Trade in or upgrade your phone (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to keep your phone or trade it in? ›

It's easier to go the trade-in route and best if you're upgrading to a new phone but if you want the most cash for your old device or if you're selling the one you have to purchase a not-so-new phone, it's best to sell it.

Note that the iPhone Upgrade program isn't the same as Apple's Trade In program. While you are exchanging your old iPhone for a newer model in both programs, with the iPhone Trade In program you are simply trading in an old device for a discount on a newer one.

The speed and responsiveness of most phones decrease over time. There are ways to speed up an Android phone, but a slow phone is a good reason to upgrade. Is the battery no longer holding a reasonable charge? Many Android phones have replaceable batteries.

The Convenience of Trading In

This process eliminates the need for listing your phone, negotiating with potential buyers, and handling the shipping process. And trade-in programs often accept phones in various conditions, making it an attractive option for those with slightly worn or damaged devices.

There's never a bad time to sell your phone. If you have an old device sitting unused in your drawers, trading it in can get you some extra cash. It's worth noting, however, that phones always drop in price whenever a newer model is released.

Because dealerships handle the entire process and put work into your car to resell it for a profit, you won't get the most money possible. However, a trade-in is a good option for those who prefer convenience over value.

Carriers use trade-in deals to attract new customers and keep old customers around. A carrier may also resell or recycle your old phone. Unless you're living under a rock, you've probably seen the outrageous trade-in deals offered by carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Usually, if your old phone is in pretty good condition, trade-in companies or carriers can sell it right back on their websites without much refurbishment. If your phone is old, or it's taken a few bumps and scratches over the years, trade-in companies and carriers are less interested.

Before you trade in your old phone, it's important to properly wipe the data clean. A factory reset will work, so long as you encrypt the phone first. For Android users, if you existing phone runs Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer, your data will already be encrypted by default. So, you're good.

After five years, a smartphone should be upgraded because essential components will likely begin failing if they have not already and users could even lose files and photos if these are not backed up properly.

Is it better to upgrade or buy a new phone? ›

The reality is that upgrading your phone yearly can save you money and cost you money. If you pay monthly for your phone, and you haven't yet paid it off, an early upgrade might mean you're not getting the full value out of your original investment.

So how often should you replace your Android phone or iPhone? After two years, it's highly likely your phone will show signs of internal aging and incompatibility with new software. On average, smartphone users will keep the same phone for 21 months, then replace it with an upgrade.

Back up the information.

Move the items you want to keep or will want to transfer to your new phone to a computer or the cloud. That way you won't have to worry about losing files in the phone transfer.

Before you sell your old Android or iPhone, you should remove all sensitive data from the device. To do this, you can perform a factory reset on your phone. In this article, we'll show you how to perform a full factory reset, returning your phone to factory settings.

Is it worth it to trade in a phone? There are a lot of benefits to trading in your old phone. You get to receive the value of your old phone while still upgrading to a new phone with the latest features and updates, like a better camera, more memory, or a faster processor.