iPhones are some of the most popular devices, whether you love a bit of luxury or if you want a simple phone to use day to day. However, iPhones are known to be one of the most expensive devices on the market, with some iPhones now retailing for around $2,800 brand new. This is far from affordable for many people if you’re looking to buy outright, or even when broken down over a 12, 24, or 36-month payment plan from a major telco.
This guide we’ll take a look at the cheapest iPhone on the market right now, and whether a cheap iPhone is the right choice for you.
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What is the cheapest iPhone Apple sells?
The iPhone SE is currently the cheapest iPhone that you can buy directly from Apple, with prices starting at $719 outright for the 64GB size.
It’s a ‘budget’ iPhone with all the modern technology of the iPhone 13 series and the first iPhone SE with 5G connectivity. You can pick it up with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage.
The iPhone SE is on the cheaper end when compared with other iPhones, but let’s take a look at the price differences between models. Below, you’ll find how the iPhone SE stacks up against other iPhones on price alone. All the prices in this list reflect lowest storage sizes, and any discontinued devices have prices based on refurbished values and reseller prices:
- iPhone SE (2022): $719
- iPhone 11: $999
- iPhone 12 Mini: $1,199
- iPhone 13 Mini: $1,199
- iPhone 12: $1,349
- iPhone 13: $1,349
- iPhone 14: $1,399
- iPhone 15: $1,499
- iPhone 16: $1,399
- iPhone 14 Plus: $1,579
- iPhone 15 Plus: $1,649
- iPhone 16 Plus: $1,599
- iPhone 13 Pro: $1,699
- iPhone 14 Pro: $1,749
- iPhone 15 Pro: $1,849
- iPhone 16 Pro: $1,799
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: $1,849
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: $1,899
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: $2,199
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $2,149
How to get the cheapest iPhone
If you don’t want to pay $719 upfront, you can also buy the iPhone SE bundled to a phone plan. Telstra and Optus offer the iPhone SE coupled to phone plans over either a 12, 24 or 36-month payment period. Vodafone no longer stocks the iPhone SE.
The following table shows a selection of published 24-month Telstra and Optus plans for the 64GB and 128GB iPhone SE on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our mobile phone comparison tool to see plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Should I get an iPhone SE?
An iPhone SE might be a good choice for you if you don’t want to spend more than $1,000 on a brand new iPhone. For comparison, the retail price of the 128GB iPhone 16 in Australia is $1,399, which is $680 more expensive than the iPhone SE (2022). If you don’t need a huge display or a premium camera set-up, the SE still offers a powerful A15 Bionic chip and plenty of flagship features.
The iPhone SE is especially great if you don’t want a super-sized phone, and just because it lacks the full-screen feature of more expensive iPhones doesn’t mean it’s any less capable. The SE can still do many of the same things as the iPhone 11, 12 or 13 range, just in a more compact unit.
What is the cheapest iPhone 16?
If you’re looking at the 2024 iPhone 16 range, the cheapest option is the 128GB iPhone 15. However, with a $1,399 price tag, this device is far from affordable but you can pick it up on a telco plan and spread the cost over 12, 24, or 36 months of payments — if you opt for the 36-month period, you’ll pay around $38 per month.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 Plus plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 128GB iPhone 15 Pro plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table compares a selection of 24-month 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max plans as published on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of their standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our phone plan comparison tool to compare plans from a range of providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Trade-in deals
Trading in an old iPhone to Apple might be a good idea if you’re looking to save some money and part ways with an older phone. Trading in an older model iPhone directly with Apple can get you credit on your next iPhone, or an Apple Store gift card, however there are also other mobile trade-in services you can use. Here’s some estimates on what popular models will trade-in for according to Mobile Guru as of September 2024:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Up to $1,450
- iPhone 15 Pro: Up to $1,330
- iPhone 15 Plus: Up to $1,200
- iPhone 15: Up to $1,020
- iPhone 14 Pro Max: Up to $1,170
- iPhone 14 Pro: Up to $1,040
- iPhone 14 Plus: Up to $870
- iPhone 14: Up to $830
- iPhone SE (3rd gen): Up to $370
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: up to $880
- iPhone 13 Pro: Up to $930
- iPhone 13: Up to $700
- iPhone 13 Mini: Up to $530
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: Up to $640
- iPhone 12 Pro: Up to $610
- iPhone 12: Up to $460
- iPhone 12 Mini: Up to $340
Keep in mind that these are estimated trade-in values, and don’t equate to being the full trade-in value of the device — this can vary due to factors such as your phone’s condition and storage size.
How long does an iPhone last?
A new iPhone should last you about three to four years before you’ll need to buy a replacement. This time frame is wide enough for you to still be receiving updates, and for those updates to be catered to your device.
Over this time period, you’ll likely notice the phone getting generally slower, and the battery life getting worse. Typically, Apple will release updates for devices launched in the past four years, so this is a good window to make sure you’re still getting the latest version of iOS. For example, iOS 18 will be available on iPhones dating back to the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and XS Max, but that same device may not be eligible for the next iOS update.
Although Apple might encourage yearly upgrading, it’s simply not necessary unless your device is malfunctioning or broken beyond repair (even then, a year-old device is still covered by both Apple and consumer warranties).
What about refurbished iPhones?
Refurbished iPhones can be quite good value if you’re wanting to get an iPhone without spending a massive amount of money. Refurbished iPhones are after-market, are typically repaired and usable-quality phones, and sell for less in comparison to brand-new devices.
You’ll still get a warranty with refurbished phones if you buy from authorised retailers, with the only massive downside being that refurbished phones are rarely brand new models.
If you’re planning to try out a good-as-new iPhone, it might be worth looking for a refurbished iPhone SE 3rd Generation, or an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14. These will sell for much less than their new counterparts, because of their age and repaired nature. However, keep in mind that — as mentioned earlier — older devices will eventually be excluded from Apple software updates.
Which phones are cheaper than iPhones?
If a $719 price point is too high for you, there are other great budget phones on offer in Australia. You can get a great Android smartphone for under $200 with all the basics and necessities, or alternatively there’s plenty of great cheap phones under $400 — some of which are even 5G capable.
You’ll find a lot of brands staying well below the price points of Apple products. Keep in mind that a lot of the stuff you can do on an iPhone, you can also do on an Android device. Here’s some lower-to-mid-range phones you might want to consider:
Editorial credit: NYC Russ / Shutterstock.com
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