What’s the best cheap iPhone? Comparisons and differences (2023)
Buy an iPhone 12: our top picks
If it’s about best quality price report, then for us it is clear that the iPhone 12 wins. This phone does have a lot in common with these two collections, but at a much better price. Just count on 809 euros, but with the same screen as the iPhone 14, the same definition for the camera and barely reduced autonomy.
The iPhone 12 is also a pretty good choice, because compared to other Apple phones, it’s quite thin: only 7.4 mm. It’s also a lighter phone than the iPhone 14, which might be nicer for a smaller pocket of jeans. Moreover, even if we compare A14 Bionic chip to the following A15 Bionic chip models, the results are not much different. Admittedly, there’s a few hundred points difference in benchmarks, but the iPhone 12 still does the trick in 2023.
iPhone 12 compatible with 5G and is available in six colors, one more than the iPhone 14 but for 210 euros less. Here they are purple, blue, green, red, white or black.
iPhone 12 64 GB at the best price Base price: €909
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iPhone 12 © Apple
How much is the iPhone 13 worth in 2022?
Of course, the iPhone 13 is still slightly better than the iPhone 12, but it’s also more expensive. Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max but is still offering the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 “classic”.
iPhone 13 mini: cheapest
In fact, it turned out to be so The iPhone 13 mini is actually shown today at the same price as the iPhone 12: 809 euros. On the other hand, the screen is smaller and is limited to 5.4 inches at the table. But that’s more than enough, especially here the size of the notch has been reduced so as to leave enough space for display. The iPhone 13 mini has the same technical characteristics as the iPhone 13 under the hood, both for the processor (A15 Bionic chip) and the amount of RAM.
The only downside, and not the least: the iPhone 13 mini has a quite limited durability. Compared to the iPhone 14 for example, you may have to recharge it around four or five in the afternoon. Too bad, at this price. The rest, almost everything is similar to the current generation with Face ID for security, quality optical zoom and the iOS 16 operating system with the latest updates.
iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 © Apple
iPhone 13
The big brother of the iPhone 13 mini, the “classic” iPhone 13, is slightly better than the iPhone 12, except perhaps on the price side. Indeed, this time we can’t really say that this is a “cheap” iPhone because you still need to pay no less than 909 euros to buy the device. But this is the price to pay for a better camera, because here the manufacturer offers a style of photography, a kind of Instagram filter made by Apple.
iPhone 13 128 GB at the best price Base price: €909
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iPhone SE (third generation)
Out of all the latest generation iPhones, maybe the third generation iPhone SE the best when it comes to compact phones. Indeed, even though the device is slightly larger than the iPhone 13 mini, we end up here with an identical chip. However, it needs to do without facial recognition, replaced by the home button which is also used for Touch ID.
The iPhone SE 3 lasts half a day and offers a reducing the screen to 4.7 inches and which is lower resolution than all other current iPhones. On the other hand, the price is definitely unbeatable. Also, it’s the only budget phone in our comparison when we consider that iPhones are generally a lot cheaper than Android smartphones.
Third generation iPhone SE price: from 559 euros.
Refurbished iPhones are the cheapest
iPhone SE 2020
The iPhone SE 2, released two years before the third generation iPhone SE, is a good choice. Because the technical sheets are almost the same, outside anyway. Inside, the chip is a bit underpowered, but the score for 2020 is already very good. For the rest, the chassis and screen are the same as in 2022. On the other hand, Apple is offering a much better price for the iPhone SE 2 than its replacement. Indeed, this version is no longer issued recently. Therefore, it is necessary to pass the refurbished. With a price down of -30% compared to the iPhone SE 3, which can’t be ignored given the current overall price hike.
iPhone SE 2020 and 2022
iPhone SE 2020 © Apple
iPhone 11: still doing well in 2023?
As for the refurbished iPhone, we can also mention the iPhone 11. Once again, the device is no longer manufactured by Apple. But the manufacturer stopped producing it when the new iPhone 14s was released. However, we often find devices under 500 euros. So of course, you are not entitled to all camera, design or even performance improvements. But The iPhone 11 is Apple’s flagship it wasn’t that long ago, and finding it twice as cheap as when it came out was a godsend.
The screen measures 6.1 inches diagonally. Here we are entitled to a twelve megapixel camera with an ultra wide angle. As a bonus, autonomy reaches the day, and the A13 Bionic chip knows how to chain all voracious tasks at the same time without flinching. In short, everything you can expect from a good apple brand in 2023. Less overcharging.
Older iPhone Pros
If Apple continues to sell the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, that will not be the case with their Pro versions. But this faster, but Apple wants to make way for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Should we think that their predecessors were not up to date? Impossible. By choosing the iPhone 13 Pro, for example, you won’t make a difference with the iPhone 14 Pro. Unless maybe you’re a huge fan of Dynamic Island or you need a super telephoto lens to capture the movement of your favorite insect.
iPhone 14 Pro Max © Apple
Refurbished iPhone 13 Pro is about 20-25% cheaper than iPhone 14. much better price, but was only found during a sale, so consider consulting our comparison below to stay up to date. If not, know that the iPhone 12 Pro is even cheaper, but this won’t be supported for as long. This may introduce some security issues after a while.
iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
Price comparison
The cheapest iPhone in 2023 is Third-generation iPhone SE. Apple offers it from 559 euros, brand new. Then the order of the cheapest iPhone is:
- iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 strapped (from 809 euros)
- iPhone 13 (from 909 euros)
- iPhone 14 (from 1,019 euros)
- iPhone 14 Plus (from 1169 euros)
And for models that are available only in refurbishment:
- iPhone SE 2020 (about 400 euros)
- iPhone 11 (about 500 euros)
- iPhone 12 mini (about 600 euros)
- iPhone 12 Pro (about 700 euros)
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (about 850 euros)
- iPhone 13 Pro (about 760 euros)
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (about 900 euros)
Finally, find our comparison of the best cheap iPhones below. Their best prices are updated in real time according to the current offers in the most reliable French shops.
iPhone SE 3
559€
