Don't throw away your old digital camera — do this instead

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Before you throw away your old digital camera, do this instead. We'll tell you what that is in moments, but first. It's no secret that Apple is late to the foldable phone party, but that's really its style, contrary to some myths. While it helped pioneer categories with the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, more often than not, Apple tends to sit on the sidelines, waiting for rivals like Samsung to take the big risks with new technologies.

Then, it swoops in, hopefully, with a more polished product. The iPhone Duo is a prime example. The foldable market is old enough at this point, that Motorola has produced several generations of updated razors, its flagship being the 2026 Razr Ultra. At $500 less than the $2,000 iPhone Duo, there's obvious appeal, all the more so, because you're not locked in to the Apple ecosystem. Some of us are certainly OK with that predicament. In the Android world, though, you're not counting on one brand to get its hardware right every year. If you're neutral on your platform pick for a future foldable, you should at least briefly pit the Ultra and Duo against each other. Given some dramatic differences, however, you're liable to end up firmly on one side of the fence. The two products are targeting very different demographics. Head over to engadget.com for the latest from Roger Fingis, Apple iPhone Duo vs Motorola Razr Ultra. How do these foldables compare?

And the most common mistake you should avoid when using foldable phones is, obviously, dropping them. But that's common knowledge and doesn't make for a very exciting discussion. You're probably thinking about the inside foldable screen, where the most common way to damage it is closing it on something that shouldn't be there.

Samsung's foldable care page warns that cards, coins, or keys can scratch or even puncture a Galaxy foldable's inner display. That seems straightforward enough, just to make sure your car keys aren't sitting on top of your phone when you try to close it. But if you work a particularly dirty job or live near the beach, that complicates matters. You can't always spot dirt easily, and beach sand will find its way into absolutely anything. Keep in mind that not all foldables are on equal footing. Some foldable screens are a bit softer and weaker than others. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, for instance, have an IP 48 rating, whereas the new iPhone Duo boasts an IP 68

The first digit describes the degree of protection against solid objects. A 4 means objects 1 mm thick or larger can't enter, while 6 indicates a dust-tight device. There's more to this story as Thomas Godwin takes the deep dive. The common mistakes you should avoid when using foldable phones. Find it right now and the latest Engadget news, reviews, price drops, updates, and more, right now at engadget.com.

Old digital cameras are making a weird comeback, so it may feel a bit more difficult to justify throwing one in the electronics recycling bin than it would have a few years ago. According to the Camera and Imaging Products Association, shipments of built-in lens digital cameras grew 29.6% in 2025 to approximately 2.44 million units and are projected to increase an additional 13.6% in 2026

ACPA didn't attribute that growth specifically to the current trend of retro digit cams. If you already have one lying around, however, there's another reason to keep it. There are a lot of older DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and even some compact cameras that can be used as webcams. That can translate to improved low light performance, greater control over framing, or the natural background blur that laptop webcams devote a lot of software to trying to replicate. The trick is finding out whether yours can do it without turning a free upgrade into an expensive side project. Start with the specific model number and the manufacturer's webcam compatibility list. Canon's EOS 6D and EOS Rebel T6 are still supported, as are Nikon's D5300 and D750 with its webcam utility, and Sony's A5100, A72, and RX100 IV with imaging edge webcam. If your camera is listed, then setup can be rather simple. Install the manufacturer's webcam software, if required, connect the camera using a USB data cable, put it into the appropriate video or remote mode, and select it as the camera in Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. You might already have everything you need. However, a larger camera does not necessarily result in a clear webcam picture. Some older supported Nikon DSLRs use only the VGA portion of Nikon's XGA Live View display, so a newer dedicated webcam might be able to capture more detail. Depending on the camera model, the camera can compensate for some of this ground with a larger sensor. Better low light performance and control over the lens. Audio and power should be checked as well. Nikon and Sony say their webcam utilities don't send the camera's microphone audio to the computer, which means using your laptop mic or a separate microphone. If you're using Live View for a long meeting, it will also drain the battery, so if the camera allows, external power might be worth setting up. The experiment doesn't have to stop if there is no support for USB webcam. Cameras with clean HDMI output can be connected through a capture device, which then shows up as a webcam on your computer. Clean is the important word here. No one wants autofocus boxes, exposure settings, and a flashing battery icon on the weekly Teams call. Continuous operation matters as well. Elgato suggests checking if power saving can be turned off, and if the camera can be powered externally while transmitting video. There are some older cameras that were not meant to be used as desk accessories for hours. The issue is cost. Elgato's Cam Link 4K is priced at $99.99, excluding an HDMI cable, mount, and or possibly a dummy battery. Our current webcam guide, on the other hand, covers the 2K Anker PowerConf C200 at $60, which comes with microphones and a much simpler USB setup. Mac users might also be able to use a compatible iPhone, while Windows 11 users can use a compatible Android phone as a webcam for free. Also consider the resale value of the camera before buying accessories. Some of the older Digicams have been sold for much more than owners would expect because of the interest in them. According to B&H, one of its writers purchased a Canon PowerShot S95 for $130 in 2023, and it was selling for an average of over $400 in 2026