What can you do with your old smartphone?

Whatever you do with the phone: In any case, it is wise to factory reset the device before it goes into its second life. If needed make a backup of the files on the device and then go to system settings from the settings menu to go to ‘back up and reset’ or search for something with ‘factory settings’.

The location and name of this function varies by phone, so Google your phone and ‘factory reset’ or ‘factory reset’ so you know how to start completely recovering your phone from your personal data. Also check if there is still a SIM card or microSD card in the device and remove the card before doing anything with the phone.

If your old phone is broken, it’s usually worth getting it fixed. You can then reuse, transfer, or sell it so it actually gets a second life as a phone. You’ll usually need to hire a mechanic for this, so check what the expected repair costs are. Even if you’ve decided not to fix it, it’s good that you tried anyway.

Of course you can try to sell the phone. This is possible even if it breaks sometimes, but be sure to be transparent with your potential buyer about it. For example, you can sell on Marktplaats or a forum for phone fans. Marktplaats is useful because you can first see how much other people are asking for the same type of phone. This way, you can secure a competitive price so that you can quickly make someone else happy with your old gadget.

Maybe even better than selling it, handing over your phone. For example, give your grandparents your old cell phone so they can join the family WhatsApp group. Or maybe your little niece loves to play and can use your phone for that. It may be very money wise to sell a phone, but it may be even better to give it away. You feel good for the good you do, and who knows, you might get a delicious homemade cake or a nice hug in return.

Many charities take back old smartphones. The Aap Foundation doesn’t use smartphones so baboons can text with chimpanzees, but they are in contact with an organization that can give them money for old smartphones (and old cartridges). And so there are more charities desperate for old phones.

The nice thing about it is that the smartphone is well recycled and for good reason some money remains. Plus: Just like crossing it, it also gives you a nice feeling. So win-win-win. Do you prefer local? Then ask primary schools and zoos in your area if they have phone collections.

The advantage of a smartphone is that it is at home in all markets. It’s used for all sorts of things in everyday use, but an old phone can very well be used for a function. For example, there are those who use the phone’s camera as a webcam or security camera.

If you want to use your phone in this way, you have apps like Presence that can help you. Another way is to put Skype on it and automatically accept an incoming video call. This way you can see what’s going on at home for yourself via Skype. If you download the Dormi application, you can also use it as a baby monitor.

Also read: Using the Phone as a Webcam with the Iriun App

Of course, not all phones sit in drawers doing nothing: most of these phones are bunk beds. They are there for the fateful day when your current smartphone is given up or stolen. Having a smartphone on hand is certainly helpful, but in principle you could say you only need a spare phone.

So if you still have 4 old phones in the drawers, some devices can really start a new life. Also, keep in mind that software has only been supported this long; therefore, there is also a very high probability that an old phone will no longer work properly or be safe to use.

Not many people want to start their day by looking at their phone and end the day by looking at their phone, but still, most people do. It is recommended to keep the smartphone out of the bedroom so that you can sleep peacefully and not have that blue light on your face for too long before you go to sleep.

Many people use the excuse of using their smartphone as an alarm clock and therefore take it with them. Of course you don’t have to. Using an old phone as an alarm clock only allows you to leave the hustle and bustle of your regular smartphone and still enjoy a ‘mobile’ alarm clock.

You can also connect an old phone to the internet via WiFi and download music or games that can be played offline. For example, you can use this phone to listen to music when you get rid of WiFi again because you went out for a while. Good for a while offline.

The same goes for the Game Boy idea: If you’re afraid that games on your own device will distract you, you can make a special gaming device that you can lend to younger brothers or sisters to play.

Maybe you have not only an old phone, but also an old tablet (but you can certainly use it with just one phone): you can turn it into the perfect ‘console’ for your smart home. Make sure the device can always be found at home and has apps for the products you use for your smart home. It saves a lot of trouble on your own phone and if you leave the old phone blank, you can quickly find what you are looking for.

For example, other people can also use the device to handle things in the house, such as dimming the lights or setting an alarm. Also nice: if you start a ‘slideshow’ via Google Photos, you can give it a double role as a digital photo frame.

No matter how many apps are in this article, there is one thing you really shouldn’t do with an old smartphone and that is throw it away. It ends up in a fire somewhere in the waste disposal and that’s a shame. For example, did you know that 200 smartphones contain so much gold that you can easily make a new wedding ring?

In addition to gold, smartphones also contain iron, copper, cobalt and nickel, and these are resources we need to use sustainably. After all, there is a lot of environmental pollution in the collection of these raw materials.

If you really cannot use your old device for the above purposes, you can take it to a WeCycle point. This ensures that your device is properly recycled and does not end up in an incinerator. Sustainable materials such as gold and copper are not only eliminated, but also it is ensured that harmful substances do not burden the environment.

Millions of phones in the Netherlands seem to do nothing in a drawer. So check the attic drawers, nightstands, and trash cans to see if you agree. Now you know what to do with your old cell phone. Good luck!