Turn Old Galaxy Phones into Internet of Things Devices With Samsung's New Initiative

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Upcycling at Home initiative, an expansion of its Galaxy Upcycling program that sees old Galaxy smartphones being turned into Internet of Things devices through a software update. The devices can be transformed via the SmartThings Labs feature in the SmartThings app.

Currently available via beta in the US, UK, and Korea, Samsung says that the “Galaxy Upcycling at Home program provides enhanced sound and light-control features, by repurposing built-in sensors.” An improved AI solution sees the Galaxy devices being capable of more accurate sound distinguishing, and there is an option to save certain recordings. The devices can also be used to measure a room’s brightness level.

“Users can easily set the device to automatically turn on the lights or the TV through SmartThings if the room becomes darker than the preset standard of light,” says Samsung.

The Galaxy Upcycling at Home update will bring with it battery optimization to minimize the device’s battery usage, so that the transformed devices can be used for sound and light detection for longer periods of time.

Samsung first introduced its broader Galaxy Upcycling programme in 2017 as part of the company’s sustainability efforts. It says that Galaxy Upcycling at Home is part of its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and “specifically focuses on Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production – by reducing waste and promoting more sustainable production practices and consumer behaviors”. #samsung #upcyclingathome