Keeping an iPhone 5S 'Standalone'?

[JonE]

I've been given a 'cleaned-up' iPhone 5S which will essentially be just a carrier for my secondary non-UK SIM used by/for a small sub-set of contacts. I may also try to use it for native FaceTime with a couple of those (iPhone-owning) contacts. I see I can set it up without creating an AppleID but would appreciate any other pointers to help avoid lurching into the Apple eco-system. I see it has already ceased to be a target device for some apps (e.g. WhatsApp) so Store access will become even less of an issue (and isn't an issue now AFAIK). I don't expect too much from this handset - just a bit more utility and versatility than the Nokia 1661 it replaces.

Is there a preferred resource for tips and tricks that also covers 5S? Unsurprisingly, Apple resources assume that everyone will always adopt the Apple way of doing things but if I were to stray from the straight & narrow when exploring I'm wondering where the occasional unofficial signpost might be found.

Cheers!

[AF62]

Why would you not want to set up an Apple ID and “lurch into the Apple ecosystem “.

You can use it as it is without setting up an Apple ID, but there is no harm in doing so and definitely some benefits.

[JonE]

Why would you not want to set up an Apple ID and “lurch into the Apple ecosystem “.

'Cos I haven't yet done enough reading of the small print to find out if there be dragons there and (regardless of the identity of the provider/other-party) am not inclined to leap without some sort of look-round or asking credible sources familiar with the product/environment/whatever.

You can use it as it is without setting up an Apple ID, but there is no harm in doing so and definitely some benefits.

As I wrote, I've read enough to know I can set it up without creating an AppleID (though not yet enough to identify any unique benefit in doing so that would be relevant to my purposes as stated) and was hoping to discover if there might be any gotchas down the line that are not revealed by reading only official/mainstream sources.

Cheers!

[AF62]

Why would you not want to set up an Apple ID and “lurch into the Apple ecosystem “.

'Cos I haven't yet done enough reading of the small print to find out if there be dragons there and (regardless of the identity of the provider/other-party) am not inclined to leap without some sort of look-round or asking credible sources familiar with the product/environment/whatever.

Here you go then - https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iOS12.pdf 451 pages of fun reading.

And if you keep the Apple apps installed you will need to read these as well -
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/AppleStoreApp.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/Cards.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/FindMyFriends.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/FindMyiPhone.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/garagebandios.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iBooks.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/imovieios.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iphotoios.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iT ... ailers.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/KeynoteiOS.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/NumbersiOS.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/PagesiOS.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/Podcasts.pdf
https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/Shortcuts.pdf

[JonE]

Here you go then - https://www.apple.com/........

That's spectacularly unhelpful.

As I thought I'd made clear, finding and studying official resources isn't a problem with which I need assistance and is currently under way. I was enquiring specifically about the arcane stuff not covered in official sources which those here having deep-knowledge and/or relevant experience may be able to reveal or else provide promising links. Guess I need to winnow other potential resources.

[AF62]

Here you go then - https://www.apple.com/........

That's spectacularly unhelpful.

As I thought I'd made clear, finding and studying official resources isn't a problem with which I need assistance and is currently under way. I was enquiring specifically about the arcane stuff not covered in official sources which those here having deep-knowledge and/or relevant experience may be able to reveal or else provide promising links. Guess I need to winnow other potential resources.

Perhaps if you were clearer in what you wanted.

Are you concerned about the T&Cs which is what you indicated, but only you can determine by reading them yourself.

Or are you interested in the benefits of an Apple ID, but you indicated that wasn’t your aim.

[JonE]

Perhaps if you were clearer in what you wanted.

How about this:
my reading to date has revealed that an AppleID isn't essential;
I haven't come across mention of benefits (for my purposes) of having one; and
I'm wondering if not having one has known downsides which aren't directly disclosed in the official and derivative mainstream resources (which seem to assume that all users follow the recommended path) but which could, in practice, pop up and bite me.

[AF62]

Perhaps if you were clearer in what you wanted.

How about this:
my reading to date has revealed that an AppleID isn't essential;
I haven't come across mention of benefits (for my purposes) of having one; and
I'm wondering if not having one has known downsides which aren't directly disclosed in the official and derivative mainstream resources (which seem to assume that all users follow the recommended path) but which could, in practice, pop up and bite me.

In simple terms, no there isn’t any downside to setting up an Apple ID, only benefits, with one limited exception.

If you set up an Apple ID AND add a payment card (which isn’t required in setting up an Apple ID) AND don’t set payment controls AND install games with in game purchases AND hand your phone to a child AND don’t supervise them, then they could make chargeable purchases to your account.

But as the recommended path is to not do that, then even that downside doesn’t meet your criteria.