Apple’s iPhone is designed to be easy to use, but you can still spend hours exploring the preinstalled apps, discovering how to change settings, and figuring out how to sync the device to your computer or through iCloud. (If you don’t know what iCloud is, no worries; we dive into it in Chapter 4.) I’ve invested those hours so that you don’t have to — and I’ve added battle-tested advice and tips so that you can become an expert with your iPhone, regardless of which model you own.

This book will get you up and running with your iPhone quickly and painlessly so that you can confidently move on to the fun part. Apple does a legendary job of making their devices and software intuitive, but having a book like this is akin to having a good friend by your side who’s tech-savvy and ready to lend a helping hand when you need it.

About This Book

This book is written for mature people like you — folks who may be relatively new to using a smartphone and who want to discover the basics of buying an iPhone, making and receiving phone and video calls, working with apps, getting on the internet, enjoying music and photos, and discovering all the other tricks the iPhone can do. In writing this book, I’ve tried to consider the types of activities that might interest someone who is 50 years old or older and picking up an iPhone for the first time. As a quinquagenarian myself, I want to make certain that you get the most bang for your buck with this tome.

Foolish Assumptions

This book is organized by sets of tasks. These tasks start at the beginning, assuming that you’ve never laid your hands on an iPhone, and guide you through basic steps using nontechnical language.

iPhone For Seniors For Dummies covers going online using either a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, browsing the web (Chapter 12), and checking email (Chapter 13). I also assume that you’ll want to use the Apple Books e-reader app, so I cover its features in Chapter 17. I tackle all kinds of neat things you can do with your iPhone, such as monitoring the use of your iPhone and its apps (Chapter 5), discovering new apps (Chapter 14), taking and sharing photos and videos (Chapters 19 and 20, respectively), and tracking your health (Chapter 24)!

Icons Used in This Book

Icons are tiny pictures in the margin that call your attention to special advice or information.

This brief piece of advice helps you take a skill further or provides an alternate way to do something.

Heads up! This is something that might wreak havoc on your iPhone or that could be difficult or expensive to undo.

This information is so useful, it's worth keeping in your head — not just on your bookshelf.

This information isn't essential, but it's neat to know.

Beyond the Book

There's even more iPhone information on www.dummies.com. This book’s cheat sheet offers tips on using Siri and suggests all kinds of apps that you can use to make the most of your iPhone. To get to the cheat sheet, go to www.dummies.com, and then type iPhone For Seniors For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the search box.

IN THIS PART …

• Meeting your new iPhone
• Navigating your iPhone
• Discovering installed apps
• Activating special features
• Monitoring how your iPhone is being used

Choose the Right iPhone for You

A variety of iPhone models are on the market; it can be daunting when trying to decide which one you want to purchase. In this section, I focus on Apple’s newest models, the iPhone 13 series. If you’d like to explore others, Apple has a great tool for making comparisons at www.apple.com/iphone/compare.

The sizes of the latest iPhone 13 models vary:

• iPhone 13 measures 2.82" by 5.78" (6.1" diagonally) with a depth of .30 inches (see Figure 1-1).
• iPhone 13 mini measures 2.53" by 5.18" (5.4" diagonally) with a depth of .30 inches (also shown in Figure 1-1).
• iPhone 13 Pro measures 2.82" by 5.78" (6.1" diagonally) with a depth of .30 inches (see Figure 1-2).
• iPhone 13 Pro Max measures 3.07" by 6.33" (6.7" diagonally) with a depth of .30 inches (also shown in Figure 1-2).

You can get iPhone 13 and 13 mini in Starlight, Midnight, blue, pink, and a beautiful Product Red version. iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max come in gold, silver, graphite, and a great-looking Sierra Blue.

Other differences between iPhone models come primarily from the current operating system, iOS 15, which I cover in the remaining chapters of the book.

Not sure whether to get an iPhone 13 model? Here are a few more key differences:

• The battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is longer than the other models. For example, audio playback time on the 13 Pro Max is rated at 95 hours versus 75 hours on the 13 and 13 Pro, with the 13 mini maxing out at 55 hours.
• iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max have triple rear-facing cameras, providing amazing optical zoom, portrait mode, and other features. The 13 and 13 mini have dual rear-facing cameras.
• Screen resolution: The higher the resolution the better, especially for larger screens since you need to pack more pixels (the tiny dots of color that make up the images) into a larger space. The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro provide 2532 x 1170 resolution; 13 mini boasts 2340 x 1080; and 13 Pro Max provides a stunning 2778 x 1284.

Table 1-1 gives you a quick comparison of iPhone SE (second generation), 11, 12, 12 mini, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max (models currently sold by Apple). All costs are as of the time this book was written. (Some carriers may introduce non-contract terms.)

One exciting pricing option is the iPhone Upgrade Program. You choose your carrier, get an unlocked phone so you can change carriers, and receive Apple Care+ to cover you in case your phone has problems, all starting at a cost of $35.33 a month (depending on the iPhone model you select). The price does not include data usage from your carrier. Check out www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program for more information.

Decide How Much Storage Is Enough

Storage is a measure of how much information — for example, movies, photos, and software applications (apps) — you can store on a computing device. Storage can also affect your iPhone’s performance when handling such tasks as streaming favorite TV shows from the web or downloading music.

Streaming refers to playing video or music content from the web (or from other devices) rather than playing a file stored on your iPhone. You can enjoy a lot of material online without ever downloading its full content to your phone — and given that the most storage-endowed iPhone model has a relatively small amount of storage, streaming is a good idea. See Chapters 18 and 20 for more about getting your music and movies online.

Your storage options with an iPhone 13 or 13 mini are 128, 256, and 512 gigabytes (GB), while 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB (terabyte, which is 1000GB). You must choose the right amount of storage because you can’t open the unit and add more, as you usually can with a desktop computer. However, Apple has thoughtfully provided iCloud, a service you can use to back up content to the internet. (You can read more about iCloud in Chapter 4.)

How much storage is enough for your iPhone? Here’s are some guidelines:

• If you simply want to check email, browse the web, keep your calendar up to date, and write short notes to yourself, 128GB likely is plenty.
• For most people who manage a reasonable number of photos, download some music, and watch heavy-duty media such as movies online, 256GB may be sufficient. But if you might take things up a notch regarding media consumption and creation in the future (such as the newest grandchild being on the way soon), you should seriously consider 512GB.
• If you like lots of media, such as movies or TV shows, you might need 512GB or 1TB. For example, shooting 4K video at 60 frames per second will take roughly 1GB of storage space for every two and a half minutes of footage. If you shoot a lot of video, 1TB of storage might be more appealing.

Do you know how big a gigabyte (GB) is? Consider this: Just about any computer you buy today comes with a minimum of 256GB of storage. Computers have to tackle larger tasks than iPhones, so that number makes sense. The iPhone, which uses a technology called flash storage for storing data, is meant (to a great extent) to help you experience online media and email; it doesn’t have to store much since it pulls lots of content from the internet. In the world of storage, 64GB for any kind of storage is puny if you keep lots of content (such as audio, video, and photos) on the device.

What’s the price for larger storage? For the iPhone 13, a 128GB unit costs $799, 256GB is $899, and 512GB will set you back $1,099. iPhone 13 mini with 128GB goes for $699, 256GB at $799, and 512GB for $999. iPhone 13 Pro with 128GB is $999, 256GB is $1,099, 512GB goes for $1,299, and the model tops out at $1,499 for 1TB. Not to be outdone, iPhone 13 Pro Max is the priciest: $1,099 for 128GB, $1,199 for 256GB, $1,399 for 512GB, and $1,599 for 1TB. Note that prices may vary by carrier and where you buy your phone.

Understand What You Need to Use Your iPhone

Before you head off to buy your iPhone, you should know what other connections and accounts you’ll need to work with it optimally.

At a minimum, to make standard cellular phone calls, you need to have a service plan with a cellular carrier (such as AT&T or Verizon), as well as a data plan that supports iPhone. The data plan allows you to exchange information (such as emails and text messages) over the internet and download content (such as movies and music) without need of a Wi-Fi connection. Before you sign up, try to verify the strength of cellular coverage in your area (ask your local cellular company representatives for more info), as well as how much data your plan provides each month.

You also need to be able to update the iPhone operating system (iOS). Without a phone carrier service plan, you can update iOS either wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network or by plugging your iPhone into your computer. You would also need to use a Wi-Fi network to go online and make calls using an internet service, such as FaceTime or Skype.

Given the cost and high-tech nature of the iPhone, having to jury-rig these basic functions doesn’t make much sense. Trust me: Get an account and data plan with your phone service provider.

You should also open a free iCloud account, Apple’s online storage and syncing service, to store and share content online among your Apple devices. For example, you can set up iCloud in such a way that photos you take on your iPhone will appear on your iPad. You can also use a computer to download photos, music, books, or videos and transfer them to your iPhone through a process called syncing.

Apple has set up its software and the iCloud service to give you two ways to manage content for your iPhone — including apps, music, or photos you’ve downloaded — and specify how to sync your calendar and contact information.

There are a lot of tech terms to absorb here (iCloud, syncing, and so on). Don’t worry. Chapters 3 and 4 cover those settings in more detail.

What’s in the Box

When you fork over your hard-earned money for your iPhone, you’ll be left holding one box about the size of a deck of tarot cards.

Here’s what you’ll find when you take off the shrink wrap and open the box:

• iPhone: Your iPhone is covered in a thick, plastic-sleeve thingy. Take it off and toss it back in the box.

  Save all the packaging until you're certain you won't return the phone. Apple's standard return period is 14 days.

• Documentation (and I use the term loosely): This typically includes a small pamphlet, a sheet of Apple logo stickers, and a few more bits of information.
• Lightning-to-USB-C cable: Use this cable to connect the iPhone to your computer (if your computer has a USB-C port) or to a USB-C power adapter (not included).

The iPhone box is a study in Zen-like simplicity. Where's the charging plug? Apple now feels that just about everyone has several chargers laying around their home, so they think it's wasteful (not to mention a little more expensive) to include one with every new iPhone. If you need a charger, Apple will certainly sell you one, and many third-party options are available as well.

Search for iPhone accessories online. You’ll find iPhone covers and cases (from leather to silicone), car chargers, and screen guards to protect your phone’s screen.

Take a First Look at the Gadget

In this section, I give you a bit more information about the buttons and other physical features of the newest iPhone models. Figure 1-3 shows you where each of these items is located on the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max.

Here’s the rundown on what the various hardware features for iPhones without Home buttons (including all iPhone 13 models) are and what they do.

If you have an iPhone model with a Home button, read your iPhone’s documentation or visit https://support.apple.com/iphone to discover the hardware features specific to your device.

• Side button: You can use this button to power up your iPhone, put it in sleep mode, wake it up, lock it, force a restart, power it down, and much more.
• Lightning connector: Use the Lightning connector to charge your battery (with the Lightning-to-USB-C cable), listen to audio with EarPods (not included), or sync your iPhone with your computer. (See Chapter 4 for more on syncing.)
• Ring/silent switch: Slide this little switch to mute or unmute the sound on your iPhone.

• Built-in stereo speakers: The speakers in iPhones provide rich stereo sound and deeper bass than previous models, and are located on the bottom edge of the phone and at the top part near the earpiece.
• Volume up/down buttons: Tap the volume up button for more volume and the volume down button for less. (You can use the volume up or volume down button as a camera shutter button when the camera is activated.)
• Built-in microphones: Built-in microphones make it possible to speak into your iPhone to deliver commands or content. This feature allows you to make phone calls, use video calling services (such as Skype or Zoom), and work with other apps that accept audio input, such as the Siri built-in assistant.