I've turned my old Android phones into 5G routers, power banks, and more — here's how you can do the same

A Sony Xperia, Nubia RedMagic and Nothing phone in three different segments.

Sadly for our wallets, smartphones don't last forever. According to stats, most people keep their devices for between two and three years before buying a new one — but old phones don't just disappear from the world.

If you throw them in the bin, they end up as e-waste, taking up space in landfills. And if you keep them around, they also end up as e-waste, taking up space in your drawer. But don't worry: there's a solution to this conundrum.