fixed up to look and work like new. You can often find them at lower prices from stores like Amazon or Best Buy. Even without a sale, they usually cost less than new ones.

At the moment, Amazon is offering a renewed iPhone 15, fully unlocked. The device is covered by Amazon’s Renewed Guarantee, ensuring you have 90 days to return it and get a refund or replacement if you’re not satisfied.

$32 off (5%)

A renewed iPhone 15 with 128GB in Black is available at a great price at Amazon right now. You can choose an excellent condition or good condition, which is even cheaper.

Buy at Amazon

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Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.

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