When buying a new phone, should you trade in your old one with the company or sell it online? What's the better method to get rid of your old phone?
Which one gets you more value? Which is more convenient?
Pros of Trading In Your Old Phone
1. It's Faster, Safer, and More Convenient
Perhaps the biggest advantage of trading in your old phone is its convenience. As long as your phone meets the eligibility requirements and is in good condition, you can trade it in and instantly reduce your order total when buying a new phone via the company's official site.
On the site, select your handset, check if it's eligible for trade-in, and if it is, factory reset it after backing up your data and removing all your linked accounts, passwords, and registered fingerprints. Next, pack your device and ship the package to the company via FedEx or any other shipping service.
2. Your Phone Is Recycled Responsibly
Once the company receives the package, your device is properly recycled—minimizing e-waste and reducing your carbon footprint. This makes trade-in a sustainable choice.
Selling your old phone prolongs its life, but you don't know how the buyer will dispose of it years later. And by then, the components in the device will be so old and obsolete that they can't be recycled. Hence, trade-in is more sustainable and better for the planet.
3. You Don't Have to Negotiate
Depending on the company you're doing the trade-in with, you can get pretty decent value for your old device without haggling on the price—something you'll have to do when selling to a buyer online.
Trade-in also allows you to increase your budget and get a more premium phone since the instant credit you get on your old phone will reduce the total amount due for your order. When selling online, you don't have the assurance that anyone will buy your old phone.
Cons of Trading In Your Old Phone
1. Not All Smartphone Companies Allow Trade-in
All major smartphone companies have a trade-in program which is great for most people since they buy from top brands anyway. But smaller, less-established, or enthusiast brands might not allow trade-in.
Moreover, they may allow trade-in in one region but not the other due to logistical issues. More often than not, smaller companies do not offer good trade-in value either. Because of these reasons, trade-in isn't a good option if you're buying from a non-mainstream brand.
2. Some Phones May Not Be Eligible for Trade-in
All companies that allow trade-ins accept iPhones and Galaxy phones for obvious reasons. But if you have a Motorola, OnePlus, Nokia, Sony, Huawei, or Honor phone, you'll face difficulty trying to trade it in—especially if it's an older model.
Even if your device is somehow eligible, you're probably not going to get good value for it. That's unless it's an iPhone or Samsung phone, of course.
3. Damage or Fake Parts May Void Trade-in Eligibility
Trade-in also carries a risk of the company disabling your new phone if it finds out that your old phone is damaged, has fake parts, or was repaired by an unauthorized repair shop in the past. All of these complaints will immediately void trade-in eligibility.
A phone with a cracked screen can usually still be traded in, but you must disclose that on the order page. Always read the eligibility requirements before proceeding.
Pros of Selling Your Old Phone Online
1. You Can Get Better Value
Selling your old phone online usually gets you more value in return because the buyer is an end consumer who intends to use the product and not a company who intends to recycle it, so they are willing to negotiate.
However, note that this will depend on how many other sellers like you offer the same phone. If there are many, you will not have as much bargaining power. In that case, use these tips to get the best deal when selling your phone online.
2. You Can Find a Buyer for Any Phone
If you have a phone from a non-mainstream brand, it will be much easier to find a buyer online than to find a company that will accept it for trade-in. As long as you price the device right and negotiate well, you can find a buyer for pretty much any phone.
3. You Can Compare Different Buyers' Offers
Selling your phone online means you'll be contacted by multiple interested buyers, all of which will make different offers. You can pick whoever will pay the most and make a deal with them. Such is not possible via trade-in.
Cons of Selling Your Old Phone Online
1. It's Time-Consuming and Requires a Lot of Effort
Putting up your device for sale online is a hassle; there's no denying it. You have to list your product on a marketplace, create an ad, write a description, click pictures, search for buyers, and negotiate with them. All this takes up a fair bit of your time and requires effort since you're basically marketing a product.
2. You Have to Meet Buyers or Arrange Shipping
Meeting a stranger in real life to make a deal is anxiety-inducing, and there's an obvious risk to your personal safety. While there are ways to stay safe when using Facebook Marketplace, for example, the experience is not going to be a fun one.
If you're not meeting the buyer in person, you have to deal with the inconvenience of shipping. And if the buyer isn't willing to pay the shipping charges, you might have to bear it yourself.
3. The Buyer May Default on the Payment
Countless scammers on second-hand marketplaces disguise themselves as real buyers, and it's not always easy to spot them. You might find the "buyer" defaulting on the payment after you ship the product to them.
Trade-In Is Easier but Pays Less
Both trade-in and online selling have pros and cons, and depending on your priorities, the right option for you will differ. If you're willing to do the work, you can get better value when selling online, but note that the process might take up to a week or two or even longer.
Trade-in is the best option if you don't want to deal with all the hassle, have a phone from a mainstream brand, and can also find good value for it.