.png&w=3840&q=90)
Buying a refurbished iPhone 13 in 2026? Our UK guide covers real prices, battery health, what to check before you buy and how to avoid a bad refurb from the Zextons team. 18-month warranty, free UK delivery
Yes — in 2026 a refurbished iPhone 13 is one of the smartest phones you can buy in the UK. You get Apple's A15 Bionic chip, a sharp OLED screen and years of remaining iOS updates from around £229.99, instead of flagship prices. The key is to buy from a seller that tests every device, guarantees battery health and backs it with a real warranty. At Zextons, every refurbished iPhone 13 is unlocked, battery-tested to a minimum 85%, and covered by an 18-month warranty. Brand-new flagships now cost well over a thousand pounds. A refurbished iPhone 13 — also sold as reconditioned, pre-owned or second-hand — gives you almost all of that experience for a fraction of the price. At Zextons we test and refurbish these handsets every week, so this guide isn't theory. It's what we actually see on the bench. If you'd rather skip straight to stock, you canbrowse our refurbished iPhone 13 range here. This trips a lot of buyers up, so let's clear it up first. A refurbished iPhone is a pre-owned device that has been professionally inspected, tested, repaired where needed, securely wiped and reset, then graded and backed by a warranty. A used or second-hand phone, by contrast, is usually sold as-is by a private seller with no testing and no comeback if something goes wrong. Reconditioned and renewed mean the same thing as refurbished — they're just different words sellers use. The difference matters because a phone that looks fine on the outside can hide a worn battery, a non-genuine screen or water damage inside. That's the gamble with a private "used iPhone 13" from a marketplace. Buying refurbished from a specialist means someone has already opened it up, checked it and stands behind it. Every Zextons device, for example, passes a 90-point Z-Check® diagnostic before it's listed. In short: refurbished = tested + repaired + warranty. Second-hand = as-is + your risk. Honestly? It's still excellent for most people — and here's the proof rather than the sales pitch. The iPhone 13 runs the A15 Bionic chip, the same processor Apple used in the iPhone 14. Apps open instantly, multitasking is smooth, and most modern games run well. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is bright and sharp for streaming and scrolling, the dual 12MP cameras with sensor-shift stabilisation and Cinematic mode still take great photos, and you get 5G, MagSafe, Face ID, a Ceramic Shield front and IP68 water resistance. It launched on iOS 15 back in 2021 and is running current iOS today, with several more years of updates and security patches expected — which is the real reason it's still worth buying. We believe in being straight with customers, so here are the honest trade-offs: 60Hz screen. If you've used a 120Hz ProMotion phone you'll notice it. If you haven't, you won't. Lightning port, not USB-C. Fine if your accessories are Lightning; mildly annoying if you've moved everything to USB-C. No Apple Intelligence. Apple's newer on-device AI features need a more powerful chip than the iPhone 13 has. Not a dealbreaker today, but worth knowing. None of these stop the iPhone 13 being a brilliant everyday phone. They just help you decide with your eyes open. The value buyer — you want a premium Apple phone without paying premium money. This is the sweet spot. Students and first-time iPhone owners — fast, reliable and far cheaper than new. Pair it with a tough case. Parents buying for a teenager — a "Good" grade keeps the cost (and the worry about scratches) down while still giving Face ID, great cameras and ongoing iOS support. Anyone upgrading from an older iPhone — the jump from an iPhone 11 or earlier is huge. Who might want to spend a little more? If you care most about the brightest screen, the best low-light camera or USB-C, look at arefurbished iPhone 14 orrefurbished iPhone 15. If you want the biggest screen and the Pro camera system, therefurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max is the step up. For most people, though, the standard 13 is the better-value pick. This is the part most guides skip, and it's the part that actually protects your money. As a repair shop, these are the exact things we check on every device and the things you should ask any seller about. Apple considers a battery healthy down to 80%, but you want a little more headroom. Aim for 85% or above so the phone comfortably lasts the day. A worn battery is one of the most common problems we see on older iPhones. Every Zextons iPhone 13 is guaranteed to a minimum 85% battery health, or we fit a new battery to meet that standard. An unlocked (also called SIM-free) iPhone works on any UK network — EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, giffgaff and the rest. A network-locked phone is cheaper but ties you down. All Zextons refurbished iPhones are sold unlocked. The phone must be fully signed out of the previous owner's Apple Account, or you'll be locked out on setup. A proper refurbisher always clears this. Never buy a phone that still shows someone else's iCloud. Sellers grade cosmetic condition. At Zextons you'll choose between Excellent (little to no signs of use) and Good (light marks, still great to use). The internals are tested to work on every grade — you're really paying for how the outside looks. If it's a gift, lean towards Excellent; to save the most, Good is perfectly usable. Cheap "refurbs" sometimes use non-genuine screens or batteries that fail fast or dim over time. Ask whether repairs use quality parts and whether the device was properly diagnostically tested — ours go through the 90-point Z-Check®. A genuine seller will share the IMEI so you can confirm the phone isn't reported lost or stolen, and you can verify the serial on Apple's own warranty page. This is your safety net. Every refurbished iPhone 13 from Zextons comes with an 18-month warranty covering internal faults from normal use, plus 30-day returns and free UK delivery. Red flags to walk away from: no battery-health figure, no warranty, an iCloud-locked device, a price that looks too good to be true, or a seller who can't tell you the grade or the IMEI. Prices move with condition, storage and battery health. Here's what a refurbished iPhone 13 currently costs at Zextons: A few things to know: Storage — 128GB is the entry point; 256GB costs a little more. Most people are happy on 128GB or 256GB. Condition — "Good" is the cheapest; "Excellent" costs a little more for a near-mint look. Battery health — every device is tested to a minimum 85%, with some listed at 100% original battery health. Model — theiPhone 13 Pro Max sits above the standard model (from around £409.99). A quick tip: the cheapest listing elsewhere isn't always the cheapest phone. A bargain with a tired battery and no warranty can cost you more once it needs work. Spread the cost if you prefer — Zextons offers Buy Now, Pay Later at checkout. You cansee today's prices and colours here. We're not just resellers — we're aUK tech and refurbishment specialist that tests every device properly. Every refurbished iPhone 13 we sell is: Put through a 90-point Z-Check® diagnostic and graded honestly (Excellent or Good) Guaranteed to a minimum 85% battery health (or fitted with a new battery) Sold unlocked and SIM-free, ready for any UK network Securely wiped and reset, ready to set up out of the box Backed by an 18-month warranty, 30-day money-back returns and free UK delivery Shipped with a tree planted for every order, helping cut e-waste and carbon Got an old phone? You cantrade it in with Zextons and put the value towards your refurbished iPhone 13 — even cracked screens can earn you credit. Browse refurbished iPhone 13 stock → Yes. From around £229.99 you get Apple's A15 Bionic chip, a great OLED screen, strong cameras and several more years of iOS updates — far cheaper than a new iPhone and, bought from a tested-and-warrantied source like Zextons, very low risk. For everyday use — calls, social media, photos, streaming, banking and most games — it still feels fast and modern. The main limits are a 60Hz screen, a Lightning port and no Apple Intelligence. Refurbished means professionally tested, repaired, wiped and warranty-backed. Used or second-hand usually means sold as-is by a private seller with no testing or warranty. Reconditioned and renewed are just other words for refurbished. At Zextons, a 128GB starts from £229.99 (Good) or £249.99 (Excellent), and 256GB from £299.99 (Good) or £329.99 (Excellent). The Pro Max model costs more. Apple's threshold is 80%, but aim for 85% or above for comfortable all-day use. Every Zextons iPhone 13 is guaranteed to a minimum 85%, with some at 100% original battery health. Yes. Every Zextons refurbished iPhone is unlocked and SIM-free, ready to use with any UK network or SIM card. Apple supports iPhones for several years after release, and the iPhone 13 is expected to keep receiving updates and security patches for some time yet. Yes, when you buy from a reputable refurbisher that tests devices, clears iCloud, confirms the phone is unlocked and provides a warranty. Zextons devices pass a 90-point Z-Check® and come with an 18-month warranty and 30-day returns. Use the checklist above before you pay.What "refurbished" actually means (and how it differs from used)
Is the iPhone 13 still good in 2026?
Who should buy a refurbished iPhone 13?
How to buy a refurbished iPhone 13 safely the checklist
1. Battery health.
2. Is it unlocked?
3. iCloud / Activation Lock.
4. The grade.
5. Genuine parts.
6. IMEI check.
7. Warranty and returns.
How much should a refurbished iPhone 13 cost in the UK?
Why buy your refurbished iPhone 13 from Zextons
Frequently asked questions
Is a refurbished iPhone 13 worth it in 2026?
Is the iPhone 13 still good in 2026?
What's the difference between refurbished, used and second-hand?
How much does a refurbished iPhone 13 cost in the UK?
What battery health should a refurbished iPhone 13 have?
Is a refurbished iPhone 13 unlocked?
How long will the iPhone 13 get iOS updates?
Is it safe to buy a refurbished iPhone 13?