How to sell a used smartphone safely and at the right price

Somewhere in a desk drawer, under a tangle of chargers nobody uses anymore, there is almost always a phone. Usually it's the old one you replaced last year, still working fine but running out of battery by late afternoon. Selling a used smartphone is one of the easiest ways to turn something idle into cash, because phones lose value fast and every month in a drawer knocks a few more euros off the price. So it pays to move early and do it properly, with a fair price, none of your data left inside and no worries when it comes to getting paid.

Below are the steps we would follow ourselves, from working out how much to ask to the moment the parcel leaves.

How much your used smartphone is worth

Price is mostly a matter of model and age, then condition. A flagship from two years ago that has been looked after often sells for about half its launch price. A mid-range phone from three or four years back drops much further, and past a certain point the small details decide it.

To give you a rough idea, here are some market estimates for phones in good condition, with light signs of use and an intact screen. Treat them as ballpark figures, since storage, colour and time of year all move them.

The fairest way to set your price is still to look at listings like yours, same model and same storage, and sit somewhere in the middle. If you kept the original box or the receipt (maybe with a few months of warranty left), say so up front, because buyers of used phones love that. A scratched screen or a tired battery will bring the price down, and that's fine as long as you mention it. Your phone's settings show the battery health, and it's the first thing people will ask about.

Protect your data before you sell

This is the part many people rush the night before shipping, and then regret. A phone sold without a proper wipe carries your photos, chats, accounts and sometimes saved cards. And if it stays linked to your account, the buyer ends up with a locked phone they can't use. Before you list it, or at the very least before you ship it, go through these steps:

• make a full backup to your computer or the cloud, so everything is waiting on your new phone;
• sign out of your Apple or Google account and switch off the find-my-phone feature;
• unpair your smartwatch, earbuds and banking apps;
• run a factory reset from the settings;
• take out the SIM and any memory card.

Photos and a description that help you sell

Someone buying a used phone online can't hold it in their hand, so they trust what they see. Clean the screen and the body, sit near a window and shoot the front with the screen on, the back, the edges and the cameras. If there's a scratch, take a close-up. It feels like shooting yourself in the foot, but a flaw shown up front avoids arguments later and makes you look like someone who can be trusted. For more practical tricks, have a look at our guide on how to photograph an item well, which works just as well for selling.

In the description, give the exact model, storage, colour, battery health and what goes in the box. If you're selling because you upgraded, say so, it reassures people. On Lendmates this part is shorter than you'd think. You take a few photos, the listing more or less fills itself in with a title and details, you check it, adjust the price and publish.

Selling anywhere in Italy with protected payment

A phone fits in a shoebox, so there's no reason to look for a buyer only in your neighbourhood. On Lendmates, selling has no distance limit. Someone in Bari can buy your phone even if you live in Udine, and it reaches them by courier.

The tricky part of selling to a stranger is always the payment. On Lendmates the buyer pays in the app and you receive the money once the purchase goes through. No chasing bank transfers, no trusting a screenshot of a receipt. The buyer, for their part, knows the money won't vanish before the phone arrives. The person on the other side has also had their identity verified, which clears up a lot of doubts before you even start.

For questions about the battery, scratches or shipping times there's the in-app chat, so you can sort things out without swapping phone numbers. If you're curious, we covered it in our article on the Lendmates in-app chat.

How to pack a phone for shipping

If you have the original box, use it and put it inside a slightly bigger one, filling the gaps with paper or bubble wrap. Without the original box, a small sturdy box is fine, with the phone well wrapped and held in place so nothing moves when you shake the parcel. Switch the phone off before sealing it. Only add the cable or charger if you listed them, so the buyer gets exactly what they expect.

One useful habit is to snap a photo of the phone inside the open parcel just before you tape it shut. You'll almost never need it, but on the rare day a parcel arrives dented you'll be glad you did.

What happens after the sale

When the phone arrives and the buyer confirms it matches the listing, the purchase goes through and you get paid. Then you leave each other a review. It sounds like a small thing, but those first good reviews are what make people trust you next time, and they help you sell your next item faster. Our guide on how reviews work on Lendmates has a few more tips.

What you do with the money is up to you, of course. You could buy the next model second hand, again with protected payment and shipping. And the same account also lets you rent, so if you need a camera or an e-scooter next weekend you don't have to buy one.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to sell a used smartphone privately or trade it in?

A trade-in at a shop is convenient, but the offer is usually lower than what you'd get from a private buyer. Selling it yourself earns you more, in exchange for a few minutes on the listing and a trip to drop off the parcel.

Should I remove the SIM before shipping the phone?

Yes. The SIM is tied to your number and stays with you, and the same goes for any memory card. Take them out before the factory reset and keep them for your new phone.

Can I sell a smartphone with a cracked screen?

Yes, as long as you say so clearly and show the damage in the photos. The price will be lower, but some people buy damaged phones to repair them or for spare parts.

How can I be sure I'll get paid?

On Lendmates the buyer pays in the app and the payment stays protected until the purchase goes through. Then the money comes to you, with no transfers to check and no cash to count.

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