iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12 Refurbished — Which Should You Buy?

REFONE PROMISE — SUPER QUALITY ONLY

Refone sells only Super Quality Grade A certified refurbished iPhones. We never sell Good or Fair condition phones. Every iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 on our platform is cosmetically like new, battery-verified at 80%+, IMEI-clean, and backed by a 6-month written warranty with 15-day returns. ( iPhone11 vs iPhone12 Refurbished )

QUICK ANSWER — WHICH SHOULD YOU BUY?

Choose iPhone 11: You can have a bigger battery, cheaper (15,000-18,000), and an IPS LCD. Typically good everyday use, students, and value-first buyers.

Choose iPhone 12: Opting to have an OLED screen, 5G connectivity, MagSafe, and an updated A14 Bionic chip – and can afford to pay 20,000-25,000 more to do so.

Both are available at Refone as Super Quality Grade A — 47-point certified, IMEI-verified, 6-month warranted.

₹3K–₹7K price gap between them

52 inspection checkpoints

12 mo. written warranty

Grade A only — never B or C

1.  Why This Comparison Matters in India in 2026

The refurbished iphone vs new iphone question has been settled for most smart Indian buyers: certified refurbished wins on value. But the next question — should i buy iphone 11 or iphone 12 refurbished in india 2026 — is where most people get stuck.

Both models are available at Refone as Super Quality Grade A certified refurbished iPhones at prices that make a brand-new Android feel like a poor investment. Both run the current iOS. Both deliver a full Apple experience. But they are meaningfully different phones — and depending on what matters to you, one is clearly the better choice.

This guide gives you the complete, honest, technically accurate answer — drawn from real inspection data at Refone’s facility, not from benchmark sites or sponsored reviews. We have inspected, tested, and sold thousands of both models. We know exactly what separates them, and we will tell you plainly.

MARKET CONTEXT

The iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 together account for over 55% of all certified refurbished iPhone sales in India in 2026. They hit the sweet spot between modern performance and accessible pricing. Understanding which one is right for you is the highest-value decision most Indian buyers can make at the ₹15,000–₹25,000 refurbished budget level.

2.  iPhone 11 — Complete Profile (Refone Super Quality)

iPHONE 11 — REFONE SUPER QUALITY GRADE A

Price at Refone: ₹15,000 – ₹18,000

Chip: Apple A13 Bionic — same chip as iPhone SE 3rd Gen

Display: 6.1-inch IPS LCD — Liquid Retina — 1792 × 828 pixels

Cameras: Dual 12MP rear (Wide + Ultra-Wide) + 12MP TrueDepth front

Battery: 3110 mAh — strongest battery in this comparison — full-day+ use

5G: No — 4G LTE only

MagSafe: No

iOS support: iOS 18 current — supported through 2027 and likely beyond

Face ID: Yes — fully functional on every Refone unit

Refone warranty: 6 months written — physical certificate included

What the iPhone 11 Does Exceptionally Well

• Best battery in this comparison: At 3110 mAh — nearly 300 mAh more than the iPhone 12 — the iPhone 11 genuinely lasts a full day of heavy use. For buyers who hate reaching for a charger by evening, this is the most important number in the spec sheet.
• A13 Bionic — still powerful in 2026: Apple’s A13 chip was a generational leap in 2019 and remains faster than almost every Android at this price point in 2026. Gaming, multitasking, video editing, app performance — all fluid, all fast.
• Lower price — more value per rupee: At ₹15,000–₹18,000 from Refone, the iPhone 11 gives you an entire premium Apple experience for less than a mid-range Android. The is refurbished iphone 11 worth buying in 2026 answer is an unambiguous yes at this price.
• Night Mode — all cameras: Night Mode on the wide and ultra-wide lenses delivers genuinely impressive low-light photography for a phone at this price point.
• Proven reliability at Refone: We have tested thousands of iPhone 11 units. The 52-point Super Quality inspection confirms this model has an extremely high pass rate — very few units fail our battery, IMEI, or hardware tests.

Read More – Best Refurbished iPhones Under ₹20000 in India (2026)

iPhone 11 Honest Limitations

• IPS LCD — not OLED: The Liquid Retina display is fantastic, yet it does not offer the deep blacks, infinite contrast, and colour vibrancy that the iPhone 12 OLED display has.
• No 5G: The rollout of 5G in India is now established in major cities. The IPhone 11 is a 4G only phone. This is a significant restriction provided you are in a 5G neighborhood and intend to use applications that require a lot of data.
• No MagSafe: MagSafe accessories, such as wallets, chargers, and stands, are not compatible with the iPhone 11. This is important if you are invested in the MagSafe ecosystem.

3.  iPhone 12 — Complete Profile (Refone Super Quality)

iPHONE 12 — REFONE SUPER QUALITY GRADE A

Price at Refone: ₹20,000 – ₹25,000

Chip: Apple A14 Bionic — 5nm architecture, faster than A13

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED — 2532 × 1170 pixels — 460 ppi

Cameras: Dual 12MP rear (Wide + Ultra-Wide) + 12MP TrueDepth front

Battery: 2815 mAh — smaller than iPhone 11 but efficient — all-day use

5G: Yes — sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G

MagSafe: Yes — full MagSafe ecosystem compatible

iOS support: iOS 18 current — supported through 2028 and beyond

Face ID: Yes — fully functional on every Refone unit

Refone warranty: 6 months written — physical certificate included

What the iPhone 12 Does Exceptionally Well

• OLED Super Retina XDR: This is the most influential update as compared to the iPhone 11. The OLED display of the iphone 12 provides real blacks, significantly higher contrast, truer colours and even better visibility in the open air. Provided that the quality of the display is important to you, this upgrade is well worth the price hike.
• 5G connectivity: The 5G network has been expanded to most of the tier-1 and many tier-2 cities in India. The iPhone 12 is future proof and supports 5G to the fullest – faster downloads, reduced latency, improved video streaming. This is an actual daily benefit should you be one of the 5G-covered areas.
• A14 Bionic — newest chip: The A14 Bionic is built on 5nm architecture — a generational improvement over the A13’s 7nm process. Machine learning performance, GPU tasks, and computational photography all benefit. The difference in everyday tasks is subtle, but in demanding workloads it is measurable.
• MagSafe ecosystem: MagSafe is an opening to a new ecosystem of snap-on wallets, cases, chargers, and stands. iPhone 12 is the first point of entry into the MagSafe system at Refone in case you use or intend to use MagSafe accessories.
• Longer iOS support: Apple usually supports iPhones for between 6 and 7 years. iOS updates will be made to the iPhone 12 at least until 2028 – a year later than on the iPhone 11. That additional software support year is something to mention in the long term.

iPhone 12 Honest Limitations

• Smaller battery: The iPhone 12 has a significantly smaller battery when compared to the 3110 mAh of the iPhone 11: 2815 mAh. This is partially compensated by Apple efficiency enhancements – but in our real-life testing at Refone the iPhone 12 consistently offers a slightly shorter screen-on time than the iPhone 11 when put through the same test scenarios.
• Higher price: At ₹20,000–₹25,000 from Refone, the iPhone 12 costs ₹3,000–₹7,000 more than the iPhone 11. For buyers on a tight budget, that difference matters — especially when the iPhone 11 delivers the core Apple experience at a lower price.

4.  Full Feature Comparison — iPhone11 vs iPhone12 Refurbished

Here is the complete refurbished iphone vs new iphone comparison applied specifically to these two models at Refone Super Quality Grade A pricing:

Feature	iPhone 11 (Refone)	iPhone 12 (Refone)
Refone Price (2026)	₹15,000 – ₹18,000	₹20,000 – ₹25,000
Chip	Apple A13 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic
5G Support	No	Yes — sub-6GHz + mmWave
Display	IPS LCD — 6.1 inch	OLED Super Retina — 6.1 inch
Camera (rear)	Dual 12MP (Wide + Ultra)	Dual 12MP (Wide + Ultra)
Night Mode	Yes — all cameras	Yes — all cameras
MagSafe	No	Yes — wireless accessory eco
Battery life	3110 mAh — full day	2815 mAh — full day
iOS support until	2027+	2028+
Face ID	Yes — fully functional	Yes — fully functional
Warranty (Refone)	6 months — written	6 months — written
IMEI verified	Yes — certified clean	Yes — certified clean
Grade at Refone	Super Quality Grade A only	Super Quality Grade A only
Value for money	Higher — bigger battery, lower price	Lower — pay premium for OLED + 5G

HOW TO READ THIS TABLE

Gold highlighted cells indicate the winner in that category. Green cells indicate both models perform identically — a tie. Where both show the same Refone standard (warranty, IMEI, grade), it confirms that Refone’s Super Quality process is identical for both models — no compromise regardless of which you choose.

Read More – Best Refurbished iPhones for Students in Varanasi (2026)

5.  Round-by-Round Verdict — Who Wins Each Category?

Let us be direct about the difference between iphone 11 and iphone 12 refurbished india 2026 across every category that Indian buyers actually care about:

Category	iPhone 11	iPhone 12	Winner
Price	₹15K–₹18K — lower	₹20K–₹25K — higher	iPhone 11 🏆
Display quality	IPS LCD — very good	OLED — excellent	iPhone 12 🏆
5G	No	Yes	iPhone 12 🏆
Battery	3110 mAh — wins	2815 mAh — smaller	iPhone 11 🏆
Chip speed	A13 Bionic — fast	A14 Bionic — faster	iPhone 12 🏆
Camera output	Dual 12MP — excellent	Dual 12MP — excellent	Tie 🤝
MagSafe	No	Yes	iPhone 12 🏆
iOS longevity	Through 2027	Through 2028	iPhone 12 🏆
Warranty	6 months (Refone)	6 months (Refone)	Tie 🤝
Value/rupee	Higher — more/₹	Lower — premium paid	iPhone 11 🏆

6.  Which Buyer Should Choose Which Model?

The should i buy refurbished iphone 11 or iphone 12 in india question has a different answer depending on who is asking. Here is the precise breakdown:

Choose iPhone 11 from Refone if you:

• Are a student, first-time iPhone buyer, or value-first buyer on a tight budget
• Use your phone heavily and need maximum battery life throughout the day
• Do not live in a 5G-covered area or do not need 5G speeds now
• Are happy with an IPS LCD display and do not need an OLED panel
• Want the most Apple iPhone you can get for the lowest possible certified price
• Is refurbished iphone 11 good for daily use? — Yes, completely. The A13 Bionic and iOS 18 make it fully capable for any daily task in 2026.

Choose iPhone 12 from Refone if you:

• Live in a major Indian city with 5G coverage and want to use it
• Care deeply about display quality — OLED is a genuine, visible upgrade you will notice every day
• Use MagSafe accessories or plan to invest in the MagSafe ecosystem
• Want the longest possible iOS software support window — through 2028 and beyond
• Can stretch to ₹20,000–₹25,000 and want the more future-ready device
• Is refurbished iphone 12 good for long term use? — Yes — A14 Bionic + 5G + OLED gives you the most future-proof hardware in this budget at Refone.

SPECIFIC BUYER PROFILES

Students: iPhone 11 at ₹15K–₹18K. Best Apple experience per rupee for a college budget.

Android switchers: iPhone 11 first — experience iOS without overpaying. Upgrade to iPhone 12 later.

Content creators: iPhone 12 — OLED display is dramatically better for editing and viewing.

Heavy data users: iPhone 12 — 5G in covered cities delivers real-world speed advantages.

Battery-critical users: iPhone 11 — the extra 300 mAh makes a measurable difference in daily life.

Parents buying for children: iPhone 11 — reliable, warranted, lower price, easy to replace if damaged.

7.  What Super Quality Grade A Means for Both Models

At Refone, certified refurbished iphone means the same thing regardless of model. Here is what every Super Quality Grade A iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 goes through before it ships to you:

REFONE GRADE POLICY — NON-NEGOTIABLE

Super Quality Grade A Only. We Do Not Sell Good or Fair Condition Phones.

Grade A  ✓  (Refone sells this) — Cosmetically like new, battery 80%+, all sensors perfect Grade B  ✕  (Refone does NOT sell this) — Minor scratches, aged appearance Grade C  ✕  (Refone does NOT sell this) — Visible wear, cosmetic damage

The 47-Point Inspection — What It Covers

1. Battery: Professional diagnostic tool verification at 80%+ — not just the iOS Settings display, which can be artificially reset
2. IMEI check: Cross-checked against India’s CEIR portal, Apple’s database, and international stolen-device registries
3. Display: Apple-grade panel verification — no ‘Unknown Part’ warnings, Face ID fully paired and functional
4. All cameras: Front, rear, ultra-wide tested in multiple lighting conditions — photo and video quality confirmed
5. Biometrics: Face ID tested across multiple unlock attempts in varied conditions
6. Audio: Speakers and microphone tested at multiple volume levels
7. Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and 5G (iPhone 12) all tested with active connections
8. Charging: Port and wireless charging tested — no heat anomalies under load
9. iCloud status: Activation Lock confirmed removed, factory reset performed by Refone technician
10. Cosmetics: Super Quality Grade A — no visible scratches, no dents, no display discolouration under normal room lighting

Read More – Why More Indians Are Choosing Refurbished Phones in 2026

8.  Why Refone Is the Safest Place to Buy Either Model in India

The best place to buy refurbished iphone in india question has one clear answer when you apply the right criteria. Here is how Refone compares to every alternative:

REFONE vs THE ALTERNATIVES

Refone: Super Quality Grade A only · 47-point inspection · 12-month written warranty · 15-day returns · IMEI certificate · GST invoice · Pan-India delivery · Est. 2019

Cashify: Mixed grades including Good and Fair · Shorter warranty · No independent IMEI certificate on all units · Grade B and C devices listed alongside Grade A

Amazon Renewed: 90-day warranty only · No independent 47-point inspection · Mixed grade quality · No IMEI verification certificate issued

OLX / Quikr / Facebook: Unverified private sellers · No warranty · No IMEI check · No return policy · No accountability · Buyer assumes all risk

Local mobile shops: No documented inspection process · Verbal warranty only · No IMEI verification · No standardised grading

When you buy an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 from Refone, you receive: a 6-month written warranty certificate with your IMEI number and purchase date documented; a verified clean IMEI certificate; a GST invoice as legal proof of purchase; a 15-day no-questions-asked return window; and a Super Quality Grade A device that is cosmetically indistinguishable from new. That is not marketing — it is the documented output of our inspection process.

9.  Real Pricing — What to Expect at Refone in 2026

Here is the honest iphone price comparison new vs refurbished at Refone for both models in April 2026:

Model	New (India RRP)	Refone Price	You Save
iPhone 11	₹59,900	₹15,000–₹18,000	₹42,000–₹45,000
iPhone 12	₹69,900	₹20,000–₹25,000	₹45,000–₹50,000

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROW IN THAT TABLE

An iPhone 12 new costs ₹69,900 in India. The same iPhone 12 at Refone — Super Quality Grade A, 47-point certified, IMEI-verified, 6-month warranted — costs ₹20,000–₹25,000. That is a saving of ₹45,000–₹50,000 on an identical piece of Apple hardware. The why refurbished iphone is cheaper than new answer is simple: supply chain, not quality.

10.  The Verdict — iPhone 11 vs iPhone 12 Refurbished India 2026

FINAL VERDICT

Buy iPhone 11 from Refone (₹15,000–₹18,000) if: Budget matters most · Battery life is critical · 5G is not available in your area · You want the best Apple experience per rupee
Buy iPhone 12 from Refone (₹20,000–₹25,000) if: You want OLED display quality · 5G is available in your city · MagSafe matters to you · You want the longest software support window

Both phones ship from Refone as Super Quality Grade A — 52-point certified, 12-month warranted, IMEI-verified, 7-day returns. You cannot go wrong with either choice. Visit refone.co.in to see live inventory and current pricing.

SHOP CERTIFIED REFURBISHED iPHONES AT REFONE

Super Quality Grade A only  ·  47-point inspection  ·  6-month written warranty  ·  15-day returns  ·  IMEI verified  ·  Free pan-India shipping

Visit: refone.co.in

11.  FAQ — Answered for Google, AI & Voice Search

These answers target Google’s People Also Ask, AI Overviews, and voice search queries for fast indexing.

Q:  Is a refurbished iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 better in India in 2026?

Both are great; the correct one is based on what you prioritise. Prefer the iPhone 11 (₹15,000 18,000) because of its longer battery, a reduced price, and the best value per rupee. Select the iPhone 12 (₹20,000- ₹25,000) with the OLED display, 5G, and MagSafe. They are both sold at Refone under Super Quality Grade A and 6 months warranty.

Q:  Is refurbished iPhone 11 good for daily use in India in 2026?

Yes — completely. The Apple A13 Bionic chip, dual 12MP cameras, Face ID, and iOS 18 make the iPhone 11 a powerful daily driver in 2026. At Refone, every iPhone 11 is Super Quality Grade A with battery health of 80% or above — guaranteed. It handles calls, video, social media, banking, gaming, and photography without compromise.

Q:  Is refurbished iPhone 12 worth buying in 2026?

Yes — especially for OLED quality, 5G, and longer software support. The iPhone 12’s OLED Super Retina XDR display, A14 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, and MagSafe make it the more future-ready of the two. At Refone’s Super Quality Grade A price of ₹20,000–₹25,000, it represents exceptional value for a feature set that still feels current in 2026.

Q:  Does refurbished iPhone come with warranty?

Yes — every Refone device comes with a 12-month written warranty. The certificate includes your iPhone’s IMEI number, grade, purchase date, and full warranty terms. It is a physical document issued with every order. Not a verbal assurance — a legally documented guarantee. Refone also provides a 15-day no-questions-asked return policy.

Q:  Which is better for students — iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 refurbished?

The higher student choice is the iPhone 11. Refone offers a full Apple experience at a price most students can afford: ( ₹15,000 -₹18,000 ) A13 Bionic chip, amazing camera, face ID, iOS 18. OLED and 5G are not necessary features in most student scenarios, so the iPhone 12 is ( ₹ 5,000-₹ 7,000 ) more expensive with these features.

Q:  Is refurbished iPhone original or fake?

A certified refurbished iPhone from Refone is 100% original Apple hardware. Every component is verified as Apple-grade during the 47-point inspection. Refone checks for iOS ‘Unknown Part’ warnings in Settings → General → About on every device — any unit with a non-Apple part is rejected, not sold. You receive a genuine iPhone in Super Quality Grade A condition.

Q:  Which refurbished iPhone has the best battery life?

The battery life of the iPhone 11 is superior to that of these two. The iPhone 11 achieves more screen-on time in the real-world testing of Refone at 3110 mAh compared to the 2815 mAh in the iPhone 12. The iPhone 11 has a better battery life, when it comes to heavy users who require all day to use it without having to charge up.

Q:  Is it safe to buy refurbished iPhone in India?

Yes — completely safe when buying from Refone. Every device is IMEI-verified against India’s CEIR portal, hardware-tested across 52 checkpoints, covered by a 6-month written warranty, and backed by a 15-day return policy. Refone sells only Super Quality Grade A iPhones — never Good or Fair condition devices. We are a registered, GST-compliant business with a verifiable track record since 2019.

Written by the Refone Expert Team Certified Refurbished iPhone Specialists  ·  India  ·  Est. 2019 Refone has personally inspected, tested, and sold tens of thousands of refurbished iPhones across India since 2019. Every comparison in this guide draws on real device data from our 52-point Super Quality inspection process — not third-party benchmarks or assumptions. We sell only Super Quality Grade A iPhones. We have never sold a Good or Fair condition device. This is real expertise, documented daily in our facility.