As early as a car leaves the lot, it loses a lot of value. The same applies for technology, although at a far quicker rate. As soon as a smartphone takes out of the box, it loses up to 65 percent of its value.
Although, you can even get something useful out of an old phone. It’s only a matter of timing. With the Samsung Galaxy S9 coming shortly, now could be the perfect time to sell an old Samsung cell phone. Because trade-ins generally yield 25% more before than after the release of a big manufacturer product, that’s the case.
When it’s time to update to a new smartphone, selling your old one may be an excellent way to get some additional cash to go towards your new purchase. And deciding when to sell broken cell phones for cash is crucial if you want to obtain the most excellent price.
Smartphones, like other technology, lose their value over time. People lose interest in older models when newer models with better features and capabilities launch, and with lower demand comes a drop in value. However, depreciation does not always occur at a consistent rate; certain factors might trigger rapid reductions. Knowing when the ideal time is to sell your phone online might help you obtain the greatest price.
What Causes Phones To Lose Value?
The most significant influence on phone depreciation is announcements and new releases. You may anticipate the value of previous models to drop in the weeks after the arrival of a new device. So, if you own an old cell phone you could use in the meantime or can do without for several weeks, it could be worth attempting to sell your current phone right before the new one comes out. If you trade in your old iPhone before Apple’s KeyNote, for example, you may expect to earn up to 25% extra.
Not everyone can do so. Not everyone has an old phone that hasn’t previously been sold lying around. If that’s the case, selling your phone as soon as possible after it’s released should help you receive the most money for it.
Which Brands Hold Onto Their Value Best?
Apple had the most remarkable results of all the manufacturers we looked at, with their phones losing about 45 percent of their value in the year after they did release. Samsung came in second, with smartphones losing 62 percent on average during the same period.
OnePlus is on the opposite side of the table. Although China is a relative novice to the smartphone business, it is bad news for lovers of the Chinese phones, with models losing nearly all of their value within a year – a staggering 97 percent!
When To Sell?
The moment when you decide to sell old broken phones is the first thing to keep in mind. It would help if you tried to sell your phone within 6 to 8 months of purchasing it to obtain the most excellent price. Its resale value will determine as a result of this. As you know, there are various things why you should buy broken phones that are less than a year old.
A new version of the phone could’ve been released during this time range. Following the release of a new phone model, the value of older devices will depreciate. To receive the most incredible price, you should aim to sell your phone within 6 to 8 months of purchase.
Current Price Of The Phone
Before getting a resale value estimate for your phone, bear in mind the current selling price of the phone. The majority of the phones might have a resale value of up to 50% to 60% of their current price. So, before you go to trade in your phone, see how much it’s selling for money.
Condition Of The Phone
The condition of your phone is one of the most crucial vital factors in determining its resale value. Nobody will interest in buying a phone that has been harmed. Only consider selling your phone for the most fantastic price if it has been well-maintained. The most crucial element is that the phone’s display is in good condition and free of scratches. To protect the display, use a screen protector or tempered glass.
The phone’s performance should be satisfactory as well. There should be no difficulties with the phone’s speakers or batteries that prompted you to give up your last phone. If something on your smartphone isn’t working, you should disclose that while selling it.
You should also include all necessary equipment, such as earbuds, a charging cord, and a charger. It will assist you in obtaining a high resale value.
Functionality Of The Phone
It is also necessary to evaluate the phone’s functioning. Buyers may be hesitant if the phone has performance or battery faults. It would be better to keep all of the attachments, such as speakers and a charger, with it. It will undoubtedly aid in obtaining a high resale value.
Here are a few functions to consider to guide you in your decision-making:
- Memory
Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM) are the two types of memory found in smartphones (ROM). The read-only memory (ROM) is the common term for memory storage. That’s the memory that stores the operating system, apps, as well as all of the recordings, images, and songs that you wish to save on the phone. In conjunction with your phone’s CPU, RAM influences the phone’s speed and ease of use.
- Camera
In-built cameras on cell phones are generating a lot of buzz, with manufacturers competing to deliver the most megapixels. Don’t make yourself fool by it. A high megapixels camera does not produce quality photos automatically. Not only megapixels, components such as aperture, ISO settings, and focusing speed produce high quality images. If you like to capture a lot of photos, choose a phone with a 12 or 16 Megapixels lens, which will give you outstanding images even in low light. If you’re not planning on using the camera frequently, a phone with an 8-12 MP lens and an aperture of f/2.2 should be enough.
- Processor
Processors, like phone cameras, were surrounded by jargon such as quad-core, octa-core, Snapdragon, MediaTek, and so on. Here’s a quick rule of thumb: Take a look at the processing speed, which measures in GigaHertz (GHz). When the CPU works quickly then the speed will be high. Choose a speedier CPU if you want to perform a lot of photo/video editing, online play games, or stream videos.
- Display
Usually, a cell phone with a 5.5–6-inch HD or QHD display is the best choice. It allows you to have a whole media experience while yet being small enough to fit in your pocket or purse.
- Operating System
There are just two options for operating systems (OS): Android or iOS. If you choose iOS, you will automatically give an Apple iPhone. All other smartphone manufacturers use the Android operating system. It, however, comes with a confusing number of names and variants. Manufacturers frequently alter the Android OS to add features, resulting in the trash, slowing down the phone. So, before you make a decision, give the phone a try.
Consider Brand Value
Last but not least, keep the brand value in mind. In most situations, the value is primarily determined by the brand being sold. Brands that trend and sell for a long time and can trust have a higher resale value than others.
Unless you’re the type to buy the newest flagship as quickly as possible as it’s released, you’ll probably want to sell your current phone to recoup some of your investment. However, as anyone who’s performed this before realizes, phone resale prices fluctuate a lot, so when is the best time to sell one to make big money?
Final Words
Sell your phone online before the sequel comes out if you have a spare phone to get you through the interval. The selling price of the Note 8 will reduce as soon as Samsung introduces the Note 9. It won’t always equate to a $100 drop-in resale value instantly, but you should expect to lose money on your Note 8.
On the other side, if you are a regular person who doesn’t have a backup phone and is planning on changing your device, don’t worry: you can still get a fantastic deal on your phone once it’s replaced! The closer you can be to the phone’s original release date, the better, but now is an excellent time to search for launch deals.
Carriers are typically glad to accept your old phone in return for a heavily reduced financing offer since it’s a quick and painless method to lock you into their service. Just be aware that if you cancel your subscription before the financing time finishes, you will be responsible for the phone’s total cost.
In summary, sell broken phones online as soon as you can to receive the maximum price, but don’t stress if you’re a few months too late. You’ll still earn less profit, but the difference is usually insignificant, and you’ll still be able to save a tremendous amount on your next purchase.