Are you exploring to know what is a burner phone and hot it works? For the most part, we buy phones to keep them as long as possible; however, sometimes people buy burner phones for short-term use. So, why are people purchasing phones with the intent of not using them for long? Let’s take a look at the idea of burner phones, and how you may use one in the future.
What Is a Burner Phone?
A burner phone, also sometimes called a burn phone, is when someone buys a cellphone that they don’t intend to use for a long period. The client will typically get a prepaid phone with credit loaded onto it, which they can dispose of whenever they please without worrying about ongoing contracts.
When someone stores for a burner phone, they usually look for the cheapest deal that offers the absolute basics. Phones with 4G and touchscreens are excellent, but these features tend to hike up the price and offer nothing special to a burner phone.
As a result, burner phones are usually cellphones that look like models from the early 2000s; as long as they can make calls and receive texts, it’s perfect for the job.
Honest Reasons to Use a Burner Phone
Usually, burner phones are associated with shady jobs. Criminals buy a burner phone, use it to make illegal actions, then get rid of it before the police can trace them. However, there are plenty of legal reasons why owning a burner phone is a reliable idea.
Redirect Spam Messages Away From Your Main Phone
If you’re a long-time keeper of a smartphone, you’ll know how annoying spam is. Once marketers have your phone number in their database, they start sending barrages of unwanted texts and robot calls to encourage you to buy everything from new windows to injury compensation.
Fortunately, a burner phone gets around this problem. When you require to supply your phone number to sign up for a service, you can give them your burner phone number. Then, when your burner phone starts ringing off the hook, you can either swap out the SIM card, turn it off until you need it next, or get a new one.
This is also useful if you need people to call you when you’re selling something. For instance, if you’re selling a car or a house, you can give out a burner phone number and get relieved of it once the sale is made.
Visit another Country without Roaming Charges
When you go abroad, it’s a great idea to have a cellphone on you in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, some SIM carriers don’t play ball with different countries, offering either a very high roaming charge or no data whatsoever.
However, you can bypass these problems using a burner phone. Before you travel, grab a shoddy phone and load it with a SIM card compatible with a carrier at your destination. You can then utilize this phone to call businesses and taxi services within the country without racking up a huge bill.
Take Your Phone to Dangerous Places
Does the thought of hiking up a mountain with an expensive iPhone or Samsung in your pocket make you feel uneasy? Do you need a phone on your person during your boating trip, but hate to imagine what would happen if you capsized?
Leave your precious phone at home and grab a cheap burner phone that you can bring along on your adventures. That way, if it does fall into a ravine or end up submerged, you can substitute it without denting your bank account.
Protect Your Main Phone from Theft or Seizure
A burner phone is an excellent idea if you think someone might steal, break, or go through your phone. That way, if someone does seize your phone, all you miss is a cheap phone with no information on it.
For instance, if you’re planning to go somewhere a little rough, you could use a burner phone. It gives your phone less appealing to steal, and if someone does take it, you lose very little.
Similarly, if you intend to go to a protest, you can never be sure how violent things will get. In the past, protesters have lost phones while trying to record events, either from opposing members of the public or the police.
The police may also seize the mobile to go through its data. If you’re on your burner phone, however, you can freely surrender your phone without worrying about your privacy.
Stop Dating Creeps from Contacting You Further
You found someone you like the look of and you need to go a step further, but you’re worried about giving over your phone number. After all, what if this person turns out to be toxic and utilizes your number to stalk or harass you?
If you’re someone who likes swapping numbers with possible flings, give them a burner phone number. You can still utilize a burner phone to text and call, although WhatsApp may be off the menu.
Although, if they do turn out to not be a perfect match for you, you can ditch the SIM card or the phone while keeping your trusted contacts safe on your main phone.
How to Get a Burner Phone
So you’re curious in getting a burner phone, but the question remains: where do you get a burner phone? It’s easy to find the most precious, flashy phone that money can buy—just look for the advertisements. Finding a phone around the $30 mark, however, is a tiny trickier.
Reuse an Old Phone
Before you rush off to purchase a new phone, try opening the dreaded old electronics drawer. If you’re an avid smartphone user, there’s a great chance that you have an older model you put in there long ago.
Take it out and tell if it still turns on. If it does, order a SIM card for it. If the phone is carrier locked, make sure the SIM card matches the network the mobile is locked to. Then, utilize it as you would a regular burner phone to save yourself some money.
Where to Buy a Burner Phone
If you don’t have any old phones sitting around, you can attend your local phone store and browse their range. Some of them carry mobiles in the ultra-budget range, and they’ll often sell them with some credit preloaded and ready to use. There are lots of good burner phones available.
If you can’t find one, you can attempt Amazon instead. At the time of writing, you can buy a cheap smartphone that’s locked to a carrier, or a regular cellphone that’s unlocked. The former is nice for some extra features, while the latter is handy if you want to keep the phone but swap the SIM out to protect yourself.
