An old smartphone usually ends up forgotten in a drawer once you buy a more modern model. Although it is no longer the main device, it remains a functional equipment that can offer multiple uses if it is used properly. Many of these phones have useful characteristics that can still be used for different purposespreventing them from becoming electronic waste.
The tremendous advance of technology has caused smartphones to evolve quickly, causing people to renew their devices more frequently than years ago. However, this also generates a problem: what to do with the models that are obsolete? Although selling or donating them is the most common option, there are Other less known alternatives that allow you to take advantage and give them a second useful life. What is not a good option is to leave a saved smartphone without giving any use.
Exist creative and practical ways to give them a new purpose, helping to extend their useful life and taking full advantage of the investment that was made in their initial purchase. Here are several of them.
The old smartphone as music player
Many of us live the time of MP3 portable players or iPods. Well, our old mobile can serve us exactly for that, for turn it into a music player and connect it with the audio equipment of the house and thus always have it prepared to listen to the topics that we like the most.
This is very useful, since we can be listening to music without any interruption, as can happen when we use the main phone. We can have Spotify or Apple Music ringing and receiving a notification or several that make the volume lower, make its characteristic sound and spoil the experience we have hearing the topics of our playlist.
The best is delete all applications That they do not need ancient smartphone, leaving only those that serve us to listen to music or radio. In addition, we will have to deactivate all notifications so that we have no interruption.
Then, lo We will match via Bluetooth or by cable with the player That we have at home and so we will get music sounds in the best possible way and always from our old smartphone.
Use it as GPS device
Not all vehicles have installed GPS system. It may also be the case that it does incorporate it, but it is not updated, since there are some brands that are truly expensive to update the car navigation system.
In these situations, we have the option of Use the old smartphone For this need and thus have a device that tells us how to get to different directions and let us know about the radars that we can find on the road.
You can get a car support and thus set your device to the dashboard or windshield, allowing you to indicate while driving.
As we saw in the previous example, It is convenient to eliminate unnecessary applications and then download those dedicated to GPS navigation, such as Waze either Google Maps.
It is advisable that download applications that allow the maps to be downloaded on the mobile device so as not to depend on coverage, since we all know that there are areas where we have no sign.
Backup phone
Currently, we cannot imagine living without our mobile phone, but it can be the case that, for some reason, our main device spoils and must be fixed. It can always be positive to have A hand spare phone So that we can continue operational not only to be called, but also to be localizable through messaging apps, emails and even our social networks.
Although our old smartphone will not be so powerful and there will be apps that they may not go completely fluids, it can be a salvation table as long as we do not recover what we often use.
Control intelligent domestic devices
Control all components of an intelligent home From our mobile phone it is a good idea, but using an old smartphone for it may be even more brilliant.
That is, we can leave at home The old smartphone as a remote control So that all of us who live in the house can use it to control the lights, the thermostat, the blinds, the plugs, our television and everything that is connected thanks to the home network.
We must only have the relevant applications for remote control of the whole home in the old smartphone and that is fully connected. That's how simple is a remote control spice, but for everything that our smart home encompasses.
Use the old smartphone as a security camera
There are many users who have a surveillance cameras system installed in their home, both inside and in external areas. This is something that can allow to control everything that happens, even if they are not at home at that time.
Obviously, cameras are an investment that is worth it, although Not everyone can spend money on this type of security system. If what we are looking for is a more economical alternative, transform Our old smartphone as a security camera can be a good idea.
There are many applications to convert a smartphone into a security camera, such as Alfrecamerawhich is available for both devices Android as for the iPhone.
When you have a app of this type installed, you just have to place your old smartphone wherever you want and thus control the most necessary area. You can have it active 24 hours a daysince you just have to make sure that you are loading.
With everything you just read, it is shown that you can use your old smartphone on many facets so as not to have to store it in a drawer. All these options can be very useful and even necessary to give a new purpose to that phone that you thought forgotten and unused. Take advantage of them and take the most out of it!
