How Phone Condition Affects Resale Value
What buyers and buyback companies look at when grading a phone.
Condition is usually the biggest thing you control. Buyers and inspectors check the same few things.
What gets checked
- Screen: cracks, scratches, dead pixels, burn-in.
- Body and back glass: dents and cracks.
- Function: cameras, buttons, speakers, charging port, Face ID or fingerprint reader.
- Battery health.
- Activation lock and finance status: the phone must be signed out of accounts and paid off.
Tips
- Clean the phone before taking photos.
- Describe flaws honestly. It prevents disputes and lowered offers.
- Small fixes, like a new screen protector, can make a phone look better. Weigh bigger repairs against the value they add.