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iPhone 6(S)/Plus What can I do with my old iPhones?

a-m-k

a-m-k

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
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I have a 5c and a 6s. I now have an iPhone 12. Obviously, I got my iPhone 12 because the fact that I won't be able to update to iOS 15 if I kept my 6s. My 5c is basically a paperweight. My 6s was loosing power at ridiculous percentages. It was also almost 6 years old with the original battery. I don't expect to get any money back from trading them in especially the 5c. (Sorry I couldn't include the 6s in the prefix.)
 
According to this page, the 6S is worth $50. They don't usually care about the condition of the battery.
www.apple.com

Apple Trade In

Trade in your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, or any other device for credit toward a new one, or recycle it responsibly for free with Apple Trade In.
www.apple.com
I would send the 5c in for recycling.
No point holding on to ancient hardware unless you're trying to create a museum of sorts.

You could also try and sell them on craigslist. If you do, insist on local buyer, in person, cash only.
 
I have an iPhone 4, a 4s, an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 6s+. The iPhone 4s was originally my son's first iPhone. I also have an iPhone 6s, my wife's former iPhone which is now my daughter's phone.

I use these devices mainly as media devices. They all have WiFi and Bluetooth and are still capable of streaming media. My 6s+ has it's own active line as my secondary phone and is the device I take with me when doing activities where a phone could be broken or damaged. I'd rather that be the 6s+ than my primary phone (an 11 Max Pro).

I also have a Pixel 3a XL, which was my primary phone until February of 2021. Haven't decided what to do with it yet.
 
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a-m-k said:
I have a 5c and a 6s. I now have an iPhone 12. Obviously, I got my iPhone 12 because the fact that I won't be able to update to iOS 15 if I kept my 6s. My 5c is basically a paperweight. My 6s was loosing power at ridiculous percentages. It was also almost 6 years old with the original battery. I don't expect to get any money back from trading them in especially the 5c. (Sorry I couldn't include the 6s in the prefix.)
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Can you send pics of the 6S I'm willing to consider purchasing it.
 
Keep the 6S as a fully functioning spare in case you run into trouble with your 12.
Old phones make great interface devices for Bluetooth or wifi accessories. One phone can be doing one thing while another does something else.
I've never found a use for three working phones though.
 
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I use an iPhone 7+ as a temp GPS tracking device. I put it inside the small storage compartment of my motorbike when I park it in busy public areas.
 
I've take out the SIM card and put it in my new iPhone.....
 
My friend gave me an old iPhone 6 for Christmas last year,i basically use it as a YouTube Remote to cast videos onto the YouTube app on my PS4

I was also given an XS Max and Pixel 3XL which i use as secondary devices as my Honor 20 doesn't send me notifications
 
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Apparently, iOS 15 is going to work on the iPhone 6s. Do I regret buying a new iPhone? Nope. I didn't want to spend money to repair or put in a new battery (when absolutely needed) only to have it be unsupported with iOS 16 or older.) It was so slow anyway.

As for the back-up iPhone idea. It won't work. I used the SIM card from my 6s for my new iPhone.
 
Never keep old tech too long unless you want to keep them as collector. After a few years, their value tends to $0.
 
Trade them in for a newer phone.
Sometimes we can feel some attachment to a gadget (nostalgia). But I would at least keep the 6s as a backup (in case you need to send in your new iPhone for repair, you have a backup phone). I would trade in the 5c for anything, maybe even for an Android phone to play with. :)
 
I recently got the purple iPhone 12 that came out this year, so I am good. I want to hold on to my phone as long as I can when it's working as it should.
 
I keep my iPhone SE as a spare in case anything happens to my 12 pro max and I’m waiting for it to be repaired or replaced. Sometimes I use it in bed if I’m feeling too lazy to hold my 12 pro max and sometimes as an iPod. Before airtags I used to use it as a remote when my Apple TV remotes went missing.
 
My 5c is completely dead. It doesn’t charge. My 6s has life, but no SIM card. (It’s in this iPhone.)
 
I bought my newest one online because of covid-19.
 
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