Apple's Quick Start feature has made switching to a new iPhone largely painless, replacing the old process where users risked losing settings, apps and years of accumulated data. Rather than requiring a computer, Quick Start transfers contacts, photos, messages and app settings wirelessly by placing the new device next to the old one, though a cable connection remains available as a backup if wireless transfer fails.

The process involves scanning an animation with the new iPhone's camera to pair the devices, then choosing between restoring from a recent iCloud backup or a direct transfer. Wired transfers are far faster on iPhone 15 Pro and later Pro models, which support USB 3 speeds of up to 10Gbps compared with the standard USB 2 cable included in the box. Common problems include stalled transfers from weak Wi-Fi, insufficient storage on the new device, and mismatched iOS versions between phones. If the old iPhone is unavailable, such as after a trade-in, users can instead restore from an iCloud backup or one made via a Mac or PC.