Our smartphones are magical things \u2013 far more than dopamine drip providers and a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Using the built-in features and easily available additional apps, there are plenty of clever things you can do with your smartphone.<\/p>\n
Turn your phone into a tape measure<\/p>\n
The iPhone\u2019s Measure app uses augmented reality and the device\u2019s camera to calculate everything from ceiling heights to room dimensions \u2013 handy for those DIY tasks that require a quick decision. And, good news for parents, Apple<\/a> also points out that you can use it to measure a person\u2019s height: the digital equivalent of etched markings on the wall.<\/p>\n Become a detectorist<\/p>\n Metal detectors cost a pretty penny, but many modern devices have built-in magnetometers designed to help improve the accuracy of GPS within apps. Those magnetometers are also used in metal detectors, and some apps can harness that tech to detect metal. These apps are never going to be as accurate as tailor-made products, but if you are looking for a way to entertain the kids on a day at the beach, they will more than suffice in seeking out small bits of treasure.<\/p>\n Turn it into a remote controlRemote control \u2026 smartphones can operate your other connected media devices. Photograph: Maskot\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Lost the television remote down the back of the sofa again? Many Android<\/a> phones include an infrared blaster that can mimic the signals from your TV, set-top box or air-conditioning remote, while others can talk to smart devices over wifi or Bluetooth. Download a remote control app, point your phone at the screen, and you can adjust the volume, switch inputs or change channels. Link in smart lights, speakers and streaming sticks and your handset becomes a control centre for the whole living room \u2026 though it does make it easier for teenagers to prank you by changing channel mid-episode.<\/p>\n Digitise your old holiday snaps<\/p>\n Got a load of old photographic negatives that you never got round to having developed \u2013 or worse, lost the prints for? Apps<\/a> such as FilmBox, available on iOS and Android, can turn your negatives into digital photos (provided you shine light through them). Even better, you can then use image-editing apps to fine-tune the colour balance on old, washed-out pics.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get stuck on hold to companies<\/p>\n Some companies now offer a callback service so you don\u2019t have to stay on hold for ages, but if they don\u2019t, you can use your phone to do the same thing. The Hold Assist feature<\/a>, available on iPhones running iOS 26, gives you a notification when it hears a human voice on the other end of the line, so you can get back to work safe in the knowledge you won\u2019t miss your turn.<\/p>\n Create 3D scans of objects<\/p>\n Newer iPhones and some Android handsets have depth sensors such as lidar (light detection and ranging) that can map the world in 3D. Install a scanning app, slowly walk around the object or room you want to capture, and your phone will stitch those readings into a detailed 3D model. You can then export it for 3D printing, game design or simply to keep a precise digital copy of bulky items before you sell or recycle them. It is also a neat way to document the contents of a rented flat for insurance purposes, or capture awkward corners when planning renovations.<\/p>\n Map and record hikes without mobile signal<\/p>\n If you are an outdoorsy type, phones can help keep you on key routes and out of danger. Make sure you download offline maps before you go somewhere remote, and your phone\u2019s GPS will still work without reception. Hiking and cycling apps can track your route, elevation and distance, then save it so you can retrace your steps \u2013 or share it with friends later.<\/p>\n Create a stethoscope<\/p>\n Combined with smartwatches, smartphones have become a boon for those wanting to keep track of their health, but it\u2019s possible to go even further. A 2022 trial<\/a> to see whether a smartphone\u2019s microphone could accurately measure heartbeats \u2013 similar to how a stethoscope works \u2013 demonstrated that \u201cmobile technologies are a viable way of recording heart sounds<\/a>\u201d. A commercial \u201ccardiac screening tool\u201d app is already available<\/a> in the US.<\/p>\n Help yourself get to sleep<\/p>\n Some people spend money on white noise machines and then cart them around in their suitcase when they are travelling. But it\u2019s possible to achieve the same benefit with your iPhone. Simply go to the accessibility section in your device\u2019s settings, then tap on audio & visual. You can then turn on a variety of sounds, from white noise to ocean waves to crackling fire, to lull you to sleep.<\/p>\n Match that tricky paint colour<\/p>\n Trying to repaint a wall without the original tin to hand can feel impossible. Instead of juggling paper swatches, use your phone\u2019s camera and a colour-matching app to sample the shade directly from the wall, or cushion, or curtain, or whatever you like. The software will suggest the closest equivalents from major paint ranges, and some apps also let you preview those colours on a photo of your space, combining paint matching and augmented reality in one go.<\/p>\n Live translate menus, signs and handwriting<\/p>\n On a foreign holiday and not sure what to eat or where to go? Live translation capabilities in apps such as Google<\/a> Translate mean that it need not all be Greek to you. A combination of image recognition and live translation tools can identify foreign symbols and transpose English-language translations over the top of them, so you should never end up with an unexpected surprise for dinner.<\/p>\n Identify unknown plantsPlant-spotter \u2026 apps can identify plants, animals and other objects. Photograph: Evgeniia Siiankovskaia\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Not sure what is growing along your boundary wall, or what kind of cactus you have just bought? AI-powered insights from your smartphone\u2019s camera lens can identify plants, animals and other objects, with surprising accuracy. Specialist apps abound for identifying plants, but the catch-all service provided by Google Lens is a surprisingly accurate way to distinguish your hydrangeas from your hosteas.<\/p>\n Amp up your webcam<\/p>\n