An eight-year-old Pixel 3 XL proved more useful as a portable security camera than as a homemade TV box in an Android Authority hands-on experiment.
The writer tested both ideas rather than treating “repurpose your old phone” as a single easy project. One required little more than an app and a second phone; the other grew into a chain of hardware, software and display workarounds.
Temporary monitoring was the simpler win
Using AlfredCamera, the Pixel became the camera while a Galaxy Z Fold 6 served as the viewer. Android Authority found the setup straightforward, with very low latency, motion detection, two-way audio and usable performance in bright and low-light conditions.
The limitations make it a poor substitute for a permanent surveillance system. Video is compressed, the field of view is narrower than a conventional security camera, and leaving an old phone charging continuously can create heat, battery-swelling and stability risks.
The writer instead favored temporary monitoring: watching a pet, child, delivery area, 3D print or filming angle for a limited period. A smart plug can restrict charging time, and a clip-on lens can widen the view.
The TV-box project needed too much supporting gear
The Pixel 3 XL lacks native USB-C video output, so the media-player experiment used a laptop connected to a monitor, with the phone mirrored through scrcpy. A mouse, keyboard, speaker and SquareHome launcher completed the setup.
Playback through apps such as SmartTube and Spotify was smooth, with little latency or thermal throttling in the test. But the laptop and peripherals made the result more complicated than buying a dedicated TV box. Android Authority concluded that it could still work as a travel or backup setup for someone who already owns the required gear, while on-demand monitoring is the more practical second life for most old phones.
