Mobile recycling

Sell your old mobile
Earn £100s for old handsets

Do you have an old mobile phone sitting idle? It might be a valuable asset worth hundreds of pounds. Although the most economical and eco-friendly choice is to continue using it with an inexpensive SIM card, if you’re ready to let it go, follow this detailed guide to maximize the value of your unwanted device.

How to sell your phone

Certainly! While it may seem more economically sensible to hold onto your current device instead of purchasing a new one, if you’re considering selling your old mobile, here’s what you should be aware of. There are various methods available to profit from your used phones:

Flog it yourself

If you’re willing to put in a bit more effort and handle the sale of your phone personally, eBay can often offer a better price. However, this comes with more hassle and no guarantees due to the auction site’s nature.

You’ll need to list your phone on eBay yourself, and once it’s sold, you’ll be responsible for packaging and shipping it safely. To get an idea of what you might earn, it’s a good idea to check the offers from mobile phone buying companies first. Use this information to set a reserve price you’re comfortable with. For more guidance on selling successfully, see eBay Selling Tricks.

If you prefer to avoid the hassle of shipping, you might consider listing your phone locally on Facebook Marketplace. This way, buyers will come to you to pick it up. For tips on selling on Facebook, see Facebook Selling Tips.

Trade in a phone with your new provider

If you’re trying to get a new phone, you could try trading it in with the company you’re buying a new one from (this only really works with high street retailers).

Both Apple and Samsung offer to buy your old phone in exchange for a discount on a new one, as you purchase it directly with them. When we checked, Apple was offering £150 for a working iPhone 11 64GB, while the highest offer via a phone-buyer was £146.

By dealing directly with manufacturers, you bypass the need for intermediaries, offering you reassurance that your old device will be managed with care. Learn the necessary steps to take before dispatching your device.

See our Cheap Mobile Tips for best ways to buy or our Cheap Mobile Finder tool to compare deals.

Use a mobile-buying firm

These are specialized, primarily online businesses that will purchase your old phone and offer cash in return. The process is quite straightforward: visit the website, input your phone’s model, and receive a quote. For instance, we discovered one service that offers £200 for a 128GB iPhone XR.

Using a mobile-buying firm? How to find the top payer

With numerous companies specializing in buying mobile phones, the price you receive can differ significantly depending on the model and its specifications.

To quickly evaluate multiple firms and identify the best offer, consider using a comparison website. Since no single comparison site encompasses every mobile phone buying company and prices fluctuate frequently, it’s advisable to consult several major sites.

We’ve outlined a recommended sequence for comparison, taking into account the variety of features each site provides, such as the ability to secure quotes. Keep in mind that prices are generally similar and vary daily, as do the number of firms listed on each site.

Top sites that compare phone recyclers

(1) If you’re quoted a better price elsewhere within 24 hours, Sell My Mobile will refund the difference.

Once you’ve found a good price, check it against a few other sites often missed by the above as they can be competitive:

• CEX
• Mazuma Mobile*
• Envirofone
• O2 Recycle
• Mozillion

Be honest about your phones condition

Many websites will first inquire whether your phone is functioning properly and then provide you with a quote based on that information. However, companies like Mazuma Mobile and Envirofone require you to select a more precise condition rating, such as ‘Excellent,’ ‘Fair,’ or ‘Faulty.’ To accurately assess your phone’s condition, you’ll need to evaluate factors such as scratch severity and battery health.

If you misjudge your phone’s condition when providing the rating, you might receive a revised quote after sending in your device. In such cases, you can either appeal the revised quote or request that your phone be returned to you.

To prevent any disputes regarding your phone’s condition, it’s advisable to take photographs of the device before sending it to the mobile purchasing company.

Can I sell a broken or damaged phone?

Most service providers will consider purchasing phones with minor damage, offering a reduced value—typically around 10-50% of the phone’s working price. For phones in worse condition, many providers will at least ensure they are recycled properly.

Common types of damage include significant dents in the casing or phones that fail to power on. However, if a phone is water-damaged, physically shattered, or has an unresponsive or cracked screen, it is unlikely to fetch any money. Phones that are excessively damaged might not be accepted by mobile phone buying companies.

To determine the value of your damaged phone, be sure to select the ‘damaged’ or ‘faulty’ option when looking for the best offer.

How do mobile-buying firms work?

Once you’ve input your information and settled on a satisfactory price, you’ll need to send your phone to them. Be sure to verify the duration for which your quoted price is secured, as this can range from 72 hours to 14 days.

Typically, you’ll receive a padded envelope or a prepaid postage label for returning the phone, which can be sent back via Freepost.

However, many of these free postage options do not come with insurance, meaning you’re sending your phone at your own risk—some services may not take responsibility if the phone goes missing. In such cases, it might be worth paying extra for recorded ‘Signed For’ delivery, which includes insurance coverage up to £50. This service usually incurs a small fee, depending on your phone’s weight. If everything proceeds smoothly, you should receive payment on the day of the phone’s evaluation.

Before sending off your phone, ensure it’s fully charged and turned off. Remove any SIM or memory cards, and take off any cases, screen protectors, or accessories. Also, disable any security features or PIN codes that could interfere with testing. To do this, simply select ‘reset factory settings’ from your phone’s menu and ensure all private data is erased.

Be upfront about your phone’s condition, as you may receive a lower offer if its state is worse than described. While you can refuse a counter-offer, be aware that some companies may charge you for return shipping.

You’ve little protection if something goes wrong

If you’ve sent your phone to a company for repairs and something goes awry, or if the company goes out of business before settling your payment, unfortunately, your options for recourse are limited.

In cases where the company enters administration—meaning an insolvency firm is appointed to manage its affairs—the administrators will attempt to continue operations if feasible. However, if the company cannot continue trading, you’ll have to request a refund directly from the administrators, which can be a more challenging process. For additional details, refer to our Administration Help guide.

Giving your phone a new lease of life

If you don’t want to sell your phone, here are other ways to give it a new lease of life:

Repurpose your phone as a home security or baby monitor

If you’re not quite ready to let go of your old phone and it still works, you could use it as a security camera or a baby or pet monitor.

You’ll need to download a monitoring app such as AlfredCamera or Luna. These apps allow you to connect your new device with your old one as long as both devices have a Wi-Fi connection. You can also use your data, but it’s better to use Wi-Fi as it gives a more stable connection.

Configure your previous phone to function as a camera, then view the live feed through your new phone. Many monitoring apps have features that detect changes in sound levels and will notify you on your new phone if any unusual activity occurs while you’re not around.

Remember that the battery life of your old phone might have diminished with age, so it’s a good idea to keep it connected to a power source while it’s in use. Also, monitor the device to ensure it doesn’t overheat, particularly if it’s in operation for long stretches.

Donate your phone

If you just want to give your phone away, there are a number of schemes to help redistribute old tech to people who need it most. Three of the largest schemes have been set up by the big mobile networks: Virgin Media O2’s Community Calling, in partnership with Hubbub, Vodafone’s Great British Tech Appeal and Three’s Reconnected. You don’t have to be with those networks to donate.

All schemes will provide you with a free returns envelope to send your device and it’ll then ensure any data is wiped clean before it’s rehomed. Once rehomed, each recipient gets access to free data so they can use the device.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has also provided a list of organisations that rehome old tech to those that need it. Although the information is provided by the GLA, some of the organisations listed also operate nationally. It also provides a handy table of device types each organisation is in most need of.

How to recycle electrical items

To find the nearest place to recycle your electrical items, you can enter your postcode on the Recycle Your Electricals website. This will include local council sites and also high street stores such as John Lewis and Currys.

Don’t just put your old phone in the bin

Getting rid of your old phone isn’t just about decluttering – there are potentially noxious substances in decaying phones. If placed in landfill, it’s reckoned batteries can infect the water system, while lead, flame retardants and beryllium can all harm the environment. So even if you can’t sell it, don’t throw your old phone out with your household rubbish.

What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your old phone

Before you bid farewell to your phone, it’s crucial to secure your photos, videos, contacts, and other valuable information. Here’s a guide on the necessary steps to ensure your data remains protected.

1 – Back up your data

You can store your data in the cloud through services such as iCloud for iPhone users or Google Drive for Android users. However, keep in mind that these services typically require a monthly subscription fee.

Alternatively, you can transfer your data to another device, such as a computer or external hard drive, using a USB cable. If you’re unsure how to do this, see Microsoft and Apple for more detailed instructions.

If you already have a new phone, you can move your data for free, without the hassle of backing it up first.

2 – Remove your Sim card

Even if you no longer use the SIM card, it’s crucial to remove it before sending your old phone away. The SIM card holds valuable details such as your phone number and contacts.

Typically, you can locate the SIM card slot by using a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to press into the tiny hole on the side of your phone.

3 – Factory reset your phone

Executing a factory reset will delete all the data and settings on your phone, reverting it to its original condition as if it were brand new. This action is essential for safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that no personal data is left on the device.

Make sure to back up your data beforehand, as this process is generally irreversible.

To factory reset your phone, go to the Settings menu, look for the ‘Reset’ or ‘Backup & reset’ option, and select ‘Factory data reset’. If you’re unsure, see Apple and Google (Android users) for more detailed instructions on how to do this.

Even after you’ve wiped all data from your phone, it might still have security features designed to protect it from unauthorized access if it gets lost or stolen. This is referred to as ‘Activation Lock’ for Apple devices or ‘Reactivation Lock’ for Samsung devices. Follow the instructions below to disable these features.

4 – Remove any accessories, including phone cases

While accessories like phone cases and screen protectors can provide added protection for your device, it’s important to remove them and restore the phone to its original state before trading it in.

While you may no longer have a use for them, someone else might find value in your items. You can then either sell them or give them away to your local charity shop or via platforms such as Freecycle or Gumtree.

5 – Remove any accounts, including iCloud, Samsung or Google

To help protect your data, it’s crucial to remove your old iCloud or Google accounts to prevent unauthorised access to your personal information. To remove your iCloud or Google account from your phone:

For Apple devices (iOS):

• Go to Settings > select your name (at the top of the Settings menu).
• Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
• Enter your Apple ID password when prompted and tap Turn Off.
• Select the data you want to keep a copy of on your device or choose to delete it from the device.
• Tap Sign Out to confirm.

For Android devices (Google account):

• Go to Settings > Accounts (or Users & accounts).
• Select your Google account.
• Tap Remove account or Remove (the wording may vary depending on your device).

Also check if you’ve disabled ‘Activation Lock’ (Apple) or ‘Reactivation Lock’ (Samsung)

To help prevent unauthorised use of your phone if it is lost or stolen Apple has something called Activation Lock. If this is in place, it won’t be possible for the buyer of your phone to use it or resell it. Even if you no longer have the phone, you can still remove this remotely. See Apple for detailed instructions on how to remove this lock.

If your Samsung phone has Reactivation Lock enabled, make sure to disable it before selling the device. You can do this by going to the settings menu, selecting Security, and then choosing Find My Mobile. From there, you can disable Reactivation Lock by entering your Samsung account information.