Compare and Recycle
12/02/2025

Best iPhones For Students

Students on their phones leaning against a yellow wall

Are you a student looking for your next smartphone but not sure which features to look out for? This blog highlights the best iPhones for students on the market right now, listing all the various features and also includes information on affordability. Keep reading to find which iPhone is best for you.

The Best iPhones For Students

Here are our top choices for the best iPhones for students looking to maximise their studies and everyday life. Take a look to see whether any of these mobile phones take your fancy!

iPhone 13

✅OS: iOS 15, supported until 2028, iOS 21

✅Screen size: 6.1-inch

✅Resolution: 1170 x 2532

✅CPU: A15 Bionic

✅RAM: 4GB

✅Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB

✅Battery: 3,240mAh

✅Rear camera: 12MP (wide) + 12MP (ultra-wide) Front camera: 12MP

✅Brand new retail price: From £799

✅Refurbished price: From £350

The iPhone 13 is great value for money especially if you want to enjoy pro-level features but on a budget making it a good choice for students that don’t want to spend big on the latest iPhone series. This iPhone launched with iOS 15, but will be supported until 2028 which means it’s upgradable to iOS 21 at least which is fantastic.

This iPhone also comes in a selection of colours; Product Red, Pink, Midnight, Blue, Starlight. The new duo camera and Sensor Shift optical image stabilisation (OIS) is a bonus for those who like to take a lot of pictures and videos especially on a night out when you’re trying to avoid those blurry group pictures! This iPhone also has a reliable battery that’ll last you all day whilst you’re out studying or travelling as it is equipped with 3,240mAh. Not only that, but it’s holding its resale value pretty well. Even at the moment you can sell your iPhone 13  for just under £300 and we won’t be surprised if 2 years down the line, you will be able to pocket £100 for it.

iPhone 12 Pro

✅OS: iOS 16, supported until 2027, iOS 20

✅Screen size: 6.1 inches

✅Resolution: 2532 x 1170

✅CPU: A14 Bionic

✅RAM: 6GB

✅Storage: 128GB

✅Battery: 2,815mAh

✅Rear camera: 12 MP (wide) Front camera: 12 MP

✅Brand new retail price: From £999

✅Refurbished price: From £340

The iPhone 12 Pro is a great choice for students because it’s affordable yet still includes all the important features needed to keep up with the ever-evolving smartphone landscape. 


With features such as Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR, you will be able to capture high quality images and videos. The A14 Bionic chip also means that you will have fast processing and a smooth experience when multitasking which is great when using it for tasks when studying. The good news is that you can get your hands on a refurbished iPhone 12 from our retail partners for 40% or more off the brand new price so we think it’s well worth the buy.

iPhone SE (2022)

✅iOS: iOS 15, supported until 2029, iOS 22

✅Screen size: 4.7-inch

✅Resolution: 750 x 1334

✅CPU: A15 Bionic

✅RAM: 4GB

✅Storage: 64/128/256GB

✅Battery: 2,018mAh

✅Rear camera: 12MP (wide) Front camera: 7MP

✅Brand new retail price: From £419

✅Refurbished price: From £240

The iPhone SE 2022 is a 5G iPhone that’s the most affordable. Although it’s small, it is a classic looking iPhone and was the first mid-range iPhone to support 5G. It is equipped with the A15 Bionic chip and iOS 15 so rest assured you will be able to enjoy all the latest updates seamlessly. Although the screen is a lot smaller (4.7-inch) than other iPhones available, it does not fall short when it comes to the camera. With the rear camera at 12MP and the front 7MP, you’ll still be able to capture decent images. The battery has a respectable 2,018mAh and up to 256GB of internal storage, so if you’re looking for a classic compact iPhone, then the iPhone SE 2022 may be the choice for you.

Takeaway

So there you have it! These are the top iPhones that we think are best suited for students in 2024. With features that’ll help you multitask seamlessly yet still be able to enjoy bonus features when it comes to quality camera capabilities, decent battery, the latest Bionic chipset and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. The great thing about these devices is that you will also be able to purchase these as refurbished iPhones for a much lower price using our comparative tool. And remember, to save even more on your phone, always sell your old iPhone for the best price at Compare and Recycle.

Yasmin

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