Your phone has sensors you have never used and a free app turns them into a physics laboratory

Published on May 04, 2026 at 8:56 AM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on May 22, 2026 at 4:23 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

Your phone has sensors you have never used and a free app turns them into a physics laboratory
Google
See us first in Google Get our stories before anyone else Add Supercar Blondie in one tap and get our stories before anyone else

Did you know that your phone is actually way more powerful than you thought because it has sensors you have never used, and that there’s a free app that turns it into a physics laboratory?

We put the app to the test and discovered that our everyday devices could double as a full-blown science kit.

Using a simple app, we transformed our smartphone into something capable of running real physics experiments.

And the results show just how much hidden tech we carry around in our pockets every day.

Your phone has sensors you have never used

Modern smartphones are packed with tech, even sensors that go far beyond what most people ever use.

We’re talking accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, magnetometers, and even light sensors, all quietly working in the background.

These components can measure motion, orientation, sound, and even magnetic fields with surprising precision.

We used this simple app called Phyphox to run experiments that generally had to be run in a lab, with a hefty warning from the app that if you try it at home, your phone may suffer the consequences.

Our experiments included tracking movement, measuring acceleration, and analyzing forces in real time.

In fact, according to reports. Physics educators have already been using phones in classrooms because they can act as portable data collectors, letting students measure motion and forces directly from their own devices.

As one expert explained, smartphones can sometimes be ‘better than our lab instruments‘ when it comes to gathering certain types of data.

Related

Apple has just warned of a new scam targeting millions of iPhone users and revealed how to protect yourself

Apple has just warned of a new scam targeting millions of iPhone users and revealed how to protect yourself

Apple issues warning for iPhone users to update their devices as new tool emerges that means millions of phones could be hacked

Apple issues warning for iPhone users to update their devices as new tool emerges that means millions of phones could be hacked

Apple's iPhone Fold will let you run two apps side by side and the software sounds more like an iPad than an iPhone

Apple's iPhone Fold will let you run two apps side by side and the software sounds more like an iPad than an iPhone

You can turn a free app into a physics laboratory

What makes this app even more interesting is how accessible it is.

You can run pre-built experiments in Phyphox, or you can build your own, perfect for physicists without the funds to run those experiments in a lab-based setting.

Instead of needing complex lab gear, you can simply press start and begin collecting data instantly.

The app can pull information from multiple sensors at once, letting users like us explore everything from motion and gravity to sound waves and magnetic fields.

That means you can recreate classic physics experiments, like measuring acceleration during a jump or analyzing movement in an elevator, using nothing more than your gadget- you can even test the Doppler Effect.

You don’t just have to use your phone to doomscroll; you can do so much more than that.

Godspeed, budding physicists!

Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.