How to get the most money when you trade in your phone

The difference between a good trade-in and a great one is rarely the phone — it is the preparation. A few minutes of admin and honesty about condition can be worth a surprising amount. Here is how to get every pound your old phone is worth.

Sell sooner, not later

Phones depreciate steadily and then fall off a cliff when the next model lands. The single biggest lever on trade-in value is timing: the phone in your drawer is losing value every month it sits there unused. If you have already upgraded, trade the old one in now rather than 'getting round to it' — waiting is the most expensive mistake people make.

Grade it honestly

Trade-in quotes are based on condition, and inflating yours only leads to a revised (lower) offer once the phone is inspected. Be realistic: light, barely-visible wear is still 'Good' and gets a strong price; a cracked screen or a fault means a lower grade but is still worth money. Quoting the true condition up front gets you an accurate number and avoids the disappointment of a reduced offer later.

Do the five-minute prep

Before you send a phone: back up your data, sign out of your accounts (on iPhone, turn off Find My and sign out of iCloud; on Android, remove your Google account), then factory-reset the phone and remove any SIM or memory card. A phone still locked to an account can't be processed and will be returned — clearing it is the one step you must not skip. Clean it up and include any accessories if you have them.

Know what battery health does to the price

Battery health affects grade, and it is the one thing you can sometimes improve cheaply. If your battery is badly degraded, a replacement may cost less than the value it adds back — though for most phones in decent health it is not worth the effort. Either way, knowing your battery figure before you quote means no surprises.

Choose a payer you can trust

Finally, the best headline quote is worthless if it is quietly cut on arrival or takes weeks to pay. Look for a clear grade definition, free insured postage and fast payment — we pay by bank transfer the day your phone is received and verified, and return it free if you turn down a revised quote.