Technology changes at lightning speed, especially when it comes to smartphones.
And chances are, like me, you've got an old cell phone or three tucked away, collecting dust in your drawer. Lucky you if you have been able to trade them in each time you upgrade to a new one. But that's not always possible.
In my case, the phones were still in good working condition and I just couldn't bring myself to exchange them for next to nothing. Oh, I did donate two old phones, but there's one whose battery is still going strong and I use it as a second phone. I suspect I may have to retire it shortly, though.
I know a super-geeky person who is a whizz at doing all kinds of things with old electronics. Not only does he create art, but also finds ways to give them new life with new uses. I was dazzled by some of his brilliant suggestions.
So if you are wondering what to do with your old cell phone rather than have them lying in your table drawer and clucking every time they get in the way, I've got ten solid ideas for you.
Top of the mind is, of course, as I mentioned earlier, is to give/gift them, to charity. You could also sell them, trade them in. Or explore the following fun ways to keep them AND use them.
10 Fun Ways to Re-Use Your Old Smartphone
E-reader
Yeah! Put a reading app on it and you're good to go! This way, your phone is also child-friendly!
Photo library
Use the storage/SD card as a photo library. If the camera still works, yay! I have a phone dedicated for emergencies just for this.
Wall Art
You can add a nice touch to any room by reusing your phone as a piece of wall art. Unlike other static pieces, a phone presents you with many aesthetic choices. For instance, how about putting on a slideshow or setting up your old phone to display meditative video art? Or using it to add a new point of focus that brings more than static imagery to the table?
There's one thing though; this idea might not work 24/7 because your phone needs charging. So if you want, you can plug it into the nearest outlet, or wait for it to fully charge.
Add Touch Screen to Your Car
Have an older car model without a fancy interface? Use your old phone to add a touch screen UI. You could use many third party apps to update your car's technology, but that's an expensive proposition. Instead, just use your old phone to update the system without breaking an arm or a leg.
You just need a wired adapter to charge the phone and you have a handy display for podcasts and music. If you want to add GPS to your new phone system, you'll need to invest in a data plan to keep your maps functioning. There are offline maps, but those don't give you real time traffic information.
Emergency 911 Phone
If your old phone still works, it will have the ability to access emergency services. Every phone can contact 911 even if it does not have a SIM card. If you find yourself in need of assistance and your working phone has no charge, you can use your emergency phone to call for help.
Dedicated Music Player or Radio
Have a subscription to a music streaming service? Then you have access to loads of music. You can use your old phone as a dedicated music player at home. If the quality of your phone's speaker is low, think about connecting it to another speaker via Bluetooth.
Clock
Your phone's big display will still function even without a network connection. Use it as a timepiece; it has more versatility than your average wall clock. To get the best time display, try a few clock apps to find the best one for you.
Also, as a sleek alarm clock, it totally rocks.
TV Remote
If you have a phone that can double up as a remote, you only have to download a remote app to use it. You do not even have to spend any money on a new remote-you can just use your old phone instead of throwing it away.
VR Headset
There are many impressive and high-end VR headsets in the market meant for serious gamers. You can also use shells made to transform your phone into a VR headset. If you love gaming, this is the ideal use for your old phone.
Alternatively, if you do not want to keep your old phone or re-purpose it, you always have the option of selling it and use that money to buy a new phone. Considering the affordable iPhone 7 some providers offer, it won't take much to enjoy all the amazing features this phone provides.
Baby monitor
I was stunned to read about this. Old phones and tablets make excellent baby monitors, particularly when you are out and you want to keep an eye on your little one at home. There are apps which, once connected to a Wi-Fi connection, can alert your current smartphone when your child wants to communicate. Better still, you can chat with your baby. Imagine the money saved on setting up a security camera!
Do you have an old smartphone? Which one of these ten ideas appeal to you?
