  Smartphones and tablets are an integral part of our daily lives, and their
capabilities extend well beyond communication and entertainment. With a broad
choice of built-in sensors, using these mobile devices as experimental tools
(MDETs) allows for a many different measurements, covering several fields of
physics (mechanics, acoustics and waves, magnetism, optics, etc.). Building on
this development, the present contribution is about exploring the potential of
MDETs in physics undergraduate research. Two examples related to acoustics
(bottle Helmholtz resonator, singing glasses) will be discussed in detail, and
four further possibilities are referred to as perspectives. Results of these
student research projects are encouraging throughout (accuracy, agreement with
theory), in many cases providing a basis for further improvements and insight.
Additionally, it is argued that these examples provide a "proof of concept"
that the use of smartphones for experimental projects can mobilize and
stimulate among students the educational potential of "higher order thinking
skills" (HOTs) widely discussed in the literature on undergraduate research,
such as autonomy, curiosity, creativity, and others.
