Yes, I'm afraid the phone will probably die in a few year.
I like your idea to record the sessions of browsing the phone. That seems less technical and better chance to keep it 'forever'.
My primary objective is to find a way to preserve this phone in its current state, exactly as it is now, in a virtual environment. I want to capture everything - SMS, WhatsApp messages, call records, photos - exactly as they were at this moment in time. While I understand that apps like WhatsApp and photos can be backed up and restored to other devices, my goal is different. I wish to maintain the phone's current state, preserving this snapshot in time, out of concern that the physical device might one day break beyond repair since it's a old model.
Recently, a beloved family member of mine passed away, and they left behind an Android phone that's approximately 4-5 years old. This device holds significant sentimental value to me, and I'm concerned about its longevity, fearing it may stop functioning in the future.
Currently, the phone operates on a prepaid plan, and I have been regularly topping up its balance. Additionally, I have access to the phone's PIN, allowing me to unlock and use it.
My main question is: Is there a way to effectively preserve this phone, including all its data, in a virtual environment? Essentially, I'm looking for a method to create a virtual replica of the phone that retains all its contents. I'm open to the idea of not using the physical SIM card if this facilitates the preservation process.
Any advice, tools, or methods that could assist in this endeavor would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help and suggestions.