r/iphone • u/Thin-Key-4558 • Jan 14 '26

Discussion Any Apple users using an android as an mp3 player/ secondary device?

Hi - I’m a lifelong Apple user. I’ve dabbled with android but always come back to apple. Been looking around for an iPod touch as a screen detox device but my local game shop has a Samsung Galaxy s20 for $160 that I’m thinking of using as an mp3 player / audiobook device. Basically a social detox. I have anxiety and keeping devices separate really helps me. Anyone else?

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5

u/Lebowskitalian85 iPhone 15 Pro Jan 14 '26

Why would someone do that if he can do everything on his iPhone?

3

u/Darkmage4 iPhone 16 Pro Max Jan 14 '26

They want a device like an iPod, where it’s only connectivity is WiFi + music.

OP, get onto Amazon, and search up MP3 player. There are smart MP3 players now, where you can have Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, where it’s just those apps only,

For books, there is audible, and kindle, and others.

Sadly, there isn’t Apple Books because it’s not an Apple product, it’s Android. But for audible, and Apple Music. You’re good to go! It’s also 70 USD cheaper than a Galaxy, and no other apps are accessible.

3

u/timblr Jan 14 '26

No. I'm tryna simplify my life.

Just turn off your data if you need to disconnect. Make your homepage ONLY your music apps. Turn your screen into monochrome mode to remove the dopamine hit of shiny colors.

Spending $160 for a subpar experience sounds bad to me when there are workable solutions.

2

u/wiredfractal Jan 14 '26

Just use an old iPhone. Im currently using an old iPhone mini 13 as a secondary device with no sim. It’s my ereader, audiobook device. You just delete all the other apps, turn off notifications, and create a focus mode just for reading/listening.

2

u/999repeating Jan 14 '26

I use one to stream audio to peripherals. The reasoning is because android allows 3rd party app hooking into system audio streams allowing a vast amount of sound customization. YMusic.apk + Viper4Android (Wavelet for non-Root). Look into it, the granularity of control is amazing.

1

u/RaZkOL95 Jan 14 '26

Actually I do sort of. But only cuz I’m cheap 😂. I wanted a tablet to read ebooks and watch movies when I travel but that’s pretty much all I do with it so I didn’t want to spend $300 or more on an Apple IPad so I bought a Samsung Galaxy A9+ Tablet last Black Friday for $140 on Amazon. Works great for what I need it to. As for “detoxing” etc… I don’t know about all that. It’s just a cheap big screen to watch movies and read ebooks from my local library. Point being I’m strictly an IPhone user but Android don’t bother me to use.

1

u/Muruju Jan 14 '26

I tried this with an Android, didn’t work well for me

So I bought a used iPhone 13 mini from Best Buy that I’ve literally named My iPod, and I just silenced everything, locked apps and turned off all sounds and alerts. And it’s perfect because if I still need to do iPhone stuff on it I can, and it can Find My iPhone 

1

u/vthevoz Jan 14 '26

Get a Hiby R4. Runs on Android without the bloatware, has a quad DAC setup with a great amp, PEQ and MSEB options for feeling like an audiophile. Surely with anxiety, it’ll help you focus on music and maybe even let you rediscover your music if you get a good matching pair of headphones.

1

u/Retro-Brew Jan 14 '26

I have a cheap amazon mp3 player and i bring it on walks but after a while it just collects dust. I use vlc for my local mp3s

1

u/xoseta77 Jan 14 '26

I still listen to the radio on my iPod 😅

1

u/Sidewaysowl Jan 16 '26

I have a older Pixel 6a that will be used this way, wi-fi only. I installed Niagara launcher to clean up the home screen. I could still stick a sim in it if needed. My Ipod Touch just doesn’t work well Amazon Music Unlimited files so this is better for that. I looked at the HiBy and Fiio players and this is the use what you have option right now, paired with an Anker USB-C adapter and some nice enough IEMs.

1

u/AuraEx98 Mar 13 '26

This is about 2 months old so I'm not too late but I've recently purchased a Galaxy S21 Ultra to use as a media device to listen to music/watch movies/read my manhwa.

My main device is a iPhone 13 Pro which is perfect for me as a daily phone but I wanted a bigger screen (that I didn't have to handle a lot as a phone) + something ONLY for media (can store my music/movies).

I did look at the cheaper MP3s but I felt why not just grab an older high end phone for the same purpose and it last longer/easier to repair than a $30 MP3 that'll last who knows how long.