Are Old iPhones Worth Anything?

Do you have an older iPhone device, and are you considering selling it for some extra dollars in the bank? In this age of e-waste crisis, try to reuse your old phone rather than sending it to a landfill site and damaging the environment. 

But it can take time to determine whether your iPhone is worth anything. It’s crucial that you consider the range of factors that determine this value and whether selling or trading in your older device is the right move for you.

What Affects My Old iPhones ’s Value?

So you’ve got an old phone and don’t want it to add to the e-waste crisis? That’s more than fair enough, but if you’re hoping to sell or trade in your phone, you must be aware of the factors affecting your old iPhone’s value. 

Even if your phone is in good condition, that’s not the only factor that could boost or limit its worth. 

Storage Capacity

Imagine you buy a new iPhone, only to discover its storage is so complete that it’s barely usable. It would be annoying, and you’d probably want a refund. Well, it’s the same when you’re selling your old iPhone. People spending their money on a product - old or new - want to make sure they’re getting their value for money. So, what does this look like in terms of storage? 

The more storage your iPhone has, the more desirable it will be, thus the higher the financial value. If your old phone can’t handle the flooding of apps, images, and other media files, then it’s not likely to be desirable to a broader audience. Especially today, when phones are used for much more than calling friends, family, and work. You can make a whole career out of creating content on these devices. So, the more storage, the better. 

Condition

Much like an old antique, the closer your old iPhone is to its original condition, the higher its value will be. While this is partly due to aesthetics, such as your phone's unchipped screen, it’s also about its functional condition. After all, an old iPhone that barely works is, unsurprisingly, not going to be much use to anyone. 

For those who invested in a good, protective iPhone case, the likelihood of damage to their old iPhone will likely be far less than for those who risked it. Regardless, if you have an iPhone now, it’s best to protect it so that, in the future, you can ensure an excellent-quality old phone that will fetch a reasonable price at a marketplace or trade-in program. 

While your old iPhone is unlikely to get a “as good a new” price, the better its physical condition, the higher its value, so take care of your device. 

Functionality

But what does functionality mean? Does your old iPhone work as well as it used to? Or did you once drop it down the toilet without waterproof protection? Do you charge it too much, or does the battery now drain in a matter of hours, and apps crash every time you try to open one? 

While looks are essential to a device’s aesthetic and thus value, it’s important to remember that if your old iPhone doesn’t work, people are unlikely to buy it. If there are a couple of minor functional flaws, you could still sell it. But, understandably, this will be at a limited price. 

Before you consider selling your old device, check that the buttons, camera, and systems still work effectively. 

Market Demand

When old antiques sell for $50 and then sell for $9 million, it shows that to the right buyer, there’s an unseen value. The same goes for iPhone collectors. Only a couple of years ago did an old iPhone sell for over $100,000, but just because you have an old iPhone doesn’t mean you’ll become rich (sadly). 

Ultimately, the more rare something is, the higher the price it will be to collectors. If you have a first-generation iPhone - much like the first edition of a book - then it might go for a high price with the right collector. However, if you’re trying to audition off one of the latest models, you’ll unlikely get much.

That being said, if you’re selling a recent model in good condition, there may not be a collector demand, but there will be a high demand among consumers who can’t afford the latest iPhone at Apple prices. 

Where To Sell or Trade In Your Old iPhone

Online Marketplace

Whether eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Swappa, plenty of marketplaces are great platforms for selling your old device. Selling on these sites doesn’t guarantee you any money, but they are popular sites, and you can do research beforehand to see how much similar products are being sold for. 

The only trouble with large sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace is that they are often oversaturated (i.e., everyone is selling everything there), so it might be hard for people to find your product. 

More specific sites like Swappa, a more upmarket eBay, could be the answer. It’s a marketplace for newer tech, so it’s best not to put a broken phone on this site. By narrowing the market down, Swappa could be your site if you have a newer, old device in good condition. 

Trade-In Programs

If you want guaranteed money fast, a trade-in program might be your better option. While you’re unlikely to get as high a price as selling it on a marketplace, a trade-in program will still benefit you. 

For example, if you use the Apple trade-in program, they’ll let you know how much your phone is worth (to them) and offer you credit or a gift card so that when you come to buy a new iPhone, you get a nice (but probably small) deduction. It’s not the same as getting the money in your back pocket, but it will save you some precious dollars if you want another iPhone. 

However, you might not want to trade into Apple; perhaps an Apple gift card doesn’t appeal. There are plenty of other trade-in programs you can get involved with, including the Walmart program. The process works like Apple, except you can use a Walmart gift card instead. 

A trade-in program will hopefully guarantee you some benefits and help you avoid adding your phone to dangerous e-waste, so why not research a program near you today?

Preparing Your Old iPhone for Sale

If you decide that a trade-in isn’t an option and you want to sell your old device, then it's crucial to prepare correctly. Before you do anything, back up anything important on your device, such as emails, photos, and contacts; once you clean your device, you won’t get these back.

Then, you'll need to clean your phone before you send it off. You don’t want someone strolling through your personal information or photos. Plus, people generally want to receive a phone that feels new and has plenty of storage so that they can start afresh with it. 

Setting the right price is essential once everything is backed up and cleaned. Unfortunately, if you set the price too high based on the condition, functionality, market demand, and storage capacity, you’ll likely not get any buyers. Set it too low, and you might make a sale but miss out on those extra dollars. So, finding a middle ground is essential, along with good research. 

If your device has an old phone case with it, and you don’t send that on with the phone, make sure you know what to do with your old case rather than sending it to a landfill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Older iPhones Valuable?

Older doesn’t always mean more valuable. Older models can be more helpful and have sold for a lot of money at auctions, but this depends on the collector and the condition of the iPhone. This is likewise the case with older models selling online or exchanging in a trade-in program.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the choice to sell or trade in your old iPhone is entirely up to you and will likely depend on what value you think your iPhone will reach. If it's not as good as new, then it's worth considering a trade-in program for some guaranteed benefits. However, whether you choose to sell your device or not, it's crucial that your devices are adequately protected—old or new. 

After all, your new iPhone will become an “old” one in a matter of years, and you'll wish you had protected it now for more excellent financial value in the future. So why not discover your next fabulous Casely iPhone case today? Then, you can keep your iPhone protected with a perfect stylish accessory.