iPhone 7/Plus Updating Backup Phone

[ricketysquire]

I have an iPhone 13 that I got last year as my primary phone, but I keep an iPhone 7 around as an "emergency" backup phone. I've only really used it once for that purpose when I got my previous phone’s battery changed and needed to use my 7 temporarily for a few hours.

I’m considering replacing it with an iPhone 8 or 2020 SE or potentially an Android due to the IOS version being 2 versions out of date. I know updates were still coming out for IOS 15 this year but with 17 out, not sure how frequently security updates will continue. Just want to make sure I had something around that was secure and could run whatever apps I need in the event that I actually need it.

Just wanted to see how others approached keeping a spare around and if others feel the need to have them relatively up to date?

 

[Rainbow Apple]

I use the vanilla Unihertz Atom (not to be confused with the Unihertz Atom XL/L). It's the smallest rugged smartphone I know of. I keep it in my pocket, in case I lose my iPhone (or something) while I'm out. I keep it up to date, and I use it from time to time, because I want to know that I'll be able to use it if I ever need it! I have a cheap cellular plan for it (Ultra Mobile PayGo).

While an Apple Watch with cellular capability (some are wi-fi only) would be smaller and more portable than the Atom, and can make phone calls: It's not a fully-fledged smartphone. An Apple Watch can't truly replace my iPhone (for example, there's no Uber app), but the Atom can. However, the Atom does have a disadvantage: It runs Android 9. All the apps I use still work on Android 9, but that will eventually change. There's one other disadvantage with any Android phone (including the Atom): Lack of Apple apps. You'll have Apple Music, but that's about it.

I also have my old iPhone 6+ which I keep at home. It's stuck on iOS 12, so a lot of apps won't work on it. Uber still does, but who knows how long that will last. Also, it can't be connected to an Apple account with Advanced Data Protection. Perhaps I should try to find a cheap newer iPhone on Ebay, to serve as my keep-at-home backup phone.

 

[cjsuk]

As I can't risk any downtime due to the job I have, I have two phones on my account all the time. A 15 Pro and a 12. The 12 is kept up to date and charged.

 

[rui no onna]

Just wanted to see how others approached keeping a spare around and if others feel the need to have them relatively up to date?

Necro thread but I'll bite.

Automatic charging via smart plugs, iCloud syncing and automatic firmware and app installs/updates should do the trick.

Mind, I actually have auto-updates disabled. I treat the backup phone as guinea pig so I manually install updates on that first and if there are no major issues, that's when I update my main phone.