What To Do With An Old Phone? – Sell, Donate, Recycle, Upcycle

There’s a high possibility you have an old phone or phones lying around your house that you no longer use. Every month, its value declines, and it approaches the abyss of security-update-free obsolescence. We can do something about it before things worsen.

There are three good alternatives for your old phone. You can sell the phone through one of the numerous online classifieds and auction sites, or to one of the massive middle-man reseller web-pages.

Another option is to donate it to one of the many charitable organizations that will distribute it to someone in need.

Or, as the tech nerds prefer, you can repurpose your old phone. iPhones and Android phones are a mini computers, camera, and control surface with endless possibilities.

Before trading in or donating a phone, it should always be factory reset. This deletes all of your personal data, installed apps, and any security measures that may have prevented someone from bypassing the lock screen.

It only takes a few seconds.

Three

Reconnected is the name of Three’s mobile phone donation service. It’s a collaboration with GSUK, a large company that assists retailers and manufacturers in avoiding landfill by selling old and returned inventory. There is a positive ethical argument even when other clients use GSUK to recover some value from returned stock.

If phones, sent to Three Reconnected, fail GSUK’s quality standard checks, are recycled. Otherwise, are donated to community organizations. These organizations distribute phones to people who cannot afford one for themselves.

The redistributed phones include a 90-day trial period on Three’s network, then the recipient must sign up for Three services, as everyone else does.

Tesco Mobile

Tesco Mobile Reconnects is the name of Tesco’s phone donation service. It’s a collaboration with Crisis, a homeless charity.

This program began in late 2020, and current plans extend through 2023. Tesco Mobile Reconnects does not give your phone to a homeless person. It is “converted to cash,” with the proceeds going into a fund to provide phones and other devices to Crisis.

Fonebank

Fonebank is a trade-in site, but you can also donate a part of the earnings to one of three charities. WaterAid, Oxfam, and the National Trust are among them.

This is a good option if you want to do good while also making some money to cover the cost of a new phone.

Little Lives

Little Lives is a small charity with three London locations: Raynes Park, Tooting, and Fulham Broadway. It claims that phones will be sent to “schools, councils, and refugee centers” or sold to help fund its charitable campaigns. A pre-paid envelope can be downloaded from the charity’s website.

A number of companies will pay you for your old phone. These are services that recycle phones. Take the term “recycling” with a grain of salt. Many simply take your phone in, inspect it, and then sell it to someone else.

There is no danger of being scammed, the only risk is that your phone will be lost in transit. However, before choosing a phone recycler, look at each site’s condition criteria.

Also, you may have stopped noticing that deep 1cm-long scratch on the side of your iPhone, but it’s likely enough for many of these recyclers to scale down it to “poor” condition. As a result, the amount of money you receive will be reduced. Here are some of the most well-known names in the phone recycling industry.

O2 Recycle

Read the terms and conditions document from O2 Recycle because it explains how the grading system may reduce the amount of money you receive. It is managed by Ingram Micro Services Ltd. The contract is with that company, not with O2.

Mazuma Mobile

Mazuma Mobile is a well-known phone trade-in site. It only uses two grades to determine condition, assuming your phone is in good condition. However, keep in mind that it will be classified as “poor” if the battery health is less than 80%, if it has any case engraving, or if it has notable scratches. 

Music Magpie

Music Magpie is the best Mazuma Mobile alternative. It employs a nearly identical grading system and appears to sometimes pay more for “poor” condition phones.

CeX

CeX, a popular retailer where to sell your phone in person. You will receive less money if you have a shop front presence than if you sell your phone to one of the remote phone recyclers. However, if you pay with store credit rather than cash, the figure rises significantly.

You don’t have to get rid of your old phone. Here are some suggestions for how to use them. Like: In-car GPS, Smart-home control panel, Computer webcam or Security camera and baby monitor.