Whether you want to go with Samsung, Google, or a different manufacturer, trading in your old Android phone \u2014 or selling it \u2014 is a smart way to do that, especially since there are those who will decide instead to buy a lightly used phone from an older generation that will suit their needs without breaking the bank. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If you\u2019ve got an older model and are ready for an upgrade, here are a few steps to take in order to get your device ready to sell, followed by how much cash you can expect to earn back. We\u2019re going to concentrate on Samsung and Google Pixel phones here, but you can probably expect similar results with phones from other vendors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Inspect your phone<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nIf your old device is in good condition, you shouldn\u2019t have much of a problem finding a new owner. As mentioned in our guide on selling your iPhone<\/a>, having a phone in good condition is crucial to finding a buyer who\u2019s willing to pay top dollar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nEven if your phone isn\u2019t in the best shape, you should still be able to get something <\/em>for your trade. Take into consideration its blemishes, including scratches, dents, cracks, and any other quirks that the next owner should know about. Be honest, or else it will probably come back to bite you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSamsung Galaxy S9 Plus<\/em><\/figcaption>Photo by James Bareham \/ The Verge<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nErase your phone<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nThere are three steps involved in securely wiping your Android phone. These steps can vary slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel, or a phone from another manufacturer. We have instructions for the Galaxy and Pixel; other Android phones may vary slightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Samsung Galaxy running Android 13 to 14<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n1: Disable Factory Reset Protection.<\/strong> This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if it\u2019s stolen. To disable it, all you have to do is turn off your Screen Lock. (You\u2019ve had your Screen Lock set, right?) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- Navigate to Settings > Lock Screen > Screen lock type<\/strong>. <\/li>\n
- Select None<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n- Navigate to Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts<\/strong> and tap on the account (or accounts, if you have more than one) that\u2019s listed there. <\/li>\n
- Tap Remove account<\/strong>. (Incidentally, if you haven\u2019t backed up your phone recently, you can go to Accounts and backup > Backup<\/strong> to get that done.) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
3: Factory reset the phone. <\/strong>The next step is to factory reset the phone to completely wipe it of all your data. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- Back at the main settings menu, select General management > Reset<\/strong> to take you to the final step. <\/li>\n
- Select Factory data reset<\/strong>. You will get a warning page listing the data that will be erased, any accounts you\u2019re still signed into (and you should go back and remove them), and which apps will be removed. <\/li>\n
- Ready? Tap on Reset<\/strong> (you\u2019ll be prompted to put in your Samsung account password).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Google Pixel running Android 13 or 14<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n1: Disable Factory Reset Protection.<\/strong> This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if it\u2019s stolen. To disable it, all you have to do is turn off your Screen Lock. (You\u2019ve had your Screen Lock set, right?) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- Android 13<\/strong>: Navigate to Settings > Security & privacy > Device lock > Screen lock<\/strong> and select None<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
- Android 14<\/strong>: Navigate to Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Screen lock<\/strong> and select None<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n- Using Android 13 or 14, erasing your phone starts with navigating to Settings > Passwords & accounts<\/strong> and tapping on the account (or accounts, if you have more than one) that\u2019s listed there. <\/li>\n
- Then tap on Remove account<\/strong>. <\/li>\n
- You\u2019ll get a warning pop-up. Tap on Remove account<\/strong> again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
3: Factory reset the phone. <\/strong>The next step for both Android 13 and 14 is to factory reset the phone to completely wipe it of all your data. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- Back at the main settings menu, select System<\/strong>. <\/li>\n
- If you haven\u2019t backed up your phone to Google Drive recently, you can go to Backup<\/strong> and select Back up now<\/strong>. Otherwise, going into Reset options<\/strong> will take you to the final step. <\/li>\n
- Select Erase all data (factory reset)<\/strong>. You will get a warning page listing the data that will be erased, and if you\u2019ve neglected to sign out of any accounts, it will be listed there (and you should go back and remove it). Otherwise, tap on Erase all data<\/strong>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Trade your phone in<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nWhen you trade in your phone to a manufacturer or carrier, you may be trading price for convenience. It\u2019s up to you which you choose. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nAt the time of publication, Samsung was offering up to a $500 instant trade-in credit if you were purchasing its Galaxy S23<\/a>. For example, either a Galaxy Z Fold 4<\/a> or a Galaxy S22 Plus 5G<\/a> would get you a credit for $500, and while an older Galaxy S20 Plus<\/a> would earn $200.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nGoogle, in its turn, was offering up to $750 as a trade-in for a Pixel 8 Pro<\/a>. A Pixel 7 Pro<\/a> with 256GB, however, only traded in for $325, while a Pixel 6<\/a> with 128GB storage that was in working condition and free of cracks rated $250.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nYou also may be able to get a good deal with a carrier \u2014 as long as you read the small print. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nGoogle\u2019s Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6.<\/em><\/figcaption>Photo by Becca Farsace \/ The Verge<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSell your phone<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n\nAs for where you can sell your old phone, Swappa<\/strong><\/a> is a top pick with a healthy community of buyers and sellers. With Swappa, you create a listing along with a price; when your device is sold, you receive payment from Swappa and then ship the phone directly to the buyer. Swappa charges a fee from the buyer, depending on the price of the phone, but you are responsible for shipping costs. And if you\u2019re in a hurry, you can do a trade-in with one of Swappa\u2019s partners, although you will get less \u2014 for example, the average price offered for a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was $606 if you sold it through Swappa, while doing a trade-in scored an average price of $303.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou can either sell your phone or do a trade-in on Swappa, but the convenience of the latter will mean less money.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThere are, of course, other sites where you can sell your phones. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nDecluttr<\/strong><\/a> buys the phone from you and then resells it. The company gives you a price online; you then ship your phone to Decluttr within 28 days. The phone will be inspected; if there are no issues, you will be paid either by direct deposit or PayPal; you can also direct your fee to a charity. If they don\u2019t feel the condition of the phone is as promised, you will be offered a revised price which you will have 14 days to accept or decline; if you decline, they will ship the phone back for free. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nGazelle<\/strong><\/a> works in much the same way: the company gives you a price online, and you then ship your phone to Gazelle within 30 days. The phone will be inspected; if there are issues, you will be offered a revised price which you must accept or reject within five days. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nBest Buy<\/strong><\/a> lets you either mail in your phone or bring it to your nearest Best Buy retail store; either way, you can trade it in for an e-gift card. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nFlipsy<\/strong><\/a> deals with a variety of retail sites; it will let you know what vendors offer how much, and then you get from 7 to 30 days to ship the device (depending on which vendor you choose). The vendor pays for shipping. If the vendor doesn\u2019t agree with your assessment, they will send a revised offer; since each vendor has its own return policies, it\u2019s a good idea to check before you ship. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nAnd, of course, there\u2019s eBay<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Selling here can be a bit complicated, but basically, you get up to 250 listings for free each month; once you sell your item, there is a 13.25 percent fee for items up to a final value fee of $7,500 and then 2.35 percent on the portion of the sale over $7,500; there is also a $0.30 transaction fee. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nOther places where you can sell your phone free of charge (except, of course, for shipping fees) include Facebook Marketplace<\/strong><\/a> and Craigslist<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nWhether you use one of the resources listed here to make up the cost of a new Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone, or decide that the convenience of trading in the phone is worth the extra bucks, is up to you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If your old device is in good condition, you shouldn\u2019t have much of a problem finding a new owner. As mentioned in our guide on selling your iPhone<\/a>, having a phone in good condition is crucial to finding a buyer who\u2019s willing to pay top dollar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Even if your phone isn\u2019t in the best shape, you should still be able to get something <\/em>for your trade. Take into consideration its blemishes, including scratches, dents, cracks, and any other quirks that the next owner should know about. Be honest, or else it will probably come back to bite you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There are three steps involved in securely wiping your Android phone. These steps can vary slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel, or a phone from another manufacturer. We have instructions for the Galaxy and Pixel; other Android phones may vary slightly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 1: Disable Factory Reset Protection.<\/strong> This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if it\u2019s stolen. To disable it, all you have to do is turn off your Screen Lock. (You\u2019ve had your Screen Lock set, right?) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3: Factory reset the phone. <\/strong>The next step is to factory reset the phone to completely wipe it of all your data. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 1: Disable Factory Reset Protection.<\/strong> This feature prevents your phone from being wiped if it\u2019s stolen. To disable it, all you have to do is turn off your Screen Lock. (You\u2019ve had your Screen Lock set, right?) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3: Factory reset the phone. <\/strong>The next step for both Android 13 and 14 is to factory reset the phone to completely wipe it of all your data. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you trade in your phone to a manufacturer or carrier, you may be trading price for convenience. It\u2019s up to you which you choose. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n At the time of publication, Samsung was offering up to a $500 instant trade-in credit if you were purchasing its Galaxy S23<\/a>. For example, either a Galaxy Z Fold 4<\/a> or a Galaxy S22 Plus 5G<\/a> would get you a credit for $500, and while an older Galaxy S20 Plus<\/a> would earn $200.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Google, in its turn, was offering up to $750 as a trade-in for a Pixel 8 Pro<\/a>. A Pixel 7 Pro<\/a> with 256GB, however, only traded in for $325, while a Pixel 6<\/a> with 128GB storage that was in working condition and free of cracks rated $250.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You also may be able to get a good deal with a carrier \u2014 as long as you read the small print. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n As for where you can sell your old phone, Swappa<\/strong><\/a> is a top pick with a healthy community of buyers and sellers. With Swappa, you create a listing along with a price; when your device is sold, you receive payment from Swappa and then ship the phone directly to the buyer. Swappa charges a fee from the buyer, depending on the price of the phone, but you are responsible for shipping costs. And if you\u2019re in a hurry, you can do a trade-in with one of Swappa\u2019s partners, although you will get less \u2014 for example, the average price offered for a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was $606 if you sold it through Swappa, while doing a trade-in scored an average price of $303.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There are, of course, other sites where you can sell your phones. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Decluttr<\/strong><\/a> buys the phone from you and then resells it. The company gives you a price online; you then ship your phone to Decluttr within 28 days. The phone will be inspected; if there are no issues, you will be paid either by direct deposit or PayPal; you can also direct your fee to a charity. If they don\u2019t feel the condition of the phone is as promised, you will be offered a revised price which you will have 14 days to accept or decline; if you decline, they will ship the phone back for free. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gazelle<\/strong><\/a> works in much the same way: the company gives you a price online, and you then ship your phone to Gazelle within 30 days. The phone will be inspected; if there are issues, you will be offered a revised price which you must accept or reject within five days. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Best Buy<\/strong><\/a> lets you either mail in your phone or bring it to your nearest Best Buy retail store; either way, you can trade it in for an e-gift card. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Flipsy<\/strong><\/a> deals with a variety of retail sites; it will let you know what vendors offer how much, and then you get from 7 to 30 days to ship the device (depending on which vendor you choose). The vendor pays for shipping. If the vendor doesn\u2019t agree with your assessment, they will send a revised offer; since each vendor has its own return policies, it\u2019s a good idea to check before you ship. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n And, of course, there\u2019s eBay<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> Selling here can be a bit complicated, but basically, you get up to 250 listings for free each month; once you sell your item, there is a 13.25 percent fee for items up to a final value fee of $7,500 and then 2.35 percent on the portion of the sale over $7,500; there is also a $0.30 transaction fee. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Other places where you can sell your phone free of charge (except, of course, for shipping fees) include Facebook Marketplace<\/strong><\/a> and Craigslist<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Whether you use one of the resources listed here to make up the cost of a new Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone, or decide that the convenience of trading in the phone is worth the extra bucks, is up to you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nErase your phone<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Samsung Galaxy running Android 13 to 14<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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Google Pixel running Android 13 or 14<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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Trade your phone in<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Sell your phone<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n