10+ Ways You Can Use an Old iPhone
One great thing about the iPhone is that it has staying power. Thanks to its responsive software, incredible hardware, and years of iOS updates, even an older iPhone can still be used for many years.
But what happens when you finally get a new iPhone? Are you supposed to throw your old iPhone away or store it forever?
Well, you can if you want, but there are other ways to make the most of an old iPhone that you probably haven't even considered.
From using it as a webcam to having a new dedicated gaming device or even using it to keep track of the family's little ones, there are many ways to use an old iPhone that you probably haven't even tried. Read on for ten of the most creative ways to use your old iPhone to help you get started.
Keep Your Old iPhone as a Backup
The first thing you need to know is that you don't necessarily have to give your old iPhone a new use, at least not just yet.
Instead, you can keep your iPhone for yourself. Use your new iPhone as much as you want, and keep your old one as a spare in case you need it.
That said, you shouldn't just put an iPhone in a box and forget about it. Apple has a few tips on how to store an iPhone properly. First, you must ensure it's stored in a room with the right temperature. Apple suggests that you place your iPhone in a moisture-free environment, with a temperature of less than 32° C (90° F).
Moreover, charge your iPhone to precisely 50% battery, but only if you plan to store it for six months or longer. This will prevent your iPhone's battery from suffering too much wear and tear.
Use Your Old iPhone as a Gaming Console
Handheld gaming consoles have been around for decades, but smartphones have taken mobile gaming to another level. If your old iPhone is capable enough, you might have the best portable gaming console you could ask for.
Using your old iPhone as a console is more than possible now. Not only can you find plenty of amazing games on the App Store that will push your iPhone to the limits of its performance, but there are also subscription services that will let you use your iPhone as an actual gaming console.
We're talking about services like PS Remote Play, which lets you access literal console games on your iPhone in the cloud. While the quality of the games will depend on your internet connection, you can play fantastic games on the go if you want to.
Of course, this service can drain your battery life, so having a second iPhone exclusively to play games is a pretty smart idea.
You Can Bring the iPod Touch Back
The iPod touch may be officially gone, but that doesn't mean you can't still have your own dedicated MP3 player.
If you have an older iPhone, you can turn it into an iPod touch, but with all the new features an iPhone is capable of. You can play your music, watch movies and shows, or play games on the go, just like the iPod touch could.
However, if you need it, you can also make phone calls, which is something the old iPod touch was never capable of.
Using your old iPhone as a dedicated music player is a good way to let you enjoy your music or podcasts without worrying about messages or notifications that go to your main iPhone.
Turn Your Old iPhone Into a Dumb Phone
Dumb phones have become more popular in recent years, as having a smartphone can be overwhelming.
Sometimes you're done with notifications, social media, or other time wasters that we all have on our phones. Or maybe you feel like you're getting too addicted to checking your favorite apps.
Whatever the reason is, having a dumb phone can help you clear your head, become more productive, and enjoy real life.
With that said, there may be times when you want to go back to checking social media or messages from your iPhone. That's why keeping your old iPhone as a dumb phone is a great way to have the best of both worlds.
You can still enjoy your favorite apps and the benefits of a smartphone when you want to and switch to a dumb phone without addictive apps when you've had enough.
Use Your iPhone as a Dedicated Remote
If you have an Apple TV, you probably already know you can use your iPhone as a digital remote if you can't find your physical remote anywhere.
But if you want to be able to control your Apple TV and still use your iPhone, you can keep your old phone as a dedicated remote for when you want to have something on the TV while using your main iPhone.
Moreover, even if you don't have an Apple TV, you can still use your old iPhone to watch movies and shows. You can still stream movies and shows from your old iPhone without wasting the battery life of your main iPhone.
Have the Best Camera in Your Meetings
A few years ago, Apple added a useful feature to the Mac and iPhone called Continuity Camera. This lets you connect your iPhone and use it as a webca on your Mac or even your Apple TV.
Continuity Camera changed the game for online meetings, giving you a way to have the best camera in your office without having to buy a dedicated webcam. However, using your iPhone as a camera means you can't actively use your iPhone in a meeting. Fortunately, if you have an older iPhone, this problem is a thing of the past.
You can turn your old iPhone into a dedicated webcam and have the best of both worlds. Plus, with iOS 18 you can even use an old iPhone as a dedicated continuity camera for your Apple TV so that anyone in your home can more easily start a FaceTime or Zoom call.
Use Your Old iPhone as a Mini E-Reader
Nowadays, e-readers are extremely popular, and for a good reason. Reading books digitally is the perfect way to carry thousands of books with you without adding extra weight to your backpack while you're on the go.
Another benefit of having an e-reader is that you won't get constantly distracted by notifications while you read, which is a huge downside to reading on your iPhone.
With that said, e-readers aren't perfect. One of the most significant downsides is that most of them don't have great displays, which is terrible if you like reading graphic novels full of color and details.
Fortunately, you have a really good alternative: your iPhone. You can use your old iPhone as an e-reader and have the best of both worlds.
You can disable all notifications on your old iPhone and remove any distracting apps so you can focus only on reading. Moreover, you can still connect your AirPods and listen to your audiobooks on the go if you want to.
And if you have a reasonably new iPhone, you already know how great your comics and graphic novels will look on the screen.
Give Your Old iPhone to Your Kids
There will be a time when you want to give your kid a smartphone. After all, it's a great way for them to learn new things, watch their favorite kids shows, and contact them if you want to know where they are.
However, kids can be careless, which is not good when combined with smartphones. Luckily, if you have an older iPhone, you can give it to them instead of spending money on a new one.
Giving them your old iPhone will let you have total control over which apps they use, the content they watch, and how long they use the iPhone. Also, you can still use many useful apps and features like Family Sharing or iMessage. Plus, it's a great way to introduce them to the Apple ecosystem, which your whole family probably uses.
Use Your Old iPhone as an Accessibility Tool
One of the best things about the iPhone is all the accessibility features it comes with. Apple has added a ton of features that make it easy for anyone to start using their iPhone, no matter their situation.
And the best part is that if you have a spare iPhone, you can use it as an accessibility tool if you need to.
For instance, you can use the iPhone as a magnifying glass to see things without your glasses. You can also start using Sound Recognition, which can alert you to sounds like a knock on the door or a baby crying without worrying about missing a sound.
Or, if you need to, you can create a synthetic version of your voice using the iPhone's Personal Voice feature.
While all of these features are useful on your main iPhone, with a second iPhone in hand, you won't have to worry about forgetting your main iPhone at home or your battery life decreasing when using these features.
Use Your Old iPhone as a Smart Home Controller
Turning your home into a smart home can be a bit pricey, especially because of all the extra accessories you will need to buy. However, you won't need to buy a smart home hub, at least not at first. You can use your iPhone instead.
By default, all your smart home accessories will connect seamlessly to your iPhone, which means you can control everything from your security cameras to your lights with just a couple of taps.
But what if you don't want to carry your iPhone around to control your home? Well, you can leave your old iPhone in a place like the kitchen or the living room and use it specifically as a dedicated smart home controller.
Bonus: Sell it or Trade it In
If you can't find anything useful to do with your old iPhone or don't want to collect devices at home, you can simply sell them or trade them with Apple.
Apple Trade-In gives you extra money for your selected Apple devices. This is a great way to use your old iPhone to buy a new pair of AirPods or an Apple Watch. However, just keep in mind that Apple won't give you as much money for your iPhone as you might think.
Even if you have an iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple will only give you $650 at most, which might not be worth it for you. If that's the case, you can still set it.
You can visit places like Craigslist, eBay, or any other online platform and post that you want to sell your iPhone. Chances are you'll get a much better deal. Of course, selling an iPhone has its downsides, like the risk of being scammed or something similar.
What you do will depend on how much work you are willing to put in, so consider both options and both with the best and easiest choice for you.
Give Your Old iPhone a New Life
Just because you have a new iPhone doesn't mean you need to completly forget about your old one.
There are plenty of ways you can use your old iPhone to offload your new iPhone. Plus, using your old iPhone will guarantee you make the most of your purchase.
If you don't care about anything like that, you can still get some value from your iPhone by giving it away, selling it, or sending it to Apple Trade In.
Whatever option you choose, don't forget about your old iPhone just yet. There are still a lot of ways it can help you.