Best iPhone as alternative to ipod touch

I think the closest iPhone in size and capability is the iPhone SE (1st generation) if you can find one. It goes up to iOS 15 which is the equivalent of the last (7th generation) iPod.

Your question might be better asked in the iPhone community as that's what you're asking about, although what I can tell you is that the iPhone and the iPod Touch use the same operating system (iOS), albeit that the phone will be able to use a more recent version of iOS (the 6th gen is not capable of installing iOS 13). I suppose then, that as long as you get a phone with at least the same (if not more) storage capacity, it will meet your needs.

However, I think you should spend some time investigating why you are experiencing recurring battery swelling as that can have serious consequences and should not happen to you more than once.

I've had it once (not on an Apple product). The chances of it happening again to the same person are very, very low. The causes include (but are not limited to):

• • overcharging, perhaps by using the wrong charger (i.e. one that charges at a higher voltage than an iPod can use)
  • extreme high temperatures, such as being left in hot cars
  • physical damage such as bent or dented casing, caused by dropping the device for example. Sometimes, the device could be dropped and show no external damage but the battery has been damaged by being pushed by other components
  • causes beyond your control, such as battery aging

If you have experienced battery swelling sufficient times for you to use the word "recurring", then I strongly recommend that you try to determine the cause. A swollen battery can pose a safety risk to you and those around you.