I’ve turned my old Android phones into 5G routers, power banks, and more — here’s how you can do the same

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Sadly for our wallets, smartphones don’t last forever. According to stats, most people keep their devices for between two and three years before buying a new one — but old phones don’t just disappear from the world.

If you throw them in the bin, they end up as e-waste, taking up space in landfills. And if you keep them around, they also end up as e-waste, taking up space in your drawer. But don’t worry: there’s a solution to this conundrum.

I’ve been reviewing smartphones for the best part of a decade, and using them for even longer. And over the course of testing countless mobiles per year, I’ve naturally had to find uses for models that I’ve moved on from, to save them from cluttering up my flat.

Donated phone

(Image credit: Future)

This is probably the best use of a phone I can think of, although it’s not as imaginative as some of the other options on this list. If a phone no longer serves you, just donate it to someone who can use it.

There are loads of reasons you might no longer want a phone that won’t apply to someone else. Maybe you’ve been swayed by a newer model, have damaged one of the rear cameras, or no longer get the battery life that suits your needs.

But those downsides might not apply to someone else; they might not need the newest model, multi-camera array, or long battery life. Seniors, technophobes, and people who just don’t use their phone much don’t need the…

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