Restoring a Cheap iPhone

In a recent project of mine, I decided to replace my Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) with a cheap, used iPhone SE 128 GB that I purchased for only $220 on the used market. My reasons for undertaking this project can be further explored with my other article, Why I Switched to iPhone. When I received this phone, I found the battery health was just under 80% and the battery could not hold a charge for very long. I expected this when I purchased the phone, especially knowing that it most likely still had the OEM battery. I understood that it was an inexpensive used device, with a flagship CPU taken directly from the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and I figured when I bought the device that it would still have the original battery. Relating to my experience changing batteries on other non-serviceable phones, I purchased a brand new extended capacity battery for $30. I carefully opened the device, ensuring not to break the glass or snap any sensitive cables; then I carefully removed the old battery and transplanted the new one. Whether or not the new battery is actually 4,500 mAh is unknown to me, though I do seriously have my doubts, given the physical limitations of the phone, making the battery physically smaller as a result than most phones on the market which boast similar capacities. Nevertheless, the new battery does provide this phone with roughly 3-5+ hours of screen time without charging, depending on use. I also went out and purchased a 5,500 mAh battery case for another $40 to further extend the battery capacity of this phone, bringing screen time up to over 8+ hours without a single charge! Additionally, I got a Magsafe adaptable case for $20 which adds some Magsafe abilities to the phone, so I can use a Magsafe battery from my 14 Pro Max to charge this device (in the very unlikely event that I run out of power using the battery case or if I forget to charge it) and so I can use a Magsafe dock in my vehicle to conveniently hold my phone. 

In comparison, my 5,000 mAh Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) would only last for roughly 3 hours of screen time, but that was with a much larger 6.8 inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2460 at 120 Hz. The SE is 4.7 inch display with a resolution of 750 x 1334 at 60 Hz. Still, there was no option to add a battery case to the Moto, and the iPhone, despite being an older device, actually runs a lot smoother, thanks to that flagship A13 Bionic chip and Apple's tight hardware & software integration. While the battery case does add a bit of bulk to the phone, I now have an iPhone with a flagship CPU and 8+ hours of screen time (never tested beyond 8 hours, but still seemed like it could have gone much longer) for only $310 with all of the afforementioned accessories included, or 3-5 hours of screen time for $250 for the base phone & fresh battery without any additional accessories! My Moto G Stylus, comparatively, was $410 brand new, and to get a brand new iPhone SE (2020) still in the factory box, the last time I saw it at my favourite local wholesale store, the same one mentioned in my Mac article, was $399.99 when I saw it featured in store this past April 2023 and that was for the 64 GB model! The iPhone SE (2020) 128 GB also released, when it was new, with a whopping MSRP of $669!