A refurbished iPhone 13 is worth buying in 2026, and it is the clearest value pick in the lineup. It launched in September 2021, runs iOS 27, and is on track for major updates through roughly 2028. On RefurbMe a refurbished iPhone 13 starts around $209, about $40 below a refurbished iPhone 14, while keeping the same modern dual-camera design and the fast A15 Bionic chip.
Buy a refurbished iPhone 13 if you want a fully supported, modern iPhone for the lowest sensible price. It hits the sweet spot where the discount is deep but the software life ahead is still long: years of iOS updates, the A15 Bionic chip, a 6.1-inch OLED display, and a dual 12MP camera with sensor-shift stabilization.
It suits anyone stepping up from an older iPhone or Android phone who does not need the newest features. The iPhone 13 does not run Apple Intelligence, so skip it for the iPhone 15 Pro or later if on-device AI matters to you. For everyone else, the iPhone 13 is the smart refurbished pick in 2026, though our refurbished iPhone buying guide is worth a read if you are still weighing models.
The one habit worth keeping is checking live prices before you commit. Refurbished stock and pricing shift week to week, so the cheapest listing today may not hold tomorrow. Compare current prices on the refurbished iPhone page before you buy.
The iPhone 13 is expected to receive major iOS updates through roughly 2028. It launched on September 24, 2021 with iOS 15 and runs iOS 27, which Apple released on September 14, 2026 with the same support list as iOS 26. (Apple)
Apple does not publish a fixed cutoff date, but its track record is consistent: recent iPhones receive six to seven years of major iOS versions. (Wikipedia) Counting from 2021, and with iOS 27 already installed, that puts the iPhone 13 on course for iOS 28 as well, with security patches probably reaching into 2029.
That support runway is the strongest argument for buying the iPhone 13 over a cheaper iPhone 11 or iPhone XR. An older phone saves a little money up front but reaches its update cutoff sooner. For the full picture across every model, read our breakdown of how long Apple supports iPhones.
A refurbished iPhone 13 starts around $209 on RefurbMe for a 128GB unit, well below its $799 launch price. Pricing climbs with storage and condition, and the lowest listings come from independent refurbishers rather than Apple.
Here is the current live picture across the iPhone 13 family. These figures move with stock, so treat them as a snapshot and check the live number before buying.
| Model | New launch price (128GB) | Refurbished from |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 mini | $699 | $194 |
| iPhone 13 | $799 | $182 carrier-locked |
| iPhone 13 Pro | $999 | $318 carrier-locked |
The cheapest 128GB iPhone 13 units run from about $209 up to $300 depending on carrier lock and condition, while 256GB units started at $253 at eBay Refurbished on October 15, 2026. That spread means a base iPhone 13 can cost about a quarter of its original price while still arriving tested, cleaned, and warrantied.
Independent sellers post the lowest prices, with eBay Refurbished and Back Market usually leading on value. Gazelle and Apple Certified Refurbished sit at the higher end for this model right now, and Apple Certified units bundle a one-year Apple warranty and a new battery when in stock. We compare the tradeoffs in our guide to the best places to buy refurbished iPhones.
The iPhone 13 usually wins on value against both neighbors, because the price gap to the iPhone 14 is small and the SE feels dated by comparison. Refurbished, the iPhone 13 starts around $209, while the iPhone 14 starts near $252 on RefurbMe, a difference of about $40 for what is largely the same phone.
| Feature | iPhone 13 | iPhone 14 | iPhone SE (3rd gen) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 4.7-inch LCD |
| Chip | A15 Bionic | A15 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Camera | Dual 12MP | Dual 12MP | Single 12MP |
| Design | Full-screen, Face ID | Full-screen, Face ID | Home button, Touch ID |
| Refurbished from | About $209 | About $252 | Lower, smaller screen |
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 share the A15 Bionic chip and the same 6.1-inch OLED screen, so day to day they feel nearly identical. The iPhone 14 adds Crash Detection and a slightly better main sensor, but for most buyers those do not justify the premium. Our iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13 comparison covers the step down if you want to save even more, and our refurbished iPhone 12 guide has its current prices.
Against the iPhone SE, the choice is about screen and design. The SE keeps a 4.7-inch LCD and a home button, while the iPhone 13 gives you a large modern OLED display and Face ID for a similar or only slightly higher price refurbished. If you want the full-screen experience, see our iPhone SE 3 vs iPhone 13 breakdown.
The four iPhone 13 variants split by size, camera, and price. The standard iPhone 13 is the value pick, the 13 mini trades screen for a smaller body, and the 13 Pro adds a telephoto lens and a 120Hz display.
| Model | Screen | Standout feature | Refurbished from |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 mini | 5.4-inch | Compact one-hand size | $194 |
| iPhone 13 | 6.1-inch | Best overall value | $182 carrier-locked |
| iPhone 13 Pro | 6.1-inch | 120Hz, telephoto camera | $318 carrier-locked |
The standard iPhone 13 is the right call for most people. It carries the same chip and main cameras as the mini and Pro, with a comfortable 6.1-inch screen and the best balance of price and battery life in the family.
Pick the 13 mini if you want a phone that disappears in a pocket, accepting shorter battery life for the smaller 5.4-inch frame. Our guide to buying a refurbished iPhone 13 mini covers what to check on the smallest model before you order. Pick the 13 Pro if you want the 120Hz ProMotion display, the 3x telephoto camera, and the extra RAM. The Pro starts around $373 refurbished, a clear step up in price from the standard model, and we break that trade-off down in is a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro worth it.
Demand a refurbished iPhone 13 with battery health at or above 85 percent, and favor sellers that publish the exact figure. Battery health is the maximum capacity the battery holds relative to new, and on a phone first sold in 2021, it is the number that matters most.
Apple designs iPhone 14 and earlier batteries, a bucket that includes the iPhone 13, to retain 80 percent of original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles, against 1000 cycles on iPhone 15 and later. (Apple) A four-year-old iPhone 13 may have crossed that threshold, so an 85 percent or higher reading tells you the unit was either lightly used or fitted with a fresh battery. For the full picture on why 80 percent is the number sellers quote, including what Apple's performance management does below it, read our battery health guide. Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones ship with a brand-new battery at 100 percent, which is part of why they cost more.
Condition grades describe cosmetics, not function. Across most sellers the tiers run like this: Grade A or Excellent means like new with no visible marks, Grade B or Good means light wear you have to look for, and Grade C or Fair means visible scratches that do not affect use. Every grade is tested and working, so a Good or Fair unit is the smart way to push the price down if looks do not bother you.
You can verify battery health yourself once the phone arrives. Open Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health and Charging, and read the Maximum Capacity percentage. If it falls below what the listing promised, a reputable seller's return window lets you send it back.
RefurbMe compares refurbished iPhone 13 listings across trusted sellers in real time, so you see price, grade, storage, and warranty in one view instead of opening a dozen tabs. eBay Refurbished and Back Market usually post the lowest prices, with Amazon Renewed, Gazelle, and Apple Certified Refurbished (when in stock) filling the higher, warranty-backed tiers.
Filter by storage and grade to match your budget, then sort by price to find the current floor. Lock status is worth filtering on too, because the same iPhone 13 can carry a real premium unlocked, and our guide to unlocked versus carrier-locked refurbished iPhones walks through that gap. Because refurbished stock turns over quickly, the cheapest listing can change week to week, so checking live is the only reliable way to catch a genuine deal.
When you are ready, compare every available refurbished iPhone 13 below and grab the best price across sellers.
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Yes. It launched in 2021, runs iOS 27, and is expected to get major updates through roughly 2028. On RefurbMe it starts around 209 dollars, about 40 dollars below a refurbished iPhone 14, while keeping the same A15 Bionic chip and dual-camera design.
The iPhone 13 launched with iOS 15 in September 2021, and runs iOS 27, which Apple released on September 14, 2026. Apple does not publish a fixed cutoff, but recent iPhones receive six to seven years of major updates, which puts the iPhone 13 on course for iOS 28 as well, with security patches probably into 2029.
Yes. The iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max are all on Apple's iOS 26 compatibility list and received the update in the fall of 2025. The whole iPhone 13 family also runs iOS 27, which Apple released on September 14, 2026.
On RefurbMe a refurbished iPhone 13 starts around 209 dollars for a 128GB unit, with 256GB starting at 253 dollars at eBay Refurbished on October 15, 2026. The 13 mini and 13 Pro vary, with the Pro starting near 373 dollars. Prices shift with stock, so check the live figure before buying.
The iPhone 13 is usually the better value. The two phones share the A15 Bionic chip and a 6.1-inch OLED screen, so they feel nearly identical day to day, yet the iPhone 13 costs roughly 40 dollars less refurbished. Choose the iPhone 14 only if Crash Detection or its slightly better main camera matter to you.
Aim for 85 percent maximum capacity or higher, and favor sellers that disclose the exact figure. Apple designs iPhone 14 and earlier batteries, including the iPhone 13, to keep 80 percent capacity after 500 charge cycles, against 1000 cycles on iPhone 15 and later, so on a phone from 2021 a high reading signals light use or a fresh battery. You can verify it in Settings under Battery, Battery Health and Charging.
No. The iPhone 13 uses the A15 Bionic chip, which does not meet Apple Intelligence requirements. Apple Intelligence needs the A17 Pro or newer, found in the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16 line. The iPhone 13 still receives standard iOS updates and features.
Grades describe cosmetics, not function. Grade A or Excellent is like new with no visible marks, Grade B or Good has light wear you have to look for, and Grade C or Fair has visible scratches. Every grade is tested and fully working, so a Good or Fair unit is a fine way to lower the price.
To compare every refurbished iPhone in real time across trusted sellers, head to the refurbished iPhone page and find your best price.
Last updated: Sep 15, 2026 · First published: Jun 26, 2026
CEO and Founder at RefurbMe. I made this project back when I was 15 when I had to wake up at 2am to buy my own refurbished Macbook Pro. Passionate about circular economy, great UX and goats.
