Mobile goes green: How old smartphones are reused

Mobile phone users generally upgrade every two to three years. So what happens to these used phones afterwards? When thrown away, they become Electronic wastes. Such wastes pose a dangerous threat not only to the environment but also to the health of civilians. According to a mayermetals blog, e-wastes contain toxic chemicals like lead, zinc, nickel and chromium. When released into landfills, they can damage the blood, kidney and nervous system. As noted in recyclinginternational, “there are already 1 billion more mobile phones in the world than people.” However, only around 25 percent of phones are recycled annually.

Good thing 2019 has been all about sustainability. Developing environment-friendly business operations and consumer lifestyles have become prevalent in saving the planet from further environmental damage.

Here are several other uses for aging smartphones that can help reduce the mobile pileup:

Entertainment

An old Android smartphone can be converted into a gaming device. It can function as an on-the-go Nintendo Game Boy via a Hyperkin Smartboy Mobile Device, per CNET. As a gaming console at home, the phone can be casted to the home TV via Google Chromecast, and with a Bluetooth controller, consumers can play their favorite games.

Old phones can also be converted into media players. Users can stream music on Spotify and Deezer, and watch movies on Netflix using their old phones to save battery consumption of their newer phones.

Other functions can include making these old phones as e-book and audio book readers and even a VR headset. As mentioned in Hongkiat, the phone can be used with a Google cardboard. The latter will act as a phone container that will display stereoscopic images for a cool VR experience.

Home

An old phone can be converted into a universal remote control. By downloading remote control apps on the Play Store or App store, users can connect to their Xbox One, Roku Apple TV and even their smart light bulbs.

With smart homes becoming more popular, millennial homeowners can use their older Android devices paired with Bluetooth speakers into Google Home.

Now, what’s a smart home without smart security? Aside from purchasing security cameras and other surveillance systems, homeowners can have additional “eyes” at home, thanks to their older smartphones. There are mobile security apps, which users can download. These apps livestream videos at home and feed them to a smartphone, per androidpit.

Techie parents will be glad to know that their old smartphones can be used as baby monitors. According to CNET, an old phone can be set up via Skype or via baby monitor apps like Dormi for Android or Cloud Baby Monitor for iOS devices. Parents who are out from home will be able to keep track of their babies. In fact, some apps can even track a baby’s sleep pattern, play the parents’ voice to soothe baby and send notifications when the baby cries, per Hongkiat.

Out and about

Old phones can be useful navigation devices in cars. By a putting phone on a car mount or on a wireless charging car mount, users can access Waze, Google Maps, Maps to check real-time traffic and locations.

To avoid draining battery power and consuming data from their primary phone, phone owners can use their old phones as Wi-Fi hotspots when on the go. Several carriers offer prepaid services and provide cheaper data services.

Most aging phones simply require quick component replacements for these devices to function optimally. Global Sources offers repair parts including LCDs, digitizers and batteries. Also available for sourcing are the trendiest and most affordable mobile phones, which in years to come, may be reused by consumers in the long run.