Top 5 Tips for Preserving Your Phone’s Cash Value

The refurbished mobile phone industry has been growing year on year. And the demand for second hand phones to upcycle from network carriers and mobile phone recyclers is growing with it. This is a great opportunity for anyone left with a second hand phone post upgrade to make back a substantial amount of cash. Which can help offset upgrade costs or just let you cash in for a nice take home with the transition.

In 2023 WeBuyAnyPhone.com aimed to provide top market prices for purchasing second hand mobile phones. The average price we offered was £305 for over 125,000 smartphones.

While the model and age play a large part in the price you can get for your old phone, its condition is the factor that can swing a phones value most. To maximise the resale value of your phone, it is important to maintain the device to a good condition.

Every company that buys these devices have their own testing, grading and valuing criteria’s. But, the factors included in them are generally the same.

If you're you're wondering how do I sell my mobile phone for the highest price you're in the right place. We’ll discuss how to care for your phone and what to avoid so you see the most money.

1. Protect Your Phone

This may seem obvious but, your phones physical condition can be both visible and invisible to the naked eye. Protecting your phone can increase its resale value when tested by companies like WeBuyAnyPhone.com. You should take precautions before recycling your phone to save money.

Physical condition is the number one thing buyers will look out for. Small dents, scratches, cracks and damaged components are some of the things that may not necessarily be visible but can be present. These defects can reduce the overall value of your old phone. A fully working phone is going to be more valuable than a damaged phone.

During the period you've owned your mobile phone its likely experience some drops and knocks. You can best keep your phone in optimal condition and avoid damage in two ways. Buying a robust phone case and screen protector from the moment you start using your phone.

We recommend you invest in these at the time of buying a new device and have both to hand to use as soon as you unpack your new phone. Here are some additional recommendations for phone cases and screen protectors.

The Best Phone Case

Covers the entire phone. Buy a phone case that covers your phone completely, including a camera cover so the whole device protected.

Consists of silicon. Also known as soft covers or TPU. Other cases made of harder materials may look more robust. But, silicon phone cases have a better level of shock absorption, which will help avoid damages from drops and knocks much better.

The Best Mobile Phone Screen Protectors

A tempered glass screen protector is the ideal version. Being a stronger material than the cheaper plastic screen protectors, it protects the phone much more effectively.

A good screen protector is important for your smartphone's value. If you damage your screen, you may render your phone faulty. Investing in a strong screen protector is worth it in the long term.

To see all our condition grades in full detail click here. 

Buy & Sell iPhone’s

This one is a bit of curveball if you’ve already purchased anything other than an Apple iPhone. But the value retention of iPhones is worlds apart from any other smartphone brand.

We recognise resale value isn’t the main priority when buying a new phone. If we want to preserve the value of your old phone, it's important to start with something that will depreciate slowly.

Keep Your Phone Away From Liquid

A lot of phones are water-resistant these days and can come into contact with liquid and continue to function. Exposure to liquid or moisture can damage your device by getting inside the screen, battery compartment, and charging port. This can negatively affect things like battery health and screen and audio performance.

When we assess the condition of mobile phones, liquid damage can greatly affect the overall grade. It can cause problems with internal parts, making a phone go from our best to worst condition. This will make a huge difference in its value.

In 2023, we paid almost 8 times more for phones graded as 'Good' compared to those classed as 'Faulty'. So making the effort to keep your phone away from any moisture. Because it will pay off in preserving the value of your old phones.

Avoid Exposing Your Phone To Extreme Temperatures

Extreme hot and cold temperatures can cause issues, so avoid them both. This problem, like liquid damage, can seriously affect a smartphone and its value. The exposure can damage internal components of the device. This can quickly turn a good condition mobile phone into a faulty one.

If a phone reaches a temperature over 32°C, it may experience issues with its internal components functioning correctly. This can also cause the battery to overheat.

In colder temperatures below 0°C on the other end of the scale smartphones can see the same issues. Components can also contract in the cold causing issues, battery health decline and seals splits.

Don’t Let Children Near Your Phone

Harsh but true. To keep your phone's resale value high, be careful with letting kids handle it. If you give a child your phone, they are more likely to unwittingly damage or break it.

Our Recommendation

In a nutshell when you upgrade your phone, you've got to take the right precautions to get the most money for it when you come to sell.

Invest in quality protection from the beginning to ensure its value remains high. By protecting your phone, you can prevent damage and maintain its resale value.

Then when you come to sell your phone, companies like WeBuyAnyPhone.com will give you much more cash to walk away with. The better the condition the higher the price you’ll get. See how much your phone is worth in less than 60 seconds today.

Sell My Phone