Don't Trash It: 10 Clever Ways to Reuse Your Old Smartphone

Key Points:

• Old smartphones can be repurposed in various practical ways instead of being discarded, such as turning them into DIY security cameras using apps like AlfredCamera, or dedicated video chat devices for platforms like Zoom and FaceTime.
• They can serve as entertainment hubs, functioning as mobile gaming systems with access to cloud gaming services, or as dedicated media players for streaming music, podcasts, and videos without draining the primary phone's battery or data.
• Other useful roles include acting as wireless webcams for computers via apps like DroidCam, backup TV remotes for streaming devices, alternative e-book readers using apps like Kindle, and cheap alarm clocks to improve sleep hygiene.
• Old phones can also be kept as emergency 911 phones, since US law mandates all phones must be able to call emergency services without a SIM card or data plan, provided they are 4G devices unaffected by the 3G shutdown.
• Repurposing old smartphones offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to extend their useful life, benefiting households by providing additional devices for communication, security, entertainment, and emergency use.