5 Non-Obvious Ways to Save Money When Buying an iPhone

Apple product prices, and iPhone prices in particular, have never been low. That’s why many people want to save as much as possible on their purchase. You can hunt for promo codes, accumulate bonus points, or wait for a favorable exchange rate, but all of that is too simple and obvious. We know a few more options that will help you save money. And not on some no-name clone, but on a real iPhone in excellent condition. Especially since purchases from abroad are about to get more expensive, and it’s better to act now. Here are five methods that many people don’t even think about.

Exploring non-obvious ways to buy an iPhone

Refurbished iPhone: Why It’s Cheaper Than New

Few people know this, but Apple has its own refurbished products store — Apple Certified Refurbished. Since February 2026, it has been selling iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max with discounts ranging from 12 to 22%. Each device undergoes a full diagnostic check, receives a new battery and housing, as well as a one-year Apple warranty.

Official Apple refurbs are indistinguishable from new devices

What’s the catch? The store is only available in the US, Canada, the UK, and several European countries. There’s no direct purchase option for Russia. But if you have friends or family abroad or use parcel forwarding services like Banderolka, a refurbished iPhone 16 with 128 GB can be obtained for $620.

Keep in mind, however, that smartphones there appear and disappear very quickly since demand for such devices is high, and it’s important not to miss them. The main advantage over regular used phones is the warranty and new battery. Essentially, it’s a new phone that has been tested by Apple and checked for all possible issues.

iPhone Trade-In: How Much You Can Get for Your Old Smartphone

Trade-in programs in Russia are offered by virtually all major retailers, and in some cases even local stores. The concept is simple: you bring in your old iPhone, it gets appraised, and the value is deducted from the price of the new one. You can even trade in multiple devices — the discounts stack up. It’s an ideal option if you don’t want to sell it yourself.

M.Video will give you just over 22 thousand rubles for an iPhone 14

How much can you realistically get? An iPhone 13 in good condition is appraised at roughly 14-18 thousand rubles. An iPhone 14 Pro — already at 25-35 thousand. If you have two old iPhones gathering dust at home, you can knock 40-50 thousand off the new device.

Trade-in beats selling on Avito in two ways: speed and safety. You don’t need to find a buyer, exchange messages with resellers, or meet strangers. The downside — the store will give you 10-15% less for your iPhone than you’d get selling it yourself. But if your time is more valuable — trade-in is worth it.

Used iPhones Abroad

If you live abroad, don’t forget about local classifieds. In many countries, people upgrade their iPhones every year, and last year’s used models sell there for ridiculously low prices. Israel is particularly interesting in this regard. Apple regularly lowers prices for Israeli distributors — just in the last two years, the company did this at least three times, dropping 200-400 shekels per model. Each such reduction floods the secondary market with a wave of previous-generation devices.

Foreign classifieds are a great way to get an iPhone in perfect condition

For example, you can buy an iPhone in Israel on Doska.tv. The advantage of buying locally is the ability to meet the seller in person, inspect the device, and make sure it’s not locked or tied to someone else’s Apple ID. A used iPhone 16 Pro in Israel can realistically be found for 2,800 shekels — that’s around 72 thousand rubles. Every country has its own version of “Avito,” and if you live there, you’re probably the most familiar with them.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a New iPhone After Launch

This is the simplest yet most painful method. Every new iPhone launches in Russia at astronomical prices, which then gradually decrease. The iPhone 17 is a perfect example: in September 2025, it was priced from 110 thousand rubles, by February 2026 the price dropped to 67 thousand, and by April — to 62 thousand. The reduction was nearly 45% in half a year.

Knowing how to wait is also a good way to save on an iPhone purchase

The reason is simple: in the first weeks after launch, demand is enormous while supplies are limited — hence the markups. After a couple of months, the market becomes saturated, competition among sellers intensifies, and the price normalizes. Prices drop especially sharply after the New Year holidays, when the pre-holiday rush subsides. Plus, Apple has already acknowledged increased component costs for iPhone, making it even more important to catch the right moment.

The optimal time to buy a new iPhone is February through April. By this point, prices have stabilized, and there’s still half a year of active use left before the next generation comes out. If you wait until summer, you can save another 5-10%, but then only a couple of months will remain until the new iPhone announcement — and you’ll be tempted to wait even longer.

Which Previous-Generation iPhone Is the Best Deal in 2026

It sounds obvious, but many people somehow overlook this option. The difference between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 for most users is minimal in everyday tasks: messengers, camera, browser, banking apps — everything runs equally fast. But the price difference is significant.

The iPhone 16 128 GB on Ozon currently starts at 53 thousand rubles — that’s 9 thousand less than the iPhone 17. And if you look at the iPhone 15 — you can find it starting from 49 thousand rubles. The iPhone 15 still receives iOS updates, has USB-C and Dynamic Island, and its camera shoots at a level that will satisfy most users.