If you're an iPhone owner, it's very possible that you're considering upgrading to the latest model, which (when this article is last updated) will likely be the iPhone 13. However, if your current iPhone is still fine, you might be wondering what to do with it. Should it be sold? Change him ? Give it away?
SummaryTransferring to a new iPhone?Backup your phoneWipe your phoneClean itSell your phonePlay it safeWell – one of the above. This guide will walk you through the process of getting your old phone ready and tell you what your best alternatives are for getting rid of it.
If you're transferring to a new iPhone, or even if you're not, you'll probably want to back up your phone before doing anything else (see below) . Backing up to iCloud is probably the easiest – and it also gives you the option of either transferring your data directly from your old phone to your new phone or transferring your data from iCloud.
Once you've done that, go ahead and copy all your data to your new phone. If you want, you can also try going to "Settings"> "General"> "Transfer or Reset iPhone". Depending on the version of iOS you are using, you may have access to a wizard called "Prepare a new iPhone", which will guide you through all the steps necessary to transfer your data to your new phone. (It will also let you check your phone's trade-in status.)
As mentioned above, it's a good idea to have a current backup of all your saved data on iCloud, your laptop, or other local/cloud storage. Backing up your phone to iCloud Backup is probably the easiest. If it's been a while and you want to make sure backup is turned on in your phone's iCloud settings:
You can also back up your iPhone to a computer:either to your Mac using your Finder (if your Mac is using a macOS version earlier than 10.15, you'll use iTunes) or to a Windows PC (again times, using iTunes).
When you are sure that all your data is stored and you have transferred all your data to your new phone, it is time to erase your old phone.
First, you need to make sure you've gotten rid of a few identifiable features:
Next you need to sign out of your Apple ID:
Finally, get ready to erase it:
Before you even think about selling your phone, you need to make sure it's looking its best. Remove the case and/or any stickers, and assess any damage you may see, including any scratches or dents, which you will need to mention when selling the phone. Next, clean your phone using a wipe or screen cleaner. (You may want to leave your screen protector on if it's in good condition.)
It's also a good idea to take pictures of your phone. You will need this for the listing when selling the phone online; in addition, they are useful in case the recipient reports other damage.
There are a variety of places where you can try to sell your used phone. A few of them are listed here, along with the estimates I got for a decent iPhone 11 with 256GB of storage.
The first thing you might think about is trading in your phone for Apple . This can be especially useful if you haven't purchased your new iPhone yet and want to see if you can save a little on your new device. If you've already purchased your new phone, you can go to Apple's trade-in page and see what your phone is worth. Note that in return, you will receive a gift card for your future Apple purchases. The quote for the iPhone 11 was $390 in trade-in value at the time of publication.
Decluttering buys the phone from you and then resells it. The company gives you an online price; you then ship your phone to Decluttr within 28 days. The phone will be inspected; if there are any issues, you will be offered a revised price which you will have 14 days to accept or decline. A 256GB iPhone 11 in good condition received a quote of $401.
Best Buy lets you either mail your phone in or take it to the nearest Best Buy store; in any case, you can exchange it for an electronic gift card. My iPhone 11 received an estimated value of $360 (increased to $400 if traded in for specific tech products).
Flipsy deals with a variety of retail sites; it will let you know what vendors are offering and how much, and then you have 14 days to ship the device. The seller pays the shipping costs. If the seller disagrees with your assessment, they will send you a revised offer; Since each supplier has their own return policies, it's a good idea to check before shipping. The iPhone 11 got pricing from two vendors; the highest was $455.
With Swappa , you create an ad with a price; when your device is sold, you receive payment from Swappa and then ship the phone directly to the buyer. Swappa charges the buyer a fee, based on the price of the phone, but you are responsible for shipping costs. The average price at which a 256GB iPhone 11 could be sold was $543.
And of course there is eBay . Selling here can be a bit tricky, but basically you get up to 250 ads for free every month; once you sell your item, there is a 10.2 percent fee plus a $0.30 transaction fee.
Places where you can sell your phone for free (excluding, of course, shipping costs) include Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and r/Phone subtitles, r/Appleswap , and r/Hardwarewap.
Most of these transactions are done by mail. However, if you decide to do the transaction in person, it's safest to meet in a public place – and these days, if you're even the slightest bit concerned about infection, do it outside in a park. or other public space, or in a café or other indoor location that follows current safety recommendations.
And if you decide you don't want to sell or trade in your old phone, there are other things you can do with it, including using it as a webcam or letting it be first adult phone of your children.
Whatever you decide to do with your old phone, first make sure you're happy with your new phone. You don't want to have to return that brand new phone because of problems (or because you just don't like it) and suddenly find yourself desperately looking for a temporary replacement.
Updated September 10, 2021, 2:00 PM ET: This article was originally published on January 14, 2020 and has been updated to reflect differences between iOS and available services and websites.
