You can give an old smartphone collecting dust in a drawer a new and useful purpose.
In addition to the obvious solutions (giving it to your children or using it as a surveillance camera), there are many practical ways to turn an outdated device into an indispensable gadget.
Turn your old smartphone into a smart home command center
Mount your old smartphone or tablet on the wall and use it as a stationary control center for your smart home.
With the Home Assistant, Google Assistant, or Action Blocks apps, you’ll get a single interface for controlling lighting, thermostats, and IoT devices that are constantly connected to power and Wi-Fi.
Because the device stays plugged in and connected to Wi Fi, it works as a dedicated control station that is always ready. No more unlocking your main phone every time you want to change the temperature or turn off the lights.
How to turn an old phone into your own private cloud storage
An old phone can become a portable network storage device (NAS). Apps such as MiXplorer or Prim-ftpd convert the device into a server (with WebDAV, SMB, or SFTP support). Connect a microSD card or external drive via an OTG cable and get your own home NAS for file sharing and backup.
By adding a microSD card or connecting an external drive through an OTG cable, you can store photos, videos, documents, and backups. Instead of paying for cloud services, you control your files yourself.
Create a dedicated music and audio device
Free up your main device by turning your old smartphone into a dedicated music player. Download audiobooks, podcasts, or music and connect it to your home stereo via Bluetooth or an audio cable on a permanent basis.
Instead of filling up your main phone with songs, podcasts, and audiobooks, you can download everything onto the old device. Once connected to your home stereo system through Bluetooth or an audio cable, it works like a permanent media station.
Many people leave this device next to speakers in the living room or kitchen. This way, music is always ready to play without interrupting important calls or draining your main phone’s battery.
Turn your old phone into a full time e book reader
Turn your old smartphone into a convenient e-book reader. Install reading apps (Google Play Books, Moon+ Reader), set up night mode, and enjoy reading without worrying about your main device’s battery life.
This way you can enjoy books without constantly worrying about battery life on your main phone. Your primary device stays free for communication, work, and emergencies while the old phone becomes a quiet, focused reading tool.
This is especially helpful for people who want to reduce screen distractions and spend more time reading.
Your old phone deserves a second life. Instead of letting it waste away in a drawer, turn it into something useful, creative, and meaningful. Try one of these ideas, experiment, and see how much potential is still hidden in your old technology. Share this article, leave a comment, and tell others what you did with your old phone.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone
Share:
