I repurposed my old Android phone as an always-on bedside assistant
I repurposed my old Android phone as an always-on bedside assistant
https://www.makeuseof.com/repurposed-old-android-phone-as-always-on-bedside-assistant/
Publish Date: 2026-02-19 14:00:00
Source Domain: www.makeuseof.com
I recently checked my Digital Wellbeing settings and was frankly shocked by how much time I waste scrolling social media, diving down Wikipedia rabbit holes, and otherwise messing about on my phone when I should either be fast asleep or getting on with my day.
It then occurred to me that the solution lay in my trusty old Pixel 5 phone, which has been sitting in my bedside drawer for the past 18 months. I would set it up as a Google Nest-style bedside assistant and sleep tracker, with only the necessary apps installed. I could then banish my primary phone to its dock in my office, to charge overnight, without distracting me or infringing on my precious sleep.
The hardware setup
Some simple but important tips to get it right
Any old phone on any platform can be configured to serve as a SIM-free bedside assistant. However, a few factors made my Pixel 5 a strong choice:
- Its OLED display is perfect as an always-on clock without being too bright at night.
- It features built-in wireless charging for reduced cable clutter.
- It has a compact size that doesn’t dominate my bedside table.
- It demonstrates excellent standby efficiency and sips power overnight.
As an added bonus, Google’s Always-On Display and Bedtime Mode are optimized at the system level, so I don’t need to rely on third-party apps, although these would make a perfectly acceptable workaround if necessary.
I installed the Pixel on a vertical wireless charging pad I already owned to keep the screen glanceable, reduce…
