Here's why you shouldn't throw away your old iPhone
Engadget · C · trust 42/100
Even if it no longer receives updates, there's plenty it can still do
umitc/Shutterstock Who doesn't have an old iPhone lying in a drawer somewhere? I have old ones dating all the way back to the iPhone 4S. There will come a time when the device's battery dies completely and it will no longer power on. If the phone still works, however, but software and security support has lapsed, there's still a lot you can do with the device. Consider that iOS 27 can run on iPhones as old as the iPhone 11 !
Whether you hand the old iPhone down to someone else, use it for a specific function with or without a Wi-Fi connection or send it in for safe recycling once it is no longer operational, the last thing you should ever do with an old iPhone is throw it away. More importantly, there's so much you can still do with it while it's still working — if you get creative.
Apple Remember the iPod? Those dedicated portable music players marked the next evolution of the Walkman and MP3 players. When Apple introduced the iPod Touch , it mimicked the first iPhone in look. So, it's not that much of a stretch to use an old iPhone like a makeshift music player. Wipe it clean of every app but your favorite music streaming services. Then stream while on a Wi-Fi network, download songs from a streamer you subscribe to or transfer music files you own. With the phone empty of everything else, you can dedicate the entire storage to music in nicely organized playlists.
Then, use it to play tunes at a backyard barbecue, on the beach or while camping, connected to a portable Bluetooth speaker. Bring it with you for commutes or travel for personal listening while using your primary phone for core purposes. The benefit is that you're not draining your primary phone's battery. Aside from music, an old iPhone could also be a portable gaming device using services like Apple Arcade or basic game apps.
Another idea could be to set it up on your nightstand with a charging dock or kickstand, permanently plugged in. Any iPhone with iOS 17 or higher works with the StandBy mode when positioned horizontally, which turns the screen into a bedside clock and wake-up alarm. If connected to Wi-Fi, you could play music once you wake up or even have Siri advise you of the current weather, traffic and your calendar and to-do items for the day.
On the go, set it up with a navigation app, hotspot it to your phone, then mount it on bicycle or motorcycle handlebars to use as a dedicated navigation device. While it doesn't have an eInk screen, you could also use an old iPhone as a dedicated eReader, downloading your favorite titles from an eReading app to read at home and on the go.
Drazen Zigic/Getty Images Are you a content creator? Consider an older iPhone to shoot things like time-lapse videos so you don't have to tie up your primary device doing so. I once shot a time-lapse video of my son building a Lego set that took hours. I used a dedicated camera, but if your phone is your primary content capture device, a secondary iPhone would work well.
If you record things like interviews, use your primary phone for the footage and the second iPhone to capture audio you can later sync when editing. Or use it for multi-cam footage to get shots at different angles while recording a video for social media or even a podcast. FinalCut Pro has a Live Multicam feature that allows you to connect up to four iPhones (or iPads) from an iPad, so that extra phone will come in handy to enhance your videos.
Bangla press/Shutterstock If you have various smart home gadgets, use an old iPhone as a dedicated control hub. Position it in a central location like the kitchen or living room with the smart home control app loaded. From there, family members can use it to control everything from the TV to the music and lights. Activate scenes like "Gaming Night" or "Good Morning" that perform several actions at once with a single button push or Siri voice command. It can also work as a secondary Apple TV remote, or a primary one if you have lost the tiny remote that comes with the streaming box. You could also download digital remotes for Roku and Fire TV devices.
View live camera footage from a compatible video doorbell or even use the iPhone itself as a security camera. While you won't want to leave an iPhone outdoors, you could mount it in a baby's nursery or on a shelf in the living room to keep an eye on your pets while you're at work through a remote monitoring app like AlfredCamera.
Stockphotodirectors/Getty Images Families with tweens and teens are always struggling to know when it's the right time to get a child their first smartphone . You can test the waters with an old iPhone. It might not support all the latest features, but you can use it to monitor your child's behavior, screen time and responsibility. Have them use it only at home or when on a Wi-Fi network (or connected to your personal hotspot). Or sign them up for an entry-level carrier plan. Once they have built trust and you're confident they're ready, you can upgrade them to a new device.
An old iPhone is also great for a grandparent who needs something simple and familiar but doesn't require all the latest features, fast processing speeds or Apple Intelligence . If you have a toddler who uses your phone to watch videos (say, so you can have an actual conversation for 15 minutes while at brunch with a friend), you can use an old iPhone with a rugged case as a makeshift video player. Download content like their favorite cartoons from streaming services, then confidently hand it over without worry that they'll toss and break your phone.
Hxyume/Getty Images If there's no one in your family who wants it, you can also sell an old iPhone and support the circular economy. Use sites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay, or even utilize dedicated used phone buy/sell websites like Gazelle and Swappa to see if there's someone who is willing to pay for it. If there's a local organization that accepts phone…
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