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Samsung did demonstrate a Bitcoin-mining rig made from 40 Galaxy S5 phones in 2017, but the reports do not show that it earned meaningful Bitcoin or could be replicated as a practical consumer setup. They provide no mining rate, Bitcoin yield, operating costs, or earnings—and Samsung’s specialist operating system was not yet available when the demonstration was reported.
What Samsung demonstrated in 2017
Contemporaneous reports described a stack of 40 Samsung Galaxy S5 handsets assembled as a Bitcoin-mining rig during Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling work. The broader project explored ways to give older Galaxy phones new uses rather than leave them unused. SamMobile’s report and Android Authority’s October 30, 2017 coverage document the demonstration, not a supported product or consumer mining service.
The distinction matters: a working showcase can demonstrate that phones can be assembled to perform a task, but it does not establish how much Bitcoin the setup mined, whether it covered electricity or other costs, or whether another person could reproduce it. The cited reports give no mining rate, yield, operating cost, or earnings figure.
Can you use the demonstration to earn Bitcoin?
There is no evidence in the available reporting that this rig offered a practical way to collect Bitcoin. Samsung’s specialist operating system was described as not yet available at the time, and the reports do not provide a ready-to-follow build guide or reproducible results. Buying Galaxy S5 phones on the strength of this demonstration would not establish that you could recreate it or earn Bitcoin.
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- Display: 5.1-inches
- Camera: 16-MP
- Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
- OS: Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
One contemporaneous report repeated a comparison involving eight phones and a desktop processor. That is a claim reported in 2017, not a general benchmark or proof of profitability, so it should not be used to estimate what a phone-based rig would earn.
How the demo fits Samsung’s phone-reuse projects
Galaxy Upcycling: an exploration of new uses
Samsung’s 2018 account described Galaxy Upcycling as a C-Lab project exploring ways to repurpose older Galaxy devices and connect them to everyday objects. Examples included a fish tank that could be fed by text message and a pet bowl that could send a photo when a cat ate. Samsung said the C-Lab project had been completed by the time of that account. Samsung’s 2018 overview provides context for the mining rig as part of a wider reuse effort, not as a Bitcoin product.
Rank #2
- 5.1(inch) Super AMOLED Capacitive Touchscreen, 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution w/ Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Operating System: Android OS, Internal Memory: 16GB, 2GB RAM (microSD Up to 256GB)
- 16 Megapixel Camera with Phase Detection Autofocus, f/2.2, 31mm, 1/2.6" Sensor Size w/ 2 Megapixel Front Camera with f/2.4, 22mm lens, 1080p @ 30fps
- Processor: QuadCore 2.5 GHz Krait 400, Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801
- Removable Lithium Ion 2800 mAh Battery, Dimensions: 5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 inches, Weight: 5.11 oz
Galaxy Upcycling at Home: a separate smart-home use
In 2021, Samsung announced Galaxy Upcycling at Home, a distinct route for reusing certain phones as smart-home sensors through a software update and SmartThings Labs. The announcement named childcare monitoring, pet care, sound alerts, and light sensing as possible uses. Samsung’s stated eligibility on April 21, 2021 covered S, Note, and Z series released from 2018—S9, Note9, or later—running Android 9 or above, with carrier variation noted. These are historical criteria, not confirmation of present-day availability; consult Samsung’s announcement and current official support before attempting setup.
Other reuse ideas are not proof of a current service
Samsung’s legacy Galaxy Upcycling project site describes possibilities such as an IoT hub, CCTV system, game console, or desktop PC. Its wording about a beta that would open “soon” is not evidence that a current service or beta is available.
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- This mobile phone is compatible with T-mobile network ONLY and other cellular carriers using the T-mobile network. Will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon or Sprint.
- LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17 (700 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600)
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED Capacitive Multi-Touchscreen w/ Protective Corning Gorilla Glass 4
- Quad-Core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 Processor, Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 81, Adreno 331 Graphics
- Internal Memory: 16GB storage, 2GB RAM + micro SD Slot for Expandable Memory (memory card not included)
What to do with an old Galaxy phone
If you have an older handset, treat the mining rig as an interesting historical reuse demonstration, not a financial opportunity. Consider a currently supported reuse feature only after checking the phone model, software, carrier restrictions, and Samsung’s current instructions. If you cannot reuse the phone, look for a verified electronics recycling program in your area.
Samsung’s 2018 article opened with an estimate of “approximately 50 million tons of electronics discarded worldwide in the last year alone.” That figure was published by Samsung on February 28, 2018; it is historical context, not a current estimate of global electronic waste.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G: HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100l, 4G: LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600
- 5.1" Super AMOLED Capacitive Multi-Touchscreen w/ Protective Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- Android v4.4.2 (KitKat), Quad-Core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 Processor, Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 81, Adreno 330 Graphics
- 16 Megapixel Camera (3456 x 4608 pixels) w/ Autofocus, LED Flash + Front-Facing 2 Megapixel Camera
- Internal Memory: 16GB (11.2GB user available), 2GB RAM + microSD Slot Expandable up to 128GB
Rank #4
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