The iPhone 4 is the classic camera phone that retro lovers can't get enough of — but don't skip these essential security tips

In 2025, Apple released its most advanced iPhone lineup of all time. From the great-value iPhone 17, to the sleek iPhone Air, to the super-powered iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, these are some of the best iPhones ever made and, in the case of the Pro models, some of the most advanced handsets ever released to market.

Apple’s current smartphone offering is the best it’s ever been, but in a world where Y2K fashion dominates the racks, vinyl fills record stores, and the Nintendo DSi has found a second life as a concert camera, it’s not that surprising that retro-obsessed tech fans have driven a huge increase in demand for the nearly 16-year-old iPhone 4 over the past 12 months.

According to research from online phone recycling company Compare and Recycle, Google searches for “buy iPhone 4” have increased by 979% in the last year. That’s almost a tenfold increase in search interest for the long-obsolete handset.

That surge has seemingly been driven by nostalgic tech users looking to buy the iPhone 4, and other older iPhone models, to use as a digital camera. The throwback aesthetic of older cameras is definitively on-trend at the moment, with almost 350,000 TikToks and nearly 700,000 Instagram posts using the hashtag #digicam.

As so many Gen-Z and Millennial users grew up with an early iPhone, it makes sense that the iPhone 4 and other classic iPhones would swing back into the trend cycle as younger folks and retro tech enthusiasts look for their next hit of nostalgia.

And being a proud member of Gen-Z myself, I can tell you that I’ve come across one or two 'zoomers' who've picked up an old iPhone to use as a digital camera, whether for their own personal use or to market projects and events on social media.

As you might expect, the iPhone 4’s camera can’t hold a candle to the current iPhone’s photography system when it comes to the spec sheet or objective test scenarios. The iPhone 4 sports a single 5MP camera with up to 5x digital zoom and the ability to shoot 720p video. The iPhone 17 Pro sports three 48MP cameras (wide, ultra-wide, and 4x zoom), up to 40x digital zoom, and 4K video recording.

But fans of the iPhone 4, and other classic iPhones, aren’t seeking quality – rather, it’s the grainy and relatively unprocessed look of old iPhone photos that make them so desirable as digital cameras, especially by those who feel modern iPhones produce overprocessed or ‘unrealistic’ images.

However, the iPhone 4 hasn’t been supported in any way, shape, or form since Apple made it “obsolete” in 2016 – and its last security update was even earlier, back in 2014. In fact, only the iPhone 11 and newer currently receive full software updates from Apple, with limited security patches for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Phones older than this should be considered vulnerable to hacks, malware, and other exploits.

Luckily, Compare and Recycle’s research comes with some essential tips for using an iPhone 4 (or any outdated iPhone) safely, so you can enjoy this classic cameraphone while remaining cyber-secure.

1. No personal data: Avoid logging into your personal Apple Account or storing any sensitive personal data on an obsolete iPhone – this is the stuff hackers love to see on a vulnerable device. This also means avoiding apps like email and mobile banking.
2. Keep it offline: Avoid connecting to WiFi or cellular networks with an outdated iPhone. It’s a good idea to keep airplane mode on and avoid inserting a SIM card – this will minimise your old iPhone’s network footprint.
3. Transfer photos manually: Rather than using AirDrop or, even worse, iCloud, use a wired connection to upload your radically retro snaps and vids to a laptop via Finder or iTunes.

(Note: Much of the above applies to obsolete Android phones too – just swap the Apple specific language for Google accounts and services.)

Personally, I’m all for classic iPhones making a comeback. As the author bio at the bottom of this article states, I still think the iPhone 5S is the best iPhone of all time, so I’m happy to see phones of its era getting some love. Whether it’s a bout of hipsterism or a trend that’s here to stay, there’s no doubting that there’s something cool about old iPhone photos – and truly great snaps are made all the more impressive by the limited tools on offer.

More important, though, is the sustainability aspect – more people buying older iPhones (which, past a certain age, we can assume are nearly all second hand), means less iPhones going to waste. If Y2K nostalgia can save a bunch of iPhone 4 units from going to landfill, then I’m all for it.

I’m not sure the iPhone 4 will be returning to our list of the best iPhones anytime soon, but I’ll be keeping an eye out just in case – for a blast from the past, feel free to check out our classic iPhone 4 review.

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