Short answer: buy a used iPhone 11 or newer with 64–128 GB. Farmero needs iOS 17, which runs on the iPhone XS and XR, but iOS 26 dropped those two — so the iPhone 11 is the oldest model that still gets current iOS. Buy an iPhone 15 or newer only if you want the adjustable battery charge limit, which matters on phones that stay plugged in all day.
Model by model
| Model | Current iOS? | Runs Farmero (iOS 17+) | Worth it on a rack? |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone X and older | No | No | No — cannot run iOS 17 |
| iPhone XS / XR | No (stops at iOS 18) | Yes | Only if free |
| iPhone 11 / 11 Pro | Yes | Yes | The value pick |
| iPhone SE (2nd, 3rd gen) | Yes | Yes | Fine; small screen |
| iPhone 12 / 13 / 14 | Yes | Yes | Good; more years of updates |
| iPhone 15 / 16 and newer | Yes | Yes | Best for 24/7 use — has a charge limit |
"Current iOS" means the phone can install iOS 26. Staying on current iOS matters because the TikTok, Instagram and YouTube apps drop support for old iOS versions over time.
Storage
64 GB is enough for most farms. Clips are delivered to the phone, posted, and do not need to live there long; the apps' caches are the bigger consumer. Choose 128 GB if you run several accounts per app on each phone.
Should you update iOS?
Yes, deliberately rather than automatically. Turn off automatic updates, then update one phone first, check that everything still runs, and roll the rest after. An app or OS update that moves a button is the most common reason automation stops — Farmero finds controls by what they are rather than by coordinates, and when it cannot tell what is on screen it stops instead of tapping blind.
Buying used in bulk
- Check that each phone is unlocked from any account (Activation Lock off) before you pay.
- Check battery health in Settings. Under about 80% is a phone that will need a battery sooner. See battery care.
- Carrier lock does not matter if you run on Wi-Fi.
- Same model across the rack makes troubleshooting easier.
Related guides
- Buying used iPhones for a phone farm — inspection checklist
- Should you update iOS on a phone farm? A staged update policy
- Android vs iPhone phone farm — the honest trade-offs
- Phone farm SIM cards or Wi-Fi? The honest trade-offs
FAQ
What is the minimum iPhone for Farmero?
Any iPhone that runs iOS 17 or newer — the iPhone XS, XR and later.
Is the iPhone SE good for a phone farm?
The 2nd and 3rd generation SE run current iOS and work. The small screen shows less of the feed, which does not matter for posting.
Do I need a SIM card in each phone?
No. The phones need an internet connection, which Wi-Fi provides.
Does the phone model affect reach?
We have not seen evidence either way, and we are not aware of anyone who has published controlled data on it.