Sell or Trade In Your Old Phone? How to Get the Most

Your old phone is worth something, even if it’s a few years old or has a cracked screen. The short answer: selling privately usually gets the most money, trade-ins are the least effort and sometimes the best deal during promotions, and buyback sites or kiosks are fastest but pay less. Whichever you choose, the most important step is preparing the phone properly so none of your data or accounts go with it.

Your options compared

What your phone is worth

Value depends on:

• Model and storage: newer models with more storage hold value best.
• Condition: screen and body scratches, cracks and dents.
• Battery health: a worn battery lowers offers.
• Lock status: unlocked phones sell for more.
• Timing: prices typically fall after new models are announced, so selling before a launch often pays.

Check recently sold listings for your exact model and storage, not asking prices. Our guide to pricing used items explains how.

Read the fine print on trade-ins

Trade-in offers can look generous, but check:

• How you’re paid. Carrier deals often pay the credit in monthly installments over 24 or 36 months. Leave early and you may lose the remaining credits.
• Eligibility. Some promotions require a new line, a specific plan or a particular new phone.
• Condition grading. The offer is confirmed only after inspection, and cracks or faults can reduce it sharply.
• Deadlines. You usually have a limited time to send the old phone.
• Promotional versus standard value. Compare the offer with what the phone would fetch privately.

How to prepare your phone

Do this before you ship it, hand it over or trade it in.

1. Back up your photos, messages and apps to the cloud or a computer.
2. Unpair accessories such as a smartwatch or earbuds.
3. Sign out of your accounts. On an iPhone, sign out of your Apple Account and turn off Find My, which removes Activation Lock. On Android, remove your Google account, which disables Factory Reset Protection for the next owner.
4. Transfer or delete your eSIM, and remove any physical SIM and memory card.
5. Factory reset. On an iPhone, use Erase All Content and Settings; on Android, use the reset option in Settings.
6. Remove the phone from your account’s device list online.
7. Record the IMEI and take photos of its condition before sending.

Selling privately

• Write a clear listing with model, storage, color, carrier status, battery health and any flaws; see how to write listings that sell.
• Show it’s reset by photographing the setup screen.
• Meet safely in a public place, and let the buyer check the phone before paying.
• Verify payment before handing it over. Don’t accept overpayments or checks.
• Ship with tracking, and signature confirmation for expensive phones.

Our Facebook Marketplace safety guide covers the common scams, and how to sell on eBay explains protections for shipped sales.

Broken phones still have value

Repair shops and buyback sites often buy phones with cracked screens or dead batteries for parts. If nobody will pay, recycle it through a certified electronics recycler or a manufacturer or retailer take-back program. Phones contain valuable metals and batteries that shouldn’t go in household trash.

Or keep it

An old phone can be a backup device, a first phone for a child, a dedicated music player or a home camera. If you’re thinking about stepping away from smartphones altogether, it’s worth reading about whether a basic phone could replace your smartphone.

Buying your next phone refurbished?

If you’re replacing your phone, a refurbished model can save money. Our guide to buying refurbished electronics explains what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to sell or trade in my phone?

Selling privately usually earns more, but a carrier promotion can beat it if you meet the conditions and plan to stay with the carrier for the full credit period.

Do I need to remove my SIM card before selling?

Yes. Remove any physical SIM and memory card, and transfer or delete your eSIM before you reset the phone.

What happens if I forget to turn off Find My?

The new owner won’t be able to activate the phone. You can usually remove the device remotely from your account online, but it’s much easier to do it before handing the phone over.