Now that Apple has unveiled its latest iPhone 5S and 5C, plenty of people will be rushing to buy them. But what will they do with their old phones? There are great ways to put an older iPhone to use even if you don’t carry it around anymore.
Below are some traditional and up-to-date options for using your old smartphone.
Sell
Why not earn a bit of cash from your old smartphone? There are plenty of ways to sell it online. The iPhone 4S currently sells from £111 depending on the state and capacity of the handset.
Apple has recently offered its own trade-in programme, allowing users to return their old iPhone to the company and get credit towards a new one. You can also send your old device to Apple by post for free and still get credit for it.
You could also consider Amazon’s trade-in programme, which is currently locking phone values till 15 October. Users simply fill out a form about the quality of their device, ensuring that the account is deactivated and personal information removed. Amazon sends you on packing materials free of charge and once it receives your phone, Amazon will issue you a gift card for the amount originally agreed.
Sometimes users can get a better deal on these websites compared to the credit received from Apple.
Another popular choice is Glyde.com, which allows users to set a price on their device. Once someone buys it, the payment goes into your Glyde account, which can be transferred to your bank account. The service also provides pricing for iPhone models.
Donate
Want to put your iPhone to good use? The kindest thing you can do is to donate it to a charity.
Grace App, which helps non-verbal adults interact with other people through texts and pictures, accepts donation. Your old phone is passed on to autistic children who are taught how to use it.
There are plenty of other charities that will take your iPhone off your hands including British Red Cross, which collects mobile phones to help fund international projects, like improving water and sanitation facilities in Asia, and Oxfam, which swaps them to buy tools and other vital kit for children.
Universal Remote
If you’re still attached to your old iPhone, why not turn it into a useful object. Yes why not use it to control your house? You would have to invest in some apps, extra add-ons or accessories, such as the L5 remote add-on, that turns the iPhone into an easy-to-use remote.
For example, with Philips’s Hue light bulbs via a free app for the iPhone, users can turn the lights on as they get close to their house. Security companies also offer apps, allowing users to control all aspects of the system they have installed.
Alarm clock
It’s not uncommon to wake up to a flat battery after using your smartphone as an alarm clock these days. And there must be plenty of people who have had their alarm ring at work.
If you don’t trust your new alarm clock or phone battery, why not use your old device as a permanent alarm clock instead? One that stays at home, removing the danger of wasting battery and failing to set alarms every night.
Entertainment
Whether you have a lot of music, are a fan of mobile games or want to watch TV and listen to the radio on the move, why not use your old iPhone to fill that gap, and potentially save your battery on your new iPhone?
