Got an old iPad collecting dust? Mine is from 2015, and I still use it multiple times a day, even though I have a much newer model. These aren’t weird edge cases or complicated projects—just straightforward household jobs that actually make sense.

My first-gen iPad Pro handles smart home stuff, keeps an eye on my kids at night, and tackles a bunch of other daily tasks. The screen works fine, the battery lasts long enough when it’s sitting in one spot, and the apps I need still run. Here’s what I’ve got that old iPad doing around my house, and why these jobs work out better than you’d think.

My dedicated home office second monitor

Why Sidecar beats standalone portable displays

The biggest reason I keep reaching for my old iPad Pro is that it’s the perfect second display for my Intel MacBook Pro. Using Sidecar, it becomes an instant extended desktop. I always use a cable instead of wireless because the connection doesn’t drop, and it charges while I work.

The 12.9-inch screen is ideal for reference documents, Slack channels, or video meetings, while my main laptop handles everything else. Yes, I could buy a dedicated portable monitor, but this iPad weighs barely over a pound and fits easily into my bag next to my laptop. Plus, Sidecar means zero setup—it connects instantly without any driver nonsense.

My friend let me borrow his portable monitor from Amazon a while back. Thousands of glowing reviews, around $200, seemed worth trying. Total letdown. Brightness all the way up, and it looked terrible next to my old iPad. The text wasn’t crisp, and the colors seemed drained. After five minutes of reading, I wanted to stop. The real kicker is that the monitor’s battery completely gave up after three months.

My 2015 iPad is still going strong on the original battery.

Always-on kitchen recipe display

The perfect counter companion for cooking

When I’m cooking, I grab the old iPad every time. It props up great on the counter for recipes, and sauce splashes don’t make me panic like they would with my $1,000+ iPad Pro. The battery lasts through long cooking sessions, and it sits perfectly against my splashback.

Carrying it from counter to counter never feels awkward, and I can read everything clearly from across the kitchen. Try pulling that off with a 6-inch phone screen when your hands are sticky with flour from kneading bread.

Multi-step recipes are way easier to follow on this bigger screen. Ingredients, instructions, timers—I can see everything without constantly scrolling back and forth. Things get messy in my kitchen more than I’d like to admit, but I don’t stress about wiping down an expensive device. A quick rinse of the case and we’re good.

My smart home control dashboard

Centralized control with the Alexa app

I’ve got this iPad stationed on my kitchen counter, and it’s become the control center for our entire smart home setup. The Alexa app pulls everything together—my Ubiquiti network, multiple Echo devices throughout the house, the Ring security system with its contact sensors and cameras, myQ smart garage doors, various smart switches and plugs, and our zoned HVAC system with smart thermostats.

That bigger screen beats pulling out my phone every time something needs adjusting. Multiple Ring camera feeds? I can see them all at once to check what’s happening around the property. Temperature adjustments for different zones are way easier to manage when I’m not squinting at a phone screen. And when someone’s at the door, the iPad shows the Ring video feed big enough that I can actually see who it is without walking over to a window. Additionally, I can create new Alexa routines more quickly on the iPad dashboard.

Everyone in the house can just walk over and use it. Did someone leave the garage door open? Check the kitchen iPad. Does the basement feel cold? Bump up the thermostat right there.

Baby monitor display with Nanit

Bigger screen for nighttime check-ins

We’ve got Nanit baby monitors for both our 2-year-old and 4-year-old, and the iPad stays on my nightstand now for watching them at night. That 12.9-inch screen absolutely destroys trying to check my phone.

Hearing noises at 2 am means I can just look over instead of grabbing my phone, unlocking it, opening the app, and squinting at that tiny screen. Both kids’ rooms show up clearly right away. The screen size shows way more detail than my phone ever could—I can actually tell if they’ve kicked off their blankets or if they’re just shifting in their sleep.

It stays plugged in, so I’ve never had it die on me in the middle of the night. My eyes thank me too when I’m barely awake. Those quick check-ins don’t force me to wake up completely and get blasted by a bright phone screen.

It’s better than the dinky screens that come with traditional baby monitors, too. Those things are usually 3–4 inches if you’re lucky, with grainy video quality that makes it hard to see anything useful. The iPad’s display is sharp enough that I can actually make out details without second-guessing what I’m seeing.

Guilt-free device for the kids

Learning apps without the stress

Both kids love trying to crack my passcode. They’re basically in competition to see who can lock me out for longer. The current record stands at around 418 minutes, which honestly impressed me more than it frustrated me.

I don’t mind if they touch the older iPad because I’m not stressing about every bump and scratch. Inevitable drops and grubby fingerprints don’t send me into panic mode like they would with my expensive model. We’ve loaded it up with age-appropriate educational apps and games, and it’s become their device for learning basic tech skills.

It’s light enough for them to carry but big enough to actually use. Parental controls keep everything age-appropriate, so they’ve got room to explore safely. When they drop it—and they will drop it—I’m not doing mental math on repair costs.

It could actually become their gateway into using real tech responsibly. They’re learning to swipe, tap, and navigate interfaces on a device that’s already earned its keep. If this teaches them to be careful with electronics, that’s worth way more than the $150 I might get selling it on eBay.

My old iPad still earns its keep

That 2015 iPad Pro finds work almost every day despite being nearly a decade old. It’s not breaking any speed records, and the 32GB storage means constant app management, but none of these household tasks need cutting-edge performance. A second monitor doesn’t need the latest processor. Recipe displays don’t require massive storage. Smart home dashboards and baby monitors work fine on older hardware.

The best part is that I’m getting maximum value from a device that would fetch maybe $150 on eBay. These practical uses make way more sense than whatever I’d pocket from selling it. This iPad has probably logged thousands of hours of use across multiple roles, and it’s still going strong.