Upgrading to a newer smartwatch often leaves your old one sitting unused in a drawer. While it may seem like outdated tech, your old smartwatch can still be surprisingly useful, or even worth money.
Whether you want extra cash, another fitness device, or a way to help someone else, there are plenty of ways to give your old smartwatch a second life.
7 Things to Do With Your Old Smartwatch
1. Sell Your Old Smartwatch for Cash
1. If your smartwatch has been sitting unused for months, selling it is often the easiest way to get immediate value from it. Even older models can still be worth something, especially if they’re in working condition. Whether you’re looking to sell an Apple Watch, sell a Samsung Galaxy Watch, or sell a Google Pixel Watch, many recent models still have strong resale value.
You have a few options for selling your smartwatch. The one that hits most people’s minds first is online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Online marketplaces can potentially get you more money, but they come with the most hassle (unnecessary ones included). You’ll need to create a listing, communicate with buyers, and handle shipping yourself. They may also charge seller fees, and there’s always the possibility of dealing with unreliable buyers.
If you’d rather avoid the hassle, a buyback service is a much simpler option. Platforms like The Whiz Cells provide instant quotes, free shipping, and a straightforward selling process, making it easy to turn your old smartwatch into cash without the back-and-forth of selling privately.
If you no longer use your smartwatch and don’t have another purpose for it, selling it is one of the smartest ways to clear the clutter while getting something back in return.
2. Hand It Down to a Family Member
This is a great option if you have kids or elderly family members. Rather than having it sit obsolete, you can hand it down to someone who needs it.
To get this done, you will have to unpair from your account, factory reset, disable Activation Lock (Apple Watch), or remove the Samsung account (Galaxy Watch).
Once you are done with all this, you can safely hand it down.
3. Give It a Second Life as a Dedicated Fitness Tracker
Smartwatches are great pieces of tech because they can monitor and track vital signs without being overly intrusive, plus even old ones still have some level of health and fitness tracking.
So, if fitness is a priority for you, your old smartwatch can easily be repurposed as a dedicated fitness tracker.
This works best if you already prefer switching devices for different activities, or if your new watch’s battery life can’t handle both daily wear and long workout sessions.
4. Use It as a Dedicated Sleep or Health Monitor
Your old smartwatch can find new life as a dedicated sleep tracker, especially if it has the right sensors.
To make the most of this, you will need apps such as Sleep Cycle, Pillow, Google Fit, Samsung Health, or Apple Health, depending on your device.
Rather than having your watch waste away in a drawer, repurpose it as a sleep tracker to help you get better rest at night while extracting lasting value from your watch.
5. Repurpose It as a Smart Home Controller
Many smartwatches can be used as convenient smart home controllers through Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, depending on the device and your smart home setup.
When set up properly, you can use it as a bedside or kitchen controller for lights, thermostats, and music depending on your home setup.
Just keep it on a charger at a fixed location so that the battery doesn’t run down and you end up with a nifty way to make practical use of your old smartwatch.
6. Repurpose It as a Child’s Smartwatch
If you have young kids, your old smartwatch can double as a simple way to keep tabs on them. Many models let you set up location tracking, so you will know exactly where your child is at all times, whether they are at school, at a friend’s house, or playing in the yard.
Some watches also support two-way calling or messaging features, which means your child can reach you (or you can reach them) without needing a full phone. This is especially useful for parents who are not ready to hand their child a smartphone but still want a way to stay connected.
To set this up, you will typically need a companion app such as Google Family Link, Samsung’s Family Sync, or a similar parental monitoring app, depending on your device. Just keep in mind that older models may have limited battery life or missing cellular connectivity, so test it out fully before relying on it day to day.
7. Donate It or Recycle It Responsibly
If your smartwatch is too old or too damaged to sell, the most responsible thing to do is recycle it.
If your smartwatch is still functional, consider donating it to a local charity, school, community organization, or electronics reuse program. If it’s no longer usable, recycle it through a certified e-waste recycler or an electronics retailer that offers recycling services.
How to Prepare Your Old Smartwatch Before Doing Anything With It
No matter what you choose to do with your old smartwatch, there are a few things that will help prepare your watch for its next purpose, especially if you’re selling, donating, or handing it down.
Here are a few steps to help you reset and prepare your old smartwatch for sale or donation:
- Back up any data you want to keep
- Unpair the watch from your phone.
- Sign out of your Apple ID or Samsung account and disable Activation Lock.
- Factory reset the device
- Clean the watch and band.
- Gather any original accessories (charger, box, extra bands)
Should You Sell Your Old Smartwatch?
Should You Sell Your Old Smartwatch?Selling is a strong option if you don’t have a specific use lined up for your old smartwatch or if you’d simply rather have the cash than the clutter. It is also the right call if you are upgrading anyway and want some cash to put toward your next device.
This is especially true if you’re planning to sell an Apple Watch, sell a Samsung Galaxy Watch, or sell a Google Pixel Watch, as these brands tend to have active resale markets.
That said, selling isn’t automatically the best move for everyone. If you already have a use in mind, like turning it into a dedicated fitness tracker, a sleep monitor, or a hand-me-down for a family member, you may get more long-term value keeping it than selling it for a one-time payout.
At the end of the day, there’s no single right answer, only the option that fits what you actually need from your old smartwatch. But if you’ve decided selling is the move, choose a buyback platform like The Whiz Cells that’s transparent about pricing and doesn’t bury you in fees or a lengthy back-and-forth process.
Head over to The Whiz Cells to get an instant quote for your old smartwatch today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old Smartwatches
What should I do with my old smartwatch?
There are multiple things that you can do with your old smartwatch, including repurposing it as a sleep tracker, handing it down, or donating it to charity. However, if you want cash back for your watch, then selling it is the right move. You can trade in your old smartwatch for cash on TheWhizCells.com to get the most value for your device.
Is it worth selling an old smartwatch?
Yes, it is. Though different factors come into play here, a smartwatch that is still functional holds value that can be harnessed when sold. The same applies to broken and old smartwatches as well.
Where is the best place to sell my old smartwatch?
The Whiz Cells is the best place to sell your old smartwatch. The process is simple, reliable, and convenient to ensure that you carry none of the risks while still getting the most for your smartwatch.
Can I sell a damaged or broken smartwatch?
Yes, you can. The Whiz Cells buys broken watches as long as it powers on and has no water damage.
How much is my old smartwatch worth?
Several factors can help you determine the price of your watch, such as the brand, the condition, and so on, but you can get it all in one place by simply getting a quote on The Whiz Cells.
