Ex-UK iPhone Buyer's Guide Kenya 2026 — Prices & Checks

Most iPhones sold second-hand in Kenya are ex-UK. It is how the majority of people here end up with a Pro Max they could not otherwise afford, and it is a perfectly sensible way to buy — provided you know what you are looking at.

This guide covers what ex-UK actually means, the one risk that genuinely matters, what you should pay, and how to check a phone before your money leaves your hand. It applies wherever you buy, not only from us.

What does ex-UK mean?

An ex-UK iPhone is a used handset first sold in the United Kingdom and later imported into Kenya. It is second-hand, not new, and not a different model — a UK iPhone 13 Pro is the same phone as a Kenyan iPhone 13 Pro.

They arrive in good condition for a structural reason. Most UK phones are bought on two-year contracts, kept in a case, and traded in when the contract ends. That is a very different life from a phone used until it dies, and it is why ex-UK stock is generally better than local second-hand at the same price.

The one risk that actually matters

A phone reported lost or stolen in the UK is blacklisted there by its IMEI number. Here is the part that catches people: a blacklisted phone works perfectly on Safaricom. It makes calls, uses data, updates normally. There is no way to spot it by using it.

So you cannot check for this yourself in a shop by handling the phone. It has to be verified against the register before sale, and most sellers simply do not mention it.

Every ex-UK iPhone iTey Store sells is verified before it goes on the shelf. If it is listed, it has been checked and it is good to be sold. That is our job, not yours — and it is the single biggest reason to buy an import from a shop with a physical address rather than from a stranger at a meeting point.

The second thing to check: network lock

UK phones are often locked to the network that sold them — EE, O2, Vodafone, Three. A locked phone only accepts that carrier's SIM and is useless in Kenya until it is unlocked, which is not always possible and not always cheap.

Test it in thirty seconds: put your own Safaricom SIM in and make a call before any money changes hands. If it refuses, walk away.

iTey Store does not sell network-locked handsets. Every ex-UK iPhone we list is unlocked and works on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom.

The third thing: battery health

An iPhone battery degrades with use. Below about 85% you are buying a phone plus a battery replacement you have not budgeted for.

Check it yourself: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. It takes ten seconds and it is the number a seller is least likely to volunteer.

Every ex-UK iPhone we sell is 90% battery health or better. That is a hard rule — our own system refuses to list a unit below it — so the promise does not depend on anyone remembering it on a busy Saturday.

What should an ex-UK iPhone cost in Kenya?

Our full price list is published, which almost no Kenyan seller does. Current prices:

Model	Storage	Price
iPhone 11	128GB	KSh 32,000
iPhone 11 Pro	256GB	KSh 38,000
iPhone 11 Pro Max	256GB	KSh 41,500
iPhone 12	128GB	KSh 36,000
iPhone 12 Pro Max	128GB	KSh 52,000
iPhone 13	128GB	KSh 44,000
iPhone 13 Pro Max	256GB	KSh 67,500
iPhone 14 Pro Max	256GB	KSh 85,000
iPhone 15 Pro Max	256GB	KSh 99,000

See the full ex-UK iPhone price list — every model and storage size, updated as stock changes. You can tap any row there to ask about that exact phone on WhatsApp.

Which ex-UK iPhone should you buy?

Tightest budget: iPhone 11 at KSh 32,000. Still receives iOS updates, still takes good photos, and it is the cheapest genuine iPhone worth owning.

The value pick: iPhone 13 at KSh 44,000. Modern design, excellent battery life, and it will stay supported for years. If someone asks us for one recommendation, this is usually it.

Best camera for the money: iPhone 13 Pro Max at KSh 67,500. Telephoto lens, ProMotion display, and the biggest battery Apple had put in a phone at that point.

Nearly current: iPhone 15 Pro Max at KSh 99,000 — USB-C, titanium, the Action button. Roughly KSh 70,000 less than a new iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Ex-UK or brand new?

Buy new if you want full Apple warranty, the latest model, and a phone nobody has owned. Browse new iPhones for those.

Buy ex-UK if you want considerably more phone for your money and you accept it is second-hand. An ex-UK 13 Pro Max at KSh 67,500 is a far better camera than a new budget phone at the same price.

What you give up is Apple's original warranty — long expired on these — so the shop's own cover is what protects you. Ours is 2 months on every ex-UK unit, and it does not cover the screen. We say that before the sale rather than after it. Check the display carefully in the shop, and we will help you check it.

How to check any ex-UK iPhone before you pay

Wherever you are buying, these take five minutes and they are the difference between a bargain and a brick:

1. Battery health. Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. Below 85%, budget for a replacement.
2. Network lock. Put your own SIM in and make a call before paying.
3. iCloud. Settings → General → Reset. If it asks for someone else's Apple ID, the phone is still tied to the previous owner and is unusable. Walk away.
4. Screen and body. Look along the display at an angle in good light for cracks and lifting. Check the frame for bends.
5. Every camera. Open the camera app and switch through each lens, front and back.
6. The blacklist. You cannot check this by using the phone — buy from a seller who verifies it and will stand behind it at a physical address.

Frequently asked questions

What does ex-UK mean for phones in Kenya?

An ex-UK phone is a used handset originally sold in the United Kingdom and imported into Kenya. It is the same model as any other, just second-hand. Ex-UK stock is usually in good condition because most UK phones are bought on two-year contracts and traded in at the end.

Are ex-UK iPhones good to buy?

Yes, if you check three things: battery health above 85%, the phone is not network-locked to a UK carrier, and it is not blacklisted as lost or stolen in the UK. The first two you can check yourself in minutes. The third you cannot — a blacklisted phone works normally on Safaricom — so buy from a seller who verifies it.

How much is an ex-UK iPhone in Kenya?

At iTey Store, from KSh 32,000 for an iPhone 11 128GB to KSh 106,000 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB. The full list of models and storage sizes is published at iteystore.co.ke/ex-uk-iphones-kenya.

How do I know an ex-UK iPhone is not stolen?

You cannot tell by using it — a phone blacklisted in the UK still works normally on Kenyan networks. It must be verified against the register before sale. Every ex-UK iPhone iTey Store sells is verified before it is listed.

What battery health should an ex-UK iPhone have?

85% is the practical floor; below that you are paying for a battery replacement as well as the phone. iTey Store lists ex-UK iPhones at 90% or better only. Check it yourself under Settings, Battery, Battery Health & Charging.

Do ex-UK iPhones work on Safaricom?

Unlocked ones do — on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. A UK network-locked handset will not, and needs unlocking first. Test with your own SIM before paying. iTey Store does not sell locked units.

What warranty comes with an ex-UK iPhone?

At iTey Store, 2 months covering hardware faults, honoured at our Nairobi CBD showroom. The screen is not covered on ex-UK units. Apple's original manufacturer warranty has long expired on imported second-hand phones, so the shop's own cover is what protects you.

Where to buy ex-UK iPhones in Nairobi

iTey Store sells ex-UK iPhones from Cookie House, Accra Road, 3rd Floor, Store 311, Nairobi CBD — Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM. Walk in, check the battery health and the SIM yourself, and pay over the counter if you are satisfied.

See the full ex-UK iPhone price list, browse new iPhones, or trade in your current phone against one. Not sure we are the real thing? We wrote a page about exactly that. WhatsApp +254 727 415 589 to check what is in stock today.