How to trade in an old Android phone

Whether you want to go with Samsung, Google, or another manufacturer, trading in or selling your old Android phone is a smart approach, especially since some people will decide to buy a rarely used phone that older generations can get away with without spending too much money. meet their needs.

If you have an older model and are ready to upgrade, here are a few steps to get your device ready for sale, followed by how much cash you can expect to make back. We’ll focus on Samsung and Google Pixel phones here, but you might expect similar results with phones from other vendors.

If your old device is in good condition, you shouldn’t have much of a problem finding a new owner. As mentioned in our guide to selling an iPhone, having a phone in good condition is crucial to finding a buyer willing to pay top dollar.

Even if your phone is in bad condition, you should still be able to get something For your trade. Consider its imperfections, including scratches, dents, cracks, and any other quirks the next owner should be aware of. Be honest or it might come back to bite you.

There are three steps involved in securely wiping an Android phone. These steps may differ slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or another manufacturer’s phone. We have instructions for Galaxy and Pixel; other Android phones may differ slightly.

1: Disable factory reset protection. This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if stolen. To deactivate it, all you have to do is turn off screen lock. (You’ve already set up a screen lock, right?)

• navigation Settings > Lock screen > Screen lock type.
• choose not any.

• navigation Settings > Accounts & Backup > Manage Account Then click on the account (or accounts, if you have multiple accounts) listed there.
• tap Delete account. (By the way, if you haven’t backed up your phone recently, you can go to Accounts & Backup > Backup to get this done. )

3: Restore the phone to factory settings. The next step is to factory reset your phone to completely erase all data.

• Return to the main settings menu and select General Management > Reset Taking you to the final step.
• choose Restore factory data. You’ll see a warning page that lists the data that will be deleted, any accounts you’re still logged into (you should go back and delete them), and which apps will be deleted.
• get ready?tap reset (You will be prompted to enter your Samsung account password).

1: Disable factory reset protection. This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if stolen. To deactivate it, all you have to do is turn off screen lock. (You’ve already set up a screen lock, right?)

• Android 13: Navigation Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Lock > Screen Lock and select not any.
• Android 14: Navigation Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Unlock > Screen Lock and select not any.

• Using Android 13 or 14, first navigate to Settings > Passwords & Accounts and click on the account (or accounts, if you have multiple accounts) listed there.
• then click Delete account.
• You will receive a warning pop-up.tap Delete account again.

3: Restore the phone to factory settings. The next step for Android 13 and 14 is to factory reset the phone to completely erase all data.

• Return to the main settings menu and select system.
• If you haven’t backed up your phone to Google Drive recently, you can go to backup and select Back up now.Otherwise, enter Reset options will take you to the final step.
• choose Clear all data (restore factory settings). You will see a warning page listing the data that will be deleted, and this page will list if you forgot to log out of any accounts (you should go back and delete it).Otherwise, click Delete all data.

When you trade in your old phone for a new one from the manufacturer or carrier, you’re likely trading on price for convenience. It depends on your choice.

As of the time of publication, Samsung is offering an instant trade-in of up to $500 if you buy a Galaxy S23. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy S22 Plus 5G each get $500 in credits, while the older Galaxy S20 Plus gets $200.

Google is offering a Pixel 8 Pro trade-in service of up to $750. However, the 256GB Pixel 7 Pro is only $325, while the Pixel 6 with 128GB storage in working condition and without cracks is $250.

You can also score great deals with carriers as long as you read the fine print.

As for where to sell old mobile phones? Swapa It is the first choice for having a healthy community of buyers and sellers. With Swappa, you create a listing and price; when your device sells, you’re paid by Swappa, who then ships the phone directly to the buyer. Swappa charges the buyer based on the price of the phone, but you’re responsible for shipping. If you’re in a hurry, you can trade in with one of Swappa’s partners, although you’ll get a little less — for example, if you sell a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra through Swappa, the average price is $606, and when you trade in, the average price for $303.

Of course, there are other websites that sell cell phones.

clean up Buy phones from you and resell them. The company gives you a price online; you’ll then have the phone shipped to Decluttr within 28 days. The phone will be checked; if there are no issues, you will be paid via direct deposit or PayPal; you can also donate the fee directly to charity. If they decide the phone’s condition isn’t as promised, you’ll receive a revised price and you’ll have 14 days to accept or reject it; if you reject it, they’ll send the phone back for free.

antelope It works much the same way: The company gives you a price online, and you have 30 days to ship the phone to Gazelle. The phone will be checked; if there are issues, we will provide you with a revised price, which you must accept or reject within five days.

Best Buy Let you mail the phone or bring it to your nearest Best Buy retail store; either way, you can redeem it for an e-gift card.

Flippi Deal with various retail sites; it will let you know which suppliers are offering what prices, and then you have 7 to 30 days to ship the device (depending on the supplier you choose). Supplier pays shipping costs. If the supplier disagrees with your assessment, they will send a revised quote; since each supplier has their own return policy, it’s best to check before shipping.

Of course, there are eBay. Selling here can be a little complicated, but basically, you can get up to 250 listings per month for free; once you sell an item, there’s a 13.25% fee on items with a final value up to $7,500, and on any sales over $7,500 2.35% fee; there is also a $0.30 transaction fee.

Other places to sell your phone for free (minus shipping, of course) include Facebook Market and Craigslist.

Whether you use one of the resources listed here to offset the cost of a new Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone or decide that the convenience of a phone trade-in is worth spending a little more, it’s up to you.

Updated December 28, 2023 at 9:20 a.m. ET: This article was originally published on September 11, 2021, and has been updated to reflect changes in pricing and phone models.