Switching from Android to iPhone is easier than it has ever been. Apple’s Move to iOS app carries over most of what matters, and texting your Android friends no longer means giving up modern messaging features. This guide covers which iPhone to switch to, how to move your data and phone number, what does not transfer, and how to turn your old Android into cash.
Quick Answer
To switch from Android to iPhone, pick an iPhone that runs iOS 27 (an iPhone 13 or newer gives you the most years of updates), then use Apple’s Move to iOS app during iPhone setup to transfer contacts, messages, photos, calendars, and even WhatsApp chats. Move your number with a SIM swap or by converting it to eSIM through your carrier. Then remove your Google account and sell your Android before its value drops.
Which iPhone to Switch To
You do not need a new iPhone to switch. A used one gives you the same iOS 27 experience for a fraction of the price. Here are the best picks for Android switchers, with Swappa prices as of September 23, 2026.
| iPhone | Starts Around on Swappa | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) | $88 | Trying iOS on a budget, small hands, Touch ID fans |
| iPhone 13 | $134 | Best value overall, with years of updates left |
| iPhone 14 | $273 | Better cameras and crash detection |
| iPhone 16e | $299 | A18 chip at a lower price, USB-C |
| iPhone 15 | $329 | USB-C, Dynamic Island, 48MP camera |
Three details matter more to switchers than to longtime iPhone owners:
- USB-C starts with the iPhone 15. If you want to keep using your Android chargers and cables, buy an iPhone 15, iPhone 16e, or newer.
- US iPhone 14 and newer models are eSIM only. There is no SIM tray, so your number moves as an eSIM (more on that below).
- Apple Intelligence needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. If AI features are a priority, budget for a Pro model. Everything else in iOS 27 runs on the iPhone 11 and later.
Avoid anything older than the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE (2nd gen). Those models are off the iOS 27 update list. For every budget pick ranked, see Best Cheap iPhones in 2026: Top Picks Under $300, and for the full lineup, see Used iPhone Buyer’s Guide: Every Generation Ranked (2026).
Before You Switch: Prepare Your Android Phone
Ten minutes of prep saves hours of cleanup later:
- Back up to your Google account. Make sure Google Photos and contacts are fully synced.
- Move your two-factor codes. If you use Google Authenticator, turn on sync to your Google account or use its export option so you can restore codes on the iPhone. Other authenticator apps have their own transfer tools.
- Back up WhatsApp if you use it. Move to iOS can carry WhatsApp chats over, but a backup is cheap insurance.
- Make a list of your paid apps. Purchases do not carry across stores, so check which apps you would need to buy again on the App Store.
- Charge both phones and connect them to the same Wi-Fi network.
How to Use Move to iOS, Step by Step
Move to iOS is Apple’s free app on the Google Play Store. It works during iPhone setup, so do this before you finish setting up the iPhone.
- Turn on the iPhone and follow the setup steps until you reach the screen for transferring apps and data.
- Choose the option to move data from Android. The iPhone shows a code.
- On the Android phone, install and open Move to iOS, accept the terms, and enter the code.
- Choose what to bring over: contacts, message history, camera photos and videos, photo albums, files and folders, accessibility and display settings, web bookmarks, mail accounts, calendars, and WhatsApp messages and media.
- Leave both phones alone until the transfer finishes. Large photo libraries can take a while.
Free apps that exist on both stores may be suggested for download on the iPhone. If you already finished setting up the iPhone, you need to erase it and start setup again to use Move to iOS, or move things over manually with the Google apps below.
Move Your Phone Number and eSIM
If your Android phone uses a physical SIM and your iPhone has a SIM tray, you can simply move the card. For US iPhone 14 and newer models, your number moves as an eSIM. Most carriers can convert your line through their app, their website, or a store visit, and some support conversion during iPhone setup. Have your carrier account login ready before you start.
If you are buying a used iPhone, make sure it is unlocked or locked to your carrier, and that its IMEI is clean. See eSIM and Used Phones: What to Know Before You Buy and Will This Used Phone Work on My Carrier?, or shop unlocked phones on Swappa.
Keep Your Google Apps or Go All In With Apple
You do not have to leave Google behind. Gmail, Google Photos, Google Maps, Chrome, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and YouTube all have iPhone apps, and signing in brings your data with you. Chrome can also fill passwords saved in Google Password Manager.
Many switchers do both: keep Google Photos and Gmail, and try Apple’s Messages, Maps, and Safari for a few weeks. Apple’s built-in apps work best with iCloud and with other Apple devices, so if you plan to add an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch later, it is worth giving them a real try.
Texting Android Friends After You Switch
Your texts to Android users now work much better than they used to. Since iOS 18, iPhones support RCS messaging on participating carriers, which brings typing indicators, higher-quality photos and videos, and better group chats between iPhone and Android. Messages with other iPhone users go through iMessage automatically. Your message history from Android comes over with Move to iOS.
What Does Not Transfer
Plan for a few gaps:
- Paid apps and in-app purchases. Google Play purchases do not carry to the App Store.
- Music files, books, and PDFs stored locally on the Android phone need to be moved by hand or through a cloud service.
- Your smartwatch. Samsung Galaxy Watch and Google Pixel Watch models do not work with an iPhone. Sell yours and look at a used Apple Watch instead. See Used Apple Watch Buyer’s Guide: Series, SE & Ultra Ranked for which models are still supported.
- Some earbud features. Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds pair with an iPhone over Bluetooth, but you lose app-based features like custom controls and seamless switching.
Sell Your Android Phone the Right Way
Your old Android is worth more the sooner you sell it. Before you list it, remove the accounts that lock the phone to you:
- Remove your Google account in Settings (under Accounts, or Passwords and accounts, depending on the phone). This prevents Google FRP from locking the next owner out. See Android FRP: How to Avoid a Locked Used Phone.
- On Samsung phones, remove your Samsung account to clear Reactivation Lock. See Samsung Reactivation Lock & Knox: What Buyers Must Know.
- Factory reset the phone and remove your SIM card. See How to Wipe Your Device Before Selling.
- Check the value on Swappa’s price pages, then list it.
Recent Android flagships hold real value. As of September 23, 2026, Galaxy S24 listings on Swappa start around $217 and Pixel 9 listings around $325. Swappa’s seller fee is 3% of your asking price, plus payment processing, which is lower than typical auction-site fees. For more, see How to Sell Your Used Phone for the Most Money.
Sell Your Android Phone on Swappa
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone?
Yes. Apple’s Move to iOS app can transfer WhatsApp messages and media from an Android phone to an iPhone during setup. Back up WhatsApp first as a precaution, and keep both phones charged and on Wi-Fi until the transfer finishes.
Can I use Move to iOS after I set up my iPhone?
Not directly. Move to iOS only works during iPhone setup. If you have already set up the iPhone, you can erase it and start setup again, or move your data manually by signing in to Google apps such as Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Calendar on the iPhone.
Will my Galaxy Watch or Pixel Watch work with an iPhone?
No. Current Samsung Galaxy Watch and Google Pixel Watch models require an Android phone. If you switch to iPhone, selling your watch and buying a used Apple Watch is usually the best move.
Will I lose my text messages when I switch to iPhone?
No, if you use Move to iOS. It transfers your Android message history to the iPhone. After the switch, texts with other iPhone users go through iMessage, and texts with Android users use RCS on participating carriers.
Which used iPhone is best for someone switching from Android?
The iPhone 13 is the best value for most switchers, starting around $134 on Swappa with years of iOS updates left. Choose an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16e if you want USB-C so your Android chargers still work, or an iPhone SE (3rd generation) if you want the cheapest supported option.
The Bottom Line
Switching from Android to iPhone takes about an hour: pick a used iPhone that runs iOS 27, run Move to iOS during setup, move your number, and sell your Android before its value slips. Buying the iPhone used and selling the Android on Swappa can cover most of the cost of the switch.
