So now that the iPhone 14 is out, you must get your hands on it as soon as possible. Or maybe you are not impressed with the latest Apple gizmo and skipping your scheduled upgrade this year? In either case, you might face the question: What to do with your older used iPhone?
Let’s explore your options below.
Trade in Your Used iPhone at Apple Store
So, if you are upgrading, after all, the most sensible option would be to trade in your older model when buying a new one. Apple usually gives the best trade-in offers to keep their shoppers loyal. For example, you can turn in your iPhone 13 Pro Max and get up to $720 credit on your iPhone 14 right now. An unbeatable offer. But here is a caveat: your used iPhone must be in near-perfect cosmetic and functional condition. And if it has issues, however minor those might be, there is a good chance you are not getting anything for it–Apple will go ahead and recycle the phone for you instead.
Sell Your Used Apple iPhone with Gadget Salvation
To sell your used iPhone for cash is the next best option, especially if you are not planning to get another one. This way, you can free up some funds to buy and test out an Android smartphone this time.
When it comes to reselling used phones, there are plenty of options out there, from Craigslist to OfferUp. Still, if you don’t want to waste your time registering a seller account, creating the listing, taking photos of your iPhone, etc-etc, an online buyback site is a no-brainer.
For example, with Gadget Salvation, you could have cash in hand as fast as two to seven business days. All you need to do is:
1 – Pick your exact model in the database and calculate the offer based on the smartphone’s cosmetic shape and functional condition.
2 – Send the phone in using the prepaid postage label Gadget Salvation provides.
3 – Get paid within 24 to 48 business hours after the company receives and verifies the condition of your iPhone.
The best part is that they offer multiple electronic payment methods to choose from (Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, Venmo), which means you will receive your money instantly.
Sell Your iPhone on eBay
If you are not in a hurry and willing to do work, cover shipping fees, and risk the buyer returning your iPhone, try your luck on eBay.
eBay is the oldest and the largest marketplace for reselling pre-owned technology. It reaches a far broader audience than Craigslist or even Facebook Marketplace. And with time and persistence, you might just sell your phone for a much higher price than with any buyback site. But if you are an inexperienced seller, we strongly advise against this platform. First, if you don’t have an eBay account, they will make you jump through the hoops to register. As a newly registered seller, you will face certain listing format restrictions (auction vs. “buy it now” price, duration, etc.).
Another thing to remember is that many professional, reputable eBay sellers with the same product are willing to undercut your asking price. And then, once you sell your used iPhone, your buyer might have a change of heart, or worse, claim that the device does not work. But there is very little you can do to mitigate the situation because, ultimately, eBay always sides with the buyer.
Lastly, eBay will pocket 12.9% of the sale. So if you have a high-end newer Apple iPhone model, the deduction will be pretty significant.
In Conclusion
What do you do with your used iPhone? If you are getting a newer model, trade the old one in. Otherwise, sell it for profit instead. But those are not your only options. You can also gift or donate your iPhone to someone in need. Or, if you are handy with tools, you could probably even try disassembling it and selling it for parts, but that is a story for another post.
