Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

Colonel Panic · Yesterday 20:59:54

Hi everyone,

This question has arisen because they're switching off the 2G networks in my area, and so it looks like I'm going to have to get a new (for me) 'phone soon.

Looking at what's on offer from the sellers on EBay, I see a number of 'phones for sale that date back to 2020 or even earlier, such as Iphone 7s and even some 6s, all obviously a lot cheaper than what you'd have to pay for a new Iphone. There are quite a few older Samsungs and other Android phones too.

Is there any merit in buying an old 'phone to save money, either an Iphone or an Android phone, and trying to upgrade the operating system?

And (supplementary question) what 'phone do you yourself use? I'm absolutely clueless about 'phones; my current one is a JCB Toughphone 2 which I basically only use for making and receiving calls and for receiving text messages. It's a nightmare to try and text with it so I've never tried.

(It has one good feature which I've had reason to be grateful for; it's practically unbreakable.)

Thanks in advance (and posting from a 2012 computer),

CP .

Last edited by Colonel Panic (Today 12:33:14)

Jimbo_G · Today 09:17:18

If it's only for calls and texts, is it possible to use just a Nokia style phone rather than a smartphone? You mention 2G being switched off, but a lot of places are also going to be switching off 3G in the not too distant future. So in your situation I would be looking for a 4G non-smartphone, and I'm sure that plenty of secondhand Nokia (or similar) phones should be available.

I use an old Google Pixel phone from 2019 that I bought secondhand a few years ago. But I installed a different OS (Ubuntu Touch) which has its downsides. I'm still using the original battery and battery life is not too bad.

johnraff · Today 09:46:03

Jimbo_G wrote:

a lot of places are also going to be switching off 3G in the not too distant future

Yes indeed, it's G3 which is having the plug pulled here. One of the big providers, NTT, which my low-cost MVNO uses, is dropping support for G3 at the end of this month. My current phone is a Huawei P10 Lite which does in fact support G4, but not for voice messages or something, and my wife and I will be obliged to switch to something more modern.

We don't need any fancy features, just phone calls (would you believe) plus web searching, google maps (have to reluctantly say that's essential at times), LINE, and things like internet radio. Right now I'm looking at Motorola moto g24 at 20,000 yen (~$125) which seems to cover what we need. This is a new phone, not used.

Upgrading the OS on an old Android phone sounds very difficult, maybe impossible, but might be an interesting project...

Martin · Today 10:15:05

Sony XA2 here. Bought it used. So far so good. Apps needed for bank website login, car parking and public transport still works. I have disabled much of the corporate and Google stuff. I use Organic map for instance.

The battery is still good enough for me. The way I use this phone it lasts almost a week.

As for 'dumb phone' vs. 'smart phone': Swedish authorities and companies are hell bent on forcing us to be customers of at least one oligopoly company with head quarters on the U.S. west coast. If you are not you are very much a second class citizen.

/Martin

Jimbo_G · Today 10:31:10

Martin wrote:

As for 'dumb phone' vs. 'smart phone': Swedish authorities and companies are hell bent on forcing us to be customers of at least one oligopoly company with head quarters on the U.S. west coast. If you are not you are very much a second class citizen.
/Martin

I think many places will go down this route eventually, unless people wake up to the risks; at least until we all get chips implanted under our skin ^^

I'm lucky that there aren't yet any Android apps that I can't live without, but I'm sure that it's only a matter of time.

Colonel Panic · Today 12:31:06

Jimbo_G wrote:

If it's only for calls and texts, is it possible to use just a Nokia style phone rather than a smartphone? You mention 2G being switched off, but a lot of places are also going to be switching off 3G in the not too distant future. So in your situation I would be looking for a 4G non-smartphone, and I'm sure that plenty of secondhand Nokia (or similar) phones should be available.
I use an old Google Pixel phone from 2019 that I bought secondhand a few years ago. But I installed a different OS (Ubuntu Touch) which has its downsides. I'm still using the original battery and battery life is not too bad.

Thanks for replying (and to everyone else who's replied too). It's mainly for calls and texts, yes; but I also want to be able to read QR codes which my existing 'phone doesn't and are becoming increasingly unavoidable over here. And of course to read QR codes, you need a camera on your 'phone.

Last edited by Colonel Panic (Today 12:35:27)

Martin · Today 15:34:14

Jimbo_G wrote:

Martin wrote:
As for 'dumb phone' vs. 'smart phone': Swedish authorities and companies are hell bent on forcing us to be customers of at least one oligopoly company with head quarters on the U.S. west coast. If you are not you are very much a second class citizen.
/Martin
I think many places will go down this route eventually, unless people wake up to the risks; at least until we all get chips implanted under our skin ^^
I'm lucky that there aren't yet any Android apps that I can't live without, but I'm sure that it's only a matter of time.

I must add a real life anecdote demonstrating how silly this can be. This has nothing to do with thin foil hats as you will see.

A couple of years ago a bunch of youngsters from Austria traveled in Scandinavia in a camper van. Twenty somethings so they are totally into smart phones. Back in Sweden after having visited Norway they park in a place where you only can pay by app. No problem -- they install app but it can't hook up to their Austrian bank. Since there are no other ways to pay they are going to be fined for sure. They call my sister (friends of their mum) and ask for advise/help. She ends up paying their parking fee since that was the only way.

/Martin

hhh · Today 17:36:49

johnraff wrote:

Right now I'm looking at Motorola moto g24 at 20,000 yen (~$125) which seems to cover what we need. This is a new phone, not used.

I'm running a Moto G 5g from 2024, it's pretty good for the price. Some Motorola bloat and the usual from Google, but not much. It's upgraded twice, currently running Android 15 (December 1, '25 security update, January 1,'26 Google Play systems update).

https://www.motorola.com/us/en/p/phones … PB0L0000US

Colonel Panic · Today 20:11:01

Thanks to you both for the further posts. It's getting increasingly difficult (in Britain anyway) to manage without a smartphone; we've got this nasty situation that so many sites now are behind a notification wall where you have to indicate your age before you can go any further, and for that you need a QR reader. Even pictures from quite innocent posters on Twitter aren't immune to this.

Last edited by Colonel Panic (Today 22:46:07)

#1 Yesterday 20:59:54

Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#2 Today 09:17:18

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#3 Today 09:46:03

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#4 Today 10:15:05

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#5 Today 10:31:10

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#6 Today 12:31:06

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#7 Today 15:34:14

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#8 Today 17:36:49

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

#9 Today 20:11:01

Re: Would you buy an old 'phone and keep it running?

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