Should you sell your old iPad or repurpose it into something worth keeping?
In this article, you will learn that there are a surprising number of things you can do with an old iPad that still works. Here are our top 10 ideas of how you can use to give it a new lease on life.
Editor’s note: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item through one of these links, we receive a small commission that helps fund our Recycling Directory.
1. Use it as a digital photo frame
Put your iPad in Picture Frame mode, buy an attractive and compatible iPad Stand, and you’ve got yourself a useful digital photo frame. A digital photo frame often costs between £73 and £150 to purchase (US$95 to $195) if it has a motion detector and a large storage capacity. Save yourself some money and repurpose your iPad. This would be perfect for a special occasion such as a wedding or anniversary party. Imagine your iPad digital photo frame displaying the pictures from significant events at a wedding or reception.
2. Turn it into a dashcam
Dashcams are a popular and effective way to protect yourself against insurance fraud. Mount the iPad on your car’s dashboard, and it is a simple process to turn it into a dashcam. There are several apps you can use to convert your iPad into a dashcam, such as Smart Dash Cam. Make sure you follow the guidelines regarding the correct placement of the car mount.
3. Use it as an extension to a PC monitor
Multiple monitors are so useful, especially in these times when so many people work from home. With two screens next to each other, you can see all your windows at the same time, keeping you productive. Your working iPad makes a great second display for your PC. All you need to purchase is a small tablet stand to keep the iPad in an upright position.
4. Use it in extreme conditions
Are your kids planning a camping trip? Are you going on a dangerous hike or rock climbing expedition? Take your old iPad for use in situations where the risk to damage is higher than average. If it does incur damage or a few scratches, it won’t be as upsetting, and if it doesn’t, it’s a win.
5. Turn it into a security camera
Download AtHome Video Streamer, which is an app that converts virtually any device with a built-in camera into CCTV. You can receive alerts, watch footage of your home from anywhere and best of it all, it is entirely free. There are plenty of step-by-step instructions online.
6. Use it as an interactive reader for kids
You can turn an old iPad into an interactive e-book for your children’s use. Simply have fun finding the most fun interactive book that you and your children will love. There are plenty from which to choose in the App Store. Before turning your iPad over to your children, be sure to remove all files and programs that you don’t want your children to access.
7. Turn it into a music server
An iPad is a great media center controller. Pair it with a wireless speaker and use Apple Music or your own collection to listen to music whenever you want. Keep it in one convenient location, and you won’t have to try and find your phone when you want to listen to some tunes.
8. Use it as an alarm clock
On the same lines as a music server, place the iPad on your bedside table, and tune it to your favorite digital radio station. Much pleasanter than waking up to a raucous alarm. Choose from a selection of free clock radio apps to access hundreds of stations, or download Radio Garden, a fabulous app for tuning into any worldwide radio station.
9. Use it for e-reading
Your old iPad may no longer be fast enough to play flashy games, but it still remains an excellent e-reader. Using iTunes, you can transfer your e-books to the iPad and continue to use the device as an e-reader. Using your iPad purely to read books is a perfect idea.
Throw out all other apps and literally fill your iPad with e-books. You don’t necessarily have to do that with the iBooks app; there are also great alternative apps for the iPad, such as Kindle (Amazon’s app), and many more. You will find that you will use that “old” iPad lying next to you on your bedside table full of books as an e-reader even more often than you did when it was brand new.
10. Recycle it!
If your iPad is broken, you can have it repaired or recycled. Repairing a defective tablet is usually a technically complicated job, for which you are quickly dependent on the manufacturer or a third party. If it can’t be repaired, the repair costs are too high, or you just want to get rid of it, use a certified e-waste company, such as iPad-Recycle. They will be able to refurbish and keep its valuable parts circulating in the economy.
Note: Before you recycle or give away any computer or device, be sure to protect your data by 1. backing up your information, 2. signing out of all accounts, and 3. erasing your hard drive.
This article was originally published on November 9, 2020.
About the Author
Stewart McGrenary is the managing director of iPad Recycle. To find out more, you can visit iPad Recycle.