Upgrading to a new phone is always exciting. You get to experience a new level of performance, better camera fidelity, and the feel of a new scratch-free device in your hands. Upgrades can also feel bittersweet, with discarding an old phone feeling a little like saying goodbye to an old friend.

Fortunately, there are ways that an older phone can still prove its worth. Today, we want to look at five of them, so your old friend can stick around and provide you with more great experiences in the years ahead.

Set Up Time Lapse Videos

Time-lapse videos can capture beauty in a way that stills or regular videos can’t, but they’re also difficult to set up. This is especially the case with our current phones because we need to use them throughout the day, and we don’t generally like to leave them anywhere unattended, lest we risk damage or theft.

An older phone supplied by a portable power bank can bypass these issues when combined with a dedicated time-lapse app. Set it, forget it, and capture videos for yourself or social media like you never could before. You should still take measures to ensure it isn’t damaged or stolen, of course, but anything were to happen to it, at least it’s not that huge a deal.

Source: Pixabay

Back Up Treasured Media

Flash drives are a convenient way to store media, but they’re also incredibly easy to lose. Fortunately, smartphones possess the same basic capacities, even if they need an extra cable to operate perfectly. We know it seems unusual, but for a few key files that you don’t really want to lose, an old smartphone can be perfect. You won’t misplace it, and people aren’t likely to ‘borrow’ an old phone they see lying in a drawer.

Browse and Engage with Optimised Entertainment

Older phones might not be able to keep up with the most demanding apps, but not all newer apps are demanding. Some graphics-heavy experiences like online casino UK games are so performant they can even run efficiently on older and less powerful devices. Keeping a backup system to play games like Golden Winner or Slingo Starburst can be a great way to engage, and the same applies to other experiences watching videos or doing crossword puzzles.

Prepare an Emergency Tech Kit

Having supplies in case of a blackout or weather emergency is a must for any household, and older phones can play an important part in that. Simply buy a waterproof case, keep a battery bank handy, and your old phone might one day become a literal lifesaver.

Create a Dedicated Navigation Device

If you’ve ever tried to drive the A219 Southbound, you know how traffic in the UK is an engaging treat for the senses. You also know that navigation in a vehicle means finding alternative routes. While some cars might already have great navigation systems, having a dedicated and permanently available device for accessing traffic and navigating apps is also a valuable solution. Plus, with the ability to quickly sync with your Google Maps saved locations, this method can cut down massively on searching time.

Source: Pixabay

An older phone doesn’t have to just remind you of old fun memories; it can also help you to produce new ones. With a little work, you can find a use for even the most outdated system, giving it legs and keeping it out of the electronic waste bin for a few more years. Take the time, and you might be surprised just how much these humble machines can still offer.