iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022)
~£199
Released
2022
Runs
iOS 18
The honest direct replacement. Same 4.7" body as the iPhone 7 but with the A15 chip, 5G and full iOS 18 support. Apple still ships security patches.
Honest update . May 2026
Should you really still buy an iPhone 7 in 2026?
Short answer: probably not. The iPhone 7 launched in September 2016, which makes it a 10-year-old phone. Apple cut it off from new iOS at iOS 16 in 2022. It still receives backported security patches via the iOS 15.8.x branch (15.8.8 shipped early 2026), but the screen, battery and chip belong to a different decade. This page gives you the honest case, then four refurbished iPhones that cost about the same and will not feel like a downgrade.
10 yrs
Since launch
September 2016, with the iPhone 6 body
iOS 16
First iOS that dropped it
September 2022 - no new features since
iOS 15.8.8
Latest backport patch
Early 2026 . security only, no new features
£50-110
Typical UK refurb price
Same money buys a much newer iPhone
What every "iPhone 7 deals" page skips
The three problems a 2026 iPhone 7 actually has
Older guides will sell you on "great value for an Apple device". They are not wrong, but they are not honest either. Here is what actually changes when you put a 10-year-old phone in your pocket today.
Problem 1 . App support
Many apps no longer install
Apps published since 2023 increasingly target iOS 17 or iOS 18 as a minimum. The iPhone 7 is stuck on iOS 15.8.x. The App Store will tell you "the latest version requires iOS 16 or later" and offer you an older, sometimes broken version. New apps may simply not appear in your search.
Problem 2 . Battery age
A "refurbished" battery is rarely new
The original iPhone 7 battery is 1,960 mAh and has now been through 8 to 10 years of charge cycles. Most refurbishers replace the battery only if the original drops below 80% capacity. That means many refurbished iPhone 7s ship with a battery already past its rated life. Apple no longer stocks original iPhone 7 batteries; replacements are third-party.
Problem 3 . Banking and ID apps
UK bank apps may refuse to run
Most UK high-street banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Monzo, Starling, Revolut) use Apple's App Attest framework to check device integrity. Older iOS versions increasingly fail those checks. You may install the app, then find it refuses to launch or asks you to "update your operating system". You cannot - the iPhone 7 will never get iOS 17.
Interactive decision tool
Is the iPhone 7 the right buy for your use?
4 quick questions. Clear yes/no verdict plus a suggested alternative if it is a no.
1
UK bank apps increasingly require iOS 16 or later. The iPhone 7 cannot run iOS 16.
2
A primary phone needs current apps and a healthy battery. A backup phone forgives a lot more.
3
If you can stretch to £130 to £200, much better refurbished iPhones are available.
4
Some people specifically want the 4.7" body and the home button. That is legitimate.
Verdict
Suggested action
Decision logic based on iOS 15 support window and UK bank app integrity requirements verified May 2026.
If you can stretch £50 to £150 more
Four refurbished iPhones that out-value the iPhone 7
All four still run the current iOS 18 and will keep getting updates for years. Prices are typical UK "Excellent" grade refurbished, May 2026.
iPhone XR (2018)
~£139
Released
2018
Runs
iOS 18
Cheapest current iOS 18 iPhone. Larger 6.1" screen, far better battery, Face ID. About the same price as a refurbished iPhone 7 Plus in good nick.
iPhone 11 (2019)
~£189
Released
2019
Runs
iOS 18
The smart-money pick under £200. Dual camera, longer battery life, supported until at least 2027. Worth the £30 to £50 premium over the XR.
iPhone 12 (2020)
~£249
Released
2020
Runs
iOS 18
First 5G iPhone. OLED screen, MagSafe, A14 chip. Sub-£250 refurbished and likely to keep getting iOS updates through 2028.
If you still want one
How to buy a refurbished iPhone 7 safely in the UK
- 1 Buy from a reputable UK refurbisher. Music Magpie, CeX, Back Market, Envirofone and Apple Certified Refurbished (when in stock) all give you 12-month warranty and UK consumer protection. Avoid unknown eBay sellers.
- 2 Insist on "Excellent" grade or higher. Lower grades have visible scratches but more importantly often older internal components. Pay the £15 to £25 premium.
- 3 Demand the battery health figure. The listing should state "battery capacity 85% or higher" or similar. If it does not, ask before buying. Anything below 80% will need replacing within months.
- 4 Run Settings > General > Software Update on day one. The phone should offer iOS 15.8.8 (or later in the 15.8.x branch). If it does not, the seller may have shipped you a device with corrupt firmware. Return it.
- 5 Check it is not iCloud-locked. Activate with a fresh Apple ID. If the phone asks for someone else's password, it is locked. Walk away and trigger your warranty.
Insider angle
Why "iPhone 7 deals" still trend on UK search engines
Apple stopped selling the iPhone 7 brand new in September 2019. Yet "iPhone 7 deals" is still searched tens of thousands of times a month in the UK. Why?
Three reasons, none of them about the iPhone 7 itself. First, search habits stick: someone who bought the iPhone 7 in 2018 still types "iPhone 7 deals" when their contract ends, even if they actually want a newer model. Second, refurbishers (CeX, Music Magpie, Back Market) bid heavily on "iPhone 7 deals" because the margin on a £70 phone is higher than on a £700 one. Third, content farms keep republishing 2018-era articles with the year switched in the title.
What this means: if you found this page by searching "iPhone 7 deals", you are very likely the kind of buyer who would do better on an iPhone 11 or even an iPhone XR. The search keyword is not the same as the right answer.
The one scenario where iPhone 7 still wins
If you specifically need a small (4.7") iPhone with a physical home button and you cannot stretch to the £200 iPhone SE 3rd gen, the iPhone 7 is the only realistic option. Older iPhones (6s, SE 1st gen) no longer get even backported security patches. The iPhone 8 is barely cheaper than a refurbished SE 3rd gen.
iPhone 7 FAQs
The Selectra expert answers your questions
Not new versions. The iPhone 7 was cut off at iOS 15 when iOS 16 launched in September 2022. However, Apple still ships backported security patches via the iOS 15.8.x branch. iOS 15.8.8 shipped in early {{ $annee }}. These are security fixes only; you do not get any new iOS features.
Risky. UK banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Monzo, Starling, Revolut) use Apple's App Attest framework to verify device integrity. Apps published since 2024 increasingly require iOS 16 or later. Your iPhone 7 may install the bank app once, then be locked out at the next update. For mobile banking, an iPhone 11 or newer is a much safer bet.
UK "Excellent" grade refurbished iPhone 7 (32GB) typically runs £50 to £90. The iPhone 7 Plus is £80 to £130. Anything above £120 for the standard iPhone 7 is overpriced - you can get a refurbished iPhone XR for that money, and it still runs iOS 18.
Music Magpie, CeX, Back Market and Envirofone all sell refurbished iPhone 7s with a 12-month warranty and UK consumer protection. Apple Certified Refurbished occasionally lists older models. Avoid private eBay sellers without seller ratings - the iCloud-lock and battery-health risks are real.
Usually not. Most refurbishers replace the battery only if it tests below 80% capacity. Many ship with the original 2016/2017 battery still installed. Ask for the battery health figure before paying. If it is below 85%, budget another £30 for a third-party replacement - Apple no longer stocks original iPhone 7 batteries.
The iPhone SE 3rd gen (2022) wins easily. Same 4.7" body, same physical home button, but with the A15 chip, 5G, full iOS 18 support and another 3 to 4 years of updates ahead. The iPhone 7 is cheaper by £100 to £130, but the iPhone SE 3rd gen will still be supported in 2028 when your iPhone 7 has been forgotten.
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