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this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2026
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What I ask myself here is why I should have unused phones lying around in the first place?
If I somehow think constantly wasting money on a new model just because there is a new number written on its packaging is worth it, I would not actually think in terms of reusing old hardware.
If I am however thinking about using hardware instead of just throwing it away while still functional why wouldn't I use a phone as anyone else as a phone?
Well you answered your own question, you should not have unused phones lying around because you use them till they die, good.
Now if for any other reason you end up with unused phones that nobody else wants to use here is something you can do with them!
This is my case, I get phones handed down to me, if it's any better than anything I use I migrate to it and keep the old one in case something happens to the new one.
Could be a number of things. Battery life has significantly decreased. Can't run recent Android versions, no longer getting security updates, or even software not running because the Android version is no longer supported. I've had 3 phones in the last 15 years or so (still on the 3rd) and I still have the other two and they run, but not for long without being plugged in.
There isn't only one reason for that to happen. I have two old smartphones around. Both are no longer usable with any worthwhile mobile service in Canada. The first (and oldest - originally mine before becoming a hand-me-down to a relative) went out of use after the elderly person who was using it had it active for a year or two but then stopped bothering with it due to his illness keeping him at home and preference for larger screens in general. The other I'd still be using (still use it for some things!) if I could. I have always used my computers, phones, etc. as long as I could get away with but for #2, I had to get a newer (but used) phone to keep service after the end of 3G in Canada. The new phone is definitely nicer in some ways but I wouldn't have changed phones if I had a choice. 🤷🏾♀️
i usually end up with crappy hand me downs or broken phones with an easy fix.