Got a new phone for Christmas? Great! Now the question is, what are you supposed to do with the old one?
Every year, millions of perfectly usable phones end up forgotten in drawers. They slowly lose value, the batteries degrade, and eventually they become harder to reuse or recycle properly. Trading in or passing on your old phone sooner rather than later makes a real difference, both financially and environmentally.
When you trade in an old phone, you’re helping keep it in circulation instead of adding to electronic waste. Refurbished phones reduce the demand for new devices, cut down on raw material use, and give someone else access to a reliable phone at a lower cost. At the same time, you get money back for something you’re no longer using.
If you’ve just upgraded, now is the best time to act. Below, we’ll walk through the best options for your old phone, whether that’s trading it in, gifting it, keeping it as a backup, or recycling it responsibly.
First, Give It a Proper Check
Before you do anything else, give your old phone a quick once-over.
- Does it still turn on?
- Is the screen intact?
- Is the battery holding a decent charge?
- Any major faults or quirks?
You don’t need to run diagnostics, just be honest with yourself. If it works and the screen isn’t totally smashed, there’s a good chance it still has value, especially if it’s a recent iPhone, Google or Samsung.
Option One: Trade It In
Trading in is the simplest option. You send it off, get a quote, and put the money toward something else, or just pocket the cash.
If you got your new phone from The iOutlet, it’s worth checking what your old one is worth. Even phones with cracked screens or dodgy batteries can still fetch a decent return, depending on the model. Plus, it keeps your old phone in circulation instead of collecting dust.
You’re saving someone else from buying new, and you’re getting paid for it. Win-win.
Option Two: Gift It On
If your phone still works well but isn’t worth much on trade-in, passing it on might be the best move.
Give it to a younger sibling, a parent, a grandparent who’s been stubborn about upgrading. Or a mate who’s cracked theirs and can’t afford a replacement right now. A hand-me-down phone isn’t a bad thing, especially if you’ve looked after it.
Before gifting, make sure to wipe all your data (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings), clean it up, and maybe throw in a charger or case to round it off.
Option Three: Keep It as a Backup
Even if you’re not planning to use it daily, your old phone can still come in handy.
- Travelling soon? Use it as a local SIM device.
- Need a dedicated phone for music or podcasts?
- Want a backup just in case your main phone breaks?
Just remember to keep it updated occasionally and store it somewhere dry and safe. There’s nothing worse than digging out your spare phone six months later only to find it’s completely dead.
Option Four: Recycle It Properly
If your phone’s completely broken, screen smashed, battery dead, not worth fixing, don’t just bin it.
Phones contain batteries, metals, and components that shouldn’t end up in landfills. Use a certified recycling service or hand it in to a refurbished who accepts non-working devices.
It won’t make you rich, but you’ll be doing the right thing. Some companies even offer small rewards for recycled devices, or you can donate it to causes that repurpose parts.
Don’t Leave It Lying Around
Whatever you do, don’t just toss your old phone in a drawer and forget about it. That’s where phones go to die, and if it’s still usable, it could genuinely make someone else’s day, or make you a bit of money. The longer you wait, the more the value drops. So if you’ve just upgraded this Christmas, now’s the time to sort it.
Take five minutes, wipe your data, check your options, then either trade it, gift it, sell it or recycle it!
