That Old Tablet May Still Have a Job to Do

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A tablet can start feeling obsolete long before it actually stops being useful. Maybe the screen is too small for newer apps, the battery doesn’t last as long, or you’ve simply replaced it with a newer device. Before putting the old tablet in a drawer, consider whether it could still be useful around the house.

An older tablet can make an excellent recipe screen in the kitchen. You can prop it up on a stand, keep your favourite recipes open, and avoid covering your main phone with flour or food while you’re cooking.

It can also become a dedicated entertainment device. Download a few audiobooks, podcasts, music playlists, or films and keep it beside your favourite chair. Having a device dedicated to these activities can be more convenient than constantly switching between apps on your phone.

For travellers, an old tablet can be useful as a secondary device. Download maps, travel documents, books, or entertainment before leaving home, particularly if you’re heading somewhere with unreliable internet access.

You could also use it as a digital photo frame. Many tablets can display a slideshow of family photographs, turning an otherwise unused device into something you’ll actually see every day.

Before giving an older device another role, check its software support and battery condition. If it can no longer receive important security updates, avoid using it for banking, shopping, or other activities involving sensitive information.

It’s also worth performing a factory reset before giving the tablet to someone else. This removes your personal accounts and information from the device, although you should make sure anything you want to keep has been backed up first.

Technology doesn’t always have to be replaced simply because something newer has arrived. An older tablet may no longer be your main device, but that doesn’t mean it has nothing left to offer. Sometimes, giving old technology a very specific job is all it needs.