On Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone 17 series with the usual spate of new features, including a thinner design, improved displays and a camera with 4x optical zoom. If you’ve been getting frustrated with your old phone, or just tired of it, the lithe new model may look exactly like the device you need to launch your budding photographic career, reconnect with long-lost friends and maybe even save your life in an emergency.
Don’t give in to the upgrade itch. The best iPhone 17 feature, iOS 26, is already coming to older phones for free. With that simple software upgrade, a few settings tweaks and some inexpensive accessories, your older iPhone can look and perform like new. Here’s how.
Try new camera lenses
The iPhone 17 series may have better cameras, but you can expand the capabilities of your current-gen iPhone cameras with an external lens. I use and recommend the Moment T-series lenses. They come in different varieties, including a 1.33x anamorphic lens for cinematic-style videos, a 75mm macro lens to get better-quality macros than the default and a 58mm telephoto lens that doubles the zoom of your existing camera.
Using them alongside the Moment app gives you better control over focus, exposure, and other settings with more ease and convenience. If you want to make your current iPhone cameras more versatile, these Moment lenses are a great way to do it. You’ll require a compatible case and a $5 drop-in lens mount to securely snap them to your iPhone, but you’ll still spend way less than buying a $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro just for the cameras.
Invest in a new case
A fresh case can totally reinvigorate your old iPhone. It not only changes how it looks and feels, it can sometimes even tack on new features.
For instance, I use this Torras Case for its magnetic kickstand when traveling. It comes in handy when I want to watch movies in the cramped confines of a coach seat, without holding my phone the whole time. Chronic texters can even add a Blackberry-like feel to the iPhone 16 with the Clicks Keyboard case. For something a little slimmer, I favor Nomad’s Leather Case or Sport Case. If you care less about protection and just want to make a statement, you can opt for a skin. I use one from Capes India that isn’t available in every country, but DBrand makes some gorgeous skins from psychedelic to sublime. Switch it up!
A new screen protector wouldn’t hurt
Most screen protectors wear so slowly that you might not notice the glass starting to lose its gloss over time, or scratches accumulating. If a good scrub down with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel doesn’t restore its slickness and clarity, it might be time for replacement. I recommend this Nomad screen protector for its quality and ease of installation.
The installation kit makes it super easy to install with no air bubbles, which can be a challenge with many competing models. I’ve used mine for four months, and can say it not only holds up well over time, it doesn’t introduce any extra friction between screen and finger.
Install iOS 26
iOS 26 is Apple’s biggest software update in years, and iPhones dating all the way back to 2019’s iPhone 11 can download and run it for free, starting on 15 September. You definitely should. The refreshing “liquid glass” look will make your phone feel new again, and it carries over into Apple apps like Messages, Camera and more.
after newsletter promotion
I installed a preview of iOS 26 on my “old” iPhone 15 Pro a few weeks ago, and ended up loving it so much that I now use that phone more than my iPhone 16 Pro, which is running the older iOS. Apple fixed the Photos app, so it gives you 100% of the screen to view your media, the new Camera app layout is simpler to use, and web pages are easier to read in Safari.
Perform a quick tune-up
If your current iPhone doesn’t quite run the way it used to, a few quick checks and settings tweaks can resolve many issues.
-
Turn on Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26. If your battery drains alarmingly quick, this may help. It automatically makes small performance adjustments when your iPhone usage is higher than normal, like lowering brightness and allowing some activities to take longer. You can go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode > Adaptive Power Mode to toggle it on.
-
Spend time customizing your home screen. You’re probably tired of your stale home screen and don’t even realize it. Try adding widget stacks, creating folders and reorganizing your apps. Change that age-old wallpaper. Fine-tune the Notification Center. It won’t feel like the same phone anymore.
-
Clean the USB-C port. The charging port tends to collect dust and dirt in your pocket, and after enough time a cable won’t fit in properly. You may notice finicky charging or even overheating as a result. To clean it, Apple recommends using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, but if you really have a lot of impacted crud, I find a toothpick helps to pick it out. Just make sure you aren’t using anything too sharp, which might damage the port.
Your old iPhone is perfectly fine
Most newer iPhone owners, especially those with the iPhone 16 series, won’t see much improvement from an iPhone 17. Sure, it offers a more up-to-date feature set and an appealing design (to some), but you don’t need to give in to the hype. If you follow the above recommendations, you’ll get an all-new look on your current iPhone and save hundreds of dollars in the process.
For more ideas on products that are actually worth your money:
-
Prakhar Khanna is a freelance consumer tech journalist with bylines in Forbes, CNET, Gizmodo and other major outlets. He writes about the intersection of tech with life. He was also part of the judges’ jury for the prestigious CES 2025 Innovation Awards. When not reading or writing, he’s perpetually looking for ways to squeeze in more nap hours into his day
