All questions / Books, music, phones and cameras

Are old cell phones worth money?

Recent iPhones and Galaxy phones keep real resale value; most older basic phones sell for little, except sealed boxes and a few iconic models. Older basic phones and smartphones several generations old usually sell for modest amounts; broken ones sell for parts.

Our verdict IT DEPENDSIt depends on the piece: maker, date, model and condition make a real difference. Check before selling.

Live listings on eBay

A few current listings, United States. Asking prices, not sold prices.

What to look for

Check what applies to yours:

For a smartphone: the exact model and storage, unlocked or not, battery health and the screen.
For an older phone: still sealed in the original box and never activated matters more than anything.
Iconic models collectors know, such as the Motorola DynaTAC and StarTAC, the Motorola RAZR V3, the Nokia 3310 and the first iPhone.
It turns on, charges and is not locked to a carrier.
Before buying a used phone, check its IMEI number on the free CTIA Stolen Phone Checker (stolenphonechecker.org).

Before you sell

Compare with items that actually sold, not only with asking prices.
Take clear photos in daylight: front, back, marks and any damage.
Do not clean coins, and do not repaint or polish old items: it often lowers the value.
For anything that might be valuable, get an opinion from a certified appraiser or a specialist dealer.

How we decide

The verdict is our own, written from public sources (coin specifications, maker histories, collector guides). It is not computed from eBay listings. OLD: a typical one found at home is worth little; rare dates, errors or editions are the exception. IT DEPENDS: maker, date, model and condition make a real difference. GOLD: even ordinary ones are worth real money, usually for their precious metal. The eBay listings we show are a few current asking prices, not sold prices and not an appraisal. For anything valuable, ask a certified appraiser.