Hello. I would like to get a used iphone for my wife. I would like to get the new style introduced with iphone X, so I am between X, Xs, 11 and XR. I am leaning towards Xs due to price/features. Is there anything I should be looking for/avoid? Except for the obvious, no icloud lock, battery percentage (the ones I find are between 85-90%), accessories included and cosmetic condition? Thanks.
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Other Which used iphone to get?
- Thread starter kgian
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I would go for the XS as I prefer an OLED display and it has eSIM support.
I think you've got it all covered.
I would lean more towards refurb instead of used, if only to make sure you get a legit phone. Just my 2 cents.
I would suggest an 11 for the latest hardware and battery life.
XR/XS would be the oldest I would get.
It would be best if you can find battery health above 90%.
Just my personal preference, not that it’ll guarantee it will last longer.
XR/XS would be the oldest I would get.
It would be best if you can find battery health above 90%.
Just my personal preference, not that it’ll guarantee it will last longer.
Same. Granted, this depends on the previous owner but chances are the 11 would have less wear and tear being one year newer.
Refurb from Apple, yesss. Warranty/AppleCare and the guarantee it'll be indistinguishable from a new phone.
Refurb from elsewhere, be very careful. There's no standard for 3rd party refurbished phones and it's a total shot in the dark when it comes to work quality. You don't want to get stuck with a scuffed up phone with a low quality replacement battery and a borked water seal.
If you're stuck between buying used and buying mystery refurbished, used is often the better choice, because chances are it hasn't been tampered with and will have all OEM components.
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I'd avoid the X, because smart hdr and video extended dynamic range is worth having if you care about the camera. 11 gen is better for stabilization.
Agree with this. My wife has an Xs, and it is not appreciably different from my 12, except for the camera and 5G. An 11 would be a very good choice also and the best for battery life.
Any phone from XS onward is fine. The most important thing isn't the model of the phone but the condition it's in.
The Xs onward are all worthy phones. But I have to point you towards a refurb. This way you are covered with at least some kind of warranty. Only if you can spare the extra dollars of a refurb.
I bought a used IPhone 11 back in January for $490 and it arrived in perfect condition. The refurbished 11’s go quick and I rarely saw the 64GB models. I bought mine on eBay from a high feedback seller and would recommend it to anyone.
I’d prefer getting a low-end new phone to a high-end used one. But that’s just me, I’m a bit risk-averse.
I'd choose the XS any day. They're all over on eBay for just over $300 from huge sellers with 'no questions asked' return policies. You can't go wrong, and the price is insane for what you get. AMOLED display, the smaller bezels, eSIM support, and the A12 is still a beast.
XR/11 just look and feel so much cheaper. And they're too big.
XR/11 just look and feel so much cheaper. And they're too big.
My X (Qualcomm) has been an outstanding phone over the last 3+ years and until Apple releases a phone I feel is a huge leap in functionality and performance I'm going to hang onto it. It's due for a battery replacement but other than that it's handled iOS14 nicely with no slow downs or major issues. It will make a great backup phone when I do finally decide to upgrade..
My advice to the OP is to get a XS, great device and will serve you well for years to come...
Ouch! ☺️
Only the CDMA focused (e.g., VZW, Sprint) model has a Qualcomm modem. The GSM focused (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile) model has an Intel.
Differences Between iPhone X Models (A1865, A1901, A1902)
Don't know which iPhone X model to choose? Here are the differences between iPhone X Models A1865, A1901, and A1902!
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How to Check if Your iPhone has a Qualcomm or Intel Modem - AppleToolBox
Here is How you can check if your iPhone has the Qualcomm or the Intel modem.
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I have no complaints with my X yet — and it’s the A1901 (i.e., Intel) model. Nonetheless, I’ll probably upgrade to an Apple refurbed 12 or 13 next year, mainly for the camera upgrades.