Got an old phone gathering dust? Here's 5 very smart things to do with it

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SMART: Here's 5 ingenious things to do with your old phone

Recent research has revealed that Brits are sitting on over £13 billion pounds worth of smartphones poked in drawers and tucked in cupboards.

Many old devices are worth cold hard cash but with decent cameras, powerful processors and HD screens there's plenty of ingenious ways to make good use of your old smartphone without popping it on eBay.

So, blow off the dust and try one of our top 5 tips.

1. INSTANT DASHCAM

There's been a surge in dash mounted cameras hitting the market.

These mini in-car TV studios record your every move and can make a huge difference if you should happen to have a bump.

Some insurance companies are even reducing premiums if you use a dash cam – so these recorders can actually save you cash.

Your old smartphone will probably have a decent camera tucked inside, which offers the perfect way to record your daily commute.

And there are plenty of apps, such as DashCam and CamOnRoad, that will monitor everything that happens as you can take your motor for a spin.

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IN-CAR CAM: Use your old smartphone to record your journey to work

2. SMART REMOTE

If your bulky TV remote has disappeared down the side of the sofa again, your old phone is the perfect alternative.

Many mobile devices are equipped with something called IR blasters.

This is the same infrared tech that your TV remote uses to communicate with your TV.

If your phone is lucky enough to include an IR blaster you can use it control all of your gadgets including telly, set-top box, DVD, Blu-ray players and stereo.

Many modern smart TVs also have their own apps which can be downloaded and used to change what's on the box.

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IN CONTROL: Use your smartphone as a TV remote

3. HOME SECURITY CAM

If you want to see what your cat gets up to while your at work then your ageing smartphone is the perfect gadget.

Apps such as iCam, for Apple, or TinyCam, for Android, transform your phone into an instant home security camera giving you a live stream of what's going on indoors.

This footage can be accessed when you're out and about via your new smartphone and can even be beamed directly to services such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Amazon Cloud Drive.

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4. TURN IT INTO THE ULTIMATE DUKE BOX

If you've ever hooked up your smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker you'll know how annoying it is when every notification you recieve is blasted out of the connected boom box.

So, if you've got got an old iPhone or Android device lying around, dust it off and download a music streaming app.

There's plenty to choose from including Spotify, Deezer, Tidal and Apple Music.

Some are free to use, while services such as Apple Music have a three month trial.

5. SIMPLY SELL IT

If none of these tips take your fancy, don't forget that you can make decent cash out of old phones.

Some smartphones will be worth well over £200 and a simple Google search will reveal plenty of websites that will take devices off your hands.

Many mobile operators offer a cashback service and Apple will take old iPhones off your hands even if they're broken.

If you want to make money we wouldn't hang around – each month your phone sits in your bottom drawer it will be worth less and less cash.

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Source: Got an old phone gathering dust? Here's 5 very smart things to do with it