7 Incredible Uses For an Old iPhone

​If you've just splashed the cash on a shiny new smartphone, such as the iPhone 6S or Samsung Galaxy S7, don't go chucking away or flogging you old handset just yet. Sure, your iPhone 4S might be a little past it when it comes to things like screen quality and power, but it can still serve a purpose – more than you'd think, in fact.

Instead of sending this costly bit of kit to the gadget grave in the kitchen cupboard, just remove its SIM card and fill it full of useful apps to give it a new lease of life. Like upcycling, without all the sandpaper.

1. TURN IT INTO A VIBRATOR

If your old phone is just going to sit in a drawer, why not make it your bedside drawer, so you can bring it out when you need a bit of special alone-time attention? With the aid of a free app, you can turn your old iPhone into a pleasure-providing vibrator. There are a number of apps to lend a hand here (ahem): while the iVibe Massager app lets you buzz your way to a good time.

2. USE IT AS A SECURITY CAMERA

Need a nap after testing your phone's vibrate function? You're going to want to make sure your house is safe while you have 40 winks. Fortunately your old handset can come in handy here too. AtHome Camera converts your old handset into an IP camera, meaning you can view its live feed from anywhere in the world via the internet.

3. CREATE A SPARE REMOTE CONTROL

Forever fighting over who gets control of your TV? Ban the bickering and simply use your old smartphone as a remote. If you've got an Apple TV you'll be laughing, but there's a lot more your phone can control around the home than just your telly. Connected to the wi-fi, it can be used for everything from controlling connected speakers, smart thermostats and even as a means of switching your lights on and off without getting off your arse. Sure, you'll probably have all this synced up to your main phone, but your spare can now act as a centralised home controller for the whole family.

4. TURN IT INTO YOUR CAR'S ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

Still rocking a tape deck in your ride or yet to upgrade to a snazzy new touchscreen in-car system? Don't worry, you don't have to splash significant amounts of cash in order to pimp your ride: your old iPhone can help upgrade your car's entertainment system. With digital music having replaced CDs long ago, all you'll need is an aux port (male-to-male connector), dash mount and enough tunes to fill that 3-hour traffic jam.

5. DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME

Remember when digital photo frames were the future of high tech home decor? Help them make a comeback by converting your old iPhone! It's simple to do, too. Simply connect your phone to the mains, open the Gallery and set it to cycle through your image catalogue at random. If you make sure your handset is connected to the wi-fi and still synced up with your iCloud account, all your latest snaps will pull through without you having to do a thing. 

6. MAKE YOUR OWN ALARM CLOCK

Even with Night Shift, Apple's blue-light-reducing, sleep-friendly mode, your new phone is still going to wire your brain and make it difficult to drift into the land of nod. If you want solid sleep you're going to want to leave your main phone on the other side of the room  – so use your spare as a dedicated alarm clock. Don't just rely on Apple's stock alarm app though (booooring). Apps such as Sleep Cycle will actually monitor the quality of your sleep. You can even get special alarm-clock stands.

7. A BIKE COMPUTER

You might want to show off your new phone, but if it stands the chance of getting covered in mud or drenched in the wet stuff, you're going to leave it at home. Use your old phone as a dedicated cycle computer, then. As well as being able to help you find your way to work (with the likes of Google Maps).