...smart things to do with your old iPhone

This article was originally published on The Daily Dot by Christina Bonnington

Now that Apple‘s announced a new iPhone, you may find yourself with a couple new problems. First, well, you’ve got to buy that new phone. Once it arrives though, you’ve got another issue: What to do with your old phone.

These days, there’s no reason for your old phone to sit unused in a drawer with miscellaneous junk. Even with a cracked screen or dismal battery life, you can put it to good use.

Just remember, though: If you plan to sell or donate your old iPhone, you’ll want to erase it first. For iOS devices, make sure you back up your data, turn off Find My iPhone (if you haven’t already), log out of iCloud and switch off iMessages, and then wipe the device by going to General, Reset, and then selecting Erase All Content and Settings.

You don’t have to get rid of your phone, though. If you need help coming up with ideas for your old handset, look no further. Here are some interesting things you can do with your old iPhone.

Make it a kid’s toy!

Just about every small child I’ve met in recent years either loves taking photos with their parents’ phones or having their photo taken. If yours falls in the same boat, you can give them a “camera” of their own with the $29.99 Pixlplay case. The case works with most smartphones, including iPhones from the iPhone 4 onwards and a variety of Android phones. Pixl Toys’ case itself is durable and dirt proof, with large rubber grips at either end for kid hands and a built-in screen protector.

You can switch off the old phone’s Bluetooth and internet connectivity so that it truly transforms into a glorified camera. Then your child can snap away (and learn what cameras used to look like).