Transforming an old smartphone into a TV box is an interesting DIY project that not only maximizes the remaining value of old devices but also reduces the cost of purchasing new equipment. This article will detail the steps and technical details on how to convert an old smartphone into a TV box, helping everyone easily realize this creative idea.
1. Required Materials and Tools
1. Old smartphone: Choose a high-performance old smartphone, such as iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S6.
2. An HDMI cable: Used to connect the phone to the TV.
3. A Micro USB data cable: Used to connect the phone to the power adapter.
4. A USB OTG adapter: Used to connect the phone to a USB drive for installing applications.
5. An OTG USB HUB: Used to expand USB ports.
6. A power adapter: Choose a suitable power adapter based on the phone’s battery capacity.
7. A Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer: Used to run the operating system and applications for the TV box.
8. A case: You can choose to buy a ready-made TV box case or make one yourself.
9. Basic tools like a screwdriver and tweezers.
2. Operating Steps
1. Preparation: First, turn off the phone and shut it down. Then, use a screwdriver to remove the back cover of the phone, taking out the battery, SIM card tray, camera module, and other components. Be careful during disassembly to avoid damaging the internal parts of the phone. At the same time, prepare all necessary external connectors and cables.
2. Connect the power adapter: Connect the other end of the power adapter to the phone’s charging port. If the phone supports fast charging, you can use the original fast charger instead of a regular charger to shorten charging time.
3. Connect the display output: Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the phone’s HDMI output port and the other end to the TV’s HDMI input port. Ensure the connection is secure to avoid signal interference. If the TV does not have an HDMI port, you can use a VGA cable for connection, but the picture quality may decline.
4. Connect storage and operating system: Connect one end of the Micro USB data cable to the phone’s data port and the other end to the USB output port of the power adapter. Then plug the power adapter into the USB port of the Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer to power the computer. Next, boot the computer using a USB drive and install TV box applications suitable for Android systems, such as Plex, Emby, or Kodi. Additionally, necessary drivers and firmware must be installed to ensure the system runs smoothly.
5. Install network connection: Connect the OTG USB HUB to the phone’s data port and the network port of the Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer. Then, configure the network connection according to the network setup guide for the Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer. This way, the TV box can access various online content and applications via the internet.
6. Install the operating system: If necessary, you can install a new operating system on the Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer, such as Ubuntu Server or OpenWrt. This will give the TV box more features and customization options. After installation, restart the computer and install the TV box applications and drivers as per the previous configuration.
7. Complete setup: Finally, open the TV box application and follow the prompts for setup and login. At this point, your old smartphone has successfully transformed into a fully functional TV box! You can project the phone’s screen onto the TV using the HDMI cable. Additionally, you can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or wired network to watch online videos, browse the web, and more.
3. Technical Details and Precautions
1. Be particularly careful with the battery and camera module during disassembly to avoid short circuits or damaging other components. Ensure all connectors and cables are properly connected to guarantee the normal operation of the TV box.
2. When selecting a power adapter, choose one with suitable output voltage and current based on the phone’s battery capacity. Too high or too low current may damage the phone’s battery or motherboard circuit. It is recommended to use a brand-certified power adapter to ensure quality and safety.
3. If the TV does not support HDMI, consider using a VGA cable for connection. However, be aware that picture quality may decline, and longer cables may affect the user experience. If conditions allow, it is still recommended to use HDMI for connection.
4. When installing the operating system, ensure the selected operating system is compatible with the hardware and follow the corresponding installation guide. Incorrect installation may lead to system crashes or failure to start. If unsure how to install the operating system, seek assistance from professionals or refer to detailed tutorial guides.
5. When using the TV box, pay attention to privacy and security. Avoid watching sensitive content on public networks, regularly update the system and applications to fix security vulnerabilities, and comply with relevant laws and regulations to avoid disseminating illegal or infringing content.
4. Performance Optimization and Expansion1. Optimize display effects: To achieve better picture quality and smoothness, consider optimizing the display performance of the TV box. First, adjust the screen resolution and display mode in the phone’s settings to fit different TV screen sizes. Secondly, install image processing software, such as NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience or AMD’s Next-Gen Gaming, to optimize and tune game visuals. Additionally, try disabling unnecessary effects and dynamic wallpapers on the phone to reduce GPU pressure.2. Increase storage space: As online content increases, the TV box may occupy a large amount of storage space. To ensure enough available space, transfer large files (such as photos, videos, etc.) from the phone to cloud storage services or other storage devices. Additionally, install an application on the TV box that supports external storage devices, such as Plex Media Server or Emby Server, to connect external storage devices (like USB drives or hard drives) to the TV box to expand storage space.3. Improve network speed: If the TV box’s network connection speed is slow, consider the following optimization methods: First, ensure you are using a high-quality Wi-Fi signal source to avoid signal interference and excessive distance. Secondly, enable QoS (Quality of Service) on the router to prioritize bandwidth allocation for the TV box. Additionally, consider upgrading the router firmware for better performance and stability. Finally, use a wired network connection instead of wireless for more stable network speeds.4. Add multimedia support: To give the TV box more entertainment features, consider adding multimedia support. For example, install a music player application on the TV box, such as Spotify or Pandora, to listen to music. Additionally, install a video player application, such as Netflix or YouTube, to watch online video content. If you need to play local files, you can use the phone as a media server, projecting audio and video content to the TV screen using technologies like DLNA, Miracast, or Chromecast.5. Enhance hardware performance: If you have higher performance requirements for the TV box, consider upgrading hardware components. First, replace the phone’s battery with a higher-capacity one to improve battery life. Secondly, upgrade the phone’s processor and memory to increase running speed and multitasking capabilities. Additionally, consider adding an extra GPU (such as NVIDIA Shield TV or Nvidia Shield TV Pro) to provide better gaming performance and graphics processing capabilities.5. ConclusionTransforming an old smartphone into a TV box is an interesting and practical creative project. Through the steps and technical details outlined above, I believe everyone has mastered how to turn an old smartphone into a powerful TV box. During the actual operation, pay attention to privacy and security, and comply with relevant laws and regulations. At the same time, choose suitable hardware and software configurations based on personal needs and budget to achieve the best performance and experience. I hope this article provides useful reference and inspiration for everyone!