Other Which refurbished iPhone should I get for teenager?

[nutmac]

My teenager kid is currently using a free Android phone from my wireless carrier. I would like to migrate him over the iPhone, as our family is on all-Apple ecosystem -- Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPad, and Macs, with many MagSafe chargers and HomePods throughout the house.

iPhone will help me lock down his screen habit better (Google Family Link is terrible) and it would enable him to use AirTag, iMessage and FaceTime.

Comparing the latest iPhone SE (3rd generation) to iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, all with 128GB storage:

	iPhone SE (3rd generation)	iPhone 12 mini	iPhone 13 mini
Price (new)	$479	N/A	$599
Price (refurbished excellent)	$380	$365	$495
Display	4.7" LCD 625 nits	5.4" OLED 625 nits SDR / 1200 nits HDR	5.4" OLED 800 nits SDR / 1200 nits HDR
Size	5.45" by 2.65" by 0.29"	5.18" by 2.53" by 0.29"	5.18" by 2.53" by 0.30"
Processor	A15	A14	A15
Cameras	f/1.8 main, f/2.2 7MP front	f/1.6 main, f/2.4 ultra wide, f/2.2 12MP front	f/1.6 main, f/2.4 ultra wide, f/2.2 12MP front
Camera ISP	HDR 4	HDR 3, night mode, Dolby Vision	Sensor-shift OIS, HDR 4, night mode, Dolby Vision, Cinematic mode
5G	Sub-6 GHz 2x2 MIMO	Sub-6 GHz and mmWave 4x4 MIMO	Sub-6 GHz and mmWave 4x4 MIMO
UWB	No (no AirTag precision finding)	Yes	Yes
Authentication	Touch ID (2nd generation)	Face ID (mask unlock, 1st generation notch design)	Face ID (mask unlock, 2nd generation notch design)
Wireless Charging	Qi	Qi and MagSafe	Qi and MagSafe
Battery Life	15 hours video, 50 hours audio	15 hours video, 50 hours audio	17 hours video, 55 hours audio

My kid is mainly interested in communicating with his kids. He will have one or two AirTags. Camera isn't super important, but he likes to record himself playing sports, and often submits school work with the camera.

 

[Shirasaki]

Give him iPhone mini so there’s one more mini die hard fan and further pressure Tim to keep mini lineup.

 

[Fried_Gold]

13 mini out of your list, always get the newest model you can afford.

 

[sam_dean]

Why not hand me down your old iPhone to him? Spoil yourself with any iPhone 14.

 

[maerz001]

I just bought a 2020 SE used for 160€ in great condition for holiday local sim.

Works great and is plenty fast. Really makes me wonder why i spent multiple for a 13mini

 

[Tsepz]

13 Mini is perfect I would say, get it a nice rugged case and screen protector too.
A15 Bionic will be good for many years to come and they will have a good camera to capture all the memories.

 

[floral]

People give the SE a hard time for being cheap, but it really is a great phone. Powerful, okay camera, nice screen. Touch ID is arguably faster. Perfect for kids.

 

[PegasusTenma]

Why not hand me down your old iPhone to him? Spoil yourself with any iPhone 14.

Half of my iPhone's were my dad's handmedowns. Hand the phone down dad!!

 

[nutmac]

Why not hand me down your old iPhone to him? Spoil yourself with any iPhone 14.

My old phone is iPhone 13 Pro, which I will be trading in (probably via wireless carrier) for iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra later this year.

 

[nutmac]

People give the SE a hard time for being cheap, but it really is a great phone. Powerful, okay camera, nice screen. Touch ID is arguably faster. Perfect for kids.

I would normally agree, but lack of UWB (no precision finding for AirTag) and MagSafe is a bit of a bummer.

I would still consider if I can get it cheaper. But it costs slightly more than 12 mini. Would you consider SE over 12 mini even with the minimal price difference?

 

[dz5b609]

13 mini, 12 mini has quite a bad battery.

 

[rocketbuc]

Which iPhone does your kid prefer?

 

[nutmac]

Which iPhone does your kid prefer?

Whatever phone I tell him to prefer.

If he can have his way, he wants a phone with a large screen, like 14 Plus or 11/12/13 Pro Max -- so that he can watch YouTube and games.

I am looking at phones with a smaller screen so that he uses the phone more as a communication device.

 

[AirpodsNow]

The minis seems to be “expensive” for what you get. I have The 13 mini myself. Did you consider iPhone 12 which seems to be in the $360 range on swappa? It’s much more regular size.

 

[PegasusTenma]

Whatever phone I tell him to prefer.

If he can have his way, he wants a phone with a large screen, like 14 Plus or 11/12/13 Pro Max -- so that he can watch YouTube and games.

I am looking at phones with a smaller screen so that he uses the phone more as a communication device.

Very fair, is your present to him after all.

 

[Splitrail]

Whatever phone I tell him to prefer.

🤣🤣🤣

 

[tarsins]

The SE seems more like a "teenager phone" to me, but then I'm ancient.

 

[nutmac]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

My wireless carrier (T-Mobile) has a $200 discount promo, knocking down the price of brand new iPhone 13 mini with 128GB to $430.

So he will be getting iPhone 13 mini and like it.

 

[PegasusTenma]

And he WILL LIKE IT or ELSE!!!

 

[bevsb2]

What's not to like? I would love to have a 13 mini, but at my age my old eyes need the larger screen.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

Honestly, I've had both the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone SE (2020) and to be honest the battery life on both suck. Just my personal opinion, I would get an iPhone 11 if you can find one. Battery life is better and the phone is a little bigger.

 

[Scarrus]

Thank you all for the recommendations.

My wireless carrier (T-Mobile) has a $200 discount promo, knocking down the price of brand new iPhone 13 mini with 128GB to $430.

So he will be getting iPhone 13 mini and like it.

For that money it would't even be worth it to get anything else honestly. It's a steal.

 

[nutmac]

Honestly, I've had both the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone SE (2020) and to be honest the battery life on both suck. Just my personal opinion, I would get an iPhone 11 if you can find one. Battery life is better and the phone is a little bigger.

That's a valid concern. My iPhone 13 Pro drains pretty quickly too.

 

[AirpodsNow]

That's a valid concern. My iPhone 13 Pro drains pretty quickly too.

I got the 13 mini, I like the smaller size because I am often at home. I only 'really' need it for messaging, but whenever I am out of the house I can see the screen and the battery are limited. Then again, I just bring my iPad mini and cable (to charge my iPhone from the iPad).

I got to repair an iPhone XS Max, and could see how nice it actually is to have such a bigger screen.

but anyhow, your kid I would assume, would be very happy to have a new iPhone, what an upgrade that must be from the free android phone at the moment.

 

[hanser]

My 22 year old son has a SE 2020 and my 16 year old daughter a Xr, and both are very content. He wanted a small phone with Touch ID, she wanted a large screen.