Key Facts

• The author used an old Google Pixel smartphone with a cracked screen to create a smart camera, which had better sensors, cleaner visuals, and clearer audio than the intended smart camera he was considering buying.
• The AlfredCamera app, which was used to repurpose the old phone, offers a free tier that includes live-streaming, motion detection, and 30-second event clips, as well as a looping continuous-recording option that stores footage locally.
• The author was able to set up the smart camera in less than 30 minutes by installing the app on both his old Pixel and current phone, signing in to the same Google account, and pairing the devices using a QR code.
• To ensure the old phone worked effectively as a security camera, the author had to address power management, disable battery optimization for the app, and turn off app auto-updates to prevent downtime.
• The author found that using an old phone as a smart camera was a viable option for indoor use, but it may not be suitable for outdoor use due to weatherproofing concerns, and the math worked out to be cost-effective only for single-camera setups with free plan features.