How Much Are Old Mobile Phones Worth?

Old mobile phones can still be worth money. While many older handsets have little resale value, popular iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and Google Pixel devices can still sell for hundreds of pounds. Even broken phones often have value for refurbishment, spare parts or recycling, while rare vintage phones can be worth thousands to collectors.

69% of Brits consider themselves “digital hoarders”, and if you’re one of them, chances are you’re sitting on a mini goldmine. At Compare and Recycle, we’ve recycled nearly four million phones and can help you spot a rare collectable that might be gathering dust in your drawer. In this post, we’ll explore what makes an old phone worth something, how to assess its resale potential, and the best ways to recycle or repurpose it responsibly.

What Can You Do With Old Mobile Phones?

If you're debating what to do with you old phone, the best option will depend on its condition. Essentially, there are two routes you can take to responsibly get rid of your old mobile: use an online trade-in service to sell it for cash or drop it off to be recycled at a specialist recycling facility.

Don’t bin your mobile phone

First things first, do not throw away your mobile phone whether it's in your regular black bin or your recycling bin, broken or working - just don’t do it! This is incredibly dangerous mainly because mobile phones contain lithium-ion batteries, which when crushed will cause a thermal reaction and catch fire. This puts the lives of the bin workers and those working on the premises in danger. Additionally, if a mobile phone ends up in the bin, it will make its way to landfill instead of having its components recovered and reused. 

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Find out how much is it worth and sell your phone

If your mobile phone still powers on then the best course of action is to sell it. Like anything you sell, it is always good to check how much you can get for it, and with mobile phones the value will depend on its condition.

If your phone’s been on quite a journey and has encountered a few cracks along the way, you’re more likely to get a lower price as opposed to one that’s still in prime condition after a few years of use. Remember to compare prices to sell your mobile phone, this way you will get the best price for it. Disposing of your phone in this way has so many environmental and of course financial benefits. Not only will you have peace of mind that it will be reused as a refurbished phone but you will also make a pretty penny selling it on. Just make sure to remove your personal data, reset the device and compare multiple offers to get the best price.

If your phone is obsolete - recycle it

An obsolete phone means that it’s past its prime. It lacks compatibility with networks, it no longer receives software and security updates and is deemed unsafe to use. Similarly, mobile phones that are damaged beyond repair also fall into this category, but nevertheless, both should be disposed of responsibly and the easiest way is to find a recycling drop off point near you using the Recycle Your Electricals directory.

If your mobile phone is obsolete and you try to sell it on the Compare and Recycle website, then you will be met with a message that we couldn’t find a price for your mobile phone and recommendations on what steps you could take instead.

Repurpose your old mobile phone

If you’re set on keeping your working mobile phone, then here are some suggestions on how you can put it to good use:

• Use it as a home security cam - There are so many security apps that enable you to turn your old phone into a home security camera. Of course, your phone must have a functioning camera, but all you will need to do is download the app, connect to Wi-Fi and place your mobile phone anywhere in your house. This allows you to keep an eye on things (or your furry friends) whilst you are away.

• Use it as a smart home controller – Home improvements have been quite the trend in consumer tech recently. The good news is that you only need an old phone to tap into it. Whether you want to control your lights, speakers, or thermostats, your old phone has got room for use still.

• Use it as a music player or streaming device - Load up your phone with all your favourite songs or podcasts and use it to listen on the go knowing that you’re not draining the battery and storage space of your main mobile phone.

• Use it as a backup phone – Keep your old device as an emergency phone in case your main handset is lost, broken, or out of battery. That way, even if you don't have mobile insurance, you have a replacement phone whenever you need it. Just make sure it still gets security updates so your data is protected in case you need to sign in into your cloud accounts or online banking.

• Hand it down to kids – An old mobile can be ideal as a starter phone for children or as a travel device to avoid risking your primary phone. Given the astonishing amount of screen time kids are getting nowadays, an old dumb phone can be a great way for them to stay in touch.

Which Old Phones Are Worth the Most?

Not all old phones are worth equal; some have become collector's items, retained or grown in resale value due to rarity, design, or historical significance. In this section, we break down which models from popular brands like Nokia and Apple are still worth a decent amount today. Whether you’re curious about a classic in your drawer or considering selling, here’s what to look out for.

Motorola

When assessing the value of an old phone, rarity is key. The Motorola DynaTAC 8000 is a good point in case, being the first handheld phone to hit the market back in 1983. This early brick-like device was a marvel in its day, costing nearly £3k, which equates to approximately £9k in today’s money. The Motorola MicroTAC landed five years later for £1.8k, becoming the iconic Motorola handset for 80s kids. Other vintage models soon followed, such as the Motorola StarTAC (1996), Motorola V70 (2002), and Motorola Razr (2004), all of which would fetch a good price in today’s market.

Nokia

The first handset to be commercially dubbed a “smartphone” was the Nokia 7700. Although it was never officially released, it’s a good example of another criteria collectors look for in an old phone: a unique design. The Nokia 5510 is another highly sought-after oddity; similarly the Nokia 8110, which was featured in the Matrix movies, is in a league of its own.

BlackBerry

Most BlackBerry devices aren’t worth that much anymore, but there are exceptions such as the Porsche Design models. Either way, there’s one thing that can’t be denied about a BlackBerry: the nostalgic appeal. Even now, there are people who could get one purely for sentimental reasons. And the good thing about old phones is that they don’t have to be in the best condition either to spark interest.

iPhones

iPhones are quite the rage these days, and even an older model like the iPhone 7 still has a fair bit of value left. However, unlike most old phones that are brought as collectables, your iPhone will need to be in working condition if you want to sell it.

How Much Can I Get for My Old Phone? FAQs

Here are some of the commonly asked questions we get from our customers when it comes to recycling old phones:

Are broken phones worth anything?

Absolutely! A broken phone can still fetch you a decent amount when traded in, even if it has a cracked screen or a dead battery. This is because it contains precious compounds like gold, silver, and lithium, which can still be extracted and recycled. If the damage is only surface level and the model is still supported, it can be refurbished and given a second life as well.

What affects phone resale value?

There are several factors that affect how much you can get for your phone. Premium brands, models, and storage specs often mean a higher payout, but, ultimately, it is the age and condition of the phone will determine its resale value. Learn more.

What should I do before selling my phone?

Before you trade in your phone with one of our recyclers, make sure to back up your data and do a factory reset. If you have a microSD card or physical SIM, remember to eject it. Check out the detailed guide here.

Based on nearly four million phones processed through Compare and Recycle, we can say this with certainty: most old phones may not make you rich, but they still hold value. Rare and limited editions can fetch a solid paycheck, but even it isn't a collector's item, each phone has enormous recycling potential. By recycling it, you are already cutting down the enormous carbon impact that manufacturing a phone has on the environment. So before tossing that old device in a drawer (or worse, the bin), it’s worth taking a moment to research. You might just uncover a small piece of tech history that's worth something after all. 

And we’ll say it again - recycle your phone! Whether you can earn money from it or not, it is the most responsible way to dispose of your device and also the safest.