How to Sell an iPhone & Trade-in (Step by Step)
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- When selling your used iPhone, you will have to prepare it for sale by backing up your data, restoring the phone to factory settings, and identifying your iPhone model.
- Avoid losing money on your preowned device by determining the best time to make your sale.
- Find the best deal by comparing options from online outlets, brick-and-mortar stores, and your wireless carrier.
Fast, Secure, and Profitable: The Best Way to Sell Your iPhone!
BankMyCell compares over 100,000+ quotes and customer reviews from 20+ trusted buyback stores every 15 minutes via our data feeds, making us America’s #1 time-saving trade-in supermarket.
Need to Know - Selling Your iPhone
Selling your old iPhone is simple. We’ve broken down the key information you need know to sell your device quickly, efficiently and for the best value. It’s important to make sure you know all the vital details about your device so you can get an accurate quote from buyback companies.
Exact Model, Storage Size & Carrier
How to find device model information:
- Go to Settings
- Click General
- Tap on About
- Device Model Name will be show
How to find device storage size information:
- Go to Settings
- Click General
- Go to iPhone Storage
- Here you can view the total capacity of your device
How to find device carrier information:
- Go to Settings
- Click General
- Go to About
- The carrier and network will be listed at the bottom of the page
Device Condition & Locked Status
Device Condition:
- Mint: Pristine condition, still in box
- Good: Minor cosmetic damage, no software issues
- Cracked: Smashed or cracked screen or case (see our damaged iPhone guide)
- Faulty: Doesn’t power on or faulty hardware/software (see our faulty iPhone guide)
- Liquid: Water damaged devices (see our water damage guide)
Locked Status:
Where You Can Sell
To get the most value for your old iPhone it’s best to get a clear understanding of the different places you can sell or trade-in your device.
- Online Buyback Stores: You’ll get 100% of the devices value, quick quotes, free shipping and cash payment
- In-Store: You’ll get 40-60% of the devices value and store credit
- Carrier Trade-In: You’ll get 25% of the devices value, trade in for another device or store credit
- ATM Kiosk, Pawn and Repair Stores: You’ll get 50% of the devices value, quick cash in hand payment
- Marketplaces: You’ll get 20% of the devices value, longer process and risk of scammers, cash payment
Best Time to Sell
The best time to sell is in the months before a new model arrives, usually in September or November. The longer you wait to make a sale, the more likely you will lose money on device. Your phone’s value will also fall rapidly in the three months after the release of a new model.
Backup, Reset and Sign Out
Before selling your device to any company it is vital that you backup, reset and sign out of your device. This protects your private information from being shared as well as allowing the new owner full access to the phone.
Steps to Backup iPhone:
- Connect your device to Wi-Fi
- Go to Settings > [your name], and select iCloud
- Select iCloud Backup > Backup Now
- Wait for the process to complete
Steps to Reset and Sign Out:
- Log in to iCloud on a different device
- Your locked device should be listed on the screen > click Erase
- Confirm that you understand the implications
- Click confirm again
- Your iPhone has now been set to its factory settings
How To Get Your Old iPhone Ready To Sell
Identify the Exact Model, Storage Size, & Carrier
Identify the Exact Model, Storage Size, & Carrier
If you’re wondering how to sell an iPhone, you’ll first have to take note of a few details about your device:
Keep in mind that unlocked phones without ties to a particular carrier can earn you more cash. It’s also worth noting that Verizon and AT&T remove their carrier lock 60 days after you purchase your phone.
Identify the iPhone Condition
Correctly identifying your iPhone’s condition will give you the best quote for your device. There are 4 main device conditions
New Boxed Condition
- Boxed: Must be in the unopened box, brand new.
- Cosmetic Condition: Like new, no signs of use. No scratches, dings, dents, or water damage.
- Functionality: Never activated or used, 100% functional in all aspects.
- Battery Health: Original capacity, as the device is unused.
- Software: The device’s software is in its original, unaltered state. It has never been activated, and all factory settings are intact. No previous user data or configurations
- Hardware: All components are original and untouched.
Flawless Condition
- Cosmetic Condition: Like new, no signs of use. No scratches, dings, dents, or water damage.
- Functionality: Never activated or used, 100% functional in all aspects.
- Battery Health: Original capacity, as the device is unused.
- Software: The device’s software is in its original, unaltered state. It has never been activated, and all factory settings are intact. No previous user data or configurations
- Hardware: All components are original and untouched.
Good Condition
- Cosmetic Condition: Light to moderate wear, e.g. very light scratches, no significant cosmetic or water damage.
- Functionality: Fully functional, no operational issues.
- Battery Health: Above 80%, no service alerts, powers on
- Software: Your device powers on with no software issues.
- Hardware: All buttons, ports, and functional parts work.
Damaged Condition
- Damage: Any cosmetic damage to the casing or the frame e.g. cracks, broken glass, or dents on the device.
- Additional Conditions: The cosmetic damage should be THE ONLY issue. If it also has a software, hardware, or LCD fault, choose faulty.
- Functionality: Fully functional, no operational issues.
- Battery Health: Above 80%, no service alerts, powers on
- Software: Your device powers on with no software issues.
- Hardware: All buttons, ports, and functional parts work.
Faulty Condition
- Damage: Has cracks, broken glass or dents on the device.
- Additional Conditions: Can have cosmetic faults, but must power on.
- Battery Health: Poor life, below 80% capacity, must power on.
- Functionality: Not functional, has operational issues.
- Software: Has software issues e.g. regularly freezes/crashes.
- Hardware: Has single or multiple hardware issues with buttons, ports, and functional parts.
Water Damaged Condition
- Battery Health: The water damage caused power, or charging issues.
- Damage: Any damage is fine, but water damage is the key issue.
- Functionality: Any functional is fine, but water damage is the key issue..
- Software: Any software is fine, but water damage is the key issue..
- Hardware: Any hardware is fine, but water damage is the key issue..
No Power Condition
- Battery Health: The device doesn’t power on.
- Damage: Any damage is fine, but it doesn’t power on.
- Functionality: Any functional issue is fine, but it doesn’t power on.
- Software: Any software issue is fine, but it doesn’t power on.
- Hardware: Any hardware issue is fine, but it doesn’t power on.
Identify the Locked Status
Your iPhone can also be categorized under 4 lock status’. Your iPhone must have all Activation locks removed to be considered an unlocked device – Here’s How to Factory Reset Your Device
It’s important to know your devices IMEI status to get an accurate quote. You can do this by checking the device’s IMEI on IMEI Pro or IMEI 24. To find your IMEI number follow the instructions: Turn your iPhone over > the IMEI number will be engraved into the back panel of the device
No Password or iCloud Locks (Normal)
- No money owed or monthly finance payments.
- Clean IMEI i.e. not reported lost, stolen or blacklisted.
- You control the account/password and can reset the device if told how.
iCloud Activation Locked
- Activation screen locked.
- Passcode locked.
- iCloud locked.
- Find My iPhone active.
Financed / Money Owed
- Device has outstanding finance payments.
- Device has money owed i.e. late payments.
Bad IMEI / Blacklisted
- Bad IMEI – meaning the device is blacklisted.
- Device currently cannot be used on a cellular network.
How To Sell Your iPhone To Online Buyback Sites
The best place to sell you old iPhone is to online buyback companies. These stores give the highest payout for your device and offer free shipping. To get the most accurate quote make sure you factory reset your iPhone before sending.
Overview: Selling with Online Buyback Companies
Examples
BankMyCell
Value for Money
You’ll get 100% of the devices value
Payment Type
Cash
Steps to sell your iPhone:
- Find your device on the BankMyCell website
- Accept the amount the buyback site offers
- Backup: Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
- Delete Data: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
- Remove your SIM card & send your old iPhone to them
- Collect your money (get cash, store credit, or a gift card
BankMyCell compares over 100,000+ quotes and customer reviews from 20+ trusted buyback stores every 15 minutes via our data feeds, making us America’s #1 time-saving trade-in supermarket.
Best Online Buyback Company
BankMyCell makes selling your pre-owned phone easy. With their compare service, you can stop wondering how to sell an iPhone and get right to making a sale. Just select your phone based on its manufacturer and model to find a list of the best prices you’ll find.
You can use the site’s comparison tool to check prices all around the internet quickly. Just using this price comparison engine can save you a lot of valuable time shopping around for deals.
There are no hidden fees on BankMyCell, and shipping your device to their featured stores is free. Their sellers also send money via Check PayPal and Direct Deposit, which means you get paid quickly with a secure payment method used by many businesses worldwide.
BankMyCell only works with recyclers that they hand-select, so you can rest assured that you are selling to a trusted business that will handle your device responsibly.
How To Sell Your iPhone In-Store (Store Credit)
Another option you have when considering how to sell your old iPhone is with in-store credit from retailers like Best Buy, Apple, and Target. The downsides with in-store sales are that the offer you receive will likely be lower than online buyback programs by at least 30 percent, if not more.
Overview: Selling at Big Box Stores
Examples
Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Apple, Samsung, EcoATM
Value for Money
You’ll lose 40-60% of the devices value
Payment Type
Store Credit
Steps to sell your iPhone:
- Visit the store of your choice or find the device on their online estimator
- Make an agreement on the quote they provide
- Ship your device using their specifications
- Collect your store credit
Best In-Store iPhone Trade-in Options
Average Customer Rating:
2.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Target uses the same trade-in service as Walmart, called CExchange, so you can expect a similar process, with the only difference being which store you receive credit. You can also sell broken phones with CExchange, but you shouldn’t expect much in return.
Average Customer Rating:
1.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Trading in with Apple might be a good option if you want to buy your next phone soon and outright from the source. You can take your old device right into an Apple Store location where they will offer you credit with an Apple gift card or allow you to use the credit toward a new phone.
Average Customer Rating:
1.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot
With Walmart, you can sell and trade in your old iPhone for credit, along with tablets and video games. Though you can’t sell your device at a physical location, you can get a prepaid shipping label. The catch is that you have to pay for packaging yourself.
Average Customer Rating:
1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Best Buy offers both in-store and mail-in services for selling your iPhone. You will receive in-store credit if you take your phone to a physical location or an emailed gift card if you mail in your device.
How To Trade-in Your iPhone To Your Carrier
If you’re still unsure how to sell your old iPhone, you can always take it back to your network carrier, but you should expect 20 percent or 30 percent less than you might make with an online buyback solution.
Overview: Trade-in With Carriers
Examples
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
Value for Money
You’ll lose 25% of the devices value
Payment Type
Store Credit
Steps to sell your iPhone:
- Check for upgrade deals that interest you
- Find your device using your carrier’s online worth estimator
- Make an agreement on the quote
- Ship the old phone
- Collect your payment or your new device
Best Carrier iPhone Trade-in Offers
Average Customer Rating:
2.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Verizon makes things simple by providing shipping boxes free of charge. Once you trade in your device, you can apply the balance to your upcoming bill or choose a gift card to put toward a new phone.
Average Customer Rating:
1.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot
T-Mobile assumes that the device you’re selling is in Good condition. T-Mobile site’s trade-in program takes you to a shopping page immediately after you receive your quote.
Average Customer Rating:
1.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot
AT&T allows customers to trade in their phones at their physical locations to receive credit immediately. They also offer the option for online trade-in too and provide mailing boxes like Verizon.
Average Customer Rating:
1.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Sprint also lets customers trade in phones in-store and online. You can apply your credit to new devices as well as your Spring bill. Mail-in credit may take up to four weeks to process.
How To Trade-in Your iPhone to ATM Kiosks, Pawn and Repair Shops
If you want to get cash in your hands quick then selling your iPhone to ATM Kiosks or Pawn and Repair shops is a good idea, however this quick option can leave you out of pocket as it’s likely you’ll receive 50% less than what you device is actually worth compared to if you sold it to online buyback companies.
Overview: Sell to ATM Kiosks, Pawn & Repair Shops
Examples
GameStop, EcoATM
Value for Money
You’ll lose 50% of the devices value
Payment Type
Cash / Store Credit
Steps to sell your iPhone:
- Visit the store of your choice
- Make an agreement on the quote they provide
- Drop off your device using their specifications
- Collect your cash or credit
Best ATM Kiosk Offers
Average Customer Rating:
3.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot
Researching how to sell your iPhone can be time-consuming. With Gazelle/Eco ATM, you can drop your phone off at many in-person kiosks near you with minimal hassle. You don’t have to wait around to make a sale with this service. The entire process takes about five minutes, and you can immediately walk away with money for your device.
How To Trade-in Your iPhone on Marketplace
Another way to make cash selling your old iPhone is through marketplaces such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. These option are often more time consuming as you have to create a listing and wait for a buyer. Selling on a Marketplace also comes with risk of scammers. You’ll likely lose 20% of the iPhone value compared to selling to online buyback companies.
List and Sell on Marketplaces
Examples
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay
Value for Money
You’ll lose 20% of the devices value
Payment Type
Cash
Steps to sell your iPhone:
- Create a listing for your device
- Wait for offers
- Make an agreement on a price
- Arrange collection of the old phone
- Collect your payment
What’s the Best Time To Sell My iPhone?
When figuring out how to sell an iPhone, it might not be immediately apparent that selling at certain times can earn you more money for your device. As soon as you prepare your iPhone for sale with the steps above, you should consider selling.
But, you should make an exception to this rule if a new iPhone recently hit the market. The best time to sell is in the months before a new model arrives, usually in September or November.
The longer you wait to make a sale, the more likely you will lose money on the sale. Your phone’s value will also fall rapidly in the three months after the release of a new model.
If you sell to an online buyback store, usually the company will freeze your quote up to 30 days. This timeframe allows you to keep shopping for a better deal or purchase a new phone before selling.
Backup Your Personal Data
When you’re selling your old device, if you don’t already have a new iPhone in hand to transfer your data, you should make a backup. This step is one of the most important recommendations you’ll get from anyone explaining how to sell an iPhone.
Creating a backup of your previous device is necessary because it will prevent you from losing any photos or videos you have saved on your current device. Making a backup is a fairly straightforward process—Apple’s support pages help to walk you through the process of saving your data on a computer.
To back up from your phone, first, make sure you’re connected to a WiFi network. Then, under Settings, tap your name and select iCloud. Scroll down to find iCloud Backup, and once you’re in that menu, move the slider to the “on” position. You might also have to manage your iCloud storage data, depending on the size of your backup.
Sign Out and Reset Your iPhone
When you’re researching how to sell a used iPhone, another important takeaway is the process of resetting your device to the factory settings. When you first set up your iPhone, it ties your iCloud account to the device. When it’s time for an upgrade, you need to sign out of your iCloud account and restore the device back to the factory settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is a good place to sell an iPhone?
To get the best value for your used iPhone, consider platforms like BankMyCell. It is known for offering high cash offers from various online buyback stores without the hassle of dealing with scams. Selling on BankMyCell typically yields higher returns compared to other trade-in options.
How can I safely sell my used iPhone?
To ensure a safe selling experience for your iPhone, disconnect any associated devices such as an Apple Watch. Then, back up all your data and sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store. Lastly, perform a factory reset to erase all personal information from the device.
Does Apple buy iPhones for cash?
While Apple does have a trade-in program for iPhones, it provides credit towards new purchases rather than cash. If you’re looking for cash, consider exploring third-party marketplaces or specialized buyback services that deal with used electronics.
