11 ideas for recycling an old smartphone or tablet

Old smartphones or old tablets, these devices are not destined to gather dust. They can still be used in different ways.

Technology is changing very quickly. New products arrive in stores every year, always better than the previous ones. If you don’t always resell them before buying new ones, chances are you have old smartphones or tablets at home. These devices are not destined to collect dust. They can still be used in different ways.

The perfect webcam

Smartphones have had very good cameras for several years now. Even the iPhone 6 is probably more advanced than your current laptop’s webcam. Therefore, it is ideal for use as a webcam for your computer.

However, the solution is perhaps a little less obvious to the implementation. Depending on your needs anyway, this can be very practical.

DVR

A dash cam is the perfect accessory to protect you in the event of an accident, but these systems don’t come cheap. Attaching an old smartphone to your car’s dashboard can be a free fix. You can even download a dedicated app like Driver for iOS and Android. These cloud storage solutions are most often paid. However, you can pay nothing by using your own recording app on your phone. However, be careful to prioritize storage over image quality.

The DJ device you are

If your smartphone has a jack, it might come in handy for your mixes. When connected to a speaker during a party, you will have Bluetooth and an auxiliary device to play music. If Spotify doesn’t work with iPhones that don’t have at least iOS 13 installed, an Android device with version 5.0 can benefit from it. The tablet is not as portable, but most models have a headphone jack.

Dedicated video streaming machine

Tablets are great for playing media, and that’s true when the device gets “too”old. If the streaming service you’re using is compatible with your device, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite content on your tablet even after updates stop.

Even if popular services no longer work with your device, you can still play content purchased from iTunes or the Play Store. If you have other files, a player like VLC is great.

Smart photo frame

An old tablet or even an old smartphone can be used to display changing information. You can use it as a weather station to follow the weather forecast before leaving the house, or as a desktop calendar.

A photo frame is a good option. Instead of buying one of these off-the-shelf products, often with their questionable screen quality and outdated interface, you can use an older device to display your photos. The camera’s Photos app, while old, is still a lot better than what you’ll find on dedicated photo frames.

Home automation controller for the whole family

If you have connected items in your home, you know how practical this is. Today, almost everything that can be connected exists in a connected version. And it can quickly add to a large number of devices to manage. To control all of this, you can use various apps on your smartphone and/or tablet. But what if you don’t have it on hand?

If you have a speaker connected, you can use your voice. But if not, an old smartphone or tablet can serve as the control center for your connected home. Post it in a place accessible to everyone. With just a few taps, you can control everything.

Universal remote for your living room

An old smartphone or tablet can be used as a universal remote control for your TV, streaming devices, consoles, and more connected to your living room. Leave the device on the coffee table and it will be much easier for you to manage your living room.

There are many options for this, such as TV Remote for iOS and Android. Depending on the devices, manufacturers offer their own applications.

Your old car now has CarPlay or Android Auto

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fairly new infotainment systems in cars. If you have a car that doesn’t have one, you can use an old smartphone. Plug it into a charger, connect your smartphone via Bluetooth, and you have GPS, music, and wireless in your old car.

The same goes for tablets: if you have a tablet that you no longer use, you can use it as a big screen for your dashboard. With the right mount, you’ll have any iPadOS or Android in your car.

Childproof digital babysitter

For parents, an old smartphone or tablet can be the perfect device for kids. You don’t have to worry about damaging it. And most of these devices, even older ones, have parental controls, so you can set the appropriate restrictions.

Just like an old device can let you play media, it’s enough to let them watch their favorite content or play their favorite games.

Follow the animals

Built-in cameras can again be very useful. Webcam, DVR…and security camera for your home. You can download an app such as AlfredCamera (iOS and Android) on your current and old smartphone to establish a connection between them. Place your old device on a tripod and you’ll be watching the broadcast around the clock. Perfect for watching your pets or a place in the house.

These apps often charge for certain features, such as H-video or video recording, but free offers are often enough. Again, just like with a dash cam, you can simply rent a room when you’re out and watch the video when you get back.

Day of staff beta testers

If your smartphone or tablet is outdated but not completely petrified, you can use it to test your builds. It is often advised not to install the beta version on a device that we use every day. Precisely because beta versions are not free from bugs.

But if you have a device that you no longer use, you can install all the betas you want and still have your primary device for everyday use.

(This is more interesting for Apple products than for Android, since Apple supports its devices longer than Android device manufacturers.)