How to make a cheap iPhone speaker

There are some fantastic bluetooth speakers for iPhones, but if you’ve got a Pringles or Bisto tube going spare then you can quickly create a mini amplifier of your own. The whole thing takes less than ten minutes and is a fun project that anyone can do.

Related: 16 Best Bluetooth speakers | Best Bluetooth headphones | Complete guide to Apple Music

How to make a cheap iPhone speaker What you’ll need

All this DIY amplifier requires is a thick cardboard tube of some description (we’ve gone with a Bisto gravy one but Pringles are also a fine choice), a couple of pins, a knife, marker pen, and ruler.

The first thing to do is work out where to place the phone. It needs to be near the closed end of the tube but not right at the rear as the weight will cause the whole thing to topple over.

Now measure the width and depth of your phone to see how big a slot you’ll need to cut out of the tube.

With this done, now mark the outline of the slot on the tube.

Next up, take your sharp knife and cut out the slot. As always, be careful not to do yourself any harm.

The last thing to do is insert the pins on both sides of the bottom of the tube. This is to stop the whole thing from leaning to one side or falling over backwards when you add the weight of the phone. Place them just behind the slot you’ve cut out so that they won’t scratch the back of your phone.

That’s it. You’ve built an amplifier for your iPhone! Just slide it into the slot and you’ll hear the difference.

True, Bose won’t be losing any sleep, but it’s a fun way to add a little volume to your life.