iPhone Buying Guide 2026: 13, 16e, 17, 18 Pro & Duo

Apple now sells, and people still buy, a very wide range of iPhones. You can pay around $300 for a clean used iPhone 13 or $1,999 for the brand-new foldable. This guide walks through the models people search for most right now, what each one costs, what to expect from the battery, and how to check a phone before you hand over cash.

The 2026 lineup at a glance

Prices change by country because of tax and import duty, so treat these as US starting points.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: launch date, price and what changed

Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max on September 9, 2026. Preorders opened September 12 and the phones went on sale September 18. The Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, which is $100 more than the 17 Pro models, and Apple pointed to the global memory shortage as part of the reason.

Both run the A20 Pro chip and have a redesigned main camera with a variable aperture. If you already own an iPhone 17 Pro, this is a small step. If you are coming from an iPhone 13 or older, the jump will be huge.

If the new price feels like too much, the iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199 at launch) is now the obvious cheaper alternative, and refurbished units keep getting cheaper.

iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable

The iPhone Duo is the foldable everyone has been searching for. It opens to a 7.6-inch inner screen, and a 5.4-inch outer screen covers day-to-day use when it’s closed. Apple built it around a titanium frame, runs the same A20 Pro chip as the 18 Pro, and supports Split View so you can run two apps side by side.

Some details that matter before you spend $1,999:

• Pricing starts at $1,999 for 256GB and goes up from there to 2TB.
• Preorders opened October 16 and the phone went on sale October 23.
• Reports at preorder time showed Apple’s own delivery dates slipping to late January, so stock is tight.
• It uses Touch ID on the power button instead of Face ID, which surprised a lot of people.

The obvious rival is Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, which has a similar size and shape. The real decision is iOS versus Android, and which ecosystem you already live in. Foldables are also more fragile than regular phones, so a good case and a plan for repairs are worth budgeting for.

iPhone 17 and 17 Pro Max: still a safe buy

The iPhone 17 family arrived in September 2025. The iPhone 17 Pro Max launched at $1,199 and the 17 Pro at $1,099. Now that the 18 Pro is out, prices on the 17 line have softened and there are more deals, especially on refurbished units. For most people, the 17 line is the sweet spot between new features and a sensible price.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE: the budget question

The iPhone 16e launched at $599 and replaced the iPhone SE as Apple’s entry model. People searching “iphone 16e” and “iphone se” are usually trying to pick between them, and the answer is simple.

The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, USB-C, a 48MP camera and a modern chip. The iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022) has a small 4.7-inch LCD, a Touch ID home button and a Lightning port. The SE is cheaper used, but it feels like an older phone. Unless you really want a small phone with a home button, the 16e is the better long-term choice.

A quick note on names: the “iPhone SE 2020” is the second generation, and “iPhone SE 2022” is the third. Check the generation before you buy, because sellers mix them up.

iPhone 13 and 13 Pro: why people still buy them

The iPhone 13 series, released in 2021, is still one of the most searched iPhones in the world for one reason: price. A used iPhone 13 or 13 Pro costs far less than any new phone, and both still receive iOS updates.

Here is what the battery looks like. Apple doesn’t publish battery capacity, but teardowns and regulatory filings give these figures:

Those numbers are for a new battery. A used phone will have less. On the phone, open Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging. If maximum capacity is under 80%, plan on a battery replacement and factor it into the price.

The 13 Pro has the 120Hz ProMotion screen and a telephoto camera. The regular 13 doesn’t. If you can find a 13 Pro for a small premium, it’s worth it.

Older iPhones people still ask about

• iPhone XR and XS Max: Cheap, but they are getting old. Check which iOS version they support before buying.
• iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 6: Fine as backup phones, but not as a daily driver.
• iPhone 12 mini and “mini iPhone”: Apple stopped making mini models after the iPhone 13 mini. If you want a small phone, used is your only option.
• The original iPhone (2007): Launched on June 29, 2007 with a 3.5-inch screen and no App Store. It is a collector’s item now.

How to check a used iPhone before you buy

This is the part that saves people real money. Before paying for any second-hand iPhone:

1. Check the serial number. Find it under Settings, General, About and enter it on Apple’s coverage page. It confirms the model and warranty status.
2. Check the IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone. Then run it through our IMEI checker to confirm the model and look for problems.
3. Check the carrier lock. Go to Settings, General, About and look at Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means the phone is unlocked.
4. Check Find My and Activation Lock. The seller should sign out of their Apple Account and turn off Find My iPhone in front of you. Never buy a phone that still shows someone else’s account.
5. Check Battery Health as described above.
6. Look at the parts. Under Settings, General, About or Parts and Service History on newer versions, you can see whether the screen, battery or camera has been replaced.

Some countries also require the phone’s IMEI to be registered with the national regulator, for example Pakistan with its PTA check. If you buy abroad or import a phone, find out the rules where you live first, because an unregistered phone can lose network service.

iPhone ringtones and wallpapers

Two of the most searched iPhone terms are not about buying at all.

Custom ringtones: iPhone doesn’t let you pick any song directly. The usual route is GarageBand on iPhone: import your audio file, trim it to 30 seconds or less, then share it as a ringtone. After that it appears in Settings, Sounds & Haptics, Ringtone.

Wallpapers: Phones aren’t 4K, so a “4K wallpaper” is more than you need. Pick an image that matches your screen’s native resolution so it doesn’t blur or crop. A file that is too small will look soft.

What’s next from Apple?

Reports suggest the standard iPhone 18 and a cheaper “e” model are due in early 2027, with the iPhone 19 further out. Nothing here is confirmed, so don’t wait on rumors if you need a phone now. Buy for what you need today.

So which iPhone should you buy?

• Tightest budget: A used iPhone 13 or 13 Pro with battery health above 85%.
• Cheapest new: iPhone 16e.
• Best balance: iPhone 17 or 17 Pro Max, especially refurbished.
• Best phone right now: iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• Want something new: iPhone Duo, if you can afford it and wait for stock.

Share what you know

Bought a used iPhone and found a problem, or fixed a stubborn one? Share your repair steps, tips and tools in the GSMSharing community so the next person searching for the same issue finds an answer. You can also upload repair files and guides to help other technicians.