How to dispose of your outdated smartphone?

Selling old smartphone — Image by Cybernews

That smartphone that you haven’t used for a couple of years could be worth something.

Among the most common ways for users to dispose of their smartphones is to give them to a friend or a family member, or to sell them.
Users can sell their smartphones through a marketplace, trade-in, or via a third-party reseller.
Trading in your smartphone is the easiest yet less profitable way to dispose of your smartphone.
Selling your device via marketplaces could bring you the most profit, but it also carries a risk of being scammed.
Third-party resellers could provide you with a useful assessment of your device, but it won’t give you a profitable deal.

While getting a smartphone is often a joyous occasion, thinking about what to do with your old one could cause a headache. After all, if we’re conscious enough, we understand that it depends on us whether the device will be used further or turn into electronic waste.

Considering the various ways users can pass on their used devices, what is the best way to replace them and obtain the best deal in return?

User habits when disposing of their smartphones

After upgrading their smartphone, users tend to toss their old one into a drawer, gift it to a friend or family member, or sell it. Simply discarding a device is also among these options.

A survey by YouGov, a research data and analytics technology group, revealed that 45% of the thousand respondents in the US keep their old device, with 24% selling it or giving to someone else for free.

While selling your smartphone could mean that you’ll benefit the most out of the situation, it also depends on how you do it. So, what are some of the ways to trade your smartphone, and which one of these brings you the most advantage?

Old smartphones — Image by Volanthevist | Getty Images

Selling a smartphone yourself

One way users can “get rid of” their smartphones is by selling them on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, eBay, and others.

“These sites let you reach a lot of buyers, so you can usually get a better price compared to trade-in options. Plus, listing your phone is super easy, and you get to deal with the buyers directly,” shares Bryan Cohen, the CEO of OPN Communications, a telecommunications agency.

While selling through such marketplaces could bring you a better deal, it’s also important to consider risks, such as getting scammed, as not all platforms have buyer or seller protection.

I myself heard some horror stories about sellers becoming victims of scams in which buyers submitted false claims of not receiving the correct item. So, answering a number of messages with the most random questions isn’t always the worst thing that could happen when trying to make a sale.

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Selling a smartphone through a trade-in

One way users can dispose of their used smartphones is by “returning” them to the original company.

A number of companies now offer trade-in programs that work by taking your old smartphone and giving you a discount on a new one.

Apple offers the iPhone Upgrade Program (iUP), which provides users with a new iPhone every year after they make 12-month payments. Then, their previous iPhone is being replaced with the newest model. However, the program has downsides, as it doesn’t have a trade-in option at the start of the program.

iPhone update program — Image by Cybernews

Meanwhile, with Samsung’s “Galaxy Easy Compensation” program, users can sell their used device to the company without having to purchase a new one. However, it was shared that the program is only available in South Korea, with the company planning to expand to other countries.

Selling your smartphone to the company you bought it from has its perks, as it’s quick, and the money received from the device usually goes towards the purchase of a new phone.

Also, for those who are concerned about e-waste and are curious about what happens to your smartphone after the company buys it back, some businesses bring it back to life. For example, last year, Google started selling its refurbished Pixel smartphones at a lower price.

However, users tend to trade their smartphone through a carrier, “often without realizing they're getting a fraction of the phone’s actual value and getting tied into another several year contract,” notes Erik Helgesen, the co-founder of PayMore, a company that buys, sells, and trades used electronics.

Trusting a third-party reseller

A third option for those who don’t want to trade their phone in and are not a fan of selling it on marketplace platforms is trusting a third-party seller. Usually, such companies claim to give customers the best deal or at least let them know what their smartphone is actually worth.

Sam Devia, tech expert and founder of eRepair, revealed that money-wise, selling your smartphone through a third-party reseller won’t guarantee that you’re getting the highest price for your device, but “it’s quick and headache-free.”

Nevertheless, it could be a useful stop where you can learn the most about your device and make an informed decision about what to do with it next.

When disposing of your smartphone or any other outdated electronic device, it’s best to understand that it has not only monetary value but also an impact on the environment, especially considering that there are ways to give used electronic devices a second life.