Finding a price tag for an iPhone 6 today feels a bit like digging through a time capsule. You remember 2014, right? Taylor Swift’s 1989 was everywhere, and Apple finally decided to go big with their screens. Fast forward to early 2026, and the landscape has changed drastically. Most of these phones have been retired to junk drawers, but they haven't vanished entirely. If you're hunting for one, you're likely seeing numbers that look more like a lunch bill than a smartphone investment.
So, how much does an iphone 6 cost right now? Honestly, you can find them for as little as $25 on eBay, but if you want something that actually holds a charge and doesn't have a spiderweb of cracks across the glass, you're looking at a range between $35 and $80.
It's a weird market. You aren't paying for cutting-edge tech. You’re paying for a legacy device that—believe it or not—still has a headphone jack.
The Reality of the Refurbished Market
When you look at big retailers or specialized refurbishers like Back Market or Swappa, the prices stabilize a bit. They can't just sell you a brick. They have to verify it works. In January 2026, a "Good" condition iPhone 6 with 16GB of storage usually hovers around $54 to $64. If you're feeling fancy and want the 128GB version, the price might creep up toward $90, though those are getting harder to find in the wild.
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- Fair Condition: $30 – $45
- Good Condition: $50 – $70
- Excellent Condition: $75 – $95
Wal-Mart and various third-party sellers on Amazon still list "Restored" versions. Usually, these come in at about $64. It sounds cheap, and it is. But there’s a catch that most people ignore until they try to download their first app.
Why the Price is Only Half the Story
You can buy an iPhone 6 for the price of a couple of pizzas, sure. But "cost" isn't just the checkout price. The real cost is in the frustration of what the phone can't do anymore. Apple officially moved the iPhone 6 into the "Obsolete" category. This isn't just a fancy word for old; it means Apple and its authorized service providers no longer offer hardware repairs or parts. If the screen pops or the battery swells, you're on your own with third-party shops or DIY kits.
Software is the bigger headache. The iPhone 6 is stuck on iOS 12.5.7. It can't run the shiny new iOS 26 that just dropped.
Basically, the "app gap" is real. You’ll find that a lot of modern apps—the latest version of Instagram, banking apps, or high-end games—simply won't install. They require at least iOS 15 or 16. You end up with a device that can text, make calls, and browse the web (slowly), but it won't be your social media powerhouse.
The Battery Drain Problem
Old iPhones have old batteries. Even a "refurbished" unit might only have 80% capacity left. Since the iPhone 6 uses an A8 chip—which was a beast back in the day but is basically a calculator now compared to an A18—it has to work incredibly hard just to load a modern webpage. This heavy lifting eats battery life for breakfast. If you buy a used one for $40, expect to spend another $20 on a cheap replacement battery or just live with the fact that it needs to stay plugged into a wall.
Who is Still Buying This Phone?
You might wonder why anyone bothers. It’s 2026. Why not just get a cheap Android or a used iPhone SE?
Usually, it's for very specific niches. Some parents buy them as "starter phones" for kids who only need to call home. Because the price is so low, it's not a disaster if it gets dropped on the playground. Others use them as dedicated music players. Remember, this was the last flagship generation (alongside the 6S) to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack. If you have a pair of expensive wired headphones and don't want to mess with dongles, a $30 iPhone 6 is a pretty sleek iPod Touch replacement.
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There's also the "collector" aspect. A mint-condition, original-box iPhone 6 can actually cost more than a used one. Some people are starting to treat early iPhones like vintage watches. It's weird, but it's happening.
What to Check Before You Buy
If you're committed to picking one up, don't just click "Buy" on the first $25 listing you see. Check the following or you'll just be throwing money away:
- Storage: 16GB is essentially useless in 2026. The operating system takes up half of that. Aim for at least 64GB.
- Activation Lock: Make sure the previous owner signed out of iCloud. If they didn't, you have a very pretty paperweight.
- The "Bendgate" Check: The iPhone 6 was notorious for being a bit... flexible. Look at the frame from the side. If it's got a slight curve, the internal logic board might be under stress, leading to "Touch Disease" where the screen stops responding.
- Network Compatibility: Most carriers have long since shut down 3G. While the iPhone 6 supports 4G LTE, some newer 5G-optimized networks are getting pickier about which older VoLTE (Voice over LTE) devices they allow.
Final Thoughts on Value
If you're looking for a daily driver, the iPhone 6 isn't it. Honestly, for about $20 more, you can usually snag an iPhone 6S or even a first-gen SE, which are significantly faster and support slightly newer software. But if you just need a cheap, iconic piece of hardware for calls or music, the $40 to $60 entry price is hard to beat. Just go in with your eyes open—you're buying a piece of history, not a performance machine.
Next Steps for You:
If you're still set on buying, head over to Swappa or eBay and filter specifically for "Unlocked" models with at least "Good" condition ratings. Check the seller's recent feedback for "Battery Health" mentions to ensure you aren't getting a dud. If you already own one and it’s acting up, look into local independent repair shops rather than the Apple Store, as they are your only hope for parts in 2026.