Apple iPhone XR iPhone XR Review
Paying just $150 for an iPhone that still feels fast sounds too good to be true. We got our hands on a refurbished XR to see where the compromises are, and whether it's the ultimate budget phone.
The 30-Second Version
For $150, this refurbished iPhone XR is a steal. You get the still-great A12 Bionic chip and iOS in a package that's scratched but not scuffed.
Overview
Look, for $150, you're not buying a flagship. You're buying a gateway drug into the Apple ecosystem that still punches way above its weight. The one thing to know? This is the ultimate 'good enough' phone. It's got the A12 Bionic chip, which even today is shockingly capable, a solid single camera, and it'll run the latest iOS for a while longer. But you're buying a refurb, which means you're trading a pristine box for serious savings and accepting some light wear. If that sounds like a fair deal, keep reading.
Performance
Here's the surprise: that A12 Bionic chip still holds up. In our database, its performance lands in the 78th percentile against all phones, which is frankly wild for a device this old and cheap. Apps open fast, basic games run fine, and iOS 17 (and likely 18) feels smooth. Don't expect to edit 4K video or run the latest AAA mobile games at max settings, but for everyday scrolling, messaging, and calls, it feels nothing like a $150 phone. The 3GB of RAM is the real bottleneck—you'll notice more app reloads than on newer models.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong social proof (96th percentile) 96th
- Strong feature (93th percentile) 93th
- Strong build (87th percentile) 87th
- Strong camera (87th percentile) 87th
Cons
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 5.5 |
| Resolution | 828 x 1792 |
Performance
| Processor | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| Processor Model | Apple A12 Bionic |
| CPU Cores | 6 |
| CPU Speed | 2.5 |
| RAM | 3 MB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Expandable | No |
Camera
| Main Camera | 12 |
| Front Camera | 7 |
| Video | 4K |
| OIS | Yes |
Battery & Charging
| Battery | 2942 Wh |
| Connector | 2.0, proprietary reversible conn |
Connectivity
| 5G | No |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | 2.0, proprietary reversible conn |
| SIM | Nano SIM |
Design & Build
| Fingerprint | Yes |
| Face Recognition | No |
| OS | iPadOS 12 |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $150, the value is almost stupidly good. You're getting 90% of the core iPhone experience for about 15% of the price of a new iPhone 16. The catch is you're buying a used device with cosmetic flaws and no warranty beyond the seller's return window. If you can live with that, this is one of the best deals in tech right now.
vs Competition
The most relevant competitor is the Google Pixel 10. For about double the price, you get a modern design, a phenomenal camera, and years of software updates. But you lose the iOS ecosystem. Closer in price is the Motorola Moto G. It'll have a better screen and maybe 5G, but its performance will feel sluggish next to the XR's A12 chip, and its software support is a joke. The XR wins on pure performance-per-dollar and iOS longevity, but loses on modern features.
| Spec | Apple iPhone XR iPhone XR | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKAXAA | Google Google Pixel 10 GA09899-US | OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | Motorola Moto G PB6V0014US | Apple Unlocked iPhone 15/15 Plus MTLY3LL/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.5 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Display Type | — | OLED | OLED | OLED | AMOLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | — | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 |
| Processor | Apple A12 Bionic | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | A16 |
| RAM (GB) | 3 | 12 | 16 | — | 8 | — |
| Storage (GB) | 64 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 1024 | 128 |
| Rear Camera Mp | 12 | 200 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 |
| Front Camera Mp | 7 | 12 | 42 | 32 | 32 | — |
| Battery Capacity Mah | 2942 | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | 5000 | — |
| Charging Wattage | — | 60 | — | — | 68 | — |
| Wireless Charging | — | true | false | — | true | — |
| Five (g) | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | — | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | IP68 | — |
| Operating System | iPadOS 12 | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 15 | iPadOS 17 |
Common Questions
Q: Is 64GB enough storage?
Barely. If you stream all your music and videos and use iCloud Photos, you can make it work. If you like downloading apps and taking lots of 4K videos, you'll be constantly managing space.
Q: How long will it get iOS updates?
Apple is unpredictable, but the XR got iOS 17. It might get iOS 18, but that's likely the end of the line. You'll still get security updates for a year or two after that.
Q: What does 'Grade B' mean for the scratches?
Think 'well-loved.' The retailer says scratches visible from 12 inches away. Don't expect a flawless display or back. It'll look used, but not abused.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a pristine, future-proof phone with a gorgeous screen and 5G, this isn't it. Save up for a Pixel 10 or a newer refurbished iPhone. Also, skip it if you're a mobile gamer or take tons of photos—the storage and aging camera hardware will frustrate you.
Verdict
We're giving this a clear recommendation for budget-minded buyers who want iOS or just a reliable daily driver. It's not for everyone—the screen and storage are real limitations—but for the price, nothing else delivers this blend of polish, performance, and software support. Just manage your expectations on condition.