Use Apple’s trade-in program for convenience, not a third-party site if you want maximum value.
The Dealership vs. The Private Sale
Trading in your old iPhone to Apple is like trading in your old car at the dealership. It is incredibly fast, easy, and you can apply the value to your new purchase in one seamless transaction. It’s the peak of convenience. Selling your phone yourself on a site like Swappa or Facebook Marketplace is like a private car sale. It takes more time, effort, and you have to deal with buyers, but you are cutting out the middleman. This means you will almost always end up with significantly more cash in your pocket.
Stop buying the newest iPhone every single year. Do wait for a model with features you’ll actually use instead.
The New Car with Different Headlights
Upgrading your perfectly good, one-year-old iPhone is like trading in your 2024 model car for the 2025 model just because it has slightly redesigned headlights and a new paint color. For most people, the engine, the performance, and the core experience are virtually identical. A smarter approach is to wait for a year when the “car” gets a completely new engine, a new design, or a feature that will genuinely improve your daily “drive.” An annual upgrade is a cycle of diminishing returns, driven by hype, not necessity.
Stop buying your iPhone from your carrier. Do buy it unlocked from Apple instead to have more freedom.
The House with Only One Cable Company
Buying your phone locked from a carrier is like buying a house where you are legally required to use one specific, expensive cable and internet provider for the next three years. Buying your phone unlocked from Apple is like buying a house on the open market. It gives you the freedom to shop around and choose any provider you want, allowing you to switch to a cheaper, better plan whenever a new deal comes along. It’s a bigger upfront cost that unlocks a huge amount of long-term freedom and savings.
The #1 secret for getting the most money for your old iPhone is selling it yourself right before the new models are announced.
Selling Your Snowboard in Late Autumn
The best time to sell your old snowboard is in late October, right as people are getting excited about the upcoming ski season and before the new, 2025 models have hit the shelves. This is when demand is at its absolute peak. The same is true for iPhones. The “sweet spot” for getting the most money is in late August or early September, right before the new models are announced at Apple’s big event. This is when buyer excitement is at its highest, and your “old” model is still the “current” model.
I’m just going to say it: The iPhone Upgrade Program is a great deal if you’re someone who always wants the latest model.
The Ultimate Car Lease Program
The iPhone Upgrade Program is the ultimate car lease for tech enthusiasts. Instead of buying the car, you pay a manageable monthly fee. The price includes the car itself and the premium, bumper-to-bumper insurance policy (AppleCare+). And the best part? Every single year, you get to walk into the dealership and drive off in a brand new, top-of-the-line model. If you’re someone who loves that “new car smell” and always wants the latest technology, it’s a financially smart and convenient way to stay on the cutting edge.
The reason your trade-in value is so low is because of scratches and dents on the screen and body.
The Used Car with a Cracked Windshield
You can have a used car with a perfectly running engine and low mileage, but if it has a giant crack in the windshield and a huge dent in the door, the trade-in value will be terrible. The first thing a dealer assesses is the cosmetic condition because that’s what costs money to fix. The same is true for your iPhone. Deep scratches on the screen or dings in the aluminum frame are the first things Apple or any trade-in service will look for, and they will dramatically reduce the cash value of your device.
If you’re still throwing your old iPhone in a drawer, you’re losing hundreds of dollars in resale value.
The Classic Car Rusting in the Garage
An old iPhone is not a useless piece of junk; it is a valuable asset. Letting it sit in your desk drawer is like owning a beautiful classic car and just letting it sit in your garage to rust and collect dust. It is a depreciating asset that is losing monetary value every single day it sits there unused. By taking a small amount of time to sell it or trade it in, you can unlock hundreds of dollars of real cash that is currently just gathering dust in a drawer.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about iPhones is that the “S” models are minor upgrades.
The Car with the Same Body but a New Engine
In the past, the “S” model iPhones often looked identical to the previous year’s model. This led to the lie that they were “minor” upgrades. This is like a car company releasing a new model that looks the same on the outside, but they have completely replaced the engine, the transmission, the suspension, and the computer system. The “S” years were often the most significant internal upgrades, introducing massive leaps in speed and new features like Siri and Touch ID. The biggest changes were on the inside.
I wish I knew to keep the original box and accessories when I was selling my first iPhone.
The Collector’s Item with its Original Packaging
When you sell a valuable collector’s item, like a rare action figure, having the original, pristine box and all the original accessories can double its value. It proves the item is complete and has been well-cared for. The same is true for an iPhone. When a buyer sees the original box and the unused headphones and cable, it sends a powerful signal that you were a meticulous and careful owner. It builds trust and allows you to ask for a higher price than someone who is just selling the loose phone.
99% of people make this one mistake when buying a used iPhone: not checking the battery health.
Buying a Used Car Without Checking the Mileage
Buying a used iPhone and not checking its battery health is like buying a beautiful, shiny used car without ever looking at the mileage on the odometer. The “Battery Health” percentage is the “mileage” of the phone’s engine. A phone with a battery health of 82% has a lot more “miles on the engine” and a much shorter remaining lifespan than one with 98%. It is the single most important indicator of the phone’s internal condition and how long it will last before needing a costly repair.
This one small action of cleaning your iPhone before you sell it will significantly increase its perceived value.
Washing and Waxing Your Car Before a Sale
You would never try to sell your used car while it’s covered in mud and has old coffee cups in the cup holders. You would take it to be washed, waxed, and detailed. This simple act of cleaning dramatically increases how much a buyer thinks it’s worth. The same is true for your iPhone. Taking a few minutes to wipe down the screen, clean out the speaker grills, and remove any case residue makes the phone look new and well-cared for, which can easily add real dollars to your final sale price.
Use the Apple Refurbished Store for great deals, not just looking at brand new models.
The ‘Certified Pre-Owned’ Section of the Dealership
The Apple Refurbished Store is the “Certified Pre-Owned” section of the Apple dealership. These are devices that have been returned, but they have been meticulously inspected, cleaned, and restored by Apple’s own master mechanics. They are fitted with a brand new battery and a new outer shell. They are indistinguishable from a brand new device and, most importantly, they come with the exact same one-year warranty. It’s the secret to getting a practically new Apple product for a significant, 15-20% discount that most people overlook.
Stop paying for an expensive insurance plan from your carrier. Do get AppleCare+ instead for better service.
The Third-Party vs. The Manufacturer’s Warranty
A carrier insurance plan is like a third-party home warranty. It often has confusing rules, high deductibles, and requires you to deal with a call center in another state. AppleCare+ is the official, premium, “bumper-to-bumper” warranty and insurance plan from the company that actually built your house. The service is seamless, the repairs are done by certified master technicians using original parts, and the process is as simple as walking into an Apple Store. You are paying for a higher quality of service and peace of mind.
Stop buying the max storage model. Do buy a smaller capacity and invest in iCloud storage instead.
The Huge Mansion vs. The Smart Storage Unit
Buying the iPhone with the maximum local storage is like buying a giant, expensive mansion just so you can have a massive attic to store all your old photo albums. It’s a huge, and often wasteful, upfront cost. A much smarter and more flexible strategy is to buy the more affordable “house” with a normal-sized attic, and then rent a cheap, secure, and infinitely expandable off-site storage unit (iCloud) for those photo albums. For a few dollars a month, you get all the space you need.
The #1 hack for buying a used iPhone is meeting at a carrier store to verify it’s not blacklisted.
Running the VIN at the DMV
The biggest risk when buying a used phone is that it might be stolen or still have money owed on it, which means it could be “blacklisted” and unable to be activated. The ultimate hack is to meet the seller at an official carrier store, like a Verizon or AT&T shop. It’s like meeting the seller of a used car at the DMV. The employees there can run the phone’s serial number for you and instantly verify that its “title” is clean, that it’s not stolen, and that it’s ready to be activated on your account.
I’m just going to say it: Buying an iPhone on launch day is a rookie move; wait a few weeks for the hype to die down.
The Hypebeast vs. The Smart Shopper
Standing in line on launch day is like camping out overnight to buy the hottest new sneakers. It’s an event. You’re paying full price for the hype and the bragging rights. The smart shopper, however, waits a few weeks. The lines disappear, the initial reviews are in (so you know about any potential “defects”), and sometimes, the first small carrier deals start to appear. Unless you thrive on being the absolute first, a little patience will result in a much more pleasant and often slightly cheaper buying experience.
The reason you shouldn’t buy from a sketchy online marketplace is the risk of buying a stolen, iCloud-locked device.
The Car with No Keys
Buying a used iPhone from a questionable seller is a huge gamble. You might get a phone that has “Activation Lock” enabled. This is a powerful anti-theft feature. It’s like buying a beautiful used car, but the previous owner has locked the engine with a secret password that only they know, and they’ve disappeared. The car looks perfect, but it is a completely useless, thousand-dollar brick. Without the original owner’s Apple ID and password, there is absolutely no way to ever unlock that phone and use it.
If you’re still not using a case and screen protector, you’re losing all of your phone’s resale value.
The Garage-Kept vs. The Battered Commuter Car
Imagine two identical used cars. One has been meticulously garage-kept, with a clear protective film on the front and no scratches or dents. The other has been parked on the street, has a cracked windshield, and is covered in door dings. The first car will sell for thousands more. A case and a screen protector are the “garage” and the “protective film” for your phone. They are a small, upfront investment that preserves the pristine cosmetic condition of your device, directly translating into hundreds of extra dollars in resale value down the road.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be an expert to replace your own iPhone battery.
Changing Your Own Oil
Dealerships would have you believe that changing your car’s oil is a complex, mystical process that only a certified mechanic can perform. This is a lie to get you to pay for their service. The same is true for an iPhone battery. While it requires care and precision, it is not magic. With a good quality toolkit and a clear, step-by-step video tutorial, a patient and careful person can absolutely replace their own battery. It’s like changing your own oil—it’s an accessible DIY project that can save you a good amount of money.
I wish I knew how to properly factory reset my iPhone before selling it to protect my data.
The Professional Deep Clean Before You Sell Your House
When you sell your house, you don’t just pack your bags and leave. You are supposed to remove every single personal item—every photo, every document, every piece of furniture. A factory reset is that professional, deep clean for your digital house. The “Erase All Content and Settings” button is a powerful tool that securely wipes every single trace of your personal life from the device, returning it to the pristine, empty state it was in the day you first bought it, ensuring the new owner gets a clean slate and not your old mail.
99% of people don’t check if a used iPhone is activation locked before they hand over the cash.
Checking if the Car Will Start Before You Buy It
Activation Lock is the anti-theft system that links a phone to an owner’s Apple ID. Not checking for it is like buying a used car without ever asking the seller to prove that it will actually start. The seller might have the physical key, but there could be a secret kill-switch that they don’t have the code for. Before any money changes hands, you must insist that the seller completely erases the phone in front of you and shows you the initial “Hello” screen. This is the only way to prove that the “engine” isn’t locked forever.
This one small habit of regularly cleaning your charging port with a non-metallic tool will prevent charging issues.
The Mud in the Gas Tank Opening
Your charging port is like the opening to your car’s gas tank. Over months of use, it can get packed with a dense, solid layer of pocket lint and debris. This is like having mud packed into the opening. Eventually, you won’t be able to insert the fuel nozzle (your charging cable) far enough to make a connection. The car isn’t broken. A gentle, careful cleaning with a non-metallic tool, like a plastic toothpick, can clear out that “mud” and instantly solve a charging problem that seemed like a catastrophic hardware failure.
Use an alcohol wipe to disinfect your phone, not harsh chemical cleaners that can damage the screen coating.
The Correct Soap for Your Car’s Paint
You wouldn’t wash your brand new car with harsh, abrasive dish soap because it would strip off the protective wax and clear coat. Your iPhone’s screen has a special, invisible “clear coat” called an oleophobic coating that repels fingerprints. Using harsh cleaners like Windex or bleach is like using dish soap on your car—it will slowly eat away at that coating, leaving your screen a smudgy, unprotected mess. A simple 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe is the gentle, manufacturer-approved “car soap” that will safely disinfect without stripping the finish.
Stop ignoring the “liquid detected in Lightning connector” warning. Do let it dry properly instead of risking damage.
The ‘Water in the Fuel Tank’ Warning Light
The “liquid detected” warning is like a critical warning light on your car’s dashboard that says “Water Detected in Fuel Tank.” Ignoring this warning and trying to “force” the car to start by plugging in the charger is a terrible idea. You could short-circuit the sensitive electronics, causing permanent and expensive damage. The warning is there to protect your device. You must heed it, unplug everything, and give the port time to completely air dry before you attempt to refuel.
Stop thinking a cracked back is just a cosmetic issue. Do get it fixed as it compromises water resistance.
The Crack in the Submarine’s Hull
A cracked back on your iPhone is not just a cosmetic flaw. It’s like a small, hairline crack in the hull of a submarine. In the open air, it might seem fine. But the moment the submarine is exposed to water, that tiny crack becomes a catastrophic failure point, allowing water to flood in and destroy the sensitive machinery inside. That cracked back has broken the phone’s carefully engineered water-resistant seals, leaving its internal components completely vulnerable to moisture damage from a simple rain shower or splash.
The #1 secret that carriers don’t want you to know is that buying your phone outright is almost always cheaper in the long run.
The ‘Free’ Cruise with the Hidden Fees
Carrier financing plans are like an ad for a “free” cruise. The price of the ticket is hidden in a series of mandatory, inflated “port fees” and “gratuities” that you pay over the next three years. Buying your phone outright is like just paying the honest, upfront price for the cruise ticket. When you do the math, you’ll almost always find that the “free” phone from the carrier costs you more in the long run. They are not a phone company; they are a loan company, and they are making a profit.
I’m just going to say it: The iPhone mini was a perfect phone that people didn’t appreciate until it was gone.
The Sports Car in a World of SUVs
The iPhone mini was like a perfectly balanced, two-seater sports car. It was incredibly powerful, nimble, and a joy to handle with one hand. It was designed for the driving purist. However, the market overwhelmingly demanded giant, seven-seater SUVs. And so, the sports car was discontinued. It was a beautiful and masterfully engineered machine for a specific type of user, a passionate niche that didn’t fully realize what a rare and perfect thing they had until they could no longer buy it.
The reason your phone’s performance is throttled is because your battery health is degraded and needs to be replaced.
The Old Marathon Runner
When a marathon runner is young and healthy, they can sprint at full speed. As that runner gets older (your battery degrades), their heart can’t handle that same level of intense sprinting. To avoid a catastrophic failure (a sudden shutdown), the older runner has to slow down their pace. Your iPhone’s processor is that runner. When it detects that the battery is old and weak, it intentionally throttles its own performance, slowing down the “pace” to prevent the aging power source from failing under pressure. A new battery restores its youthful speed.
If you’re still buying a new iPhone because the battery is old, you’re losing money by not just getting the battery replaced.
The Car with a Flat Tire
When your perfectly good car gets a flat tire, you don’t drive the entire car to the junkyard and buy a brand new one. That would be absurdly wasteful. You simply replace the tire. The battery is the “tire” of your iPhone. It is a consumable part that is designed to wear out. When it can no longer hold a charge, the phone itself is still a powerful and capable machine. A simple, inexpensive battery replacement is a “tire change” that can make your old device feel brand new again for a fraction of the cost.
The biggest lie you’ve been told by repair shops is that you’ll lose True Tone after a screen replacement.
The Secret Handshake Between Parts
True Tone, the feature that adjusts your screen’s color to the ambient light, is like a secret handshake between your phone’s “brain” and its original screen. When a repair shop replaces the screen, they need to have a special tool that can read the “handshake” information from the old screen and program it into the new one. A lazy or poorly-equipped shop will skip this step, and the feature will be lost. A good, reputable repair shop has the tools and the know-how to properly transfer the “secret code,” ensuring everything works perfectly.
I wish I knew to take photos of my iPhone’s condition before shipping it for a trade-in.
The ‘Before’ Photos for Your Insurance Claim
When you ship a valuable painting, you take detailed photos of it before you hand it over to the movers. This is your proof of its condition in case it gets damaged in transit. The same is true for a trade-in. Before you put your old phone in that box, take a few clear, well-lit photos and a video of it working perfectly. This is your personal insurance policy. If the company claims the phone arrived damaged and lowers your trade-in value, you have the indisputable “before” photos to prove your case.
99% of people who buy a used iPhone don’t ask for the original proof of purchase.
The Title for Your Used Car
The original receipt for an iPhone is like the official title and bill of sale for a used car. It is the single, undisputed document that proves who the legitimate owner is, where it was bought, and that it wasn’t stolen. While the phone might work fine without it, asking the seller if they have the original proof of purchase is a powerful litmus test. A legitimate seller will often have it or at least understand the request. A seller who gets defensive or has a sketchy story is a major red flag.
This one small action of checking the warranty status on Apple’s website will give you peace of mind.
Checking the CarFax Before You Buy
Before you buy a used car, you run a CarFax report to check its history. Apple has a free, instant “CarFax” for every device it has ever made. By going to Apple’s website and typing in the phone’s serial number, you can instantly see if it is still covered by its original warranty or by AppleCare+. It’s a simple, two-second check that provides a piece of the device’s history, giving you a little extra confidence and peace of mind before you make the purchase.
Use a site like Swappa for buying used iPhones, not Craigslist, for better buyer protection.
The Escrow Service vs. The Cash-in-a-Dark-Alley Deal
Buying a phone on Craigslist is like a cash-for-goods transaction in a dark alley. It’s risky, and if the goods are faulty, the seller is gone forever. A marketplace like Swappa is like using a trusted, professional escrow service. They verify the device is legitimate before the listing even goes up, and they hold your money safely until you have received the phone and confirmed that it’s exactly as described. It’s a system built on verification and buyer protection, removing the terrifying risk of the “dark alley” deal.
Stop choosing your iPhone based on the color. Do choose it based on the features and storage you need.
The Car Paint vs. The Engine
Choosing an iPhone based on its color is like choosing a new car based solely on its paint job, without ever looking at the engine, the number of seats, or the gas mileage. The color is a fun, temporary aesthetic choice. The storage capacity, the camera system, and the processor are the fundamental “engine” of the device that you will have to live with every single day for the next several years. Always choose the engine that fits your needs first, and only then worry about the paint.
Stop giving your old phone to your kids without wiping it first. Do set it up as a new device with parental controls.
The Hand-Me-Down Suit vs. The New Outfit
Giving your old phone to your child without wiping it is like giving them your old work suit. It’s full of your personal “stuff” in the pockets and it doesn’t fit them properly. The right way is to “factory reset” the phone, which is like cleaning the suit and tailoring it to their size. You then set it up as a new device with their own child Apple ID and your parental controls. This gives them a clean, fresh start and provides you with the “parental” tools to keep them safe.
The #1 hack for a smooth upgrade is to do an encrypted backup to your computer before you switch phones.
The Perfect Moving Van vs. The Slow Mail Service
Restoring your new phone from an iCloud backup is like having all your furniture mailed to your new house, one piece at a time. It’s convenient, but it can be slow. An encrypted backup to your computer is like hiring a professional, high-speed moving van. It is a faster, more complete, and more reliable way to transfer your entire digital life. The “encryption” part is crucial, as it’s like telling the movers to also bring over the locked safe that contains all your saved passwords and health data.
I’m just going to say it: Most people do not need the “Pro” model iPhone.
The Formula 1 Car vs. The Family Sedan
A “Pro” iPhone is a Formula 1 race car. It has the most powerful engine, the most advanced camera “suspension,” and is built for professionals who will push it to its absolute limits. A standard iPhone is a high-end, luxury family sedan. It is also incredibly fast, comfortable, and has a fantastic camera. For the daily commute of driving to work, getting groceries, and picking up the kids, 99% of people will never, ever notice the difference. Most people just need the sedan.
The reason you should buy unlocked is to take advantage of cheaper plans from MVNO carriers.
The Gas Station on the Highway vs. The Cheap Gas in Town
The major carriers like Verizon and AT&T are the big, convenient gas stations right off the highway. They have great coverage, but their prices are high. MVNOs (like Mint Mobile or Visible) are the smaller, independent gas stations a few blocks away in town. The secret is that they often use the exact same fuel (the cell towers) from the big companies, but because they have less overhead, they can sell it to you for a much cheaper price. Buying an unlocked phone is what allows you to leave the highway and go fill up at the cheaper station.
If you’re still signing a 2-year contract for a “free” phone, you’re not getting a free phone.
The ‘Free’ Steak Dinner at the Timeshare Presentation
A “free” phone in exchange for a two- or three-year contract is the oldest trick in the book. It’s like the “free” steak dinner you get for attending a high-pressure timeshare presentation. The steak might be free, but you are paying for it, and more, through the inflated price of the thing you are being forced to buy. The cost of that “free” phone is simply baked into the high monthly service fees that you are legally locked into for the next several years. Nothing is free.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that water damage is covered by the standard warranty.
The Raincoat’s ‘Defect’ Warranty
Your iPhone’s one-year warranty is like the warranty on a high-quality raincoat. It covers manufacturer’s defects. If a seam is stitched improperly and it leaks, the company will replace it. However, the warranty does not cover user behavior. If you decide to go swimming in the ocean while wearing your raincoat and it gets ruined, that’s on you. Water damage is not considered a “defect”; it’s considered an accident. The only “insurance policy” that covers your decision to go swimming is AppleCare+.
I wish I knew that the “Plus” or “Max” models always had a slightly better camera system.
The Sedan vs. The Sedan with the ‘Sport’ Package
For years, the larger “Max” model iPhone was not just a bigger version of the regular one. It was like buying the luxury sedan, but the bigger model came with an exclusive “sport package” that included a slightly better engine and a more advanced suspension system. In this case, the larger iPhone often had an extra camera lens or a more advanced stabilization system. It’s a subtle but important distinction, making the bigger phone not just larger, but demonstrably more capable for photography enthusiasts.
99% of people don’t restart their iPhone regularly, which can solve many common maintenance issues.
The ‘Good Night’s Sleep’ for Your Device
Your iPhone is like a brain that is working 24/7. Over time, little bits of temporary “junk” data can build up in its short-term memory, leading to sluggishness and weird glitches. Restarting your phone is like giving that brain a good, refreshing eight-hour sleep. It clears out all the temporary junk, wipes the slate clean, and allows it to wake up fresh, focused, and running smoothly. It is the simplest, most effective, and most overlooked solution to a huge number of common software problems.
This one small habit of not taking your phone into the sauna or steam room will protect it from moisture damage.
The Raincoat in the Jungle
Your iPhone is wearing a great raincoat (it’s water-resistant). But a sauna or a steamy bathroom is not rain; it’s a hot, humid jungle. The constant, warm, vaporous moisture in the air is much more insidious than rain. It can seep into the smallest crevices over time, bypassing the seals and condensing inside the delicate electronics. It can also damage the glue that holds the screen in place. It’s a slow, invisible form of water damage that your phone’s “raincoat” was never designed to withstand.
Use Apple’s support app to diagnose issues and book repairs, not just searching for answers online.
The Official Mechanic’s Hotline vs. The Online Forum
When your car starts making a weird noise, you can go on an online forum where a dozen amateur mechanics will all give you a different, conflicting diagnosis. Or, you can call the dealership’s official service hotline. The Apple Support app is that hotline. It has built-in diagnostic tools that can check your phone’s “engine,” and it is the fastest, most reliable way to chat with a certified expert or book an appointment at the Genius Bar. It’s the official, trusted source for getting your problem solved correctly.
Stop throwing away your charging bricks. Do keep them as they are still useful for other devices.
The Old Wrenches in Your Toolbox
When you get a new, fancy, adjustable power wrench, you don’t go into your garage and throw away all your old, reliable socket wrenches. Those old tools are still perfectly good for hundreds of other jobs. The same is true for your old USB-A charging bricks. While your new phone might use a new “bolt,” those old bricks are still perfect for charging your Kindle, your wireless headphones, your portable speaker, and dozens of other electronic devices in your home. They are still valuable and useful tools.
Stop being intimidated by the Genius Bar. Do book an appointment and get your problem professionally diagnosed.
The Doctor’s Check-Up for Your Phone
The Genius Bar is not a high-pressure sales floor; it is a doctor’s office for your Apple products. The “Geniuses” are the trained, certified physicians. You don’t need to know what’s wrong with you before you go to the doctor. You just need to describe your “symptoms.” Booking an appointment is free, and it allows you to get a professional, expert diagnosis of your problem. They will tell you what’s wrong, what your options are, and what it will cost to fix, all without any obligation.
The #1 secret for preserving your battery is to avoid leaving it in a hot car.
The Ice Cream Cone on the Dashboard
Your iPhone’s battery is like a frozen ice cream cone. In normal temperatures, it’s fine. But the single fastest way to destroy it is to leave it on the dashboard of a black car on a sunny summer day. The intense, greenhouse-effect heat will cause the delicate chemical structure of the battery to literally melt down and degrade at a rapid pace. Extreme heat is the number one enemy of lithium-ion batteries, and it can cause more permanent, irreversible damage in one afternoon than months of normal use.
I’m just going to say it: The feeling of unboxing a new iPhone is worth half the price.
The Opening Night of a Big Show
The experience of unboxing a new iPhone is a carefully orchestrated piece of theater. It’s like the opening night of a big Broadway show that you’ve been anticipating for months. The design of the box, the satisfying pull of the plastic tabs, the perfect, dense weight of the device in your hand—it’s all part of a deliberate, tactile, and deeply satisfying ritual. It’s a huge part of the product’s perceived value, a moment of pure, consumerist bliss that delivers a powerful hit of dopamine.
The reason you should be wary of third-party screen repairs is they might use lower-quality parts.
The Generic vs. The OEM Car Parts
When you get into a car accident, your insurance might push you to use a repair shop that uses cheaper, generic “aftermarket” parts instead of the official “OEM” parts from the manufacturer. They might look the same, but the quality, the fit, and the materials are often inferior. The same is true for phone screens. A third-party repair might use a screen with duller colors, lower brightness, and worse touch response. A repair from Apple guarantees you are getting the original, high-quality “part” that was designed for your “car.”
If you’re still paying full price for an iPhone, you’re missing out on carrier deals and trade-in promotions.
Never Paying ‘Sticker Price’ for a Car
When you buy a new car, only a rookie walks into the dealership and pays the full “sticker price” that’s written on the window. A smart shopper knows that there are always deals, promotions, and trade-in offers that can significantly lower that price. The same is true for iPhones. The carriers are constantly offering aggressive “buy one, get one” deals or huge, enhanced trade-in credits for new customers. Unless you are committed to being unlocked, a little research can often save you hundreds of dollars off the sticker price.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to upgrade your phone every two years.
The Fashion Magazine for Your Gadgets
The tech industry, like the fashion industry, thrives on convincing you that the clothes you bought last season are now hopelessly out of style. The two-year upgrade cycle is the fashion magazine for your phone. It’s a brilliant piece of marketing designed to create a feeling of desire and inadequacy. In reality, a well-cared-for iPhone is like a classic, high-quality winter coat. It will remain powerful, stylish, and perfectly functional for four, five, or even six years, long after the “fashion magazines” have declared it obsolete.
I wish I knew how to check for water damage by looking at the Liquid Contact Indicator.
The Litmus Test for Your Phone’s Insides
Inside every iPhone is a tiny, hidden “litmus test” paper called the Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI). It’s like a secret agent’s self-destruct note that changes color when it gets wet. Normally, this tiny dot, hidden inside the SIM card slot, is white or silver. But if the phone has had significant liquid contact, the LCI will be triggered and turn a bright, permanent red. It’s the secret, undeniable proof that repair technicians look for to know if your phone has gone for a swim, and it’s something you can check yourself.
99% of people forget to unpair their Apple Watch before selling their iPhone.
The Security Leash Between Your Watch and Your Phone
Your Apple Watch and your iPhone are connected by a powerful, invisible security leash called Activation Lock. Before you sell your phone, you must first unpair your watch. This is the act of “unleashing” the dog. If you don’t, the security leash remains active. The new owner of your phone won’t be able to pair their own Apple Watch to it, and if you sell your watch, the new owner won’t be able to use it because it will still be “leashed” to your old phone and your account.
This one small action of comparing trade-in values across multiple websites will get you the most cash.
Getting Multiple Quotes for Your Car
When you decide to sell your used car, you don’t just accept the very first offer you get. You get quotes from the dealership, from CarMax, and from a few other online services. You shop around for the best price. The same is true for your old iPhone. Apple, your carrier, and third-party sites like Gazelle and Decluttr will all offer you a different amount of money for the exact same device. Taking ten minutes to compare these quotes will ensure that you are not leaving free money on the table.
Use the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature before selling, not just deleting your data manually.
Shredding the Documents vs. Burning Down the House
Manually deleting your photos and logging out of your accounts is like going through your house and shredding all your personal documents before you sell it. You might miss something. Using the “Erase All Content and Settings” feature is like planting a small, controlled demolition charge that safely, securely, and instantly vaporizes the entire house and all of its contents, leaving only a clean, empty foundation. It is the only guaranteed way to ensure that not a single, microscopic trace of your personal data remains for the new owner to find.
Stop buying an iPhone for its camera if you only post to Instagram. Do realize that compression will ruin the quality anyway.
The Michelin Star Chef at a Fast Food Restaurant
An iPhone Pro camera is a Michelin-starred chef. It can create a stunning, beautiful, and nuanced masterpiece of a meal (a ProRAW photo). Instagram is a fast-food restaurant. The moment that beautiful meal is handed over, it gets thrown into a blender, compressed, and served up in a greasy paper wrapper. The social media platform’s heavy compression will destroy all the subtle quality and detail that you paid a premium for. Don’t hire the world’s best chef if you only plan on eating at the drive-thru.
Stop dropping your phone. Do cultivate better habits of where you place it.
The Slippery Bar of Soap
Your modern iPhone is a beautiful, powerful, and incredibly slippery object. It’s like a wet bar of soap made of glass and metal. The solution is not to just “be more careful”; it’s to build conscious, physical habits. Never place it on the edge of a table. Never put it on your lap when you’re sitting down. Always put it in your pocket, screen-side facing your leg. These are the small, deliberate rituals that will dramatically reduce the number of times that slippery bar of soap will end up on the hard, unforgiving floor.
The #1 hack for cleaning your speakers is using a soft, dry brush to gently remove debris.
The ‘Archaeologist’s Brush’ for Your Phone
Your phone’s speaker and microphone grills are like the delicate surface of an ancient, priceless artifact. They are full of tiny, intricate holes that are clogged with the “dust” of daily life. You wouldn’t clean an artifact with a fire hose or a sharp rock. The best tool is a soft, dry brush, like a clean toothbrush or a small paintbrush. It’s the archaeologist’s tool. It allows you to gently and safely whisk away the dust and debris from those delicate openings without any risk of pushing the dirt further in or damaging the fragile components underneath.
I’m just going to say it: The base model storage is never enough.
The Studio Apartment with No Closets
Buying the base model iPhone is like moving into a beautiful, brand new studio apartment, only to discover that the architect completely forgot to build any closets. The living space is wonderful, but within a few months, your “stuff”—your photos, your apps, your downloaded music—will be spilling out into the open, creating a cramped and stressful environment. You will constantly be shuffling things around and throwing things out just to make space. Always get the apartment with at least one decent-sized closet.
The reason your phone bends is because you’re keeping it in your back pocket and sitting on it.
The Credit Card in Your Wallet
An iPhone is a thin, elegant piece of metal and glass. It is strong, but it is not invincible. Putting it in your back pocket and then sitting down is like putting a single, thin credit card in your wallet and then sitting on it hundreds of times a day. The constant, leveraged pressure of your body weight will inevitably cause that thin, rigid object to develop a permanent, slight curve. It is not a design flaw; it is a predictable and unfortunate law of physics.
If you’re still on a very old iPhone, you’re losing out on critical security updates.
The House with the Old, Outdated Locks
Using an old, unsupported iPhone is like living in a house that was built ten years ago. The locks on the doors were strong at the time. But since then, burglars have invented new tools and techniques to defeat those specific, old locks. The lock company has stopped making new, stronger tumblers for your model. Hackers know this, and they will specifically target your “house” because they know you have the old, vulnerable locks that they have already figured out how to pick.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that Apple products never go on sale.
The ‘Secret Menu’ at the Restaurant
Apple is like a high-end restaurant that never puts a “2-for-1” sign in its window. It doesn’t have to. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get a discount. There is a “secret menu.” Major retailers like Best Buy or Amazon will often have sales events where they will offer a hundred dollars off. Carriers will offer huge promotions. And Apple itself has a year-round “secret” restaurant in the back—the Refurbished Store—where last year’s amazing dishes are sold at a significant discount. You just have to know where to look.
I wish I knew that refurbished iPhones from Apple are practically brand new and come with a full warranty.
The ‘Floor Model’ at the Luxury Car Dealership
A refurbished iPhone from Apple is not a “used” phone in the traditional sense. It’s like the pristine “floor model” of a luxury car that has been returned. Apple’s own technicians take it, put it through a rigorous inspection, give it a brand new battery and a brand new, flawless outer shell, and then put it in a fresh new box. It is cosmetically and functionally indistinguishable from a brand new one and, crucially, it comes with the exact same one-year warranty. It’s a “brand new” car for a used car price.
99% of people who trade in their phone forget to remove their SIM card.
Leaving Your ID in Your Old Car’s Glove Compartment
Your SIM card is a tiny, unassuming piece of plastic, but it is the unique, registered ID card for your personal phone line. Forgetting to take it out before you send your old phone away is like trading in your old car and accidentally leaving your driver’s license in the glove compartment. While the risk might be low, it is a piece of your personal, identifiable information that is now in the hands of a stranger. It’s a simple, 10-second final check that is all too easy to forget.
This one small habit of not charging your phone overnight every single night will prolong its battery health.
The Full Glass of Water
Your battery is like a glass of water. Constantly keeping it filled to the absolute brim, 100% of the time, puts a small amount of stress on the “glass.” A healthier, long-term strategy for the battery’s chemistry is to keep the water level somewhere between 20% and 80%. While charging overnight is fine thanks to software optimizations, the simple habit of plugging it in for shorter bursts during the day, rather than one long, 8-hour “fill-up,” can reduce that stress and add months to the overall lifespan of your battery.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean your screen, not your t-shirt, which can cause micro-scratches.
The Silk Handkerchief vs. The Sandpaper
Your t-shirt feels soft to your hand, but on a microscopic level, the fabric is a rough, uneven surface that is covered in tiny, abrasive particles of dust and grit. Wiping your glass screen with it is like giving it a very, very gentle polish with an ultra-fine-grit piece of sandpaper. A microfiber cloth, on the other hand, is a silk handkerchief. Its fibers are specifically designed to be incredibly soft and to trap and lift away dust, not grind it into the screen, preserving the flawless finish of your display.
Stop thinking you have to buy the latest model. Do consider buying last year’s model to save a significant amount of money.
The 2024 vs. The 2025 Model Car
When the brand new 2025 model of a car is released, the 2024 models that are still on the dealership lot don’t suddenly become bad cars. They are still fantastic, powerful, and modern machines. But now, the dealership needs to get rid of them to make space. This is the best time to buy. By choosing last year’s brand new iPhone model right after the new one is announced, you can get a phone that is 98% as good as the latest and greatest, but for a significant, multi-hundred-dollar discount.
Stop letting your kids play with your phone without a rugged case. Do protect your investment.
The Toddler in the China Shop
Handing your sleek, caseless, thousand-dollar iPhone to a small child is the modern equivalent of letting a toddler run wild in a high-end china shop. Their intentions are good, but their motor skills are not. A drop is not a possibility; it is an inevitability. A big, rubbery, rugged case is the parent’s best friend. It’s like wrapping every single piece of delicate china in a thick layer of bubble wrap. It might not look as elegant, but it will save you from the predictable and heartbreaking sound of shattering glass.
The #1 secret for a successful used iPhone sale is taking high-quality, well-lit photos for your listing.
The Real Estate Photos for Your Phone
When you sell a house, you hire a professional photographer to take bright, beautiful, well-lit photos. These photos are the first impression, and they are what will make a buyer want to come and see it. The same is true for your used iPhone. A listing with dark, blurry, and poorly-lit photos screams “scam” or “damaged goods.” Taking a few minutes to clean your phone and take sharp, clear photos of it in good, natural light will make your listing look professional and trustworthy, attracting more buyers and a higher price.
I’m just going to say it: The iPhone resale value is the biggest justification for its high initial cost.
The Car That Holds Its Value
A new iPhone is like a brand new Toyota or Honda. It has a high initial purchase price. But its real, hidden financial power is its legendary resale value. It holds its value better than any other car on the road. After three years of use, you can still sell it for a significant percentage of what you originally paid. This high resale value acts as a massive, built-in “rebate” on your initial purchase, making the true, long-term cost of owning that premium product much lower than the initial sticker price would suggest.
The reason you should keep your software updated is for security patches, not just new features.
The Security Guard’s Daily Briefing
A software update is not just about getting fun new emojis. It’s like the daily security briefing for the guards who protect your digital house. In this briefing, Apple’s security team says, “We’ve just learned that burglars have a new type of lock-pick. We have re-engineered the locks to be immune to it. Here is the new key.” Every day you delay that update, you are leaving the old, vulnerable locks on your doors, even though you’ve been warned that the burglars in your neighborhood know exactly how to pick them.
If you’re still using an iPhone with a cracked screen, you’re risking cutting your fingers and further damage.
The Cracked Window in Your House
A cracked phone screen is like a cracked window in your house. At first, it’s just an ugly cosmetic flaw. But it’s also a serious safety hazard—you could easily get a sharp, painful glass splinter in your finger. Furthermore, that crack has compromised the structural integrity and the weather-sealing of the window. A small tap can cause it to shatter completely, and a light rain shower can now leak inside, causing much more serious and expensive damage to the “house” itself.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be a tech expert to choose the right iPhone.
Ordering from a Simple Menu
Choosing the right iPhone is like ordering from a simple, three-item menu at a great restaurant: Good, Better, and Best. You don’t need to be a food critic to make a choice. The standard iPhone is the “Good” option, a fantastic meal that will make most people very happy. The “Pro” is the “Better” option, with a slightly fancier sauce (a better camera). And the “Pro Max” is the “Best” option, which is the same as “Better,” but just a much larger portion. You just have to decide how hungry you are.
I wish I knew about the student discount on Apple products when I was in school.
The Secret ‘Members Only’ Price List
The Apple student discount is like a secret, “members-only” price list at a high-end store. If you have a valid student or educator ID, you are a member of the club. This means that you are entitled to a significant, year-round discount on expensive items like MacBooks and iPads. It’s not a temporary sale; it’s a permanent perk of being in the “club.” It’s a fantastic but often-overlooked program that can save you hundreds of dollars on the essential tools you need for your education.
99% of people don’t know the difference between the GSM and CDMA models of older iPhones.
The Two Different Cell Phone Languages
In the past, there were two main, competing “languages” for cell phone networks, like Spanish and Portuguese. They were very similar, but not interchangeable. GSM was the language spoken by AT&T and T-Mobile. CDMA was the language spoken by Verizon and Sprint. An “unlocked” phone from AT&T could not speak the language of the Verizon network. Thankfully, this is mostly a history lesson. Modern iPhones are now multilingual and can speak every cell phone language fluently, making it much easier to switch between carriers.
This one small action of checking a carrier’s coverage map before switching will save you from a lot of frustration.
Checking the Weather Before You Move to a New City
Switching to a new cell carrier just because they have a cheaper plan is like moving to a new city just because the rent is cheap, without ever checking the local weather. You might be saving money, but you could be moving to a place where it “rains” (you have no service) every single day in your own house. Before you switch, you must look at the carrier’s coverage map. It’s the “weather forecast” that will show you if you’ll have a strong, “sunny” signal in the places where you live, work, and commute.
Use the quick start feature to transfer data to a new iPhone, not restoring from an old, slow iCloud backup.
The High-Speed Moving Van vs. The Slow Mail Service
Restoring your new phone from an iCloud backup is like having all your furniture mailed to your new house, one piece at a time. It’s convenient, but it can be a slow, multi-hour process. The “Quick Start” feature, where you place your old phone next to your new one, is like hiring a professional, high-speed moving van that uses a direct, dedicated road. It is a dramatically faster, more complete, and more reliable way to transfer your entire digital life from one “house” to the other.
Stop buying your phone case before you have the phone in hand. Do wait to make sure it fits perfectly.
Buying the Clothes Before You’ve Tried Them On
Buying a case for a phone that hasn’t been released yet is like buying an expensive, non-refundable suit based on a blurry photo and a rumored set of measurements. The official specs can be slightly off, or the case manufacturer might have made a tiny mistake. The result is a “suit” where the button holes are just a millimeter off, making it a frustrating and poor fit. Always wait until you have the phone in your hand to buy the clothes for it.
Stop going to a mall kiosk for repairs. Do use a certified technician instead.
The Street Corner Watch Repair vs. The Official Jeweler
A mall kiosk repair shop is like the guy on the street corner who offers to fix your expensive Rolex watch for a cheap price. He might be able to get it ticking again, but he’s using unofficial parts, and he doesn’t have the proper tools or a clean environment. A certified technician is the official jeweler. They have been trained by the manufacturer, they use genuine parts, and they work in a professional, clean-room environment. For a valuable and complex piece of machinery, you always go to the jeweler.
The #1 hack for a long-lasting iPhone is simple: don’t drop it and replace the battery when it gets old.
The Secret to a Long-Lasting Car
The secret to making a good quality car last for 20 years is surprisingly simple. There are two main rules. Rule number one is: don’t get into a catastrophic, high-speed crash. Rule number two is: perform the basic, routine maintenance, like changing the oil and replacing the tires when they get worn out. The exact same is true for an iPhone. If you can avoid the “car crash” (a shattering drop) and you perform the one crucial piece of maintenance (replacing the battery when it gets old), your powerful device will serve you well for many, many years.
I’m just going to say it: You probably don’t need AppleCare+, but it’s great for peace of mind.
The Expensive Travel Insurance
AppleCare+ is like buying the expensive, premium travel insurance before a big trip. For most people who are careful and responsible travelers, they will go on their trip, have a wonderful time, and never once need to use that insurance. It will feel like a waste of money. However, for the small number of people who have a clumsy moment and suffer a catastrophic accident, that insurance will be the single best investment they have ever made. You are not paying for the service; you are paying a premium for the complete elimination of financial anxiety.
The reason you should be careful with sand and fine dust is that it can get into the ports and speakers.
The Grains of Sand in a Complex Machine
Your iPhone is a beautiful, sealed machine, but it has a few necessary openings. Sand and fine dust are like tiny, malicious rocks. If those microscopic rocks get into the intricate, moving parts of a complex machine—like the gears of a fine watch or the engine of a car—they will grind away at the delicate components, causing permanent damage. Sand in your charging port can block the connection, and sand in your speakers can make them sound crackly and distorted forever. The beach is a dangerous place for your technology.
If you’re still buying iPhones from eBay, you’re taking a huge risk with scammers.
The ‘Too Good to Be True’ Deal in a Dark Alley
Buying an iPhone on a loosely regulated marketplace like eBay or Craigslist is like meeting a stranger in a dark alley who is offering to sell you a genuine Rolex watch for a fraction of its price. While it’s possible you might find a legitimate, amazing deal, it’s far more likely that the watch is a fake, that it’s stolen, or that the box is full of rocks. These platforms are a playground for scammers, and without strong buyer protection, you are taking a huge and often costly gamble.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that a phone can be “unlocked” from a carrier with a simple code.
The Digital Chains vs. The Padlock
In the old days of simple flip phones, a carrier lock was like a simple padlock, and the carrier could give you a four-digit code to open it. This is no longer true. A modern carrier lock is like a set of heavy, digital chains that are deeply integrated into the phone’s software and the carrier’s central computer system. There is no simple “code.” The phone must be officially and legitimately released from its financial and contractual obligations by the carrier themselves. Anyone promising a simple “unlock code” is selling you snake oil.
I wish I knew that the “Pro” moniker was more about the camera than the actual processing power for most users.
The F1 Car with a Better Camera on the Front
For the last several years, both the standard and the “Pro” model iPhones have used the exact same, world-class Formula 1 engine (the A-series chip). They are both capable of the same mind-blowing speeds. The primary difference that the “Pro” name signifies is not about processing power; it’s about the camera system. The Pro model is the same F1 car, but it has an extra, professional-grade television camera mounted on the front, with more lenses and more advanced recording capabilities. For most drivers, the engine is identical.
99% of people don’t power cycle their phone (turn it off and on again) as the first step of troubleshooting.
The ‘Did You Try Unplugging It?’ Miracle
It is the oldest and most effective joke in the IT support world for a reason. When any piece of complex electronics starts acting weird, the very first, second, and third thing you should always do is simply turn it off and turn it back on again. It’s like a magical reset button that clears out any temporary software glitches or memory leaks. This one simple, 30-second action, known as a power cycle, will solve a surprising and significant majority of common iPhone problems, saving you a trip to the Genius Bar.
This one small habit of keeping your phone out of the bathroom during hot showers will prevent moisture damage.
The Humid Jungle for Your Electronics
Your iPhone is wearing a great raincoat, making it water-resistant. But the bathroom during a hot shower is not a rainstorm; it’s a hot, humid, tropical jungle. The warm, vaporous air is filled with moisture that can seep into the smallest openings over time, bypassing the phone’s seals and causing corrosion on the internal components. It’s a slow, invisible killer for your electronics. This one small habit—leaving your phone in the bedroom—will protect it from a humid environment it was never designed to survive.
Use the serial number to check the specs and history of a used iPhone, not just taking the seller’s word for it.
The VIN Number on the Car’s Dashboard
Every car has a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that is its official identity. The serial number is the VIN for your iPhone. You should never just trust the seller’s description in the ad. By getting the serial number and punching it into a few websites (including Apple’s), you can act as your own detective. You can verify the phone’s exact model, its color, its storage capacity, and its warranty status. It’s the “background check” that ensures the story the seller is telling you is the truth.
Stop financing your phone for 36 months. Do try to pay it off sooner if you can.
The 3-Year Loan on a Gallon of Milk
Financing a phone over three years is like taking out a 36-month loan on a gallon of milk. It’s a rapidly depreciating asset. By the time you finally pay it off, its value will have plummeted, and you’ll be stuck in a never-ending cycle of debt for a new one. While it makes the monthly payment seem low, it’s a financial trap. It’s always better to own your “gallon of milk” outright, or at least pay it off as quickly as possible, to free yourself from the cycle.
Stop complaining about the price. Do recognize it as a premium product with a premium price tag.
The Rolex vs. The Timex
You do not walk into a Rolex store and complain that the watches are more expensive than the Timex watches at the department store. It is understood that you are in a different category of product. An iPhone is the Rolex of the smartphone world. It is built with premium materials, has a powerful brand, and offers a high-end experience and ecosystem. It comes with a premium price tag because it is a premium product. Complaining about the price is like complaining about the price of a luxury car; it misses the entire point.
The #1 secret for buying a gift is that you can’t go wrong with a new iPhone.
The ‘Universal Key’ of Gifts
Trying to find the perfect gift for someone is a stressful process filled with guesswork. A new iPhone is the universal key. It is a rare object that transcends age, gender, and interests. It is a powerful tool, a social lifeline, a source of entertainment, and a status symbol all in one. It is one of the few gifts in the world that is a guaranteed, home-run hit for almost any recipient. It’s an expensive key, to be sure, but it is one that will unlock a reaction of pure, unadulterated joy.
I’m just going to say it: The best time to buy an iPhone is right after the new one comes out and the old one gets a price drop.
The ‘Last Year’s Model’ Sale at the Car Dealership
The single best time to buy a new car is in the autumn, right after the next year’s models have been announced. The dealership needs to clear out the “old” 2024 models to make space, so they put them on a significant sale. This is the secret to buying an iPhone. By waiting until the day the new model is announced, you can buy last year’s brand new, unsold model for an instant, official, hundred-dollar-plus price drop. You get a phone that is 98% as good for a fantastic discount.
The reason you should update your apps is to maintain compatibility and security.
The New Tires for Your Car
Your iPhone’s operating system (iOS) is the “road” that all your apps “drive” on. When Apple releases a major new version of iOS, it’s like they have repaved and redesigned all the roads in the entire country. You must update your apps because the app developers are the “tire manufacturers.” They need to release new “tires” that are compatible with the new shape of the road. Driving on old, outdated tires on a brand new road can lead to poor performance, crashes, and security vulnerabilities.
If you’re still using a third-party charging cable that gets hot, you’re risking a fire hazard.
The Frayed Extension Cord
A cheap, uncertified charging cable that gets unusually hot to the touch is not a minor inconvenience; it is a serious danger sign. It’s like a frayed, poorly-made extension cord that is overheating behind your sofa. It’s an indication of poor wiring, a lack of safety regulation, and a genuine risk of short-circuiting, which can not only destroy your expensive phone but could also spark and cause a fire. The few dollars you saved on that cable are not worth the catastrophic risk you are taking every single time you plug it in.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that third-party batteries are just as good as Apple’s.
The Generic vs. The Brand-Name Medication
When you have a serious medical condition, your doctor will often insist on the brand-name medication over the generic version. While they might have the same “active ingredient,” the brand-name has undergone rigorous testing, has higher quality control, and is guaranteed to be stable and reliable. An official Apple battery is that brand-name medication. A third-party battery might work, but it’s an unregulated generic. It could have a shorter lifespan, a lower capacity, or in the worst cases, be a dangerous fire risk.
I wish I knew how much value my old iPhones held before I recycled them for free.
The ‘Antiques Roadshow’ in Your Desk Drawer
Recycling your old, two- or three-year-old iPhone for free is like finding an old, dusty painting in your attic and just throwing it in the trash, only to see it on “Antiques Roadshow” a year later, valued at a thousand dollars. People are conditioned to think old electronics are worthless. But iPhones, because of their high build quality and long software support, hold their value incredibly well. That “old” phone in your desk drawer is not trash; it is a valuable asset worth hundreds of dollars of real money.
99% of people don’t consider the total cost of ownership when buying an iPhone.
The Car’s Sticker Price vs. The 5-Year Cost
When you buy a car, the smart buyer doesn’t just look at the initial sticker price. They consider the “total cost of ownership”—the fuel efficiency, the insurance costs, the maintenance, and, crucially, the resale value after five years. An iPhone has a high sticker price, but its “fuel efficiency” is excellent (long software support), its “maintenance” is reasonable, and its “resale value” is the best in the industry. When you factor in the high resale value, the true, long-term cost of “owning” that iPhone is often surprisingly lower than its cheaper competitors.
This one small action of backing up your phone before a major software update will save you from potential disaster.
The Insurance Policy on Your House Before the Hurricane
A major software update is like a big storm that is forecast to hit your town. 99.9% of the time, the storm will pass without any issue. But there is always a tiny, tiny chance that the storm could turn into a hurricane and knock your “house” down, causing you to lose everything. Backing up your phone right before you hit that “Install” button is like buying a cheap, one-day insurance policy on your house. It’s a small, simple precaution that protects you from that one-in-a-million chance of a catastrophic, data-destroying disaster.
Use Apple’s recycling program for your truly ancient devices, not just throwing them in the trash.
The Responsible Burial for Your Old Friend
A truly ancient, worthless iPhone—one that is more than seven or eight years old—is like a loyal old pet that has reached the end of its life. Throwing it in the regular trash is like an irresponsible and improper burial. The toxic chemicals in its battery can leak into the environment. Apple’s recycling program is the responsible and respectful “cremation” service. They will take your old, dead device and ensure that all of its valuable materials are reclaimed and all of its hazardous components are disposed of safely and properly.