OVER CHRISTMAS, YOU may have upgraded your smartphone to replace your old one. Now that a few weeks have passed, your old devices are probably gathering dust somewhere.
If that’s the case, there are a number of things you can do with it that are better than just leaving it to one side.
With improvements in smartphones becoming more pronounced, it may still have a bit of life in it still, and even if it doesn’t, you can still recycle or donate it.
Use it as a dedicated device
This will very much depend on how old your smartphone is but considering the range of apps available for them, it’s easy to dedicate one to a specific task.
The main apps on any phone will give you enough to work with. For starters, you could use your old phone as a music/podcast player, a dedicated eReader, or as a smart alarm clock instead.
Yet you could go one step further and turn it into a smart remote for your PC, a makeshift mouse and so on. If you have a tablet, you could turn it into a second monitor for your PC and if you have kids, you could turn it into a dedicated device for them.
Since it’s no longer needed to find a phone signal or receive notifications, it won’t drain as quickly, and it will give your main phone a bit of breathing space.
Recycle it
Probably the most popular method for smartphones, all manufacturers have their own recycling initiative and some like Apple will compensate you if you submit it to them.
It’s not a bad idea to check the maker’s site first (as well as those who aren’t the makers of your phone) before you do anything as you could get store credit or a small payment for it.
Give it to charity
The more philanthropic approach. A number of charities like Jack and Jill, Bumbleance and Dogs Trust allow you to donate by sending in your old phone, who will then recycle it or refurbish it for reuse.
The other method, if the device you’re handing in is in good condition, is to have it resold in a charity shop. If you decide to go down this route, make sure you mention any problems that might arise before you hand it off.
Sell it off
The lucrative option but one is by no means guaranteed to work out. The older your device is, the less chance someone is going to buy it so do your research first and compare it to similar devices before you put it up.
Unless it’s a new device and hasn’t been touched, you probably shouldn’t expect to get full value from it.
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