01
Phone Model and Age
Newer devices will generally retain more value, but older iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixels and other smartphones can still be worth checking.
Recycle Your Old Phone with Zextons
Got an old, unwanted or damaged phone sitting in a drawer? Before treating it as waste, check whether it still has value. sell.zextons helps customers across the UK turn eligible old phones into cash while keeping devices in use for longer wherever possible.
Working phones, older models and even some faulty or damaged devices can still have value, so recycling should not automatically mean giving your phone away for nothing.
Free valuation
Free tracked postage
14-day quote lock
UK-based support
YOUR OPTIONS
Should I Sell or Recycle My Old Phone?
If your phone still has resale value, selling it for reuse or refurbishment will often make more sense than treating it immediately as electronic waste.
Check Its Value First
Your old phone may still be useful even if you have upgraded, it has cosmetic wear, the battery is weaker, the screen is damaged, it has another fault, it is locked to a mobile network, or you simply no longer use it.
- You have upgraded to a newer model
- It has cosmetic wear
- The battery is weaker than it once was
- The screen is damaged
- It has another fault
- It is locked to a mobile network
- You simply no longer use it
If the phone is eligible for a sell.zextons valuation, you may be able to turn it into cash rather than leaving it unused. Devices that are genuinely unsuitable for reuse can then move towards an appropriate recycling route.
See If My Phone Still Has Value
PHONE VALUE
Does My Old Phone Still Have Value?
Age alone does not determine whether a phone is worth anything. Several factors influence its current value.
02
Storage Capacity
Different storage versions of the same phone can have different resale values.
03
Condition
A fully working handset will normally be valued differently from one with a cracked screen, damaged back glass, charging problems or other faults.
04
Network Status
Whether a phone is unlocked or restricted to a particular mobile network can also affect its valuation.
05
Current Market Demand
Phone values change as new models launch and demand for older devices rises or falls.
06
Actual Device Valuation
sell.zextons calculates a valuation using the details of your actual device instead of relying on a generic estimate.
HOW IT WORKS
How Phone Recycling Works with sell.zextons
The process starts by checking whether your phone can still generate value.
For a complete overview, you can also read
how selling a phone to sell.zextons works
.
Find Your Phone
Search for your exact make and model.
Tell Us About the Device
Choose the correct storage, network and condition so your valuation reflects the phone you actually have.
Review Your Valuation
If sell.zextons can buy the device, you will see the valuation available for the information supplied.
Send Your Phone
Follow the device sending instructions and use the available prepaid postage option.
Inspection
When the device arrives, it is checked against the information supplied with your order.
Payment or Device Route
Eligible devices that match the order proceed through the sell.zextons payment process.
DAMAGED DEVICES
Can Broken or Faulty Phones Be Recycled?
Yes. A broken phone should not automatically be considered worthless. Depending on its model and condition, a damaged device may still have resale value, refurbishment potential, reusable components or recoverable materials.
Resale Value
Some damaged devices can still be sold depending on their model and overall condition.
Refurbishment Potential
Certain faults can be repaired, allowing a device to be prepared for another useful life.
Reusable Components
Phones unsuitable for normal resale may still contain functional components.
Recoverable Materials
Devices that cannot be reused may still contain materials suitable for responsible recycling.
This Can Include Phones With:
- Cracked screens
- Damaged back glass
- Battery problems
- Charging faults
- Camera problems
- Speaker or microphone faults
- Devices that no longer power on
If your phone is damaged, check its value before assuming recycling is the only option. For more detailed information, visit our Sell Broken Phone page.
Check My Broken Phone Value
NETWORK STATUS
Can I Recycle a Network-Locked Phone?
A phone does not necessarily need to be unlocked before it can have value.
EE
Supported Network
O2
Supported Network
Vodafone
Supported Network
Three
Supported Network
sell.zextons accepts eligible phones locked to major UK networks including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, as well as unlocked handsets. Network status and physical condition are separate factors, so a phone can be network locked while still being perfectly usable or valuable.
If this applies to your device, read our Sell Network Locked Phone guide before getting your valuation.
RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING
What Happens to a Recycled Phone?
Responsible phone recycling should prioritise keeping a device or its useful parts in circulation where practical.
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Reuse
If a phone remains suitable for continued use, extending its useful life can avoid treating a functioning device as waste.
02
Refurbishment
Some phones can be inspected, processed and prepared for resale rather than discarded.
Around 80% sell.zextons states that around 80% of the devices it buys are refurbished and resold.03
Component Recovery
A phone unsuitable for normal resale can still contain usable components that may reduce unnecessary waste.
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Materials Recycling
Phones that cannot realistically be reused can still contain recoverable materials.
sell.zextons states that non-reusable devices are recycled in compliance with WEEE standards.
REUSE FIRST
Why Reuse a Phone Before Recycling It?
Recycling is important, but it is not always the first or only option. If a phone is still usable, repairing, refurbishing or reselling it can keep the complete device in service for longer.
01
Reuse
Where practical
↓
02
Refurbish
Where practical
↓
03
Recover
Useful components
↓
04
Recycle
Materials when necessary
For Customers, the First Step Remains Simple
Check whether the phone still has value.
BEFORE SENDING
How to Prepare Your Phone Before Recycling or Selling It
Your personal data matters just as much as the physical device. Before sending a phone, take a few simple steps wherever the device is functional enough to allow them.
Back Up Anything You Want to Keep
- Photos
- Contacts
- Messages
- Documents
- Authentication information
- Other personal files
Remove Apple or Google Accounts
For an iPhone, remove the Apple account and ensure Find My / Activation Lock is disabled. For Android phones, remove the relevant Google account before performing the factory reset.
Factory Reset the Device
Once your important information is backed up and accounts are removed, erase the device.
Use the free phone data delete toolRemove Your SIM Card
Your SIM belongs to you and can contain information linked to your mobile service. Take it out before posting the device.
Remove Any Memory Card
A microSD or other removable memory card can contain personal files independently of the phone itself.
Package the Phone Securely
Prevent additional damage while the phone is in transit by following the sell.zextons postage and packaging guidance.
View postage and packaging guidance
POPULAR BRANDS
Recycle an Old Phone by Brand
Check the value of popular phone brands directly through the relevant sell.zextons device pages.
Apple iPhone
Sell My iPhone
Samsung
Sell My Samsung
Google Pixel
Sell My Google Pixel
Other Brands
Sell My Mobile
Recycle an Old iPhone
Upgraded your iPhone and no longer need the previous one? Instead of leaving it unused, check whether it still has value through Sell My iPhone.
Check My iPhone ValueRecycle a Samsung Phone
Old Samsung Galaxy devices can also retain value depending on their model, storage and condition.
Check My Samsung ValueRecycle a Google Pixel
Have an older Pixel after upgrading? Find your model through Sell My Google Pixel.
Check My Pixel Value
BUSINESS RECYCLING
Recycling 10 or More Business Devices?
This page is designed primarily for individuals recycling or selling personal devices.
10+
Bulk Device Recycling
If your business, organisation or workplace has 10 or more phones, tablets, laptops or other electronics, sell.zextons provides a separate bulk recycling service.
The business service can help with larger volumes of unwanted or used technology and provides a separate quotation process.
Keeping business and individual recycling separate means you can use the process designed for the number and type of devices you actually have.
WHY ZEXTONS
Why Recycle Your Phone with sell.zextons?
Recycling or selling a phone means handing over a device that may still contain both financial value and personal information. sell.zextons provides several safeguards around the process.
01
Free Tracked Postage
sell.zextons provides prepaid postage for eligible device sales, so you do not have to pay to send your phone.
02
14-Day Quote Lock
Once your sale is confirmed, sell.zextons holds the quoted price for 14 days.
03
Same-Day Payment
Where a device matches the order and arrives before the published 1pm weekday cut-off, sell.zextons states that payment is issued the same day by bank transfer.
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Free Return
If you decline a revised offer, you can request the device back free of charge, subject to the applicable terms.
Read sell.zextons promises05
Data-Removal Guidance
The free data delete tool explains how to remove personal information, Apple Activation Lock and relevant Google-account security before sending a device.
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Established UK Business
sell.zextons has been operating locally since 2007 and online since 2014.
SELL.ZEXTONS TECH STORE
Read sell.zextons Customer Reviews
Established UK Business
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Phone Recycling
What is phone recycling?
Phone recycling means preventing an unwanted mobile device from simply becoming waste. Depending on its condition, the phone may be reused, refurbished, used for recoverable components or recycled for its materials.
Can I get money for recycling my old phone?
Potentially. Many old phones still have resale value. Check your exact device with sell.zextons before assuming it has no financial value.
Should I sell or recycle my old phone?
Check its value first. If the phone can still be economically reused or refurbished, selling it may keep the complete device in circulation while giving you money for it. Phones unsuitable for reuse may require recycling instead.
Can broken phones be recycled?
Yes. Some broken phones retain resale, refurbishment or parts value. Even devices that cannot be reused may contain recoverable materials.
Can I recycle a phone that will not turn on?
Potentially. A non-working phone may still have residual value depending on the model and fault. Check your device before assuming it is worthless.
What should I do with my data before recycling a phone?
Back up anything you want to keep, remove relevant Apple or Google accounts, factory reset the phone where possible, and remove the SIM and memory card. Use the sell.zextons data delete tool if you need step-by-step guidance.
Can a network-locked phone be recycled or sold?
Yes, eligible network-locked phones may still have value. sell.zextons accepts supported devices locked to EE, O2, Vodafone and Three as well as unlocked phones.
Do I need the original box or charger?
Your valuation should be based on the requirements shown during the sell.zextons selling process. Check the instructions for your order before sending anything other than the device itself.
What happens if my phone has no resale value?
Phones that cannot reasonably be reused may still contain recyclable components and materials. The appropriate route depends on the device's actual condition.
Can businesses recycle phones with Zextons?
Yes. Businesses with 10 or more devices can use the separate sell.zextons bulk recycling service rather than the individual buyback process.
CHECK BEFORE YOU RECYCLE
Check Your Old Phone's Value Before Recycling It
An old, broken or unwanted phone may still be worth something. Before treating it as waste, find your exact device, tell us its condition and see whether sell.zextons can give it another useful life.
Check What My Phone Is Worth Now