Forget the iPhone 17: These 4 Older Models Still Deliver Great Value

Just because an iPhone is “old” doesn’t mean it can’t give you fantastic value — as long as you pick the right one.

Sure, it’s easy to look at the cheapest used or refurbished iPhone you can find and assume it must be the best deal, but older tech doesn’t always work that way. The best-value iPhone isn’t typically the oldest one you can still get running; it’s the one that has dropped enough in price to feel like a bargain while still being modern enough that you’ll actually enjoy using it every day.

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This matters even more now because Apple is still supporting a surprisingly wide range of iPhones with iOS 26. So yes, you can still buy some fairly old models and get official software support. But software support is only one piece of the decision. 

The bigger question is whether the phone still feels current enough in the areas people notice most, like screen quality, battery life, camera performance, charging, and general speed. Not only that, but with Apple Intelligence being on all the latest devices, you’ll need to decide if that’s something you actually need or can live without. A supported phone can still feel dated if it’s missing too many of the things that make a modern iPhone pleasant to live with.

So if you’re on the market for a new iPhone, but don’t want to spend a lot for a current-year model, here are the best older models that will give you some good bang for your buck.

iPhone 14 Pro

If you want an older iPhone that still feels high-end every time you use it, the iPhone 14 Pro is one of the smartest buys in Apple’s old-ish lineup. The iPhone 14 Pro raised the bar by setting a new standard for a lot of hardware features that still hold up to this day. 

The iPhone 14 Pro introduced a 48 MP camera, Dynamic Island, and an Always-On display, improving the variable rate 120 Hz ProMotion display from the iPhone 13 Pro to ramp the refresh rate as low as 1Hz. These are the kinds of features people notice right away, so even now, it doesn’t feel like an obviously old premium phone.

That’s what makes it such a strong value on the used market. It still gives you a lot of the visual experience people associate with newer, more expensive iPhones. The screen feels smooth, the display looks brighter outdoors, and the 48 MP Main camera adds an extra 2X zoom for those times when the Telephoto’s 3X is too much. The whole iPhone 14 Pro has an extra layer of polish that even base-level modern iPhone models can’t quite match. If you care about how premium a phone feels, the iPhone 14 Pro still makes a strong case.

This is also one of those scenarios where the price spread matters. It’s definitely more expensive than other used iPhones, so it’s not a budget pick per se. But compared to buying a new flagship, it can still be a much smarter choice for your money. With that said, it’s worth noting that this iPhone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Granted, Apple’s AI is still in the early stages, so you might not even care about it. But if you want to try it, or at least have the ability to use it, this isn’t the iPhone for you.

On the other hand, for someone who wants premium hardware without paying the latest flagship premium, the iPhone 14 Pro is one of the best older iPhones to consider.

iPhone 14 Plus

The iPhone 14 Plus is still a good option, and it probably deserves more attention than it usually gets. 

A lot of advice when choosing older iPhones naturally goes toward the standard-size phones or the Pro models, but the iPhone 14 Plus has a really nice value argument of its own. It gives you the larger-screen experience and stronger battery life people often want from an iPhone Pro Max, but for much less money. 

That makes it a great buy for a certain type of person. If you watch a lot of videos, read on your phone often, use your phone heavily throughout the day, or simply prefer a bigger display, the iPhone 14 Plus can make more sense than a smaller standard iPhone. And if you prioritize screen size and battery over telephoto cameras and ProMotion displays, this iPhone might be the better choice.

With all of that said, this might be the weakest option on the list because of the outdated A15 chip inside. Plus, this iPhone still has a Lightning port, which isn’t ideal in today’s world (unless you have many accessories for that port). It’s not that it’s a bad option, but you can definitely get something better.

iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 15 Plus is the older iPhone to look at if you want something that still feels very current without buying the newest model. It sits in a really interesting spot because it’s old enough to have dropped in price, but new enough that a lot of people will still think of it as basically modern. And one of the reasons this iPhone is such a good buy is because this is the model where Apple brought USB-C to the standard iPhone line, and that’s one of those changes that genuinely improves your experience.

That alone gives the iPhone 15 a stronger long-term feel than older Lightning-based iPhones for a lot of buyers. It feels more aligned with the direction Apple’s lineup is already moving. So even though it might cost more than other older iPhones like the 14 Plus, you’re paying for a phone that should feel more modern for longer and fit better into the newer cable and accessory world Apple has now embraced.

Besides that, you still get other benefits of a Plus model, like the larger screen and battery, which are perfect if you’re always on the go, or like reading from your iPhone.

Overall, this is probably the best pick if you want modern features without jumping all the way to flagship pricing. While you don’t get specific stuff like Apple Intelligence Support, it’s still a solid option that should last for at least a few more years. 

iPhone 15 Pro

The iPhone 15 Pro proves that a slightly older Pro can be a much better buy than a newer non-Pro. While it isn’t cheap compared to other older iPhones, you can still pick one up for less than the price of a standard iPhone 17. Still, this isn’t the one to pick because you want the lowest possible price, but because you want premium hardware, and would rather save money by buying a couple generations back instead of paying for the latest release.

Sure, this iPhone is now two generations old, but that doesn’t mean it’s outdated. In fact, with a faster USB-C port, ProMotion, and a better camera system, this iPhone might be a better choice than the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 for probably around the same price.

The iPhone 15 Pro is still luxurious enough to feel premium in the right ways, while costing much less than a new iPhone Pro model. If you care about the best display experience, ProMotion, stronger overall performance with its A17 Pro chip — the one that brought AAA games to the iPhone — and a phone that still feels top-tier, the iPhone 15 Pro is one of the strongest older iPhones you can buy.

And the great news is that the iPhone 15 Pro models are the oldest iPhones that still support Apple Intelligence, and iOS 26 hasn’t left this model behind in terms of AI. Granted, that might change when iOS 27 comes out later this year, but for now the iPhone 15 Pro remains a capable alternative.

While this might be the priciest option on the list, spending more up front can still be a smart move if you want a premium iPhone that will continue to work for a long time. 

Get the Best Value 

The best older iPhone really depends on what kind of value you’re after. If you want the most affordable model from the list, the iPhone 14 Plus is still the one that stands out. It’s dropped in price enough to feel like a real bargain, but it still has the modern basics that keep it enjoyable. Plus, the larger screen and bigger battery will make using it even easier. 

If you’d rather have more premium hardware, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro are where you should be looking. Those are the phones that still feel expensive in all the right ways, even though they’ve already fallen into much more reasonable price brackets on the used and refurbished markets. 

The best thing is that all of these iPhones are strong choices. If you have the money to go for the premium iPhone Pro models, then go for them. If you’re more of a casual user and just want a phone that works great for a few more years without compromising on the camera system by getting an iPhone 17e, there are also options for you. All of them will work wonders and will be great iPhones for now and the next couple of years. 

At-a-Glance: How They Compare