If you’re staring at a drawer and wondering how much is an iphone 6 plus worth right now, I have some news that might be a little bit of a reality check. Honestly, the world has moved on fast. This was the phone that changed everything for Apple—their first "gigantic" screen—but in 2026, it’s mostly a digital relic.
I checked the latest listings on sites like Swappa and eBay this morning. If you're looking to sell one, don't expect a windfall. Most units are moving for between $30 and $65.
That’s it.
The price varies mostly based on storage. A 16GB model is basically a paperweight at this point, often selling for as low as $25 if the screen is scratched. If you happen to have the 128GB version in "mint" condition, you might squeeze $70 out of a collector or someone looking for a cheap iPod replacement. But for the most part, we are talking about pocket change.
The Real Cost of Buying One Today
Why would anyone buy this phone anyway? Well, people do. Maybe you need a "distraction-free" device for a kid, or you want a dedicated music player that still has a headphone jack. Remember those? They were great.
If you are the buyer, here is the breakdown of what you'll actually pay:
- Used (Good Condition): $40 to $55.
- Refurbished: $50 to $75 (usually includes a 90-day warranty).
- For Parts/Broken: $15 to $20.
You’ve gotta be careful with "refurbished" tags on eBay, though. Half the time, it just means someone wiped the screen with a microfiber cloth and reset the software. True refurbished units with a new battery are rare because the cost of the battery almost exceeds the value of the phone itself.
✨ Don't miss: Identifying Independent Variables: What Most Researchers Get Wrong
Why the iPhone 6 Plus Price is Bottoming Out
It isn't just because it's old. It’s because the software is basically a ghost town.
The iPhone 6 Plus is stuck on iOS 12.5.7. We are currently living in the era of iOS 26 (or iOS 20, depending on how you're counting Apple’s latest naming shifts). This creates a massive "app gap." You try to download YouTube or Instagram, and the App Store just gives you that dreaded "Incompatible with this iPhone" pop-up.
There are workarounds, sure. If you’ve previously "purchased" the app on your Apple ID, you can sometimes download an older version. But those versions are buggy. They crash. They don't support the latest security protocols.
Basically, the phone is a vintage hardware piece now.
The Battery Trap
If you find a 6 Plus for $30, you aren't just paying $30. You are likely buying a device with a battery that has the stamina of a marathon runner in lead boots. These original lithium-ion cells degrade. After 11 or 12 years, "80% health" is a miracle. Most are sitting at 60%, meaning the phone will shut off the second you try to take a flash photo or open Safari.
Replacing that battery at a local shop will cost you $40 to $60.
Think about that math. You buy a phone for $40, then spend $50 to make it hold a charge. You’ve just spent $90 on a phone that can’t even run TikTok properly. It's a bad deal.
What Collectors Look For
Oddly enough, there is a small niche where how much is an iphone 6 plus actually goes up.
Collectors are starting to hunt for "New In Box" (NIB) units. If you have an original iPhone 6 Plus, still sealed in the plastic from 2014, that isn't a $50 phone. That’s a **$400 to $600** item. Some high-end auctions for "launch day" pristine units have even pushed higher, though the 6 Plus isn't quite as iconic as the original 2007 iPhone.
It’s the "Bendgate" era. People remember this phone for being the one that curved in your back pocket. It’s a piece of tech history.
Performance Reality Check
I tried using one for a day recently. It was... painful.
The A8 chip was a beast in its day, but with only 1GB of RAM, it chokes on modern websites. Every time you switch from Messages to Safari, the page has to reload. It’s slow.
But, the screen is still surprisingly decent. That 5.5-inch 1080p Retina display actually holds up better than some budget Android phones sold today. If you just want to watch downloaded movies on a plane, it’s a very cheap way to get a nice little screen.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are sitting on an old iPhone 6 Plus, here is exactly what you should do:
- Don't Trade It In: Apple will give you $0. Major carriers will give you $0. They will offer to "recycle it for free," which is just them taking your gold and rare earth metals for nothing.
- Check the Screen: If the screen is cracked, it’s worth $10 for parts. If it’s perfect, it’s your $50 ticket.
- Wipe It Properly: Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. But make sure you sign out of Find My iPhone first. A "Cloud Locked" iPhone 6 Plus is worth exactly $5 because it can only be used for spare screws.
- Repurpose It: Instead of selling it for the price of a pizza, turn it into a dedicated dashcam for your car or a permanent Spotify remote for your living room.
Knowing how much is an iphone 6 plus is really about knowing its utility. As a phone, it’s retired. As a specialized tool or a piece of nostalgia, it’s worth about fifty bucks and a trip down memory lane.
If you’re buying, look for a 64GB model at minimum. 16GB is filled up by the operating system alone, leaving you room for maybe three photos and a single song. It’s a headache you don’t need.