The standard iPhone 16 is the phone most people should have bought in the first place, and on the used market, it is the phone most people can now sensibly afford. It carries the A18 chip, the Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence support and USB-C, and it sheds a healthy slice of its retail price the moment it changes hands. Here is how to buy one second-hand in Australia without inheriting someone else’s problem.
The numbers that change the conversation
Top used iPhone 16 listings on eBay right now
Live Australian stock, updating automatically, a realistic snapshot of what the market wants for one today.
Listings update automatically and open in a new tab.
Why second-hand is not “second best”
Apple’s standard-model iPhones have quietly become the long-haul champions of the range. The iPhone 16 shares its chip generation with the Pros, supports the same Apple Intelligence features, and will receive iOS updates for years, the practical difference between it and a Pro is a telephoto lens and a fancier screen refresh rate, not longevity. A one-owner used 16 with healthy battery is functionally a new phone that someone else discounted for you.
Used supply for the standard model is deep, too. It was the volume seller, which means plenty of clean, boxed, one-owner examples, and competition among sellers keeps prices competitive.
The best iPhone deal is usually the standard model, one owner in, with the depreciation already paid.
The savings are real
Used iPhone 16s in good condition typically trade 20-60% under retail depending on battery health, storage and whether the original box and receipt come along. That saving is a case, charger, screen protector and a year of prepaid mobile, or simply money kept. And because the 16 has years of updates ahead, you are not trading longevity for the discount.
New vs used, side by side
| Brand new | Used / refurbished | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Full retail | 20-60% less |
| Chip & features | A18, Camera Control, USB-C | Identical |
| iOS updates | Years remaining | Same, updates follow the model, not the owner |
| Battery | 100% | Verify health; replaceable if worn |
| Protection | Apple warranty | ACL from business sellers; platform protection on eBay |
The five-minute checklist before you pay
- Battery health screenshot: Settings → Battery → Battery Health. 85%+ is the comfortable zone on a phone this age.
- Activation Lock off: the previous Apple ID must be signed out, this is non-negotiable.
- IMEI status: run the IMEI through a checker for lost/stolen/finance flags before paying.
- Unlocked for AU networks: ask directly; ex-carrier or imported stock can be locked.
- Camera Control button: new to this generation, confirm it clicks and responds properly.
- Face ID and cameras: the repairs that hurt; test immediately on arrival and use the return window if anything is off.
You have more protection than you think
If the seller is a business, many eBay sellers are, the Australian Consumer Law guarantees apply: acceptable quality, accurate description, fitness for purpose. Those rights cannot be waived by listing fine print. Even in private sales, eBay’s buyer protection covers items that arrive not as described. The genuinely unprotected purchases are the off-platform ones, bank transfers to strangers, so simply refusing those removes most of the risk.
Ready to find yours?
Prices move daily; compare both marketplaces before you settle.
Red flags to walk away from
- No battery health screenshot after you ask for one.
- “iCloud locked”, “for parts”, or “cannot test” at a tempting price.
- Sellers wanting payment by bank transfer or gift card.
- A price sitting far below every comparable listing.
- Stock photos only, or a listing that avoids stating the storage size.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a used iPhone 16 last me? Years. Apple supports its phones with updates for a long time, and the 16’s hardware is recent, battery aside, there is nothing on a countdown.
What storage size should I look for? 128GB suits most people using cloud photo storage; heavy video shooters should hunt for 256GB, which often carries only a small used-price premium.
Is the standard 16 enough over the Pro? Unless you specifically want the telephoto lens or 120Hz display, yes, same chip generation, same updates, same core cameras, meaningfully lower price.
Private seller or refurbisher? A refurbisher costs a bit more and adds a warranty and ACL cover. A clean one-owner private sale can be the better raw deal if the checklist above all passes.
The bottom line
The used iPhone 16 is the sensible centre of the second-hand market: current hardware, long update runway, deep supply, accurate prices. Check the battery, the IMEI and the Activation Lock, keep payment on-platform, and you will own the phone most people paid full price for, for a lot less.
This article may contain affiliate links; see our Affiliate Disclosure.