Smartphones have been around long enough that you’re probably holding on to more than one of them. What do we do when it’s time to replace our old ones?

Whatever you do, don’t put it in the trash. Rotting in a landfill is one of the worst fates to befall a phone, and you would also miss out on all the ways your phone can still be of service. Here’s what to do instead.

1

​Find a Way to Repurpose Your Phone

Unless we retired our old phone because it shattered on the sidewalk, the device still has plenty of life left to serve another function. It may even be worth getting a broken phone repaired in order to take advantage of all the ways it can still be useful.

Old phones are great music and podcast players for kids, and this is my personal reason to keep a drawer of handsets around. Alternatively, you can easily connect a phone to a telescopic game controller and give it a second life as something akin to a Nintendo Switch.

An old phone can also be your ticket to ditching expensive cloud storage. You can turn a phone into a media server or just use it as an external SSD drive to back up files to.

I could go on, but a colleague has already compiled a longer list.

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It’s time to repurpose that old phone sitting in your cupboard.

2

Extend an Android Phone’s Life With a Custom Rom

Android, at its foundation, is an open source operating system. This means that for many phones, you have the option to swap out the factory-provided software for a community-supported alternative. Doing this comes with compromises, but on phones that have reached the end of their official software support periods, some support is better than none.

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Custom ROMs for the win.

When I handed my son an old phone to use for podcasts, I first turned it into a minimalist phone powered by a custom ROM. I removed the web browser, and I never installed the Play Store. It continues to work well for him.

3

​Find Someone Who Needs a Phone, Any Phone

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We all hit hard times in one form or another. Some people have never had the budget for more than the cheapest prepaid phone. Others may have dropped their iPhone and simply don’t have money for a repair or replacement right now.

Put out feelers to see who in your circle could use a functioning phone. If your old handset can help someone get through the next few months, weeks, or even just days, then that’s better than sitting unused in a drawer with a battery that’s slowly decaying. Seriously though—keep an eye on those old phone batteries.

4

​Trade In Your Phone for a New One​

When it’s time to get a new phone, factor trade-in deals into the equation. Some companies might take your phone off your hands and provide you with a discount in exchange. OnePlus in particular will provide you with a trade-in credit for any phone, in any condition.

Some phones are more widely accepted than others. In the US, most companies will take an iPhone. Samsung Galaxy phones come next, followed by Google Pixel phones. You may often be out of luck with a Motorola, Asus, or OnePlus model, but you never know.

5

Turn Your Phone Into Cash

Since I tend to buy my phones either open box or in used “like new” condition, I don’t have the trade-in deal option. Instead, I tend to help pay for my new phones by selling my existing one. Flagship phones tend to sell at decent prices, at least for a few years. Taken together, this is how I’m able to afford foldable phones.

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Foldable Phones Aren’t as Pricey as You Might Think

Sometimes you might even call them cheap.

Selling your existing phone or phones changes the math when considering which one to get next. If a new phone costs me $1000, and I can sell my current one for $500, then that new premium handset isn’t setting me back a grand after all. It’s become a $500 purchase, one that will serve me better than a mid-range phone might, and likely for longer. Would I save money purchasing a mid-range phone instead? Sure, but I won’t be able to sell it for nearly as much in a few years, if I’m able to sell it at all. To continue to buy flagship phones at mid-range prices, I have to stick with flagship phones.

If you aren’t already in the habit of selling your old phones, look into it. It keeps phones out of landfills and makes (or saves) you money in the process.

6

As a Last Resort, Recycle

If a phone can’t be repurposed or sold, then the last best option is to find a way to recycle it. Even if an old phone has lost its value on the market, the materials inside it can still be of use.

I’m fortunate. My local dump has a place where county residents can simply drop off electronic gear to be recycled. Your best option might be to drop off your phone at a local Best Buy, Home Depot, or Apple Store.

If a local solution is difficult to find in your area, there are sites online that can help. Some will allow you to mail them the device, and they’ll take care of it from there. Among other hazardous materials, phones have batteries, so it’s vital to recycle them with care.

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How to Dispose of or Recycle Old Batteries

Disposing of batteries the wrong way could be harmful for your health, your home, refuse workers, and the environment.

Phones can do so much, but we don’t want them to become e-waste at the end of their short officially-supported lives. Having these materials leach into the ground and the water isn’t good for anyone. Besides, e-waste is also a waste of money—likely yours.