I’ve been using Apple gear for years, and right now is the best time to buy off the used shelf
Apple is preparing to raise iPhone prices in the coming months. CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal this week that rising memory costs, driven by AI demand for parallel chips, made the move necessary. For years, Apple has been able to keep sticker prices steady, perhaps by absorbing some of the rising costs themselves, but that cushion now appears to be gone. Having bought and used Apple products for years myself, I think this is the perfect time to stop grabbing the new releases and start browsing the used shelf instead.
The savings add up quickly
A new iPhone wasn’t cheap even before this recently announced increase, and the gap between new and used has widened. Counterpoint Research analyst Emily Herbert told the Journal that the secondary market is attracting a wider mix of buyers than ever before, including parents who don’t want to spend nearly $2,000 on a phone for a teenager.
That same equation applies to most adults. Skipping the latest chip in favor of a refurbished or certified model that’s managed early to get a phone that can handle everyday use, at a much lower price, and the desire for that trade-in is growing.
Choosing a place to buy
Apple has its own store front fixed, and several third-party marketplaces have built a reputation for trust. Back Market, for example, only works with professional sellers who go through audits, and supports purchases with a 30-day return window. Reebelo vets its vendors through background checks and offers 12-month warranties covering hardware and software issues.
Swappa requires sellers to verify listings with photos and serial numbers before they go live. However, founder Ben Edwards has been tight-lipped about fraudsters finding new ways, including AI-generated images. Shopping through Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay carries more risk, but sellers with a long track record of strong ratings are generally safe, as long as you understand what separates a safe renewed purchase from a risky one.
What to check before you commit
Before pulling the trigger on a used iPhone, make sure it’s unlocked and compatible with your carrier, and check how much software support is left. The new AI features, including the redesigned Siri experience that Apple recently introduced, will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro and later models, so that the older phone will continue to receive security patches without receiving those tools.
You should also check the battery life and check the phone for physical damage. Using Apple’s diagnostic mode is another reliable way to identify faulty hardware, as it checks the display, camera, speakers, and other components in just a few minutes.
Since iPhone prices aren’t going to drop anytime soon as the memory shortage continues, I’ve given up on thinking about buying used as a fallback. At this point, it’s just a smart way to buy.
