Skip Apple’s new iPhone – 5 tricks to make your outdated cellphone really feel new once more

[ad_1] O n Tuesday, Apple introduced the iPhone 17 collection with the standard spate of recent options, together with a thinner design, improved shows and a digicam with 4x optical zoom. Should you’ve been getting pissed off along with your outdated cellphone, or simply bored with it, the lithe new mannequin could look precisely just like the system you must launch your budding photographic profession, reconnect with long-lost mates and perhaps even save your life in an emergency.

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Don’t give in to the improve itch. One of the best iPhone 17 characteristic, iOS 26, is already coming to older telephones without spending a dime. With that easy software program improve, a couple of settings tweaks and a few cheap equipment, your older iPhone can look and carry out like new. Right here’s how.

Strive new digicam lenses An iPhone 15 Professional with the Second macro lens. The iPhone 17 collection could have higher cameras, however you may develop the capabilities of your current-gen iPhone cameras with an exterior lens. I exploit and suggest the Second T-series lenses. They arrive in numerous varieties, together with a 1.33x anamorphic lens for cinematic-style movies, a 75mm macro lens to get better-quality macros than the default and a 58mm telephoto lens that doubles the zoom of your present digicam.

Utilizing them alongside the Second app provides you higher management over focus, publicity, and different settings with extra ease and comfort. If you wish to make your present iPhone cameras extra versatile, these Second lenses are an effective way to do it. You’ll require a suitable case and a $5 drop-in lens mount to securely snap them to your iPhone, however you’ll nonetheless spend approach lower than shopping for a $1,099 iPhone 17 Professional only for the cameras.

Put money into a brand new case An iPhone 16 Professional. A contemporary case can completely reinvigorate your outdated iPhone. It not solely adjustments the way it appears and feels, it could actually typically even tack on new options.

For example, I exploit this Torras Case for its magnetic kickstand when touring. It is useful after I need to watch motion pictures within the cramped confines of a coach seat, with out holding my cellphone the entire time. Power texters may even add a Blackberry-like really feel to the iPhone 16 with the Clicks Keyboard case. For one thing somewhat slimmer, I favor Nomad’s Leather-based Case or Sport Case. Should you care much less about safety and simply need to make an announcement, you may go for a pores and skin. I exploit one from Capes India that isn’t out there in each nation, however DBrand makes some attractive skins from psychedelic to chic. Change it up!

A brand new display screen protector wouldn’t harm Most display screen protectors put on so slowly that you just won't discover the glass beginning to lose its gloss over time, or scratches accumulating. If a great scrub down with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel doesn’t restore its slickness and readability, it is likely to be time for substitute. I like to recommend this Nomad display screen protector for its high quality and ease of set up.

The set up package makes it tremendous straightforward to put in with no air bubbles, which generally is a problem with many competing fashions. I’ve used mine for 4 months, and might say it not solely holds up nicely over time, it doesn’t introduce any additional friction between display screen and finger.

Set up iOS 26 An iPhone 15 Professional with iOS 26. iOS 26 is Apple’s greatest software program replace in years, and iPhones relationship all the way in which again to 2019’s iPhone 11 can obtain and run it without spending a dime, beginning on 15 September. You undoubtedly ought to. The refreshing “liquid glass” look will make your cellphone really feel new once more, and it carries over into Apple apps like Messages, Digital camera and extra.

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I put in a preview of iOS 26 on my “outdated” iPhone 15 Professional a couple of weeks in the past, and ended up loving it a lot that I now use that cellphone greater than my iPhone 16 Professional, which is working the older iOS. Apple fastened the Photographs app, so it provides you 100% of the display screen to view your media, the brand new Digital camera app format is less complicated to make use of, and net pages are simpler to learn in Safari.

Carry out a fast tune-up In case your present iPhone doesn’t fairly run the way in which it used to, a couple of fast checks and settings tweaks can resolve many points.

Activate Adaptive Energy Mode in iOS 26. In case your battery drains alarmingly fast, this will assist. It routinely makes small efficiency changes when your iPhone utilization is greater than regular, like decreasing brightness and permitting some actions to take longer. You may go to Settings > Battery > Energy Mode > Adaptive Energy Mode to toggle it on.

Spend time customizing your house display screen. You’re most likely bored with your stale house display screen and don’t even notice it. Strive including widget stacks, creating folders and reorganizing your apps. Change that age-old wallpaper. Effective-tune the Notification Middle. It gained’t really feel like the identical cellphone anymore.

Clear the USB-C port. The charging port tends to gather mud and grime in your pocket, and after sufficient time a cable gained’t slot in correctly. You could discover finicky charging and even overheating because of this. To wash it, Apple recommends utilizing a mushy, dry, lint-free material, however for those who actually have numerous impacted crud, I discover a toothpick helps to choose it out. Simply ensure you aren’t utilizing something too sharp, which could injury the port.

Your outdated iPhone is completely high-quality Most newer iPhone homeowners, particularly these with the iPhone 16 collection, gained’t see a lot enchancment from an iPhone 17. Positive, it provides a extra up-to-date characteristic set and an interesting design (to some), however you don’t want to present in to the hype. Should you observe the above suggestions, you’ll get an all-new look in your present iPhone and save a whole bunch of {dollars} within the course of.

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Prakhar Khanna is a contract shopper tech journalist with bylines in Forbes, CNET, Gizmodo and different main retailers. He writes concerning the intersection of tech with life. He was additionally a part of the judges’ jury for the celebrated CES 2025 Innovation Awards. When not studying or writing, he’s perpetually searching for methods to squeeze in additional nap hours into his day