Since the first model launched all the way back in 2007, Apple’s iPhones have gone on to revolutionise the mobile phone industry. From their innovative approach to operating systems and user interface, all the way through to the cameras and displays they use, iPhones have become synonymous with quality and style, and we certainly love them here at X2TECH.


Unfortunately, however, that quality has also traditionally come with a pretty hefty price tag. Fortunately, some of the now-older models are still very impressive in terms of their technical specifications, and there are alternatives to buying brand new models. With that in mind, the X2TECH team has put together some of the best iPhone models you can buy at various budgets (all prices correct at the time of writing).


Firstly, Buy Refurbished!


Our first top tip to buy a better iPhone at a cheaper price is to buy a refurbished model, rather than one that’s brand new. People associate refurbished with the term ‘second-hand’, but in actual fact, these refurbed phones are often as good as new, just much cheaper! Refurbished phones also come unlocked, so all you have to do is put your current SIM in, and you can carry on as normal.


Best iPhone Under £100


We think that the best iPhone for under £100 is the Apple iPhone 7 128GB. The 7th iteration of Apple’s generation-defining product was first released in 2016, and is still a very solid model even today – particularly for under £100. Whilst it doesn’t include some of the more modern features we see on the most recent iPhones, such as facial recognition or the Super Retina/Liquid Retina displays, it still features other solid features.




These include a high-quality wide 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as a perfectly adequate 7-megapixel front-facing camera. This phone comes in only a few different colours (silver, black, gold and rose gold) but for such a low price, it’s hardly much of a compromise. In terms of memory capacity, you can either get a 32GB version or, what we’d recommend instead, a 128GB version. If you can stretch your budget to just over the £100 mark, then you can also get a 256GB option.


Best iPhone Under £200


Apple iPhone XS 64GB. Released in 2018, this iPhone will still compete with many of the latest smartphones to come out today, even four years on. It features Apple’s highly powerful A12 Bionic Chip for improved computing performance and reduced energy consumption, whilst it utilises the stylish Super Retina HD display to achieve crisp colours and clear imagery on screen.




One of the main reasons we like this iPhone here at X2TECH is that it’s made up from surgical-grade steel, a sleek glass front and back, and has dual rear-facing cameras: a wide lens and a telephoto lens (the latter enabling “lossless zooming”). Just last year, TechRadar re-reviewed the XS and gave it a very impressive 4.5 stars, showing just what a solid option this iPhone still is. In other words, we’re not the only ones who like it! 


Best iPhone Under £300


Apple iPhone 11 64GB. One of Apple’s more recent iPhones – first brought out in 2019 – the iPhone 11 is the successor to the iPhone X/XS, and the 11 brought with it a raft of improvements and high-quality tech specs. For a phone originally launched with an RRP of £729, to get this model refurbished and for under £300 is positively a steal.




With an impressive battery life (17 hours of video playback), an impressive 6.1” Liquid Retina HD display and a range of colours from which to choose, the iPhone 11 is old enough to have seen its price fall, but still modern enough that it features the more up-to-date technological features, offering the best of both worlds. As recently as this year, the iPhone 11 has seen very positive reviews come its way.


Best iPhone Under £400


Apple iPhone 12 Mini 128GB. If your budget extends upwards towards the £400 mark, then you’ll be pleased to hear you can afford one of Apple’s newest iPhone models, the iPhone 12 (in this case, the mini). The Mini (as the name suggests) is the iPhone 12’s diminutive younger sibling, but don’t be fooled into thinking that that slighter stature makes for a lesser performance, far from it in fact.




Its stunning Super Retina XDR display enables a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 which means that grayscale colours become clearer and more defined; this leads to deeper blacks and therefore better images overall. Not only that, but the Mini supports Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 30 fps. That’s a pretty impressive statistic for a phone of this size. It also includes a ceramic shield front as well as aerospace-grade aluminium in the body for extra strength (and lightness). The Mini is also compatible with Apple’s Magsafe chargers.


Accessories to Buy With Your Refurbished iPhone


When you purchase your refurbished iPhone from X2TECH, you might want to purchase several related accessories so that you can use it on the day you receive your phone. These might include: a charger/charging cable, airpods so that you can easily listen to your music or podcasts on the go, or a portable power bank so that you’re never caught stranded with your phone out of charge.


Final Thoughts…


Hopefully, having read this, you’ll have a better idea of the iPhone that’s best for you on the budget you’ve got. Whatever iPhone you’re looking for, whether an older model or the most up-to-date, you can find what you’re after at X2TECH.


(Prices correct at the time of writing)