In today’s world, where trading in or selling old devices makes far more sense than letting them gather dust in a drawer, your phone’s resale value shouldn’t be neglected. With new “latest and greatest” models constantly being released and upgrade cycles getting shorter, it’s becoming harder to ignore the temptation of new tech.
I get it; you don’t want to be left behind when fresh devices hit the market. But instead of stashing your old phone away, reselling it for a good price is a smarter, more cost-effective move. That way, you can offset the cost of your next upgrade and keep enjoying the best of what’s new without overspending.
To cut the long story short, in this article I’ll tell you the best tips to help you increase and maintain your phone’s resale value.
Best Tips To Increase Your Phone’s Resale Value
Tip 1: Protect It From Day One
As Rafiki from Lion King said (I rewatched Lion King this week): “The journey of a thousand miles…begins with the first step”. In this case, the journey to having your phone worth a good deal of value even after using it for a while starts from the first day that you get it.
We recommend that you get yourself a quality phone case to protect your phone’s aesthetics from those scratches and scuffs that quite easily plague phones without it. You should also invest in getting yourself a good screen protector to prevent damage to your screen and prevent you from having to replace it.
Believe it or not, it’s in the little things when it comes to reselling your device. This means that things as little as scuffs and cracks can easily knock off $50 to $200 from your phone’s resale value.
Despite how tempting it may appear, we wouldn’t recommend going for cheaply made phone cases, especially since some have been known to ruin your phone’s finish, and some might even discolor your phone. Since there is no way to know for sure, it’s best for you to simply go for something that can protect your phone from damage and keep its aesthetic value intact.
Tip 2: Use a Good Case and Avoid Overheating
When it comes to electronics and most especially in the case of smartphones, heat is not your friend. Prolonged internal heat is known to easily shorten the life span of your phone’s battery and wear the internals. These things may sound small, but these damages are capable of lowering the resale value of your phone faster than you could imagine.
You should get yourself a good case that can help prevent this. Cases that are made from aluminium or have the special feature of cooling your phone are the way to go if you are looking to extend the phone’s battery life and protect the internals from overheating.
As a bonus tip, there is only so much that a phone case can do for you if you leave your phone in extreme conditions. Basically, try your best to avoid leaving your phone in hot cars or direct sunlight for long periods since your phone case is of no use in such a scenario.
Tip 3: Avoid Unauthorized Repairs
If you are looking to maximize the resale value of the device that you currently own, then you should be trying to make sure that it is as whole or original as possible. Now accidents do happen, and this could mean that you would have to replace a broken part of your device.
Our advice: try to avoid replacing the broken parts of your device with third-party and non-original parts
Whether it’s the screen or the battery of your device, it’s best that you replace the broken part with only original parts so that you do not lose too much of its resale value when the time to resell eventually comes.
Tip 4: Clean It Up Before You Sell
Let’s say you have finally decided to sell your iPhone online to us on TheWhizCells.com, and you are about to ship your phone, that’s where you should apply this next tip. You should use a soft cloth to clean your phone to make sure that it looks presentable. Focus on places like the screen, ports and the camera lenses to make sure that nothing is left looking dusty or dirty.
The clean up should not only be physical; you should also digitally clean up your device. This means backing up the data that you have on your phone, signing out all accounts and factory resetting your device to bring it back to its original state.
Tip 5: Time Your Sale Strategically
It might not look like it but there is a need to time your sale if you are going to get the most out of your device when you finally make the sale. Let’s talk about depreciation cycles.
Like most things on the face of the earth, the value of smartphones are constantly changing with the times and with the release of new models and better devices, the prices of the devices you own also dive even if only slightly
Based on data from our article on best time to sell your iPhone, we recommend selling a few weeks before a major new iPhone/Samsung release for the best value. Read the article to learn other ideal times to sell your device.
Tip 6: Monitor Battery Health
When reselling your smartphones and mobile devices buyers and trade in sites are often particular about the battery health of said devices. The higher the battery health of your device the more you can get for it.
So if the battery health of your phone is poor then you are better off replacing it just before you resell. It’ll cost you, but it’s a decision that can increase your offer by up to 10-15%.
Where To Sell Your Phone For The Most Money?
The Whiz Cells is the best place to sell iPhones (and other devices) for the most money. Apart from being the place to get the most money when selling your used iPhone online, selling your device to The Whiz Cells is as simple as can be and only takes a few minutes to get through. Plus, we process payment within 24 hours of receiving your device.
How To Sell Your Phone To The Whiz Cells
- Go to TheWhizCells.com.
- Search for your device.
- Select your device details: carrier (network status), storage, condition, and whether or not the device is paid off.
- Receive your offer and click checkout.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Bottom Line
The journey of a thousand miles truly starts with the first step so you should try your best to take good care of your devices if you are hoping to resell them later in the future.
If you apply the six tips that I recommended to you in this article then you should be able to fully maximize the value from your device when you decide to resell.
Frequently Asked Questions Tips To Increase Your Phone’s Resale Value
How do I maximize my phone’s trade-in value?
To get the best offer, start taking care of your phone from day one. Use a high-quality case, protect your screen, and avoid overheating. If you’re planning to sell my iPhone, keeping it clean, both physically and digitally, and making any repairs with original parts can make a big difference. Timing your sale strategically, ideally before a major new release, also helps you get the most money.
How can I know my phone’s resale value?
You can quickly find your device’s resale value on trusted online platforms. If you want to sell iPhone online or sell my iPhone, sites like The Whiz Cells give instant quotes based on your model, storage, condition, and battery health.
Which phones hold the highest resale value?
Flagship devices generally retain the most value. If you’re looking to sell my iPhone or sell iPhone online, Apple iPhones, especially recent models, are top performers. Samsung Galaxy S series devices also hold their value well. Phones in excellent condition, with original parts and healthy batteries, consistently get higher offers.
What iPhones will no longer work in 2025?
Older iPhones may stop receiving the latest iOS updates, which can affect functionality. If you’re considering whether it’s the right time to sell my iPhone, note that devices released before the iPhone 11 won’t support iOS 26, though they’ll still work. This is an important factor to keep in mind if you want to sell iPhone online for the best price.
Where is the best place to sell my iPhone?
If you’re asking, “where to sell iPhone for the most money?” The Whiz Cells make it simple. Whether you want to sell iPhone online or sell my iPhone directly, these platforms guide you step by step and usually process payments quickly often within 24 hours of receiving your device.