Over the years, we all accumulate more and more electronic devices: computers, tablets, smartwatches, peripherals, cables, plugs, memory sticks, and much more. This often leads to a drawer full of tangled wires and dusty old devices that we don’t use anymore.
For someone looking to be as minimalistic as possible, this becomes problematic. Though, thankfully, it’s much easier to declutter this today since USB standards have meant we often only need one plug and just a couple of cables. You can also recycle old smartphones and hardware to get rid of clutter and even make some extra cash on the side.
But you can take things much further since your smartphone can be used to replace many of the other tools and devices you already own.
Here are some smart ways to use your smartphone to become more minimalistic.
Ditch Calendars and Diaries
We’ve talked about minimalist calendar apps in the past, but many people still hold onto their paper diaries.
It can take a lot of faith to make the jump to being completely digital, but once you do it you’ll never look back. If you have a lot of meetings for work, there’s nothing worse than lugging around a heavy diary along with everything else, so why not ditch the diary and just use your smartphone?
Games Consoles
Gaming is becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages now interested in playing them. The recent release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series range has proven that console gaming is still a big part of the industry, but smartphones are proving to be worthy competitors.
It’s now possible to play almost every genre of game from your smartphone, and there’s no need for an extra clunky box under your TV or a trail of wires behind it.
Both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store offer a wide range of different games, including PokerStars, Minecraft, and Fortnite, as well as mobile-only titles like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.
TV Remote
If you have a compatible smart TV, you can use your smartphone as the remote control, meaning you can ditch the black stick that always falls down the back of the sofa.
If you have a TV that runs Android, you can download the Android TV Remote Control app and connect it to your TV provided they’re both connected to the same WiFi network.
You can also do this with the Amazon Fire Stick and TV, though it can’t turn the TV on and off.
Another app you can use is SURE Universal Remote, though it also needs your phone and TV to be connected to the same WiFi network.
Books
Love reading but don’t want a huge shelf full of books taking up space? Then your smartphone can become your entire library. Using an app like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, or Google Play Books can give you access to millions of titles without the bulky paper.
You can also add notes and bookmarks that can be picked back up on other devices you use too.
If you prefer to listen to audiobooks instead of reading, then your smartphone can help here too. Services like Audible offer full audio versions of millions of new and classic titles. Alternatively, you can use Blinkist to get access to short abridged versions of titles in text or audio format.
Camera
Love taking great quality photographs? Then a new smartphone can offer you some of the best hardware on the market. Any recent flagship smartphone, whether it be the iPhone 12, OnePlus 8 Pro, or Samsung Galaxy S20 can take vibrant high-resolution images in all light conditions.
Each of these devices also includes an optical zoom lens, meaning you can capture close-ups without having to compromise on quality or resolution.
This means you don’t need a bulky DSLR camera or bags full of batteries and memory cards. In fact, you can ditch physical storage altogether and upload your photos directly to a cloud storage service right from your smartphone.
As smartphones look set to become an even more integral part of our lives in the future, there’s never been a better time to embrace all the benefits of mobile devices. Now, if we could just figure out a way to get our smartphones to make a cup of tea too!
