How Much Is My Phone Worth? A Complete Resale Value Guide

If you are thinking about selling your phone, the first question is always the same. What is it actually worth?

Most places would rather you did not know the answer. The less you know, the easier you are to lowball. So here is the honest breakdown of what decides your phone's value, and how to make sure you actually get paid what it is worth.

The Model Matters Most

The single biggest factor is which phone you have. A newer flagship holds value far better than a budget phone from the same year. An iPhone 15 Pro Max and a five year old Android can look similar sitting in a drawer, but their resale prices live in different worlds.

As a rule of thumb, phones lose value fastest in their first year, then the drop slows down. Apple devices tend to hold value the longest, with Samsung flagships close behind, followed by Google Pixel and other Android brands.

Storage Size Adds Real Money

Two identical phones can be worth different amounts because of storage alone. A 256GB model is worth more than the 64GB version of the same phone, and the jump to 512GB or 1TB adds more again. When you check your price with us, select the right storage size. It is one of the easiest details to get wrong, and it changes the offer.

Condition Is Where Most of the Price Moves

Buyers grade phones by condition, and the gap between grades is real money:

• Like new: No scratches, everything works, healthy battery. Top price.
• Good: Light wear you only notice up close. Still strong value.
• Fair: Visible scratches or dents, but fully working. A noticeable discount.
• Broken: Cracked screen, bad battery, or other faults. Worth less, but almost never worth nothing.

This is where a lot of people get talked out of money. Plenty of buyers will tell you a cracked phone is worthless. It is not. Screens, batteries, and boards all carry value, which is why we buy phones in every condition, including cracked, water damaged, and phones that will not power on at all.

Carrier Lock and Payment Status

An unlocked phone is worth more than the same phone locked to a carrier, because it can be resold to more people. If your phone is still on a payment plan, that affects the sale too. We buy both locked and unlocked phones, and we will walk you through your options if there is still a balance on it.

Timing Plays a Part

Prices dip when a new generation launches. The week Apple announces a new iPhone, the previous models drop in value almost overnight. If you are already planning to upgrade, selling before the next launch usually puts more in your pocket.

Why Our Number Is Usually Higher

Here is the part most guides leave out. Two buyers can look at the exact same phone and offer you very different amounts.

A kiosk machine cannot really assess your phone, so it protects itself by offering low. A carrier gives you store credit tied to buying another phone from them. A mail-in service quotes you one number, then revises it after your phone is already in their warehouse.

We price differently. Our tool checks real time market value for your exact model, storage, and condition, so the number you see is based on what the phone is genuinely worth today. Then a real person verifies it in front of you and pays you that amount. No revised offers, no surprise deductions, no games.

Get Your Exact Number in 30 Seconds

You do not have to guess at any of this. Check what your phone is worth here. It takes about 30 seconds, there is no account to create, and you are under no obligation to sell.

If you are in the Triangle, we come to you across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, and we pay the same day. You can read more about selling your iPhone, Samsung, or Google Pixel in Raleigh.

The Bottom Line

Your phone's value comes down to model, storage, condition, carrier status, and timing. Know those five things and nobody can talk you down. Check your price with us, compare it against any other offer you get, and see the difference for yourself.