Best Place to Sell a Broken iPhone

Read our Advertiser Disclosure.
Contributor, Benzinga
July 23, 2021

Have a broken iPhone? Replacing an essential item such as this is sure to be frustrating, but there is some good news — you may be able to sell the broken iPhone! If it’s no use to you any longer, why not see if you can make a few bucks off of it? 

Decluttr
Best For
  • People looking for a convenient, secure way to sell their items
securely through Decluttr's website

1. Best for Lock-in Pricing: Decluttr

Decluttr buys all sorts of devices, and fortunately, that includes broken iPhones. Whether your iPhone is cracked, scratched, or water damaged, you may be able to make a profit by selling it here. 

Getting a quote on your broken iPhone only takes a few minutes. All you need to do is select your iPhone model, carrier, and the condition that it’s in. Decluttr will then generate the amount that it would buy your phone for. This product is good for 28 days, so you can take your time to think about it if you want to. You don’t need to send your charger, accessories, or anything else with your iPhone if you decide to sell it to this company. However, you can if you’d like them to recycle it for you.

Buyback Boss
Best For
  • People Looking to Sell Electronics
securely through Buyback Boss's website

2. Best for Bundling Products: Buyback Boss

Buyback Boss will give you a quick estimate for almost any of your devices, including used and broken iPhones. This company offers the highest price guarantee, as well as a special offer for bundling devices. If you sell multiple devices to the company at the same time, you can receive an even higher payout than you would from selling each item individually. So if you have a few items to get rid of, this could be a good opportunity to do so!

Buyback Boss’s process is pretty simple. You need to answer a few questions about your iPhone, and then you’ll receive an offer price instantly. If you want to move forward, you’ll use the free shipping label that is provided to you to ship your device to the company. When Buyback Boss receives your iPhone, it will be tested to make sure that it is in the same condition as you described. Finally, when the iPhone is fully verified and processed into their system, you’ll receive your payment within the same day via check or PayPal.

3. Best for Environmentally-conscious Practices:  Sell Broke

All you need to do is look at the name of the company to understand that it specializes in selling broken electronics. This company understands the common issue that plagues smartphone users — these items are fragile and expensive to repair. 

Sell Broke’s mission is to pay the actual market value of a broken iPhone. Even if your iPhone is not functional, it may have several functional parts that can be salvaged. The company will evaluate your iPhone once it is received to remove any usable parts for reuse. Everything else will be properly recycled in a way that best reduces e-waste. 

If you sell your iPhone to Sell Broke, you’ll receive a free prepaid shipping label. After you’ve packaged up your iPhone, you can affix this label and drop it off at a UPS store. As soon as your iPhone is received and processed, you’ll receive your payment via PayPal or a check will be mailed to you — whichever you prefer.

4. Best for the Resale Market: SellCell

SellCell is a company that specializes in products such as iPhones and even offers a Best Price Guarantee. The company acts as a price comparison site, so it will show you the best prices available based on the condition of your iPhone. It also verifies its buyers, so you can trust that every buyback company that you receive a price from has been vetted by SellCell.

According to SellCell, you can get up to 80% of the full value of your iPhone model, depending on the level of damage that it has. And when you use SellCell, it will filter out results based on your iPhone’s condition, so you’ll only see prices from companies who will buy your device in the condition that it’s in. Most of the iPhones sold through SellCell are resold to new owners who will most likely repair and resell the device themselves. If your iPhone is older and no longer has value, the iPhone will likely be taken apart and recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

5. Best for Selling iPhones with Cracked Screens:  GadgetGone

One of the most common repairs to iPhones is a replacement for a cracked screen. Unfortunately, this usually costs around $150 if you have Apple repair it for you. GadgetGone is a professional refurbishing company that can purchase your iPhone and replace the screen for much less than Apple can. In turn, this allows them to pass on those savings to you.

Instead of having your iPhone repaired and returned to you, GadgetGone can buy your iPhone and give you a reasonable offer so that you can purchase a new phone for yourself. According to the company, an iPhone with a cracked screen can be resold for “only $30-$50 less than one in good condition.” 

To sell your iPhone to the company, all you need to do is get a quote, ship your iPhone in, and wait to receive your payout. In the meantime, you can start thinking about what iPhone (or Android, if you’re looking to switch) you should get next.

Reasons to Sell Your Broken iPhone

If you have a broken iPhone, it’s natural to be disappointed. Instead of letting it collect dust in a closet, there are some things that you can do with it. Here’s why you might want to consider selling the broken iPhone:

  • Repairing broken screens or other damages can often be an expensive fix if you bring it to the Apple store. So, if your iPhone is broken, it might be time to let it go and upgrade to a newer model.
  • You can receive money for your iPhone, even if it ends up being unusable and recycled. 
  • If your phone is still functional, but the defects or damages are getting on your nerves, you can use this as an excuse to upgrade without losing as much money.

Before You Sell Your iPhone

Since your iPhone likely has some security features and personal data stored on it, there are some things that you should do before you sell your iPhone. First of all, you should log into your iCloud account and deactivate the iPhone that you’re selling. You’ll also want to make sure that the phone doesn’t remain active on your mobile provider’s service plan.

If your phone is functional enough that the screen is workable, there are some additional steps that you can take:

  • Disable your passcode to allow buyers to get into your device. (If you can’t use the display, you could also write down the passcode and mail it with the device.)
  • Restore the broken iPhone to factory settings to erase all of your content and data.

How Much Can You Sell a Broken iPhone For?

The amount that you can get for your broken iPhone will greatly depend on the condition that it’s in. For example, if your screen is cracked but the phone is still functional, you’ll likely be able to get more money than you would for a phone that has an unusable display. Other factors that can make a difference include the iPhone model, storage size and mobile carrier that the iPhone is affiliated with. 

For example, let’s take a look at iPhone 12 models with cracked screens. The base model can get you anywhere from $125 to over $500. For an iPhone 12 Pro Max, you may be able to get up to $800.

Is Aelling my Broken iPhone the Right Option?

There are few cases where selling a broken iPhone wouldn’t be beneficial. Even if you’re considering having the phone repaired at the Apple store, it doesn’t hurt to consider your options. And if you’re looking for the best place to sell a broken iPhone, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of reputable sellers out there who are ready to make an offer on your phone. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Is a broken iPhone worth anything?

A

Yes, broken iPhones can be worth money. If the phone can be repaired, it may be purchased by a professional refurbishing company or savvy individual who can fix and resell it themselves. Even if it can’t be repaired, you’ll likely be able to sell your broken iPhone for its parts.

Q

Can you sell an iPhone that doesn't work?

A

Yes! There are several companies out there that will purchase iPhones, even if they’re broken. As long as you’re honest about the condition that your phone is in, you shouldn’t have any problems.