Can't say I am one of those people that needs multiple phones to manage his flock of girlfriends, I just got a couple older phones in a drawer since they are good for GPS offline navigation or when travelling. Since my main phone is now a Pixel and I have an Apple Watch as well I needed another (i)Phone to be able to use the watch.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Other Why do you have multiple phones?
- Thread starter marklcfc
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Mainly not keen on having different two phone numbers and paying for another sim / data plan etc, carrying multiple phones, I suppose it’s mostly cost reasons plus everything I need fits onto a 64gb device easily
It’s nice to have options depending on clothing fit, situation and mood. If you like your tech you’ll (well I do) always find excuses for buying different versions of a similar thing. I like my 13 mini if I’m going out clubbing or socialising and my 14 Pro Max the rest of the time.
Last edited:
I upgrade every year and I used to keep my previous phone in case something happens to the primary device. I no longer do this as I trade in my phone and it cuts the cost of upgrading in half. In an emergency, I can go to the Apple Store and get another phone and the cloud would be used to restore it.
I usually have two "assets".
My iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is the one I use regularly and an iPhone Xs that I have for emergencies.
Last week I bought a Pixel 7 Pro because I felt like trying android and seeing the Pixel's camera, which they have always put it well and after being quite disappointed with the 13 Pro Max's camera for its over-processing in the image, I felt like trying something new and different.
I find it curious that many of you have an iPhone just for iMessage, outside the US we don't realize how important that service is there, since in Europe we traditionally use Whatsapp or Telegram.
My iPhone 13 Pro Max, which is the one I use regularly and an iPhone Xs that I have for emergencies.
Last week I bought a Pixel 7 Pro because I felt like trying android and seeing the Pixel's camera, which they have always put it well and after being quite disappointed with the 13 Pro Max's camera for its over-processing in the image, I felt like trying something new and different.
I find it curious that many of you have an iPhone just for iMessage, outside the US we don't realize how important that service is there, since in Europe we traditionally use Whatsapp or Telegram.
I have an extra iPhone 7, the AppleCare had expired on my iPhone XR at the time and I had no carrier provided insurance/warranty either, so I decided to have a back-up phone just in case. Now I have an iPhone 13 (with AppleCare), but I keep the 7 around just in case the 13 needs to be repaired.
Oh I get it. Outside of the North America pre-paid sim cards are pretty cheap. I usually pickup a SIM when I am in Europe to have a local number with just a few gigs data. Works perfectly. Having a camera bag means I'm carrying a bunch of gear so an extra phone it's a problem.
I carry an iPhone and Android simultaneously. Stuck together back to back with strong 3M double sided tape. If I get bored of one OS just flip it around and start using the other. Only issue is I can't find a bumper case wide enough to protect both phones.
I have 14 pro max as my daily, Z fold 4 for work and for my on the go tablet for gym and say in the car on my breaks for example. pixel 7 pro was for day to day photos. That might change shortly as I may try find x6 pro or maybe Xiaomi 13 ultra.
I think it's important to try different phones and software. makes you appreciate what you use when you do.
I think it's important to try different phones and software. makes you appreciate what you use when you do.
The only occasions when I have had two phones were when my employers (or employing organisations) had supplied me with the second and therefore expected me to be contactable for work purposes on it.
Obviously, I have a personal, private phone, as well.
I don't know if people just put all the phones they've owned or maybe what the whole family has currently. I have a 14 Pro max that I just got, and before that I had a 12 mini and a regular 12 from work. Now I work somewhere else and don't have a work phone haha.
Because I'm looking at the future and I don't want to spend £1000+ on another iPhone when this one gives out. I want to retire slightly early and do interesting things other than buy Apple products and eat ramen until I'm dead. Ergo I bought a Pixel 6A to run side by side with the iPhone for 3 months as a trial.
I have two separate phone numbers for ref (both on Giffgaff in the UK's £10/month SIM - 20GB/unlimited texts and calls)
I have two separate phone numbers for ref (both on Giffgaff in the UK's £10/month SIM - 20GB/unlimited texts and calls)
Well, I have 3 phones!!!! My iPhone Mini 13 is my daily driver, use it for texts calls and forex trading.. My Samsung Fold 4 I use for going out to coffee shops and reading and taking down notes...My Samsung S23 ULTRA I use mainly for gaming in my Backbone One controller and occasionally instagram, social apps etc.. Love them ALL!! I have 2 sims only though, one in Mini and one in Fold 4. Don't take the S23 ULTRA out with me so no need for a sim in that one. They all do different things wonderfully so I can't get rid of any of them!!! Arghhhh
You can look to the future and have multiple devices…..I’m retired….in my mid 40s and don’t eat ramen. 😀
I have a 13PM and a 13 Mini so I can trade the sim in the summer time or when on vacation and not have the big phone weighing my pants down LOL. I also use the mini as an iPod and play podcasts or music for background noise while working from home and not drain my main phone battery.
I have a 13 for work because I also like to keep my work separate and shut it down and night and on weekends. I also have a side hustle that I have to carry a phone for (for now) so I made them upgrade from a Moto Z to to a 13. Ideally we may use the dual sim on that one so I don’t have to carry both 13’s.
I have a 13 for work because I also like to keep my work separate and shut it down and night and on weekends. I also have a side hustle that I have to carry a phone for (for now) so I made them upgrade from a Moto Z to to a 13. Ideally we may use the dual sim on that one so I don’t have to carry both 13’s.
Surely you're not paying extra monthly service fees for your backup phone, right? That would just sound like a stupid/rich waste of money (vs just switching SIM cards as needed).
Yes, I am paying - but not as much as you might think.
I have a granfathered Simple Choice plan on T-Mobile from back when they had data caps. My plan gave me a choice between 2/6/10GB and Unlimited Data. When I got the line for that phone I chose the 2GB of data because I don't use that line very much (morning walks, etc).
It's $10/month for that line. A couple of years back, T-Mobile took away all the data caps - even on grandfathered plans and gave everybody (almost) unlimited data and hotspot for the same price they were originally paying.
So, now I have unlimited data and 2GB of hotspot monthly for $10 on that line. I'm not rich, in fact I'm pretty much paycheck to paycheck. But $10 a month for that I don't consider to be expensive.
I have 4- 8 plus, 14 plus, SE 3, and a Z Flip 4.
The Z Flip is from yet another failed attempt at switching back to android. I do this every freaking year- get bored with iOS, Samsung puts out something new and cool, and I think this is it, I'm going to switch for good this time. Nope, never sticks lol. It's a good phone but with all my computers being macs and all my friends & family being on iOS it's too much hassle to switch. I kept it b/c I was past the return period and it's still fun to play with, I might sell it soon idk.
I've had several 8 pluses since 2018, the one I have now was purchased last year from the Apple refurbished store. No plans to ever get rid of it, it's no longer my daily driver but it's still my favorite iPhone ever.
The 14 plus was kind of an impulse buy too, husband wanted me to get something with better battery life for our pokemon go days and it fit the bill. Excellent phone, but face ID fails too often and I have little elf hands so it's a bit unwieldy for me. My mom really struggles with touch ID on her phone, so I'm thinking of just giving it to her.
The SE 3 is my current DD, mainly b/c touch ID works flawlessly for me and so does the smaller size. Really really love this phone. I plan on keeping it til it's no longer supported, and praying Apple brings back touch ID in some fashion by then 🤞
The Z Flip is from yet another failed attempt at switching back to android. I do this every freaking year- get bored with iOS, Samsung puts out something new and cool, and I think this is it, I'm going to switch for good this time. Nope, never sticks lol. It's a good phone but with all my computers being macs and all my friends & family being on iOS it's too much hassle to switch. I kept it b/c I was past the return period and it's still fun to play with, I might sell it soon idk.
I've had several 8 pluses since 2018, the one I have now was purchased last year from the Apple refurbished store. No plans to ever get rid of it, it's no longer my daily driver but it's still my favorite iPhone ever.
The 14 plus was kind of an impulse buy too, husband wanted me to get something with better battery life for our pokemon go days and it fit the bill. Excellent phone, but face ID fails too often and I have little elf hands so it's a bit unwieldy for me. My mom really struggles with touch ID on her phone, so I'm thinking of just giving it to her.
The SE 3 is my current DD, mainly b/c touch ID works flawlessly for me and so does the smaller size. Really really love this phone. I plan on keeping it til it's no longer supported, and praying Apple brings back touch ID in some fashion by then 🤞
It is important that I carry two phones wherever I go, so I use an iPhone 13 Pro Max and an iPhone SE. Because I have medical conditions that can flare up at any time, I use an abundance of caution in having two devices in case one becomes broken or unusable.
Because I can.
13 ProMax for work. AT&T
S23 Ultra for personal use. Mint Mobile
1+ 10 Pro as a back up. WiFi
I got the S23U because I could (the 10Pro is great) and was curious. I expect I'll either break one (doubtful) or one of the kids will come by looking for a replacement (likely as I am a soft touch to my kids). Besides, I like variety.
13 ProMax for work. AT&T
S23 Ultra for personal use. Mint Mobile
1+ 10 Pro as a back up. WiFi
I got the S23U because I could (the 10Pro is great) and was curious. I expect I'll either break one (doubtful) or one of the kids will come by looking for a replacement (likely as I am a soft touch to my kids). Besides, I like variety.