Best Second-Hand iPhones in Sri Lanka (2026 Buying Guide)

A second-hand iPhone is the most common way to get a good phone in Sri Lanka without paying new-phone prices. It is also easy to get wrong: you can overpay, buy a model Apple no longer updates, or end up with a phone that is still locked to its previous owner.

This guide covers three things: which models are worth buying (based on Apple's own iOS 27 list), what they cost in Sri Lanka (asking prices I read on ikman.lk on 6 November 2026) and what to check before you hand over any money.

I have not tested these phones myself. The picks come from Apple's support pages and from the listing prices, and anything I could not confirm is marked as such.

Which iPhones does iOS 27 still support?

Apple's iOS 27 page lists iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd generation and later). The iPhone XR and XS are not on the list, and neither is anything older.

Before WWDC, leakers claimed iOS 27 would drop the iPhone 11. Apple's own list says otherwise, which is a good reminder to check Apple's page rather than a rumour. Apple has not said how long each model will keep getting new iOS versions, so a phone that is on the list today is not guaranteed a place on next year's.

What used iPhones cost in Sri Lanka (6 November 2026)

ikman.lk is Sri Lanka's biggest classifieds site, so I used it as the price source. For each model I read the two newest pages of listings (about 50 ads), kept only ads marked "Used" for that exact model and counted identical repeated ads once. I then looked at 128GB phones, the most common size.

"Middle half" means half of the ads were priced between those two numbers, so it ignores the cheapest and dearest listings.

Quartiles and medians are rounded to the nearest Rs 500. Source: ikman.lk listings, read on 6 November 2026.

A few things to know about these numbers:

• They are asking prices, not sale prices. Most sellers will negotiate, and I did not contact any of them.
• Some ads are far below the rest, for example an iPhone 14 at Rs 42,560 and an iPhone 13 (256GB) at Rs 44,053. I cannot tell from a listing why. Ask the seller before you get excited: damage, a locked phone or a typo are all possible.
• Repeated ads are common. On the iPhone 13 pages, 19 of 53 "Used" ads were exact repeats (same title, price and town). I counted each once so one seller could not drag the median.
• The iPhone 15 row is thin. ikman's first page for the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 returned an error every time I tried, so the iPhone 15 figures come from a single page and I have no reliable iPhone 16 data.
• The 256GB iPhone 15 Pro had a median of about Rs 222,500 (15 ads).
• Prices move. Check the live listings before you decide.

My picks

Best value: iPhone 12 (128GB)

The iPhone 12 is on Apple's iOS 27 list and costs about Rs 78,000 at the median, roughly Rs 11,000 more than an iPhone 11. For that you get an OLED display, 5G and MagSafe (per Wikipedia's iPhone 12 article), while the iPhone 11 has an LCD (Wikipedia). It was the best-supplied model in my sample, with 20 ads for 128GB, so you can compare and negotiate.

Watch out for: it is a 2020 phone, so the battery has probably aged. Check it (see below) and use the number to bargain.

Cheapest supported: iPhone 11

At about Rs 67,000 for 128GB it is the cheapest iPhone I would still consider, because Apple lists it for iOS 27. The four 64GB ads I saw were between Rs 35,000 and Rs 55,000, but 64GB fills up quickly with photos and apps.

Watch out for: it is the oldest model on Apple's list, so it is the one most likely to be dropped first. That is my expectation, not something Apple has said.

Step up: iPhone 13 or iPhone 14

The iPhone 13 (about Rs 98,000) and iPhone 14 (about Rs 116,000) cost roughly Rs 20,000 and Rs 18,000 more than the model before. That is worth it if you plan to keep the phone for three years or more, because a newer phone is usually less worn.

Apple's battery page says batteries in iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to keep 80 percent of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles, while iPhone 15 models are designed for 1,000 cycles. So an iPhone 15 can be a good long-term pick, but remember the median is around Rs 160,000.

Only for Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro or newer

Apple's iOS page says Apple Intelligence is available on all iPhone 16 models and later, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 does not get it. In my sample the 128GB iPhone 15 Pro had a median of about Rs 208,000, around Rs 48,000 more than the standard iPhone 15 (though the iPhone 15 figure comes from a thin sample). The iPhone 15 and later also use USB-C instead of Lightning (Wikipedia).

If you do not care about Apple Intelligence, you can spend that money elsewhere.

Skip: iPhone XR, XS and older

They are not on Apple's iOS 27 list. I could not find Apple saying how long they will keep getting security fixes, so I would not pay for one unless it is very cheap and you accept that.

Be careful with the iPhone SE

There were 28 iPhone SE ads, asking from Rs 8,500 to Rs 47,999, and most titles do not say which generation. Only the 2nd generation and later are on the iOS 27 list, so the first SE (2016) is not. Ask for the model name before you agree on a price.

At a glance

How to check a used iPhone before you pay

Do these in order, and do them before any money changes hands.

1. Make sure it is not locked to the previous owner (Activation Lock)

Apple's advice is clear: before you buy from anyone other than Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller, make sure the device is erased and no longer linked to the previous owner's account.

• If the phone shows an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen when you turn it on or wake it, Apple says do not take ownership of it.
• If you see the passcode screen or the Home Screen, it has not been erased. Ask the seller to erase it in front of you with Settings, General, Transfer or Reset, Erase All Content and Settings.
• If setup asks for the previous owner's Apple Account, the phone is still linked. The owner has to remove it. Do not pay on a promise that it will be sorted out later.
• The phone is ready for you when the Hello screen appears.

2. Read the battery health

Open Settings, Battery, Battery Health and note the Maximum Capacity percentage. Ask the seller to let you take a screenshot.

Apple does not publish a "replace below this number" rule, only the design targets above (80 percent after 500 cycles for iPhone 14 and earlier, 1,000 for iPhone 15). Treat a lower number as a reason to negotiate. I have not researched battery replacement prices in Sri Lanka, so get a quote before you build one into your budget.

On the iPhone XS and later, an "Unable to verify" message means the phone cannot confirm it has a genuine Apple battery, and the health figures may not be accurate. Apple's page says this, so treat it as a warning.

3. Check the IMEI and the serial number

Dial *#06# to show the IMEI and compare it with the box, if there is one, and with Settings, General, About.

For Sri Lanka, two news reports from 7 January 2025 (ReadMe and Newsfirst) say that SIM-enabled phones without a TRCSL-approved IMEI stop working on local networks, that phones already connected before the cut-off were not affected, and that buyers should use licensed vendors. Both say you can check an IMEI by sending an SMS in the form IMEI followed by the 15-digit number to 1909.

I could not open TRC's own website when I checked, so confirm the current process with TRC before relying on that. If you are bringing a phone in from abroad, note that ReadMe reported that from 1 October 2026 device clearance requests go through TRC's online Equipment Clearance System (ecs.trc.gov.lk). I did not find duty or tax figures for personal imports, so I have not included any.

You can also type the serial number into Apple's coverage page and compare what it says with what the seller told you.

4. Ask about repairs

Apple's own checklist for sellers includes checking Parts and Service History for a "Finish Repair" message. Ask the seller whether the phone has been repaired, and be wary of a vague answer.

5. Test the phone itself

• Face ID (or Touch ID on an SE), both cameras, the speaker and the microphone.
• A SIM of your own network: make a call and check mobile data.
• Wi-Fi, charging, all the buttons and the screen (dead pixels, marks, uneven colour).

6. Pay safely

Meet in a shop or another public place, get a written receipt with the IMEI on it, and pay only after the checks above. If a seller promises a warranty, ask for it in writing; I have not compared shop warranties, so I cannot tell you what is normal.

FAQ

Which second-hand iPhone is best to buy in Sri Lanka in 2026?

For most people the iPhone 12 with 128GB: it is on Apple's iOS 27 list and had a median asking price of about Rs 78,000 on ikman on 6 November 2026. This is my judgement from public information, not the result of testing the phones.

Is the iPhone 11 still supported in 2026?

Yes. Apple lists the iPhone 11 as compatible with iOS 27. Apple has not said how long that will continue.

How much is a used iPhone 12 in Sri Lanka?

The 128GB version had a median asking price of about Rs 78,000, and half the ads were between Rs 76,500 and Rs 80,000 (20 ads, 6 November 2026). Asking prices are negotiable and change over time.

Is the iPhone XR still supported?

The iPhone XR is not on Apple's iOS 27 compatibility list. I could not find Apple stating how long it will keep getting security updates.

How do I check if a used iPhone is locked?

Turn it on. If it shows "iPhone Locked to Owner", or setup asks for the previous owner's Apple Account, it is still linked and you should not buy it. Ask the seller to erase it in front of you and wait for the Hello screen.

What battery health is acceptable on a used iPhone?

Apple does not give a buy or do-not-buy number. Its design target is 80 percent capacity after 500 full charge cycles for iPhone 14 models and earlier, and 1,000 cycles for iPhone 15 models. Use the figure to negotiate and to budget for a replacement.

What I could not check

• I did not test any of these phones, and I did not contact sellers.
• Prices were read once, on 6 November 2026, from ikman.lk. They are asking prices and will change.
• I have no usable iPhone 16 prices, and the iPhone 15 row is thin.
• I did not find battery replacement prices, shop warranty terms or import duty figures for Sri Lanka.
• TRC's website was not reachable when I checked, so the IMEI rules come from news reports.

Sources

• iOS 27 compatible devices and the Apple Intelligence note (Apple)
• Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad (Apple Support)
• What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone or iPad (Apple Support)
• iPhone battery and performance (Apple Support)
• Check your coverage (Apple)
• ikman.lk listings read on 6 November 2026: iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone SE
• List of iPhone models, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 15 (Wikipedia, release dates and specifications)
• Mobile phones without TRCSL-approved IMEI to be blocked (ReadMe, 7 January 2025), Unregistered mobile devices to be blocked from networks (Newsfirst, 7 January 2025) and TRC equipment clearance system goes online from 1 October (ReadMe, 15 September 2026)
• iOS 27 rumoured to drop support for these iPhone models (MacRumors, April 2026)

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