Guide Updated: 12/13/2021
Originally Published: 1/25/2018
Back when wireless contracts were a prevalent thing (they still are with some providers), consumers had the opportunity to purchase a new phone at a subsidized cost about every two years. At the time, subscribers considered the hefty discount worthwhile enough to lock themselves into a contract for a specified period. Those who weren’t locked into contracts could upgrade to a new phone more often, provided they had the funds.
Keep Phones out of Landfills and Money in Your Pocket
Now, consumers are more interested in ultimately steering clear of those restrictive contracts. In addition, wireless carriers are more interested in charging a full-priced premium on the latest and greatest phones. Although it’s exciting to have the opportunity to purchase that amazing, state-of-the-art technology with all of the bells and whistles, your old device becomes nothing more than an expensive doorstop when you buy a new phone. Worse, e-waste is becoming a very real problem worldwide. Some electronic devices contain toxic parts, such as batteries, that can end up in landfills.
Why Electronics Recycling Companies
Some companies, such as The Whiz Cells, recycle, refurbish and resell phones and other devices. The Whiz Cells is an electronics recycler, and our mission is to keep electronics in use as long as possible. If they’re unusable, many cell phones can still be used for parts; additionally, a typical iPhone is estimated to have tiny bits of gold, silver, palladium and platinum. Recycling offers consumers the ability to not let their phone languish in a junk drawer (or a landfill) for years.
Not everyone is interested in being on the cutting edge of phone technology. Nowadays, old phones are worth money. Some people are just as happy to purchase a slightly used or a well-cared-for device at a much lower cost, as opposed to a brand-new one at the full retail price.
Top Dollar for Used Phones: A Win-Win Situation for All
What this means is that there’s a market for older phones and selling yours is a win-win situation. You can put the money you make from reselling it toward your upgrade costs or save it as extra cash for a rainy day. More importantly, that old phone, which would otherwise be sitting around collecting dust, goes to someone who needs it. You might be wondering, “How much is my phone worth?” You’re in the right place! The Whiz Cells offers top dollar for used cell phones. Read on to find out more.
There’s a Better Way
Realistically, when you start talking about selling your items secondhand, you may immediately begin to consider the hassle you’ll have to go through. First, you must research the resale value of mobile phones so that you can determine an appropriate asking price. Then, you’ll need to place a sales ad on various classified channels. Perhaps you’ll take a few photos and post it on an online sales forum. Both scenarios require further preparation on your part.
Next comes the sales process. It’s probably going to take a while before you get an offer somewhere in the ballpark of what you’re asking. If you do, you still must facilitate the transaction, which includes either shipping the device or meeting the buyer in person.
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that money will exchange hands, even after all your hard work. The potential buyer may decide not to go through the transaction at all, at which time you’d need to restart the entire sales process yet again.
There’s a better way to sell your old phone. Companies like The Whiz Cells specialize in reselling used smartphones and mobile devices. More importantly, they will offer you top dollar on your used phone, allowing you to quickly be on your merry way with a good chunk of change. It’s simple, quick and rewarding for you.
Before you try selling your old device, it makes sense to take a quick look at some of the resale values of comparable mobile devices. Doing so will allow you to gauge the accurate return that may be waiting for you. Then, you can decide whether or not it’s worth enough money to warrant going through the resale process.
How Much is My Phone Worth?
If you have one of the top five bestselling smartphones from Samsung or Apple, you’re sure to make a good return. But what if you have another brand? This cell phone price guide will take a closer look at the values of used phones across the market.
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
As you likely know, the latest generation of iPhone is Apple’s 13 series. However, even the iPhone 11 (and older models) still has some worth on the resale market. Cell phone values depend highly on the condition of the device as well as the memory capacity of each phone. The fact that Apple is still running updates for it has preserved a decent amount of its resale worth.
When you sell through The Whiz Cells, an unlocked iPhone 11 can bring anywhere between $35 (for a broken phone, not including water damage) to $395. This also depends on how much storage space it offers. The iPhone 11 Pro brings in a little more, from about $25 to $540 in good condition (iPhone 11 Pro Max possibly more). That’s enough to provide a significant discount on one of the newer models. And with the high prices on the latest flagship phones (some are now starting out at over $1,000!), any discount is welcome.
iPhone X
While Apple no longer sells the iPhone X model, it still holds value on the resale market. Luckily, Apple products retain their value better than any other phone brand – even when they’re out of production. As long as the iOS updates still apply and they’re in good condition, they’ll retain a decent percentage of their value.
If you’re looking to sell your X to upgrade to a newer model, it will typically earn you up to $240 (in good condition) at The Whiz Cells, on the higher end if you have the 256GB model. More storage is more valuable; however, because it’s been a few years, the iPhone X has depreciated more. Still, the return is nothing to scoff at: it can make quite a significant dent into the cost of one of the newer iPhone models when you’re ready to upgrade.
iPhone XR, XS and XS Max
If you’re looking to upgrade to a newer iPhone model, the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max will still bring in incredible values, especially if there’s minimal wear. You might expect a phone to begin losing value rapidly once you start using it, but that’s not always the case when it comes to Apple products.
Many customers are still looking for the XS and XS Max. This means if you’re trying to replace your iPhone XS model or have one sitting in a drawer, there’s still a market for it. At The Whiz Cells, the iPhone XS can bring up to $270 or more, depending on storage space. The XS Max will bring in more, up to $370 for a phone in perfect condition.
As far as the XR goes, you can expect to bring in around up to $260 if it’s in good condition. While it is worth a little bit less on the resale market, considering it’s the economy model of the X series, selling will still earn you some significant cash.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung devices, especially those that run the latest versions of Samsung’s Android operating system, are also among the most highly sought-after phones, even refurbished.
However, they don’t hold their value nearly as well as Apple phones. There are several reasons that Samsung models don’t retain their value as well, including their plastic materials and components as well as the fact that the older models don’t get upgrades to the latest operating systems.
But that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. At The Whiz Cells, a Galaxy Note 9 with 512Gb of memory that’s in good condition sells for about $190. These phones are still desirable, so selling will bring you a decent valuation.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10e
Samsung is also known for releasing new models within several different product lines each year. They’ve continued their popular S series, alongside the Note models. For those holding on to old Android devices, it’s essential to understand that the longer you keep them, the more their values will depreciate; values drop significantly with each new Samsung release. However, by taking advantage of your opportunity now, you can earn the best return on your device.
In good condition, the Galaxy S10 is worth from $120 for a 128GB model up to $155 for an S10 with 512GB. The S10 Plus fetches a bit more for devices in good condition. It ranges from $130 for a 1TB device to $170 for a 128GB phone.
Google Pixel Series
With the recent release of the Google Pixel 5a, now is an excellent opportunity to sell your old Pixel and upgrade to Google’s latest and greatest model. Buyers will be looking for both Pixel 3 and 3a models, as well as Pixel 4a models, at a discount now that there’s a new flagship device. This means that you’ll be able to get the most value for your money possible. (But you can still sell your older models as well.)
If you’re selling one of the Pixel 3 devices, you’ll receive a bit less, up to $70, depending on condition and storage space. These phones are known for their quality cameras, fast Android operating systems and user-friendly setup through Google. The Google Pixel 3 is a relatively desirable choice among the non-Apple crowd.
Motorola Moto Lines
Motorola has been a staple cell phone brand ever since its popularity boost with the original, wildly successful flip open Razr. They continue to be a driving force in the smartphone industry, sitting just behind the big three manufacturers: Apple, Samsung and Google. They’re excellent options for any buyer looking for a functional, high-quality smartphone at a reasonable price. This means that there’s definitely a secondhand market for your old Motorola device.
Some of the latest releases include models in the Razr 4G, Moto G Stylus, Z3 Play and Z4. The brand has quite a few lines, all which offer different user experiences. This means that your resale value will depend on the exact model. Motorola Razrs are worth money, and The Whiz Cells offers the maximum selling prices for mobile phones.
Here are a few of the latest Motorola smartphones and their respective resale values through
The Whiz Cells:
- Moto G Stylus: Up to $45
- Moto Z3 Play: Up to $30
- Moto Z4: Up to $110
- Moto Z2 Force Droid: Up to $18
- Moto Z3: Up to $30
- Moto Edge+: Up to $215
These values may not chalk up to those of the phones from larger brands like Apple, Samsung and Google, but they’re still decent chunks of money that you can reinvest into your upgrade. It’s better than using your old phone as a shelf decoration.
HTC 10, HTC U11, One M9, A9, Desire EYE, One Max and U12+
Despite not being one of the top dogs in the smartphone world, HTC is still a popular and reliable brand. For anyone who is looking for a practical smartphone and who doesn’t need a top brand name, the HTC brand is an excellent choice. These models also support Android and Windows operating systems.
HTC hardware doesn’t hold its value quite like Apple, Samsung or Google devices, but it’s no slouch, either. You can still fetch a reasonable price through The Whiz Cells on some of the company’s more recent models.
The best phones with higher resale values from HTC include:
- HTC 10: Up to $25
- HTC U11: Up to $40
- HTC U12+: Up to $200
Even with a 2018 release date, the HTC U12+ has managed to hold a relatively high market resale value, which means you can upgrade for less.
The Outliers
Of course, we can’t hope to encompass the entire smartphone or mobile device market in this article. There are plenty of other brands like Sony, LG, Nokia, Microsoft, OnePlus and Huawei.
It’s difficult to say with any certainty the value retention of some brands; most don’t hold their value as well or as long as those listed above. The quality of each device and the supply and demand in the resale market will affect the general appraisals of these phones. That being said, they are still worth something in most cases. It’s always best to check with a reliable reseller like The Whiz Cells to see what they’ll offer for your specific phone.
The Selling Process
It’s never been so quick and easy to check your phone’ value with our online phone value calculators. We’ll walk you step-by-step through our selling process to make it as easy as possible. Our evaluation process at The Whiz Cells is also quick and easy to complete from anywhere. All you must do is answer a few questions about the model and the condition of your device. We’ll instantly provide you with a market-based top estimate. Once you have your appraisal, you can decide whether or not you’d like to sell your old smartphone and if it’s worth your time. But considering the vast majority of our offers are worth your while, it’s an excellent choice.
Get Started Selling Your Phone With The Whiz Cells
Old phones are definitely worth money and there is a market for second-hand devices. If you’re looking to get rid of your old device safely while making some extra cash, look no further than The Whiz Cells. We make our sales process convenient and easy, so anyone can benefit from reselling their smartphone. On top of saving you time and hassle, we offer some of the top cellphone resale values and quotes on the market. You won’t have to conduct painstaking research to answer the question: What is my phone worth? We’ve already done it for you.
To get started, you can find your device here. You’ll answer a few questions, such as the condition of your phone and your device’s memory capacity, to get its resale value. Begin by clicking on the device you’re selling – either your phone, tablet or Apple device. Upon accepting the offer, you can choose whether you prefer a free shipping label to be emailed to you. You can also opt to have a mailing label along with a box in which to ship your phone or tablet sent to you by us (which takes a little bit more time).
When we receive your item, it will be evaluated. If it matches the condition, model and memory information you provided on the initial appraisal, we will pay you via your chosen payment method as fast as the next business day. Available payment methods include PayPal and Venmo (the fastest options) and paper checks, which can take several business days to receive. Before you know it, you’ll have some extra money in your pocket and a little less clutter. If you have any questions about how to determine the value of your phone or to learn more about the maximum selling process for mobile phones, you can check out our informative FAQ page for some of the most common questions. You can also feel free to get in touch with us. We’re happy to help.