There are many millions of old smartphones lurking unused in drawers around the world. That’s a shame because not only do these forgotten phones contain rare earth elements that could be recycled, but they are also wasting value for their owners who might be able to resell them.
Maybe you have one yourself — an older model iPhone or Samsung Galaxy just sitting around your house somewhere. Why not dust off that old phone and sell it for cash before it loses all its value? You can take advantage of buyback programs, online marketplaces, or trade-in offers from Back Market to recoup some of the investments that you made in your phone or expand your budget for a new phone.
Follow this short guide to find out how to sell your used phone, no matter its condition, and get the best possible offer.
Reasons to sell your phone
When you’re ready to move on to a new phone, you have a few options for what to do with your old device. These include giving it to someone else or recycling it. Whatever you do, just don’t throw it in the trash. Tossing your phone creates e-waste and is a big problem for the environment. Sadly, more than 5 billion mobile phones are thrown away each year when most of these could be recycled. Recycling helps limit pollution and reduces the need to mine more minerals from the Earth.
So while recycling is good for the planet, there’s another option that’s even better for you, and that’s reselling your phone if it’s still in decent condition. By passing on your phone to a new owner, you keep waste out of the landfill, someone gets a new phone, and you get cash in your pocket — it’s a win for everyone.