the best iPhone for under 500 euros

Do you have a tight budget, but do you want an iPhone? Which can! In this article we compare the three best budget iPhones (under 500 euros) and tell you which model is best for you.

Buy Apple’s cheapest phones: iPhone 11, 12 mini and SE 2022

Would you like to buy a cheap iPhone? And should it not cost more than 500 euros? Then you’re in the right place with the iPhone 12 mini (refurbished), the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE 2022. But which one is the best budget iPhone for you to buy? You will know more after reading this article!

We compare the design, (processor) power, cameras and prices of all these budget iPhones. What kind of iPhone user are you? And which cheap iPhone is the best buy for you? In this article you can also compare the budget iPhone that you already have in mind with the other two.

Design: iPhone 11 and 12 mini vs iPhone SE 2022

In terms of design, Apple is always one step further than its competitors: with as few frills as possible, yet a sleek design. The iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 mini are also part of this trend. Almost the entire front is filled with the screen. We also only find four physical buttons on these budget iPhones: power button, two volume buttons, and a ‘quiet mode’ switch. Less is more with these budget smartphones from Apple.

The new iPhone SE 2022 differs, if we compare it with another budget iPhone, in terms of design. It has a ‘recycled’ design from 2020; the design of the predecessor iPhone SE 2020. Secretly, the design is even older, namely from the iPhone 8 from 2017. That means that the SE 2022 still has a home button. The iPhone 12 mini and the 11 have long since left these behind. The most striking: the iPhone SE 2022 may be the newest device, but it looks the most ‘vintage’.

We also see Touch ID (a fingerprint scanner) with the iPhone SE 2022. The iPhone 11 and 12 mini work with the faster and more secure Face ID (facial recognition). Logical: these also no longer have a home button where the fingerprint scanner is hiding.

If we compare the budget iPhone in terms of design, the choices may be clear. Want a small modern phone? Choose the iPhone 12 mini. Want a glitzy big budget iPhone? Then go for the iPhone 11. Do you appreciate an old… no, ‘tried’ design with fingerprint scanner? Then the iPhone SE 2022 is the best buy for you.

Powerful processors in all three budget iPhones

Under the hood of the iPhone 11 we find the A13 chip, which powered all iPhone 11 models and the iPhone SE 2020. According to Apple, the A13 chip is about 20 percent more powerful than the A12 variant. The successor, the A14 chip, is under the hood of the iPhone 12 mini. The speed gain is approximately comparable to the step from the A12 to the A13.

But for really high speeds and a powerful processor in a budget phone from Apple, you have to go to the iPhone SE 2022. The device is controlled by the A15 Bionic. We also see this in Apple’s latest flagships: the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro. The new iPhone SE 3 is therefore the most powerful budget iPhone under 500 euros.

Compare cameras from the 12 mini, the 11 and the SE 2022

We find the camera of the iPhone SE 2022 a little disappointing. This is mainly due to the lack of Night mode. Too bad, because we like to shoot pictures in the dark. The iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 mini follow a different line.

All iPhones in this article have a 12-megapixel rear camera and a selfie camera with the same resolution. However, the iPhone 11 has one more camera: an ultra-wide angle lens. The iPhone 12 mini goes a step further; it also has a macro lens. For example, the iPhone SE 3 is not recommended to buy if you want to take the best photos or videos. The iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 11 have a much better camera.

Which budget iPhone do we recommend to buy?

Of course, with a budget phone you are not the only one looking at the specifications, but mainly at the price. The iPhone SE 2022 has been on the market for almost two months and at the time of writing it can be picked up with 64GB of storage memory for 504 euros† The prices fluctuate quite a bit, so the price will again fall below 500 euros. With a subscription you get the iPhone SE 2022 from 240 euros, but this aside. Check the price comparison below for the most current deal. If you want more memory, you will of course pay a little more.

The iPhone 12 mini is new for sale with 64GB of memory 599 euros, but is also available refurbished. This is not used, but returned, repaired and put back up for sale. We’re talking budget iPhones comparison under 500 euros† The iPhone 12 mini is therefore also available refurbished from 405 euros†

The iPhone 11 is the cheapest phone of the three. At least refurbished then. You pay for a new 557 euros, but ‘revised’ you can pick it up for 336 euros† You automatically get 64GB of internal storage with all these budget iPhones.

If you want to compare the budget iPhones even more, we have also compared the phones 1 on 1. We have written about the iPhone SE 2022 versus the iPhone 11. Also has iPhoned a comparison between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 11.