Is the iPhone 13 still worth buying in 2026?

The iPhone 13 launched in September 2021 at £779. Five years later it is one of the cheapest routes into an iPhone that still feels current — and for a large number of people it is the right buy. It is also close enough to the end of its life that it is worth being clear about what you are getting.

The short answer

Buy an iPhone 13 if you want a fast, reliable iPhone for the lowest sensible price and you expect to keep it two to three years. Buy an iPhone 14 or 15 instead if you want it to last past 2028, if you want USB-C, or if the camera matters to you.

How long will the iPhone 13 keep getting iOS updates?

Apple does not publish a support end date, but its pattern since the iPhone 6s has been roughly six to seven major iOS releases per handset, followed by a period of security-only patches. For a phone released in 2021 that points to updates into 2027–2028, with security fixes for a while after.

That is the honest version. It means the iPhone 13 is a good two-to-three-year phone in 2026 and a questionable five-year one. If you are buying for a child or as a second handset, that window is fine. If this is your only phone and you keep devices until they die, spend the extra on a 14 or 15 — the iPhone 14 vs 13 comparison shows what the step up buys you.

What it still does well

The A15 Bionic is the same chip family that ran the iPhone 14, and it is still quick. Apps open instantly, iOS feels smooth, and games from the App Store run fine. Nothing about day-to-day use feels like a 2021 phone.

The dual 12MP camera with sensor-shift stabilisation takes genuinely good photos and very good video — Apple's video processing has always been the gap between iPhones and cheaper Androids, and the 13 has it.

Battery life was a real jump over the iPhone 12 and remains one of the 13's strengths, provided the battery in the specific handset you buy is healthy. That caveat matters more than the model itself at this age.

What you give up

A 60Hz screen. The 13 has no ProMotion, so scrolling is less fluid than on any Pro model. Most people never notice; if you have used a 120Hz phone, you will.

Lightning, not USB-C. Everything from the iPhone 15 onwards charges with the same cable as an iPad, a MacBook, a Switch and most Android phones. On the 13 you are still carrying a second cable.

No Dynamic Island, a 12MP main camera rather than 48MP (so no sharp 2× crop), and no Apple Intelligence — that needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

Battery health is the whole ball game at this age

On a five-year-old phone, the battery is the difference between a great purchase and a frustrating one. A 13 at 88% will comfortably see out a normal day; one at 76% will not, and needs replacing before it is usable.

Never buy an iPhone 13 without a stated battery-health figure. Every listing we publish states it, and our Like New grade ships at 90% or above. If you already own a 13 that is fading, a battery replacement is usually the cheapest upgrade you can make — see fixed repair prices, and what the percentage actually means.

iPhone 13 vs the alternatives at the same money

Against the iPhone 12: the 13 wins on battery life and camera stabilisation, and has an extra year of update runway. The price gap is usually small. Take the 13.

Against the iPhone 14: the 14 is a modest hardware step but a meaningful support step — a year more of updates and Crash Detection. If the gap is under about £50, take the 14.

Against a mid-range Android at the same price: you get longer support and better resale from the iPhone, and generally better video. A Pixel or a Galaxy will give you a faster screen and more RAM for the money.

See current prices and stock on the iPhone 13 page, or browse everything under £200 in our budget buying guide.

Who should not buy an iPhone 13

Anyone who wants a phone to last until 2031. Anyone who wants Apple Intelligence. Anyone who has moved everything else to USB-C and does not want to keep a Lightning cable. And anyone buying purely on camera quality, where the 48MP sensor in the iPhone 15 and 16 is a real, visible step up.