The iPhone Mania reader community “iM Community” conducted a survey asking, “How many Apple products do you have sitting in your drawer?” 42 people voted from August 25th to August 31st.
iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and iPod that you no longer use. Should I let it go or keep it? The results were clearer than I expected.
Result: 80% answered “I have one or more”
| choices | Number of votes | ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 units | 11 votes | 26.2% |
| 1 unit | 10 votes | 23.8% |
| 4 or more | 9 votes | 21.4% |
| 0 units (used up) | 8 votes | 19.0% |
| There are so many that I don’t want to count them. | 4 votes | 9.5% |
42 valid answers. Conducted on iM Community from August 25th to August 31st, 2026.
The most common answer was “2-3” at 26.2%. However, perhaps the most eye-catching thing about this table is that only 19.0% of the units answered “0 units (used up).”
On the other hand, 81.0% keep one or more units. 57.1% for “2 or more” and 31.0% for “4 or more”. One in three people own four or more Apple products without using them.
why don’t you let go
The most rewarding part of reading this time was the comment section. The reason why I kept it was much more specific than I had imagined.
left as a souvenir
This was the most common reason.
This is the first generation SE. I don’t use it, but I keep the memory of how small the old iPhone was with the actual iPhone.
Succhan-san
First generation iPhone, first generation iPod, first generation Apple watch (stainless), first generation Mac
Although the functionality of both products is inferior to the current ones, the design, color, and most importantly, the feel that fits in your hand are hard to abandon.
Unique.Tak_2026
The phrase “memory is preserved together with the actual object” was very impressive. I think they want to keep it as something they can hold in their hands, not as data.
I feel like I left it as a souvenir. I’m especially attached to my iPhone 6s, so I just keep replacing the battery for no reason.
kinasystems
“Replacing the battery without any meaning.” Even though I have no plans to use it, I want to keep it working. I think many people can relate to this feeling.
Some terminals are given a second role.
On the other hand, some people said that they were not just sleeping, but were being used for other purposes.
The first generation iPad mini is currently in use as an alarm and for playing music while sleeping.
Hiro-san
I bought Mr. Jobs’ ergonomics final version SE1 in full working condition for 3,000 yen. It fit in my hand easily. SE1 has become my 3 year old daughter’s compact digital camera.
Mr. s-tory
Alarms, music players, and children’s cameras. I don’t need the latest features, but it’s perfect for that purpose. This is a useful guide for getting rid of old devices.
Care to keep it moving
There were several people who not only kept it, but also worked to keep it running.
I still have iPhone 4 and 5 in production condition. When I looked at the 4 for the first time in a while, the battery was swollen, so I replaced it with an Amazon replacement kit. However, it is of no practical use. (Omitted) It’s the first iPhone I ever owned, so it’s a keepsake.
BlueSonic
I have 8 iPhones including the iPhone 3G, the first generation iPod Touch, 2 iPod nanos, and 1 iPod classic…I charge them from time to time to check if they are still alive. You can reaffirm the goodness of old terminals.
Jizo-san
The expression “confirmation of survival” oozes affection. These old products are also popular on the second-hand market, and older models such as the iMac G3 and Apple IIe are sometimes on sale.
Some people have decided to let go
Some people said that they were not keeping everything, but drawing a line.
I got rid of the iPhone 12PM after paying the monthly installments before its resale value decreased, and I returned the 14PM with Softbank’s advantageous support. (Omitted) I feel that it is quite difficult to own and continue to operate multiple terminals in the 200,000 yen class.
BlueSonic
Keep old models as a memento, and get rid of expensive newer models. It’s a reasonable line. By the way, Apple’s trade-in amount will be raised all at once in August 2026, with an increase of up to 15,000 yen for iPhones. If you have a device that you’re not sure whether to get rid of, you might want to check the current price.
And a record of 53 units
This time, this answer stood out from the crowd.
Basically, once I buy something, I don’t let it go and collect it, so I took this opportunity to count it. I owned a total of 53 units. A total of 9 of these are in regular use. (Omitted) I save everything, including the outer box, instruction manual, protective film, and other packaging materials, so it takes up a lot of space…
Mr. FT729
The breakdown is 18 iPhones, 12 iPads, 14 Macs, 7 Apple Watches, and 2 others. Almost every successive model is available, from iPhone 4 to 17 Pro. And what was particularly noteworthy was this sentence.
I charge all of my devices in sequence every weekend to avoid over-discharging them.
Mr. FT729
53 cars every weekend. At this point, it’s not about storage but management.
Summary: There is a difference between “not using” and “not needing”
What we learned from this survey was that there is a difference between not using something and wanting to get rid of it.
- 81.0% of people keep one or more, and 31.0% keep four or more.
- Many of the reasons are “memorabilia”. The first one I bought is especially left behind.
- Some terminals are currently used for secondary purposes, such as alarms and children’s cameras.
- Some people take steps to maintain their batteries, such as replacing batteries and charging them regularly.
- On the other hand, there is also a line between selling new models in the high price range by trading them in or returning them.
It seems that the terminal in the drawer is not just forgotten. Rather, it may be closer to the reality that “I decided where to put it and left it.”
Regarding the options, we received the comment, “There are more than four, and I don’t want to count them, but they overlap.” As you said, I will use it to create future questions. thank you very much.
We are currently conducting the next survey.
We are currently conducting the following survey: “What is the name of the foldable iPhone? Will you watch the announcement event?” We have heard two predictions ahead of the September 10th announcement. Both take just a few seconds.
- Deadline: Monday, September 7, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
- We will announce the results in an article on Tuesday, September 8th.
The survey is being conducted in the iM community.
In the iM community, in addition to commenting on articles, you can also take surveys and ask questions and consult with other readers. Registration is free and you can get started right away with your Apple or Google account. No registration is required if you just want to read.
- View the original topic of this survey
- Join the iM community (free)
Source: iPhone Mania
