The iPhone 7 Plus was the phone that gave Apple its first dual camera and its first proper portrait mode, and a decade on it still does the everyday jobs most of us actually ask of a phone: messages, maps, banking apps, a camera that takes a sharp photo of the kids. Buying one refurbished in 2026 isn’t settling for less. It’s paying a sensible price for a big, familiar screen and a build that has already proven it lasts.
The numbers that change the conversation
Top refurbished iphone 7 pluss on eBay right now
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Why second-hand is not “second best”
The iPhone 7 Plus is a closed, sealed, IP67 water-resistant design that was over-engineered for its day. A refurbished unit has usually had the parts that wear out attended to: a tired battery swapped, a scuffed screen replaced, the housing cleaned and tested. What you’re left with is the same aluminium body and the same A10 Fusion chip that still launches apps without drama. Unlike a laptop where a worn hinge or keyboard is hard to fix, almost everything that ages on this phone is a known, replaceable module.
It also runs the apps most Australians live in. Banking apps, the myGov and Service apps, Opal and Myki, ride-share, streaming, and the camera roll all work on the iOS versions this phone supports. For a second phone, a kid’s first phone, or a reliable spare, that’s the whole job done.
A refurbished iPhone 7 Plus isn’t an old phone someone got rid of. It’s a proven phone someone serviced, so you don’t pay flagship money for portrait-mode photos and a big bright screen.
The savings are real
This is a phone whose new-retail price has long since disappeared from Apple’s store, so the refurbished and used market is effectively the only way to buy one. That works in your favour: prices have settled to a fraction of the original launch cost, and the 20-60% saving you’d expect against new applies twice over here because you’re also buying years past launch. You get a dual-camera iPhone for the kind of money a cheap, slow Android budget phone would cost you new.
New vs used, side by side
| Brand new | Used / refurbished | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | No longer sold new | Widely available |
| Price | Original launch RRP | A small fraction of it |
| Battery | Factory fresh | Often replaced; check health % |
| Cameras | Dual 12MP + portrait | Identical hardware |
| Environmental cost | Full manufacturing CO2 | Already paid; reused |
| Warranty | Manufacturer | Seller warranty + Consumer Law |
The five-minute checklist before you pay
- Battery health. Ask the seller for the figure under Settings > Battery > Battery Health. On a phone this age, anything below the low 80s means a replacement is due soon.
- Both rear cameras. The 7 Plus has a wide and a telephoto lens. Confirm portrait mode and 2x zoom both work, since a knock can disable the second camera while the first still shoots.
- Home button and Touch ID. The button is a pressure-sensitive pad, not a real click. A non-genuine screen repair can kill Touch ID permanently, so check the fingerprint reader actually enrols and unlocks.
- iCloud / Activation Lock removed. The phone must show no “Find My” lock and ask to set up fresh. A locked phone is useless to you.
- Storage and IMEI. Confirm the storage tier you’re paying for, and run the IMEI through an Australian carrier check so it isn’t blocklisted.
You have more protection than you think
When you buy from a business rather than a private seller, the Australian Consumer Law gives you automatic consumer guarantees that no “sold as seen” sticker can remove. The phone must be of acceptable quality, match its description, and be fit for ordinary use for a reasonable time. If a refurbished 7 Plus dies in weeks through no fault of yours, you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund regardless of the seller’s own return window. Keep the listing screenshot and your receipt.
Ready to find yours?
Compare current refurbished iPhone 7 Plus prices and grades from trusted sellers below.
Red flags to walk away from
- “Activation Lock can be removed later.” It can’t, not by you. If the original Apple ID is still on it, leave it.
- No battery health figure offered. A genuine refurbisher knows this number. Silence usually means it’s poor.
- Hairline cracks photographed at an angle. A cracked screen lets moisture in and voids the water resistance the 7 Plus is known for.
- “Genuine unlocked” with no IMEI. Without an IMEI you can’t confirm it’s clean of a carrier blocklist or finance lock.
- A price far below every other listing. On a phone this established, a too-good number signals a fault, a fake, or stolen stock.
Frequently asked questions
Will it still get iOS updates? The iPhone 7 Plus reached the end of the line for major new iOS versions, but Apple still ships occasional security patches for older releases, and the apps most people use keep working. For everyday tasks it’s fine; just don’t expect the newest headline iOS features.
Is the battery the thing I should worry about most? Yes. It’s the only part that genuinely degrades with age. The good news is it’s cheap and easy to replace, and many refurbished units already have a fresh one fitted.
Can I use it on any Australian network? An unlocked, IMEI-clean 7 Plus works on the major Australian carriers and their resellers. Confirm it’s network-unlocked before paying if you’re bringing your own SIM.
How does the dual camera compare to a cheap new phone? The 7 Plus telephoto lens and portrait mode still produce more flattering photos of people than most budget single-camera phones sold new at a similar price.
The bottom line
The refurbished iPhone 7 Plus is one of the most sensible second-hand buys in Australia right now: a big, sharp screen, a real dual camera, a water-resistant sealed body, and a price that any cheap new phone can’t touch on capability. Check the battery health, confirm both cameras and Touch ID, make sure Activation Lock is gone, and you walk away with a proven device for a fraction of flagship money, and one less phone heading to landfill.
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