4 Useful Accessories That Make Your Old iPhone Look New

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iPhones are known for their exceptional longevity, with many users saying they typically keep their devices for three to four years. This is consistent with the fact that the iPhone 13, a device released in 2021, was the most popular iPhone in the United States in 2025. Even when it came to upgrading, users said the decision was not driven by slow performance or a lack of Apple support, but by issues with the charging port and cracked screens. While it’s not something an accessory can fix, getting some new extras for your iPhone can significantly freshen up the experience if it’s still working properly.

If aesthetics make your device look old, accessories that can make it look new include a new case or screen protector. We focused on attachments available on Amazon for under $50 that received at least four out of five stars, out of hundreds or thousands of ratings. If you have an iPhone 12 series or lower with 64GB models, there’s even an accessory that can help you free up space without losing precious memories or paying for iCloud storage. Plus, while it’s not technically an accessory, battery replacement can also breathe new life into an old iPhone, especially if you know how to install it yourself.

Getting a new case is perhaps the easiest way to make your old device look new. A good iPhone case should last about a year, but if you have it longer, it might show signs of aging, even if the phone itself is in good condition. Basically, when you notice a lot of scratches, cracks and chips in the case, it might be time to buy a new one for a new look.

Whether it’s a clear model like the FNTCASE iPhone case or the sturdy SUPFINE Magnetic, you can find them in a range of colors that can instantly make your old iPhone look new for less than $10. If you love superheroes, check out the $21.99 Marvel Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse Miles Morales design for iPhone 14. While more expensive, you can also opt for something that feels more premium, like the Belemay iPhone 14 Leather MagSafe option for $39.99. If you want a more protective case, the Jaroco Magnetic for iPhone 14 offers military-grade drop protection.

By the time a phone reaches three years of life, the screen protector will have been through a lot. While some may still be in good condition, with small scratches here and there, others may have cracks and some parts may even be peeling off. The latter problem can make the iPhone difficult to use: the screen may be difficult to see through, and damage can disrupt the touch sensors.

Unfortunately, when you drop a screen protector enough times, it will eventually break. The key is simply getting the right screen protector for your daily use. For example, TOCOL for iPhone 14 costs $11.99 with military-grade protection and has a hardness rating of 9H, meaning it can resist scratches from a 9H pencil – the hardest material in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard tests. So if you often keep your phone in your bag with things like keys and coins, this is a great choice. If you have greater privacy needs, you should consider purchasing a privacy screen protector, where the screen does not appear clear unless you look directly at it. Someone who tries to look at it from the side won’t be able to clearly see what’s on your phone.

If you take a lot of photos and videos, your device’s memory can fill up quite quickly, especially if your old iPhone is a 64GB version. It wasn’t until the iPhone 13 and newer models that base models began to have 128GB, increasing storage significantly. But even then, space can seem limited, especially if you install 3D games with all the necessary HD textures. Instead of paying for iCloud storage (starting at $0.99 for 50GB) or manually freeing up space by transferring or deleting old photos and videos, you can use a USB flash drive.

These connect to your phone’s charging port, allowing you to transfer files using a companion app. A good option is the Blanbok+ MFi Certified 256GB iPhone Photo Stick, which starts at $27.99 on Amazon and has a USB-C and Lightning connector on each side. It also works with PCs and Android phones without the need for a companion app: just plug and play.

When your iPhone storage drops below 1GB, it may become slow. Indeed, the less storage an iPhone has to use, the more the processor has to work to manage it. This can slow down your mobile – which is common on older devices as apps and files increase in size. An iPhone USB drive can be essential to keeping your phone fresh and snappy.

Although not an accessory in the strict sense of the term, a new battery can breathe new life into your device. One of the main signs that your iPhone battery needs replacing is when the capacity drops below 80%, which happens after 500 cycles on iPhone 14 and earlier. You will receive a battery degradation warning and your device may become slower. As the capacity decreases, the mobile’s ability to hold a charge will become shorter and it may even turn off randomly. At this point, you will feel the age of the iPhone, making it necessary to replace the battery to continue enjoying it.

Right now, the standard warranty on your old iPhone is exhausted since Apple only offers it for one year. But if you have AppleCare+, you get battery service indefinitely, allowing you to return the device to the company for battery replacement for free. Otherwise, you will have to pay $119 for battery service. Alternatively, you can get a replacement on Amazon for less than $30 and exchange it yourself.

For example, you can get the Luuzkla 23,900mAh battery for iPhone 14 for $28.99. Just be aware that since it’s a third-party battery, there will be a constant warning that the iPhone won’t be able to verify it as a genuine Apple product. The good news is that it comes with all the tools you need to replace the battery, as well as a screen protector in case you need to replace it too.

The most important starting point was to define the “old iPhone”. Two major criteria generally determine what constitutes an old device: slowness and Apple support. Given what users are saying about the longevity of iPhones, we figured three years is a good baseline, since something like the iPhone 14 can perform as well as an iPhone 16 and still have years of service ahead of it. At this point, it made sense that mobile had seen widespread use over the years. So we looked for accessories that prevent the device from looking old.

We also selected accessories available on Amazon and costing less than $50. User reviews were also heavily considered, with four stars out of five being the minimum rating an accessory must achieve to earn a recommendation. We decided this was a good indicator of the quality of a product, especially if it has hundreds or thousands of ratings.