Best secondhand iPhone that won't lose updates 4 a few years

[JQ]

My 84 year old dad's iPhone has stopped supporting WhatsApp - it's very very old. It's the main way the family and his friends communicate with him as he's not on social media, so we send him photos and his grandkids send him messages. He has no other use for the iPhone other than calls as he uses an iPad for reading Motorsport Magazine and getting his daily rants from the Daily Mail.

We therefore want to get him a refurbished phone that won't suddenly stop supporting WhatsApp in a few years. What's the oldest model that would be ok? We can get an iPhone 12 for £200 which seems pretty reasonable or should we go a bit newer?

Thank you

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

I got a refurbished Iphone 12 for my 81 year old dad recently and it's a great phone at this price (I still have an Iphone 12 pro myself).

Estimated end of support dates from macworld shows you should get a few years yet.

iPhone XS (2018-2019) – Approx 2024-2026
iPhone XR (2018-2021) – Approx 2026-2028
iPhone 11 (2019-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
iPhone SE2 (2020-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
iPhone 12 (2020-2023) – Approx 2028-2030
iPhone 13 (2021) – Approx 2032
iPhone SE3 (2022) – Approx 2033
iPhone 14 (2022) – Approx 2034
iPhone 15 (2023) – Approx 2035
iPhone 16 (2024) – Approx 2036

[JQ]

Brilliant, thank you for the great response, exactly what I needed.

[Ham_and_Jam]

JQ said:

Brilliant, thank you for the great response, exactly what I needed.

I would say the optimum performance v cost would be the 13Pro.

I’ve just upgraded from the 13Pro to the latest 16Pro and besides the camera and AI stuff there’s not a great deal of difference.

[GCH]

The iPhone SE3 (2022-2025) has just been discontinued last week. You can fin them on clearance or get a decently priced refurbished one (including via amazon) for not a lot, probably around the same or less than the 12 you were looking at.
That will be supported for a couple of years yet as it has the internals of a 13. It's a decent phone - it is the one I use most of the time, and doesn't have the bells and whistles of something pro whatever. Also still has touch ID.

[megaphone]

I'd go with one that has face ID, just makes it much easier to use. My 13 mini has it.

[MitchT]

Gin and Ultrasonic said:

Estimated end of support dates from macworld shows you should get a few years yet.

iPhone XS (2018-2019) – Approx 2024-2026
iPhone XR (2018-2021) – Approx 2026-2028
iPhone 11 (2019-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
iPhone SE2 (2020-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
iPhone 12 (2020-2023) – Approx 2028-2030
iPhone 13 (2021) – Approx 2032
iPhone SE3 (2022) – Approx 2033
iPhone 14 (2022) – Approx 2034
iPhone 15 (2023) – Approx 2035
iPhone 16 (2024) – Approx 2036

I need to replace my 8 and was concerned about getting an SE3 in case support ends imminently, but that looks like it could be kept up-to-date for some considerable time. That said, a new 128GB SE3 is £449 on Amazon, which seems a little steep for a model that's now discontinued.

[butchstewie]

My mums old Moto G9 could do with replacing and I think even with a new battery from Apple giving her my old XS is pushing it a bit?

What would people suggest is the minimum viable iPhone that will still get a good few years use out of it and where would people suggest if I wanted something where I wouldn't have to worry about the battery or screen please?

Assuming an iPhone 14 is about the minimum sensible purchase?

[richardracer]

You can now get full fat WhatsApp on his iPad. Worth looking into first. Link to his phone number on old iPhone.

[normalbloke]

Planned obsolescence. Delightful…

[vaud]

normalbloke said:

Planned obsolescence. Delightful

Better planned obsolescence than adhoc/uncertainty. These things can't be support indefinitely, as with any hardware or software.

[bristolracer]

Check battery condition.

I notice CEX are offering 5year warranty on their 2nd hand iPhones

[ZesPak]

butchstewie said:

My mums old Moto G9 could do with replacing and I think even with a new battery from Apple giving her my old XS is pushing it a bit?

Bit off topic, but I wouldn't dream of changing an elderly person who's used to iOS to Android, or vice versa.
A decent new Moto is cheap anyway, and second hand they are worth peanuts.

[butchstewie]

ZesPak said:

Bit off topic, but I wouldn't dream of changing an elderly person who's used to iOS to Android, or vice versa.
A decent new Moto is cheap anyway, and second hand they are worth peanuts.

Yeah that's a fair point but she only really she uses a MacBook so with all the iCloud sync it's six of one half a dozen of the other I think

[Zato]

Still using a 13 mini. Great phone and the regular 13 or 13 mini can be a good buy now.

[GuyW]

Rather than potentially have to do this again in a few years, because you've gone for a handset already well into it's supported life I'd suggest maybe going a bit newer.

E.g. iPhone 13 or 14 onwards.

[danb79]

Personally I'd go for the current 16 or 16e whilst they're still available new on Amazon and the likes; but check Apple Refurb too:

16: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-iPhone-16-128-Intel...
16e: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DXR93G9D

Apple Refurb for iPhone: https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/iphone

[butchstewie]

I did think about a 16e but honestly it's either another budget Android or £200 on a 12 and if it goes in the bin in 2 years and it's rinse and repeat that's acceptable.

I don't mind stretching a bit to a 13 but I think it comes down to who you trust most for a refurb.

Suggestions welcome.

[danb79]

butchstewie said:

I did think about a 16e but honestly it's either another budget Android or £200 on a 12 and if it goes in the bin in 2 years and it's rinse and repeat that's acceptable.

I don't mind stretching a bit to a 13 but I think it comes down to who you trust most for a refurb.

Suggestions welcome.

I'd go with Amazon renewed then: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-iPhone-128GB-Midnig...

What does Apple Refurb store have on offer?

[butchstewie]

Thanks that looks decent for £70 over a 12 and I've seen Techlike mentioned before.

Apple Store seems to be £500 plus and at that point I'd just buy a 16e.