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There are many ways to make the most of old devices we no longer use. For example, I have a couple of old Fire tablets that I turned into Echo Shows for my home use. However, one of the best uses for an old tablet is to become a smart home control panel. In fact, it's one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades you can make in your home.

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If you have a lot of smart lights, plugs, switches, and other devices, you'll likely benefit from adding a control panel to manage them all from one spot. Setting up an old tablet as a central control center not only breathes new life into the device but also gives you a hub that anyone at home can access.