Friday, December 6

8 Genius Uses for Old Cell Phones You Never Thought About

Did you know about all these genius uses for old cell phones?

In today’s fast-paced world, our cell phones become outdated almost as quickly as we buy them. But before you toss out your old device or throw it into the forgotten depths of a drawer, consider this: there are many genius uses for old cell phones that you probably haven’t even envisioned.

From transforming them into smart home gadgets to repurposing them for entertainment, these versatile devices can find new life in ways you never thought possible.

That’s why today, Brainy Savings wants to discuss 8 brilliant ideas for giving your old cell phone a second chance to shine. So, whether you’re looking to reduce waste or save some extra cash, join us as we explore the endless potential of old cell phones.

It’s time to unlock the genius uses for old cell phones and rethink the role these gadgets can play in our lives.

Genius Uses For Old Cell Phones
Photo by Leonid Sorokin at Shutterstock

Keep your old phone on your nightstand

One of the most genius uses for old cell phones is transforming your phone into a nightstand companion. It can offer a wide range of useful functionalities, such as:

-E-Reader: With an e-reader app like Kindle, you can use your old phone as an e-reader. Read your favorite books on your phone and   even take them with you on the go.
-Alarm Clock: Use your old phone as an alarm clock. Simply download an app if you don’t have one already, like Sleep as Android, Alarm   Clock Xtreme, and Voice Snooze Alarm. The latter allows you to put your ringing alarm clock in snooze mode through voice command.
-Clock Radio: Through apps like TuneIn radio, you can use your old phone as a radio. You can check out to your favorite radio stations   whenever you want, and it can even wake you up. TuneIn radio can also act as an alarm clock and has a sleep timer.
-Calendar: Your old phone can be a fantastic way to keep track of your schedule. All you have to do is download a calendar app such as   Calendar Live and use your smartphone to stay on top of any upcoming events.
-Live Photo Frame: This is definitely one of the most genius uses for old cell phones. It’s the perfect way to display your favorite photos. Download a photo frame app like Fotoo or  LiveFrame, depending on if you have an Android or IOS, and use your phone to display your favorite images. This idea works even   better on old tablets and iPads.

Use your old phone as a GPS tracker

Another one of the most genius uses for old cell phones is to unlock the possibility of your old smartphone’s GPS capabilities. You can easily use this feature by installing GPS tracking applications like My Family GPS Tracker, Life360, or Glympse.

These apps enable seamless monitoring of the locations of your family members or even your beloved pets. And repurposing your old smartphone as a GPS navigator in your vehicle presents a brilliant solution.

Get a navigation application such as Waze or Google Maps, and convert your phone into a trusty GPS tracker. This dual functionality provides navigation aids during your journeys and guarantees effortless tracking of your loved ones.

Use your old phone for backup storage

If your old phone happens to have a microSD card slot or sizeable built-in storage, you can use it as backup storage.

One of the most genius uses for old cell phones is to download a file manager app such as ES File Explorer and use your phone to store all your data then you can use it as your backup storage. You can also buy a microSD card to store all your videos, photos, and files.

Genius Uses For Old Cell Phones
Photo by Africa Studio at Shutterstock

Use your old phone to play music

If you love music, one of the most genius uses for old cell phones is to use it as a music-only player. Simply fill your phone with all your favorite songs and plug it into a pair of speakers.

You can also use apps like Pandora, Spotify, or YouTube Music to stream music from the web. And if you want to save some extra cash, you can use your old phone as a jukebox. Just plug it into a TV and control the music playback using your phone.

Use your old phone as a DashCam

One of the most genius uses for old cell phones is to use it as a dashcam if you’re a driver. Download a dashcam app like AutoGuard BlackBox, DailyRoads Voyager, or Droid Dashcam. These apps can record when you’re driving and even save the captured video footage.

You can also use your old phone if traveling with kiddos as a baby monitor in the car. Simply download a baby monitor app like Dormi, Baby Monitor 3G, or Cloud Baby Monitor. These apps can use your phone’s camera to monitor your kids in the car.

Turn your old phone into a security camera

One of the most genius uses for old cell phones is to turn them into surveillance cameras. You can download an app such as Wyze, Alfred Home Security Camera, or AtHome Camera to do this. With these apps, you can use your old phone as a baby monitor or a webcam.

You can also set up motion detection to register when anything moves in front of the camera. Here’s how to turn your old phone into a security camera: First, install Alfred Home Security Camera on both your old and new phones.

On the old one, sign in with the same account you used to sign up for the app. Choose camera mode on your old phone and view mode on the new phone you have. And voila! Now you can use that old phone as a security camera.

Just mount the old one somewhere high up in the room so it has a good view of the entire area. You can also purchase a wide-angle lens for your phone’s camera to get a better view.

Turn your old phone into a remote control

Another one of the most genius uses for old cell phones is using your old phone as a remote control. Simply download an app like Universal TV Remote, Unified Remote, or Galaxy Universal Remote.

These apps use built-in infrared sensors to transform your phone into a remote control. With them, you can control your media player, computer, TV, and much more. You can also use your old phone as a remote control for your smart home devices.

Download the app you use for these devices and control them with your phone. For instance, you can use the Amazon Alexa app to control your Amazon Echo devices.

Genius Uses For Old Cell Phones
Photo by Vantage_DS at Shutterstock

Use your old phone as Google Home

Another of our genius uses for old cell phones is to turn it into a Google Home. You don’t have to spend all that money on a Google Home when you can use your old phone for no charge at all! Simply mount the phone on a stand and set up “OK Google Detection.”

This allows you to use your phone as a Google Home. You can set alarms, ask it questions, and even play music.

To do this, open up the Google app on your smartphone and go to Settings > Language > “OK Google Detection. ” But remember to keep your phone plugged into a power source.

What do you think about all these genius uses for old cell phones? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

But don’t leave just yet! Brainy Savings has much more to offer its readers. For instance, check out 6 Simple Budget Tips for People Who Don’t Make Enough Money

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