Update to my previous post regarding using a feature phone for hotspot tethering with a non PTA phone….

A few days ago, I asked whether I should use a feature phone with hotspot for my non PTA flagship iPhone. Most responses advised against it, mainly because of poor battery life and unreliable hotspot performance. A few people suggested getting a secondary Android phone instead.

What I ended up doing was different. I kept my old iPhone X.

I signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices and now use the iPhone X purely as a hotspot provider. I also replaced its battery, which made a significant difference. It now easily lasts the entire day with the hotspot turned on.

The best part is that because both phones are connected to the same Apple ID, I receive all the cellular calls and all SMS on my main iPhone as well. In practice, I almost never have to touch the iPhone X at all.

In daily use, the experience feels seamless.

This setup has been working very well for me. If you are upgrading to a non PTA iPhone and already have an older iPhone, it is worth considering this approach instead of getting a separate device.