Simple way to speed up your old iPhone
It's completely normal for an iPhone to slow down over the years, but users can also improve its speed without necessarily buying a new device.
The following article provides users with a few simple and easy steps to speed up their old iPhone.
1. Restart iPhone
If you are experiencing slow iPhone performance, there are several things you can do to improve your device's performance, with the first step being to restart your iPhone. This will allow the phone to free up RAM for use, which is often the cause of phone slowdowns.
To restart iPhone, users need to turn off the power completely. Depending on the iPhone version you are using, you may need to press different buttons to restart your iPhone, usually pressing and holding the power button or maybe going into the phone settings. On reboot, RAM will be cleaned up and users may find it more stable. For best results, users should restart their iPhone every few days.
2. Uninstall unused apps
If iPhone is still running slow, delete downloaded apps. Each installed app takes up a small amount of space on iPhone. As a result, deleting unused ones can be a great way to free up space and give your iPhone more space to work on.
Although memory is not as important to performance as chip or RAM, installing too many apps can definitely slow down your phone as many apps use background energy to do things automatically. new and refreshing, sending notifications to users, especially social media apps like Twitter and Facebook, and some players sending push notifications to users.
To uninstall an app on your iPhone, simply touch and hold the app's icon on the home screen. The user can then tap delete the app from the menu that appears. On newer versions of iOS, it will also provide an option to immediately remove from the screen.
3. iOS Update
Another way to speed up your old iPhone is to try updating to the latest iOS version. Apple is constantly releasing new versions of its operating system on the iPhone. These updates include a range of security fixes, performance fixes, and other phone features. Usually, these updates can also bring bigger features like new user interface and more.
Users can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The phone will automatically show which new updates are available for the user's device. If you don't see the update, it may take a few minutes to download and install the update, or your device has updated to the latest version.
However, for me, I do not recommend updating iOS for iPhones that are too old because your device may be slower, it's best if you can or upgrade to a newer iPhone.
11 basic things to look out for when buying a used iPhone
1. Does iPhone power on and off normally?
Perhaps the most important thing to check is whether the iPhone powers on or not. This may seem obvious, but some sellers may try and assume that the iPhone won't boot up because of a dead battery. Don't forget this and make sure iPhone boots to the lock screen or the “Hello” prompt.
Furthermore, you may want to emphasize that the iPhone also includes a charger. An iPhone without these attachments is more likely to be stolen. If possible, check if iPhone charges normally; Consider bringing portable batteries and Lightning cables if you have them.
2. Is Activation Lock Still On?
When your iPhone boots up, you'll see a lock screen asking you to enter your passcode. If you see a message about entering a password to activate your iPhone, your iPhone may have been stolen. Even if it hasn't been stolen, you can't use it in this state so it's best to just leave it.
Emphasize that the seller activates the iPhone by entering their password. Activation Lock can be removed from an iPhone by turning off “Find My iPhone” in Settings > [Owner Name] > Find My.
3. If iPhone has been erased
Upon encountering the iPhone may have been erased, ready for sale. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does keep you from fully testing the device. You may notice a “Hello” or “Swipe to start” message if this is the case.
To be able to fully test your iPhone, you should ask the seller to sign in with their own information so that the phone is in working condition. This may require them to insert a SIM card to activate the device. You can then perform some of the checks listed below before deciding that you want to purchase the device.
Once you're happy with your iPhone, ask the seller to remove the activation key and erase the iPhone using “Erase All Content and Settings” in Settings > General > Transfer or reset iPhone. Ask the seller to enter their Apple ID password to disable Activation Lock, so you know you'll be able to use the phone once you take ownership.
4. Visible Damage
Most used iPhones will have scratches, even if they are used with care according to the seller. If your iPhone is delivered to you in a carrying case, always remove it for a better look. Inspect the entire device for any visible signs of damage including scratches and small cracks around the edge of the screen.
The dents on the chassis are a bit more of a concern as this could indicate damage to internal components such as the battery. Check to see if the iPhone is lying flat on a face-down surface, as this will indicate if any force has caused the chassis to bend. Inspect the camera assembly for damaged or scratched lenses.
Don't worry too much about superficial damage, but take into account the price of the item.
5. How's the battery status?
Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, and any used iPhone is bound to have a battery that won't hold 100% of its original capacity. You can go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to check two important metrics: maximum capacity and operability.
Maximum capacity will give you a rough idea of how much battery is currently charging. Any level above 90% is fine, but the lower the number, the less time between recharges. What is more important is the performance of the battery.
When battery health deteriorates significantly, iPhone can start to slow down as it tries to balance performance with battery life.
6. Has the part been replaced, and is it refurbished?
You can check if your iPhone is a refurbished model by going to Settings > General > About and looking at the “Model number” entry. If the number starts with an F, it has been refurbished by Apple or the carrier. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you might want to know. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if the device has been refurbished by a third party.
If the seller advertises that the battery was recently replaced, you can check the parts and service history to verify if genuine Apple parts have been used. Go to Settings > General > About and find the relevant section under the “Model number” field.
If nothing is listed, it means that the iPhone is not running iOS 15.2 or later or nothing has been replaced. On iPhones running iOS 15.2 or later, replaced parts will be listed as “Genuine Apple Parts” or “Unrepaired Parts” if replaced by anyone other than Apple.
7. How's the performance?
Use the iPhone for a bit and see how it works. Consider the age of the device and be aware that older devices will be slower than newer devices.
Some simple tests you can do include browsing a website like apple.com, searching for apps using Spotlight, launching and browsing the App Store, and zooming and scrolling around the built-in Maps app. available, access the notification center and Control Center, and swipe between widgets and app icons on your home screen.
8. What are the display conditions?
If your iPhone has a traditional edge-illuminated LCD display (as in the iPhone XR, SE, and 11), check that all lights are working. If your iPhone has an OLED display (called Super Retina XDR as seen in the iPhone X, 12, and 13) then you should also check out the video recording capabilities. Neither of these will necessarily affect how the device works and may not be visible in normal use, but you should know before you buy.
You can test both of these problems on a solid background, using different shades of color. Use YouTube videos in full screen and pause in different shades to check for problems. LCD backlighting issues are easy to spot on solid white slides, while flare may only appear on specific colors due to the way the sub-pixels wear out with use.
9. Are the Speakers and Microphones working?
You can easily test the microphone by recording something using Apple's built-in Memos app. Test the speaker by playing back the recording, previewing the ringtone in Settings > Sounds & preferences.
You should also check the volume of the headset and the only way to do so is to make a phone call. If you don't have a SIM card in your iPhone for this, consider connecting to a public Wi-Fi or private hotspot and using FaceTime instead.
10. Check other buttons
Check for correct operation, located on the left side of the iPhone. Below that, you'll find the volume rockers. These buttons are useful for increasing call volume and taking photos, plus, you'll need to use them if you want to force restart your iPhone.
The side button on the right side of iPhone is used to wake and turn off your iPhone screen, invoke Siri, force restart, and access Apple Pay and other Wallet functions. Make sure everything works as expected.
11. Are all cameras working?
Finally, check out all the cameras and lenses. Open the Camera app and switch to the front-facing camera, then use all of the cameras on the back of your device (including ultra-wide and telephoto if you have one).
In good lighting conditions, the image will be relatively clear and free from noise. The image will update smoothly (unlike a slideshow) and tapping the screen will focus on that particular area.
Good luck.