Published 2026-04-14 by James Maxwell
WhatsApp’s April 2026 update has shifted the messaging landscape on iPhone in a way that Apple’s own RCS rollout simply hasn’t managed. For anyone considering an iPhone purchase right now, or thinking about upgrading their current device, this development has real practical implications for which model you buy and why.
WhatsApp’s latest iOS update delivers end-to-end encrypted messaging features that outperform Apple’s RCS implementation in several ways. RCS, which Apple added to iPhone with iOS 17.4 in early 2024, improved group chats and media sharing with Android users but stopped short of offering encryption on cross-platform messages. WhatsApp’s update, confirmed in its April 2026 release notes, adds richer cross-device functionality and tighter privacy controls that work regardless of whether the other person is on Android or iOS.
The upshot is simple: for many users, WhatsApp now does more on iPhone than Apple’s own native messaging upgrade. Apple confirmed RCS support as a response to EU regulatory pressure, not as a privacy-first feature. That distinction matters.
This matters because messaging capability is now a genuine factor in the iPhone buying decision, particularly for households that mix iOS and Android devices. If you were holding off upgrading because you wanted better cross-platform communication, the answer is already in your pocket via WhatsApp rather than locked behind a new iPhone model.
For buyers currently choosing between an iPhone 15 and an iPhone 16, this update removes one argument for upgrading. The WhatsApp feature works across all iPhones running a recent iOS version, so you don’t need the latest hardware to benefit. That said, iPhone 16 models start at £799 (per Apple UK pricing at time of writing), while refurbished iPhone 15 units are available from around £579 through retailers including Back Market and Amazon Renewed, and the messaging parity between them is now essentially identical.
The iPhone 16 series is the obvious starting point, but the value case has shifted slightly. Four models sit in the current lineup: the standard iPhone 16 at £799, the iPhone 16 Plus at £899, the iPhone 16 Pro at £999, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at £1,199 (all per Apple UK at time of writing). If messaging was your primary reason to upgrade, none of those price points are justified by this WhatsApp update alone.
The more interesting category to watch is mid-range iPhones. The iPhone 15 at £699 new (still available through Apple and most major UK retailers) and the iPhone 14 at clearance prices through retailers like Currys and Very are now more attractive precisely because the software gap has narrowed. We’ve seen iPhone 14 units drop to around £499 refurbished, which represents a solid saving against the new iPhone 16 with no messaging disadvantage.
Accessories are also worth monitoring. Cases, MagSafe chargers, and AirPods bundles frequently shift in price when Apple generates news cycles, and retailers often use these moments to push accessory deals alongside handset listings.
UK retail pricing on iPhones varies more than most people expect. At time of writing, the iPhone 16 (128GB, Midnight) is listed at £799 at Apple directly, £799 at John Lewis (which includes a two-year guarantee as standard, versus Apple’s one year), and from around £779 through Amazon third-party sellers, though warranty coverage on those varies. Currys and Very typically run finance options that Apple’s own store doesn’t match, with 0% APR available over 12 or 24 months depending on the promotion cycle.
For refurbished stock, Back Market grades its devices clearly and includes a 12-month warranty, making it one of the more reliable options at that £499-£579 price point for older iPhone models.
We’re tracking prices across UK retailers on iPhone 16, iPhone 15, and related Apple accessories. Monitor related listings on shopping.co.uk to catch price movements as they happen.
At £799 for the iPhone 16, you’re paying a £200 premium over a refurbished iPhone 15 for hardware improvements that the WhatsApp update has made less critical to the day-to-day experience for most users.
Best place to buy: John Lewis — currently price-matched to Apple at £799 for the iPhone 16 but includes a two-year guarantee as standard, which adds tangible value without extra cost.
vs. the iPhone 15: The iPhone 15 at around £579 refurbished (Back Market, at time of writing) is now the stronger value play for anyone who primarily wanted better messaging. The A16 Bionic chip handles everything short of heavy video editing, and WhatsApp’s update means cross-platform communication is no longer a reason to pay for the newer model.
Our take: Buy the iPhone 15 refurbished now if messaging was your main reason to upgrade; hold off on the iPhone 16 unless the camera or A18 chip performance matters to your use case.
Does the WhatsApp update work on older iPhones?
Yes. WhatsApp’s April 2026 update works on any iPhone running a compatible iOS version, which includes devices as far back as the iPhone 12. You don’t need new hardware to access the updated features.
Is RCS still useful on iPhone after this WhatsApp update?
RCS remains useful for texting Android users who don’t have WhatsApp, since it handles higher-resolution media and read receipts over standard SMS. However, it lacks end-to-end encryption on cross-platform messages, which WhatsApp provides by default.
Where is the best place to buy a refurbished iPhone in the UK?
Back Market and Amazon Renewed are the two most widely used platforms, with Back Market offering clearer grading standards and a 12-month warranty. John Lewis also sells certified refurbished iPhones with its standard two-year guarantee, typically at a slight premium over Back Market.
Will iPhone 16 prices drop soon?
Apple products rarely see significant discounts in the first six months after launch. Based on previous patterns, price drops on iPhone 16 are more likely around Black Friday 2026 or when iPhone 17 launches, expected in September 2026.