Written October 2025
Easy best choice: iPhone 12 (2020)
Key Specs:
- A14 Bionic processor & 4 GB RAM
- 6.1″ 2532×1170 460 PPI 60Hz Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1200 nits of peak brightness, Ceramic Shield protection, 164g weight
- 12MP Wide + 12MP Ultrawide rear camera + 12MP front selfie camera
- 2815 mAh battery with MagSafe wireless charging + 20W wired charging support
- Will probably get software until 2026 or 2027
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The iPhone 12 is easily the best iPhone you can buy for under $200 right now. It has all the features of a modern iPhone with the price point of a budget phone. Its main value propositions are 5G support, a Super Retina XDR OLED display with Ceramic Shield protection, and its competent processor. The display is one of my favorite parts of this phone right now because it’s the same display featured in modern and much more expensive phones such as the iPhone 16, and it still holds up very well in 2025. It also looks and feels like a modern iPhone, with the flat screen and boxed edges. From personal experience, the A14 Bionic processor in this phone made for a speedy experience with minimal lag; however, after updating to iOS 26, it has been noticeably more stuttery at times. Despite this, it usually can run basic applications, social media, web browsing, and even some games with minimal issues. The camera on this phone can be described as basic, but this no-frills camera takes very good shots, especially in good lighting, and as always with iPhones, the video is superb. The battery on this phone is good, much better than other iPhones at this price point, like the iPhone SE 3, and this phone was the first to have MagSafe, also a very useful feature. Also, if you like smaller phones, you could go for the iPhone 12 Mini (or even the 13 Mini at this price point); however, the battery life is worse on that phone. This phone is the best you can get from Apple right now for the price, and I highly recommend going for it.
| Cons: | -As many refurbished phones come with a battery health in the <85% range, a battery replacement may be required if the battery life is inadequate for your needs. -Base model 64GB of storage isn’t a lot in 2025 |
What NOT to buy at the $200 price point:
- iPhone 11
- Why: The iPhone 11 can be found readily available refurbished for under $200, usually slightly cheaper than the iPhone 12, but it is terrible value for the price. It has no 5G support, a lower-quality LCD display with a resolution of just above 720p with no Ceramic Shield, a slower chip, and no MagSafe, just to name some downsides.