Among all American households doing without home security systems, an estimated 33% cite cost as the biggest hindrance to their security investments. While they want to equip their homes what devices like wireless cameras and motion sensors, they either cannot justify the cost or simply cannot afford it. So it is no surprise to see enterprising tech writers come up with affordable security hacks, like turning an old phone into a security camera.
Such is the case with a recent CNet post from contributor Tyler Lacoma. I ran across the post when searching for something else. Feeling obligated to read it, despite having already turned an old phone into a camera myself, I began wondering how many people actually take advantage of this particular hack. There are valid reasons for both doing it and ignoring it.
The Pros
Right off the top, I am guessing the chief reason people employ the cell-phone-to-camera hack is that it does not cost a dime. An old phone gathering dust in a bedroom drawer is not doing anyone any good. Repurpose it as a security camera, and at least you will get some life out of it without having to spend anything.
Here are some other reasons to try it:
- Video Quality – At least some high-end cell phones offer better video quality than the cheapest purpose-built security cameras. You end up with better streaming than you would have had you run out and purchased a camera.
- Repurposing – Turning an old cell phone into a security camera amounts to repurposing it. To some people, repurposing makes more sense than ultimately throwing it in the trash.
- Portability – Cell phones are highly portable by their nature. Using one as a security camera means having the ability to move it around based on need. You can even take it with you when you travel.
- Features – There are several free mobile apps that work very well for this particular hack. Best of all, they offer a nice selection of features, including motion detection and cloud storage. Some of the best features are paid, however.
You can get a lot from an old phone by repurposing it as a home security camera. But if cost is the only issue, you might be better off with something like Vivint’s affordable, no-contract HomeProtect system. Why? Because in the long run, the cons of this hack will probably outweigh the pros.
The Cons
The biggest argument against turning old cell phones into security cameras is the potential fire risk. Cell phones are not meant to be plugged into a power source 24/7. Being constantly connected to power has a tendency to cause phone batteries to swell. Not only that, camera phones and Wi-Fi generate a tremendous amount of heat. Though rare, the heat can cause a phone to burst into flames.
Here are some other reasons to forget about this hack:
- Lack of Updates – Most phones stop receiving updates at around the 4- or 5-year mark. That makes them security vulnerabilities.
- No Night Vision – Most phones lack infrared capabilities because they are designed to rely on visible light. So in total darkness, a phone becomes useless as a camera.
- The View – Standard phone lenses are narrow. That means a narrow field of view for your security camera.
The icing on the cake is that an old phone is only workable as an indoor camera. It is not weatherproof, so using it outdoors makes little sense.
What are your thoughts? If you have an old phone lying around collecting dust, you could theoretically turn it into a security camera.