An old phone is worth real money, and often enough to cover the upfront cost of the next one. The gap between the best and worst offer for the same handset can be a third of its value, so it is worth ten minutes of comparison.
Where to sell
- Network and retailer trade-in at purchase. Convenient, sometimes boosted by a promotional bonus at launch time, and usually applied as a discount on the new deal. Convenient rarely means highest, though: check the quote against the others.
- Trade-in specialists. Companies that do nothing else, and comparison sites that quote several at once. Usually the best guaranteed price, paid by bank transfer once they have checked the phone.
- Selling it yourself. Highest potential price, but you deal with the buyer, the postage and the risk. Sensible for a recent flagship in good condition; not worth the hassle for a phone worth £40.
Before you send it anywhere
- Back it up. Then check the backup actually restores what you need.
- Sign out of your accounts. On an iPhone, turn off Find My and sign out of iCloud; on Android, remove your Google account. A phone still locked to an account is worthless to the buyer and the quote will be withdrawn or slashed.
- Remove the SIM and any memory card. If you are keeping your number, the SIM moves to the new phone or you request a PAC.
- Factory reset. Only after the two steps above, or the reset may leave an activation lock in place.
- Clean it and photograph it. Front, back, edges, screen on. If a buyer downgrades the condition, you have evidence.
How condition is graded
Buyers use similar bands to the ones refurbishers sell under: fully working with no marks; working with cosmetic wear; working with a damaged screen or body; not working. Quotes are for the top band unless you say otherwise. Be honest when you describe it — every buyer inspects on arrival and revises the offer if it does not match, and by then you have paid the postage.
Finally, do not leave it in a drawer. Trade-in values fall every month, and fastest in the weeks after the next model launches. If you have decided to upgrade, sell the old one straight away — and if you are still choosing the new one, start here.