Acquired an previous Android telephone? 8 intelligent methods to repurpose it

It is too straightforward to purchase a brand new gadget slightly than repurpose those you have already got. I do know it as a result of I’ve performed it. Within the spirit of lowering waste and saving cash, although, take into account what your previous tech can do for you. Android phones, because of Google’s cell working system and the {hardware} developments within the final 5 years, are surprisingly versatile instruments, and in case you’ve bought one mendacity round, it would be capable of be repurposed into one thing much more useful.

Whether or not it is a mid-range telephone just like the Pixel 7a and even an previous flagship, the openness of Android compared to iOS means that you will have extra distinctive app choices to select from and a a lot simpler time transferring recordsdata on and off your machine. These are the form of issues which can be essential for constructing your telephone’s second life as a complete different form of gadget.

In case you’ve upgraded and don’t desire your previous Android telephone to go to waste, otherwise you’d similar to a little bit undertaking that will not value you an excessive amount of to finish, listed below are some methods you should use your previous telephone.

1 Flip your Android telephone right into a retro sport console

Emulation is simple

One of many best and most rewarding methods you should use an previous smartphone is by changing it right into a sport console. The Google Play Retailer is stuffed with emulators masking all the preferred consoles, whether or not its Retroarch for traditional consoles or PPSSPP for the PSP, and getting sport ROMs onto an Android telephone is often simply so simple as plugging your telephone into your pc and dragging recordsdata over or doing the identical factor with its microSD card.

You won’t essentially have the ability play all your favorites, however even the restricted processing energy of a mid-range Android telephone must be sufficient to run loads of basic Nintendo SNES or Sega Genesis video games. And for the very best expertise, you should purchase a controller attachment for extra satisfying enter on the go or, if it helps it, connect your phone to your TV and play video games on the massive display.

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2 Convert your Android telephone right into a webcam

Put that digital camera to make use of

Smartphone cameras are drastically higher than they was, and a great step above a budget webcams you will discover on most reasonably priced laptops or all-in-one computer systems. In case you’ve bought an previous telephone mendacity round anyway, why not put it to work as a greater than satisfactory substitute?

There are a couple of methods to go about doing this, however the possibility that ought to work with nearly all of Android smartphones on the market (operating android 7.0 and up) is an app known as Reincubate Camo. In case you obtain Camo in your Mac or Home windows machine and in your Android machine, after which join the 2, you will have a useful 720p webcam prepared in minutes (profiting from different options like Portrait mode or 4K video prices additional).

In case you personal a Pixel 6 and up, you may as well do one thing comparable at no cost. As of Android 14, Pixel gadgets linked to a pc can be utilized as a webcam over a wired USB-C connection. You simply plug in your Pixel, faucet on the on-screen “Charging over USB“ immediate, then faucet on “Webcam,” and you need to be good to go. It is not as seamless as Continuity Digital camera on the Mac, however you should use this Pixel model in additional locations.

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3 Use your Android telephone as the final word distant

Forged video and management playback

In the case of streaming video in your front room, we’re spoiled for alternative. Whether or not it is the built-in apps in your sensible TV or a slick new streaming box, you are sure to have plenty of your bases lined. However can you actually afford to place an $129 Apple TV 4K in each room that has a TV? Enter your previous Android telephone, which, because of the proliferation of the Google Forged protocol, is all of the streaming machine you actually need. Load up the telephone along with your favourite subscription providers, be certain it is on the identical Wi-Fi community and begin casting all the pieces you wish to watch. Most streaming apps will allow you to management playback in case you could fast-forward, too.

In case you’re searching for a extra conventional distant management expertise, your telephone can even make for a useful substitute in a pinch. Distant apps exist for telephones with IR blasters, and in case you use a preferred platform like Roku, you possibly can often download a companion app and get distant management over your streaming field or TV.

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4 Make your Android telephone into an iPod substitute

Native media, streaming, and extra

As a lot as I might prefer it, we’re not more likely to get an MP3 renaissance anytime quickly. That does not imply you should not profit from the devoted media participant way of life, although. Having a tool you simply use for listening to music or audiobooks removes distractions and retains you from scrolling in your telephone. Changing your Android telephone into an iPod or Walkman requires eradicating or hiding all of the apps you do not want and downloading both music streaming apps, in case you plan on with the ability to periodically connect with the web, or an area media participant like Musicolet when you’ve got a music library of your personal you wish to put in your new MP3 participant.

You possibly can repeat the method when you’ve got an audiobook service you subscribe to, however as soon as you have downloaded all the pieces you want, you actually needn’t have Wi-Fi on until you are downloading new songs or books. For additional nostalgia, in case your telephone has a headphone jack, you should use wired headphones.

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5 Mount your Android telephone in your automobile as a splash cam

Seize the view out of your dashboard

In the identical manner an previous Android telephone can work nicely as a webcam, it could actually additionally make for a reasonably good sprint cam in case you want additional peace of thoughts whereas driving a rental automobile or taking a protracted street journey. There are dozens of sprint cam apps on the Google Play Retailer, however the best choice can be one like Droid Dashcam, which overlays particulars like your present pace on the movies you report. It requires an in-app buy to unlock all its options, however that is nonetheless cheaper than going out and shopping for a devoted sprint cam.

As soon as you have picked out an app, you will need a automobile mount that’ll allow you to place your telephone with a great view of the street and in a manner that you may nonetheless cost it whilst you’re driving. With each of these taken care of, in case your telephone has expandable storage, you may wish to spend money on a microSD card so you are not recording to your telephone’s built-in storage.

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6 Use your Android telephone for work

Hold enterprise calls separate

Your work may already allow you to use your private smartphone for easy duties like authentication and e mail, however there might be actual benefits to having a wholly separate telephone for work. Not solely can you retain the distractions of your private life separate from the chaos of labor, however it could actually additionally prevent the difficulty of coping with something associated to work while you’re performed for the day.

Use your previous Android telephone as your new work telephone. Load it up with Microsoft Groups or Slack. Log in to any of your work accounts. Perhaps even join an affordable Google Fi Wireless plan in case you assume you’d profit from having a piece quantity to provide to colleagues or enterprise companions. You possibly can get pleasure from all the advantages of separating enterprise and pleasure with out having to spend an additional dime.

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7 Flip your Android telephone right into a devoted testing machine

Attempt beta software program and apps

Utilizing in-development software program might be dangerous for each your private info and your gadgets. Betas can crash, they’re extra susceptible from a safety perspective, they usually’re usually a lot more durable in your telephone’s battery than closing, public software program releases. However they’re additionally plenty of enjoyable to strive.

Somewhat than run the newest software program in your each day driver, check out the leading edge in your previous Android telephone. If it was lately launched, it ought to be capable of run them, and you will get a glimpse into what new options are coming quickly.

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8 Convert your Android telephone right into a devoted e-reader

Hold your books in your pocket

It will not be as pleasing because the E Ink display and devoted web page flip buttons as a Boox Palma, however turning your previous Android telephone right into a devoted e-reader will no less than get you within the ballpark of the viral phone-shaped e-reader. Like turning your telephone into an MP3 participant, the secret is being choosy along with your apps. In case your e-book library lives in Amazon or Rakuten’s ecosystem, there are Kindle or Kobo apps you possibly can obtain (the Kindle app even permits you to use your telephone’s quantity buttons to show pages), however the Libby app can get you fairly far too.

Libby is designed round trying out library e-books, nevertheless it’s a reasonably stable e-reader and audiobook participant in its personal proper. In case you’re trying to save articles for later and skim them, you may as well load up an app like Pocket or Readwise Reader in your Android telephone for much more choices. The world is your oyster, so long as you allow the social media and messaging apps out of the image.

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