Best new phone for my DD

[sadierussell2]

My DD is going into KS4 next year and i promised her a new iphone. She has been using iPhone SE 2022 but I would like to buy the iPhone 13 for her however by then they will have released the iPhone 16. I want her to use it to at least she ends school so i don't want it to be discontinued very soon but the new 14 and 15 are expensive. PS: I'm buying outright from BackMarket to reduce carbon footprint plus she doesn't need a brand new phone. Any model tips? She doesn't want an old model too as she has been lately embarrased of her current phine. Any tops?

So you want a phone to last her until Sixth Form? That’s not realistic.

I'm not sure. I read that as three years (ks4 to start of 6th form) and average phone contract is 36 months now.

OP if you're happy to pay the line rental just get whatever is best on a Clubcard deal or similar. Don't get an SE. They're shit. I have a 14 pro max and DD has a 13. There's basically no difference between 14 and 15 and 13 just missing a few things like always on display and the central display thing.

If get a 14 or pro max from the prices I've seen.

I've got a 14 max and the camera is better in the 12. Although I like the max size screen •.

Id get a 15 pro max if I could

I think a 12 or 13 is fine much better than the SE.

I'm getting a SE mini

She's going into y10, so OP wants it to last until y13: 4 years? Seems entirely reasonable.

My phone (12 mini, 2020) has lasted 4 years. Still supports the latest iOS.

DS uses an old iPhone 6s. It works fine for doing his sparx and some inane game he plays.

4 years should be a reasonable expectation. People don't need to always have the latest iterations.

Her SE should last another couple of years.
As should a 13/14 last a good while. Buy what you need/can afford, OP.

Have you purchased already? I have an SE for work and they're not as good as a 13/14 or similar for not much extra. Really wouldn't recommend it. Also think she may be teased for it.

I’m not saying that she has to have the latest phones - frankly DD or I couldn’t care less about having the newest iPhones now, it’s not like how it used to be where massive changes and upgrades were made every year with the new model. What I am saying is that in our experience and in most people’s experience they do begin to slow down after about 2 years (even with theories that Apple is involved in this) and also you’re running the risk with an older phone that new iOS updates become unsupported leaving certain apps etc defunct.

iOS support for apps does last more than 4 years. I've got an old iPad mini from about 2012 that only recently stopped having apps supported.

My own 4 year old iPhone 12 needs a battery replacement but other than that it works absolutely fine.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect an iPhone to work for 4+ years with a battery replacement factored in.