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Other Any recommendations for a "back up phone"?

kp98077

kp98077

macrumors 601
Original poster
Oct 26, 2010
4,366
2,805
Whistler, BC
I am looking for a back up phone for me or family to use as needed we have a combination of 14 Pro, Max and regular 14. Want to be price sensitive. Thinking a 13 mini? or a regular 16? Any recommendations? I know I probably don't want to go too far back due to lack of future supposed. thanks -
 
I highly recommend the 13 series - either the Mini or just the 13 if you want a bigger screen size, I have both. Apple refurbished page looks like they may be starting to offer some refurbed 13s - today they show a 13 Pro Max for sale. Cheaper prices there if you can wait & you’ll get a new battery & outer shell. I’ve bought many phones that way and had no issues with them at all. They also show a lot of the 12 series available right now, but I tried them & the battery drain issues was severe - 13 series is super!
 
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MBS1085 said:
I highly recommend the 13 series - either the Mini or just the 13 if you want a bigger screen size, I have both. Apple refurbished page looks like they may be starting to offer some refurbed 13s - today they show a 13 Pro Max for sale. Cheaper prices there if you can wait & you’ll get a new battery & outer shell. I’ve bought many phones that way and had no issues with them at all. They also show a lot of the 12 series available right now, but I tried them & the battery drain issues was severe - 13 series is super!
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Awesome. Yeah thinking a 13 mini might complement my 15 max nicely :)
So in the refurbished store they all have new batteries ?
 
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An SE? Used SE? Used 13? Used 12 as mentioned above?

Since it's a backup phone and hopefully will be sitting in a drawer, does not make much sense to get too "fancy" with it.

I hung onto my SE 2020 for this same reason. There was no real resale value in it, so keep it charged in a drawer to go to if I need a phone for a day or two until can get a replacement for current. And since really only going to use it for basically calls and texts, does not matter how old or out of support it is (can limp along with the stock Apple apps since I don't game, use 3rd party messenger apps, streaming services).
 
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yes exactly, no need for fancy.. I would buy used on Facebook but hear of lot of scams recently, Best Buy has a deal $400 for pixel 7 maybe a choice too..
 
kp98077 said:
Yeah thinking a 13 mini might complement my 15 max nicely
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Or since looks like doing an update to new a new model, keep which ever phone is being replaced as backup or hand it down and keep that traded out phone as the spare.

Sure, not going to get the trade-in/resell value, but will be a "free" backup phone that is as new as it can get regarding longest future OS support. Would need to break down the numbers to see which option makes most sense dollar-wise, but another option if can wait a month-ish.
 
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For normal city life I really don’t understand the need for a backup phone.

Shops are open every day and u have 1 day delivery for a new phone.

If u really can’t survive a few hours without a phone get a $30 old school candy bar phone
 
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What will be the use of a backup phone?

Why not go with non-smartphone?

Does a backup phone still need to be a smartphone?
 
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maerz001 said:
For normal city life I really don’t understand the need for a backup phone.

Shops are open every day and u have 1 day delivery for a new phone.

If u really can’t survive a few hours without a phone get a $30 old school candy bar phone
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I agree. If my phone dies or I lose it. I have my iPad and Apple Watch(contact less payments) that I can use for a few hours or 2 days. I have Wi-Fi almost everywhere I spend time and friends can call me through FaceTime or send me messages.

NoBoMac said:
An SE? Used SE? Used 13? Used 12 as mentioned above?

Since it's a backup phone and hopefully will be sitting in a drawer, does not make much sense to get too "fancy" with it.

I hung onto my SE 2020 for this same reason. There was no real resale value in it, so keep it charged in a drawer to go to if I need a phone for a day or two until can get a replacement for current. And since really only going to use it for basically calls and texts, does not matter how old or out of support it is (can limp along with the stock Apple apps since I don't game, use 3rd party messenger apps, streaming services).
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iPhone 13 is overkill for a backup phone. I recently bought my daughter a 2020 SE and there is almost nothing that I can do on my phone that she can’t do on her’s. Spotify, Roblox, Facebook, Safari, iMessage, Instagram etc all work the same on her phone as on an iphone 14.
 
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Yes - all the refurbed phones on Apple website get a new battery & shell, which is why I buy only from them when buying refurbed phones. I’ve never found any other source that does that. The new battery is important to me, so I’m willing to pay a little more buying from Apple & getting that. There are a lot of reasons someone might want a backup phone, even if each member of your household has a phone. The SE is a good phone, but I much prefer face ID & will pay more for it. I won’t buy an Android phone. Yes, Apple has had security issues lately, but my friends who have Android phones have had way too many serious issues, even those who use security software on their phones.
 
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MBS1085 said:
Yes - all the refurbed phones on Apple website get a new battery & shell, which is why I buy only from them when buying refurbed phones. I’ve never found any other source that does that. The new battery is important to me, so I’m willing to pay a little more buying from Apple & getting that. There are a lot of reasons someone might want a backup phone, even if each member of your household has a phone. The SE is a good phone, but I much prefer face ID & will pay more for it. I won’t buy an Android phone. Yes, Apple has had security issues lately, but my friends who have Android phones have had way too many serious issues, even those who use security software on their phones.
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This is the way to go.
 
Looks like same at my stores. Can get it delivered by 15th.

Glad I pulled the trigger on a Mini back in March: was concerned that might get difficult to snag one down the road, especially mid-September and later.
 
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NoBoMac said:
Looks like same at my stores. Can get it delivered by 15th.

Glad I pulled the trigger on a Mini back in March: was concerned that might get difficult to snag one down the road, especially mid-September and later.
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Wonder if just supply?
 
Not a supply issue imo. More of a "never was a big seller, will be gone next month, lets pull inventory from stores to get ready for new models" issue.

Since can get it in a couple of days, they have inventory somewhere that they are shipping from. Heck, might even build a few more the next few weeks. But guessing will no longer be in stores as new inventory.
 
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We have an SE with a sim and that is our back up but we also leave main phones at home and go away for weekend or family meal and just take the Se as an emergency phone.. its heaven!
 
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kp98077 said:
I am looking for a back up phone for me or family to use as needed we have a combination of 14 Pro, Max and regular 14. Want to be price sensitive. Thinking a 13 mini? or a regular 16? Any recommendations? I know I probably don't want to go too far back due to lack of future supposed. thanks -
Click to expand...

I’ve had many backup phones for various purposes. I’ve always gone with the SE. It’sa great phone with a smaller screen.
 
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kp98077 said:
I am looking for a back up phone for me or family to use as needed we have a combination of 14 Pro, Max and regular 14. Want to be price sensitive. Thinking a 13 mini? or a regular 16? Any recommendations? I know I probably don't want to go too far back due to lack of future supposed. thanks -
Click to expand...
I always keep a back up iphone for my family of 4 👍

My approach is keep the oldest phone in rotation as the backup. Is no one in your family planning to get a 15? If they are, keep the 14 model as backup, as tempting as it is to trade in.

If you actually have to purchase a new phone, I'd get a regular 13 or 14. Both have 5G, and will get iOS updates for 5+ more years.
 
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BeatCrazy said:
I always keep a back up iphone for my family of 4 👍

My approach is keep the oldest phone in rotation as the backup. Is no one in your family planning to get a 15? If they are, keep the 14 model as backup, as tempting as it is to trade in.

If you actually have to purchase a new phone, I'd get a regular 13 or 14. Both have 5G, and will get iOS updates for 5+ more years.
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Why not just buy two 15 and call it a day?
 
BeatCrazy said:
I always keep a back up iphone for my family of 4 👍

My approach is keep the oldest phone in rotation as the backup. Is no one in your family planning to get a 15? If they are, keep the 14 model as backup, as tempting as it is to trade in.

If you actually have to purchase a new phone, I'd get a regular 13 or 14. Both have 5G, and will get iOS updates for 5+ more years.
Click to expand...
yeah I like your thinking..
 
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