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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteYou can turn an old Android phone into a smart-home controller by using the platform your home already runs: Google Home for its connected-device controls, or the Home Assistant Companion app for Home Assistant controls and, on supported phones, a dashboard. Check the phone’s Android version and app availability first. The exact features depend on the phone: Google’s Home Controls screen saver requires Android 15 or newer, while Android’s Home Controls and Home Assistant’s Device Controls integration start at Android 11.
Choose Google Home or Home Assistant
A phone used as a panel is an interface to a smart-home platform; it does not become a new hub or run Home Assistant’s server. Pick the option that matches the system already used in your home.
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| Route | Best fit | Documented requirements and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Google Home app and Android Home Controls | Your compatible devices are already connected through Google Home and you want straightforward controls. | Google lists Android 9.0 or later for the Google Home app. Android Home Controls require Android 11 or later. Google’s Home Controls screen saver requires Android 15 or later and compatible devices connected to Google Home. Google Home app requirements; Google Home controls and screen saver. |
| Home Assistant Companion app and Android Device Controls | Your home uses Home Assistant and you want its entities or a tailored dashboard available from the phone. | The Device Controls integration is documented for Android 11 or later. On supported Android 14+ devices, it can show a Home Assistant dashboard in the device-controls interface. The main app’s minimum API level is 21, but that baseline does not guarantee that every feature or current app update is available on an older phone. Home Assistant Device Controls; Home Assistant Android targets; Home Assistant’s Android app update. |
These version thresholds describe different things: app installation, access to Android’s controls interface, dashboard support, and the Google screen saver are not interchangeable. Check the actual phone’s Android version and whether the relevant app can still be installed or updated. Home Assistant announced that Android 5.0 and 5.1 devices would stop receiving new app updates; its minimum API level alone should not be treated as a promise of ongoing support.
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Check the phone before setting it up
- Find its Android version. Open the phone’s Settings and look for About phone or Android version; labels vary by manufacturer. Compare the version with the feature you want, not just the app’s general minimum.
- Confirm app availability. Check whether Google Home or Home Assistant Companion can be installed or updated on this particular phone. Google lists Android 9.0 or later for its app. Home Assistant’s minimum API level and its update policy for older Android releases describe separate compatibility limits.
- Confirm the home platform. Use the same Google account and connected devices already used in Google Home, or sign in to the Home Assistant Companion app for a Home Assistant setup. A phone alone does not replace the platform or the smart-home services behind it.
- Decide how you want to use the screen. Android’s device-controls interface provides a quick route to controls. A Home Assistant dashboard can provide a more tailored view on supported Android 14+ devices. For an always-visible Google Home panel, the documented screen saver requires Android 15 or later.
Google’s app requirement is documented on its requirements page. Home Assistant’s minimum API level and older-version update information are available in its Android targets documentation and July 2025 app update.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Set up Google Home controls
- Install or open Google Home and use the account associated with the home’s connected devices.
- On Android 11 or later, open Android’s Home Controls interface. Its location and the steps for adding or arranging controls vary by device manufacturer and Android version; follow the options shown on the phone.
- Choose the devices and controls you want available there. The controls depend on compatible devices already connected to Google Home.
- Check what is accessible while the phone is locked. Google says sensitive controls, such as cameras and locks, require unlocking the phone or tablet.
Android Home Controls and the always-on screen saver are separate features. If you want the phone to show Google Home controls while locked and charging, make sure it runs Android 15 or later before configuring the screen saver.
Set up Home Assistant controls
- Install or open the Home Assistant Companion app and sign in to your Home Assistant instance.
- Add Home Assistant controls through Android’s device-controls interface. The exact menu path varies by manufacturer and OS version.
- On a supported Android 14+ phone, choose a Home Assistant dashboard for the device-controls interface if that option is available. Otherwise, use the available built-in controls.
- Keep the panel focused on actions that are easy to recognize and use. A small set of frequent controls is generally easier to scan on a phone-sized screen than a crowded dashboard.
Home Assistant documents its Android integration and dashboard behavior in the Android Device Controls guide. Availability of a documented feature does not mean every manufacturer’s implementation will present the same menus or behavior.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
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- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
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Make it practical as a fixed panel
For Google Home’s always-on screen saver
On Android 15 or later, open Settings > Display & touch > Screen saver, enable Use screen saver, and choose Home Controls. Select whether it starts while charging or only while docked and charging, according to the choices on the device. Menu names and locations can vary.
Google describes this screen saver as an always-on smart-home controller while the phone or tablet is locked and charging. It does not mean that every control is available without unlocking: sensitive controls such as cameras and locks require authentication.
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- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
For either platform
- Use a stable desk stand or an optional phone wall mount that fits the handset and leaves its charging connector accessible.
- Choose a charging cable and charger that suit the phone and the intended placement. The screen-saver setup described by Google uses charging; no battery-health outcome or charging schedule is established here.
- Keep the display to a compact set of clear, frequently used controls. Avoid placing a mounted phone where a casual visitor can operate controls you want to keep private.
A mount, cable, or charger is optional convenience equipment, not a requirement to make the phone a controller. Check fit and connector access for the specific handset before buying an accessory.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What an old phone can—and cannot—do
An old Android phone can expose controls from Google Home or Home Assistant if the phone and relevant features are supported. It remains a controller display: the existing smart-home platform and its connected devices do the underlying work. Old hardware may lack newer Android features, and a stated minimum app API level does not ensure current updates, compatibility with every feature, or a good experience on every device.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
For Google Home, the documented baselines are Android 9.0 for the app, Android 11 for Home Controls, and Android 15 for the Home Controls screen saver. For Home Assistant, Android 11 is the documented threshold for Device Controls, with dashboard selection on supported Android 14+ devices. Check the phone itself and the current app listing rather than assuming that “old Android” is compatible.
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Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
