Prices rising? Turn your broken Galaxy phone into a cheap mini PC

With prices on the rise, an ingenious solution is to repurpose your high-end Samsung phone into an affordable media centre, taking advantage of its DeX mode.

The cost of electronics keeps climbing, and finding alternatives to build a media centre or a basic computer has become a challenge. But what if I told you that the cheapest solution on the market is already in your pocket? Yes, we're talking about your own phone.

## The Samsung DeX trick

The key lies in a antiestéticature called **Samsung DeX**. Available on high-end phones in the **Galaxy S** series (from the **S8** onwards, though an **S10** or newer is recommended), it lets you connect your phone to an external display and enjoy a desktop experience. It's like having a computer, with your phone as the brain.

## Broken screen, savings intact

For this to work, you need an external display. It doesn't have to be cutting-edge technology. An old monitor, a TV or even a cheap portable screen costing around **50-70 euros** from platforms like **AliExpress** will do. The keyboard and mouse can be wireless or wired, connected through an adapter. And here's the big one: the phone's screen. It doesn't matter if it's broken — it's even desirable. On second-hand platforms like **Wallapop**, you can find **Samsung Galaxy** phones with damaged screens for around **23 euros**. What matters is that DeX mode works, and that doesn't depend on the screen's condition.

## A media centre tailored to you

With a **Samsung Galaxy S** phone (from the **S10** onwards) with a broken screen, an external display and an adapter, you already have the basics. Some people even add a small phone fan for around **8-9 euros** to keep the device cool during extended use. The result is a functional media centre or mini PC, with a window-based Android system, that lets you browse, watch videos or even do basic office tasks without spending a fortune. Ingenuity is, without a doubt, the best ally of responsible consumption.