The best ways to give your old Android a second life
With mobile technology evolving rapidly, it's common for older devices to become outdated.
But here's the thing. Those neglected Android devices are actually full of untapped potential.
With the right approach, you can repurpose them and unlock their hidden value. Here are seven creative ways to put your old Android to good use.
If you have an iPhone, here are some great ways to repurpose it for good use.
With more and more companies letting us use our own phones for work, it's getting harder to keep our work and personal lives separate. This is where having a dedicated device for each role can help. Think about setting up your old phone as your work device or personal phone and using your current phone for the opposite. That way, you'll have two devices for two separate parts of your life without the headache of constantly switching between profiles or worrying about mixing business with pleasure.
Who doesn't love a good photo flashback? Grab a cheap stand, plug in your old Android phone and you've got yourself a digital photo frame. If you use Google Photos, open the app, pick a photo (or album), hit the three-dot menu in the top-right and choose "Slideshow."
Your phone will automatically cycle through your pictures and bring back some good memories while you work or relax. Got a Pixel phone? Pop it on a Google Pixel Stand, and you'll have a constantly updated photo slideshow of your best moments, all linked to your Google Photos albums.
Your old phone can be repurposed as your personal calendar. Stick it on your desk and use Google Calendar for all your scheduling needs or grab the free DigiCal app for a more customizable experience. With this setup, you've got a dedicated calendar that is always within arm's reach, helping you stay on top of things and organized all day long.
You don't need to buy a fancy security camera when your old Android phone can do the job. Just download an app like the AlfredCamera security app, and you've got yourself a DIY security cam. AlfredCamera is recognized as the world's most popular and top-rated security camera app for Android phones with over 70 million families using it to convert their old phones into home security cameras. The app offers features like live cam streaming, instant intruder alerts and two-way audio communication. So, it's a great way to keep an eye on your space without spending any extra cash.
But if you're looking for something a bit more advanced or want a fully integrated system with professional monitoring, it's worth exploring dedicated home security solutions. Here are some of the best home security systems that offer greater peace of mind and robust protection for your home.
Turn your old phone into a permanent videoconferencing station. Set it up with your go-to video chat app, like Zoom or Google Meet, and place it on your desk or conference table. In no time, you've got a dedicated spot for video calls. If you have more old phones around, you could even set up multiple video conference hubs around your home or office. This can be a game changer for easy virtual meetings.
Having a device just for music or podcasts might seem old school, but it's super handy. Use your old Android phone to handle all your audio needs, so you don't have to worry about draining the battery on your current phone. You can also save your main phone from constant notifications while listening to music or podcasts. It's a win-win.
Your old Android phone can also double as a wireless trackpad for your computer. All you need is an app like Unified Remote, and, in a few minutes, you'll be controlling your computer from your phone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The free version lets you control the mouse and keyboard, plus basic media playback. Upgrade to the paid version for more features like remote controls for presentations. It's a cool little hack to make your old phone even more useful.
Don't let your old Android sit forgotten in a drawer. There are tons of creative ways to give it a new life. From turning it into a dedicated work phone to repurposing it as a security camera, the possibilities are endless.
What other devices would you like to repurpose? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Follow Kurt on his social channels
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Intuitive Surgical analyst raises eyebrows with new stock price target
Intuitive Surgical analyst raises eyebrows with new stock price target originally appeared on TheStreet. Jim Cramer wants answers. The CNBC anchor and Mad Money maven wants to know why Deutsche Bank was being so rough on Intuitive Surgical () . The investment firm downgraded the biotech to sell from hold and slashed its stock price target to $440 from $515. 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰 "This is quite a controversial call," Cramer said on CNBC's Squawk on The Street, "because this is a premier fast-growing company, premier super growth, and I want to find out more about it." The Sunnyvale, Calif., company, founded in 1995, specializes in robotic-assisted surgery equipment, most notably the Da Vinci surgical systems, which use a minimally invasive approach. Intuitive Surgical's shares were down 6.1% at last check but are up 25.4% from a year ago. Deutsche Bank said in a note to investors on June 9 that remanufactured instruments are going to increasingly encroach on Intuitive's instruments and accessories segment over the next few years. The investment firm expects a growing number of Intuitive's customers to explore adopting remanufactured instruments, given potentially significant profitability gains. The firm cited its discussions with multiple robotic surgery programs. Remanufactured instruments are previously used surgical instruments that have been rigorously overhauled. More Tech Stocks: Palantir gets great news from the Pentagon Analyst has blunt words on Trump's iPhone tariff plans OpenAI teams up with legendary Apple exec Deutsche Bank says 46% of Intuitive's U.S. instruments and accessories revenue could be at risk of encroachment by third-party-remanufactured devices. The firm's model assumes no material impact in 2026 but steadily increasing headwinds in 2027 and especially 2028. Cramer begged to differ. "This is a pristine company and people who know this company have been rewarded repeatedly by owning it," he said. Just a few days earlier, on June 5, Erste Group analyst Hans Engel upgraded Intuitive Surgical to buy from hold, according to The Fly. The company's operating margin should widen again in 2026 and profit growth should increase significantly, the analyst said. Engel said that he expected the share price to rise further due to Intuitive's expected acceleration in growth. On April 2 Intuitive Surgical beat Wall Street's first-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, with sales increasing 19% from a year ago to $2.25 billion. "Our business performed well in the first quarter of the year with physicians using our products at the high end of our expectations, driven by strong procedure growth in core general surgery in the United States, and strong procedures outside the United States," CEO Gary Guthart told analysts. "New system placements in the quarter were solid with particular strength in the U.S." First-quarter 2025 instruments and accessories revenue increased 18% from a year earlier to $1.37 billion, driven primarily by roughly 17% growth in da Vinci procedure volume and about 58% volume growth in the Ion procedure, which gives doctors a nonsurgical way to biopsy lung nodules."Mad Money" marked its 20th anniversary this year and Cramer, who co-founded TheStreet in 1996, said Intuitive Surgical was the eighth best performer of the 'Mad Money era.' "This is another name that we found early on," he said. "I first interviewed someone from the company back in July of 2005 when the stock was trading at a split-adjusted price of $5 and change." He added that the company was now a '$184 billion behemoth, and this stock has given you more than 10,000% gain since the show got started." "I think this is as relevant as ever," Cramer said. "I'm proud to be a huge supporter of this.' The company recently said that effective July 1, Guthart would become executive chairman while Dave Rosa, currently president, would become CEO. On May 22, Citi raised its price target on Intuitive Surgical to $650 from $590 and kept a buy rating on the shares. The firm updated models in medical technology following the Q1 reports. Underlying fundamentals in the sector appear intact, including volumes, pricing, and capital spending, the investment firm said. In March, The Robot Report said that while Intuitive Surgical. remains the leading surgical robotics provider 'other companies with savvy strategies are generating buzz and raising money.' The report listed several companies, including Medtronic () , Stryker () and CMR Surgical, which reportedly has brought in advisers to explore a potential Surgical analyst raises eyebrows with new stock price target first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Qualcomm to Buy Alphawave IP for $2.4 Billion
Qualcomm agreed to buy U.K.-listed semiconductor company Alphawave IP Group for about $2.4 billion as it seeks to boost its portfolio of technology used for artificial intelligence, data centers and data storage. The deal concludes two months of talks and will see the U.S. chip maker pay 183 pence a share for the company, a 96% premium to the company's closing price of 93.50 pence on March 31, the day before Qualcomm announced its interest. Warner Discovery Splits Cable From Marquee Streaming, Studio Businesses The Best New Features Coming to Your iPhone, iPad and Mac (and What's Missing) Apple Unveils Array of New Software, but AI Comeback Remains Far Off Think Twice Before You Click 'Unsubscribe' Alexander Brothers File $500 Million Defamation Suit Against The Real Deal On April 1, San Diego-based Qualcomm said it was considering making an offer to buy Alphawave IP Group without disclosing any financial details. Shareholders also have the option of swapping their holding for new Qualcomm shares instead of cash. Alphawave shares jumped 23% to just above the offer price in early trade Monday. 'The combined teams share the goal of building advanced technology solutions and enabling next-level connected computing performance across a wide array of high growth areas, including data-centre infrastructure,' Qualcomm Chief Executive Cristiano Amon said. Alphawave specializes in designing high-speed connectivity technology that enables data to travel faster using lower power. It serves customers in high-growth markets such as data centers, artificial intelligence, 5G wireless infrastructure, data networking, autonomous vehicles and solid-state storage. The company listed in London in 2021 at 410 pence a share but has mostly traded significantly below that level since the initial public offering. The U.K. company's board intends to recommend shareholders accept the deal, which is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2026. Write to Ian Walker at and Dominic Chopping at Will America's Unbalanced Trade Doom the Dollar? Judge Tosses Justin Baldoni's Lawsuits Against Blake Lively and New York Times The Canned-Food Aisle Is Getting Squeezed by Rising Steel Tariffs WPP CEO to Depart After String of Ad Client Defections Businesses Are Bingeing on Crypto, Dialing Up the Market's Risks Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Threads Continues to See Strong Download Momentum in May
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. Threads continues to hold its place in the app download charts, with Meta's Twitter replicant remaining at 8th spot in the list, and seeing an increase in overall download volume in May. As you can see in this latest ranking data from AppFigures, Threads saw 23 million downloads across iOS and Android in May, which is up from 22 million April, and at the same level that the app saw in March. Threads is now up to 350 million monthly active users, and gaining quickly on X, which reported in March that it's now up to 600 million monthly actives, an increase of 50 million year-over-year. Though those figures are somewhat questionable, considering that X has also down 15% on overall European usage since Elon Musk took over at the app, as per its official DSA reporting data. As a private company, X is not obligated to share auditable usage data, but it does have to provide such for Europe, and given that its EU audience is down, it would be surprising if X is somehow gaining significant momentum in other markets, and not only replacing its lost EU users, but also exceeding its previous audience. But even so, Threads is clearly doing something right, as it continues to gain in download numbers, and attract more people to the app. The platform is increasingly putting more focus on real-time news, while it's also enhancing its live event elements, including sports, as it seeks to supplant X as the top platform for in-the-moment engagement. Looking at other app movements, TikTok remains popular, staying in the top three for downloads throughout the year thus far, and switching places back and forth with Instagram for second spot behind ChatGPT. Facebook and WhatsApp have also held their positions in the list, while Snapchat is also still clinging to the top 10. Though it is also interesting to consider Snap's relative challenges in this respect, by comparing the performance of these apps. One of Snapchat's key problems is that while it remains a key utility for younger audiences, it doesn't maintain that hold on older users, and as users age up, it loses them to other apps. That's somewhat reflected in the data, with Snapchat seeing strong download volume, but sitting on fewer users, at 900 million monthly actives, and 460 million daily users. IG, Facebook and TikTok have all surpassed the billion user milestone, and it's interesting to see Snap remaining at lower usage levels, despite relative download interest. It's another reminder of Snap's growth challenges, and how it needs to evolve in line with its audience. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
