Can you sell a samsung galaxy that does not work?
Yes. Repairers, people replacing one component and buyers who want a project all shop deliberately at this end. None of them will accept a fault they discover after paying.
What actually goes wrong with samsung galaxys
These are the faults that move a samsung galaxy down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- A-series models, which depreciate very quickly
- Burn-in on the always-on display area
- Replaced screens, which Samsung devices flag in diagnostics
- Crease damage or screen failure on folding models
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £27 to £202. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £15 to £112. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the fault properly rather than guessing at it:
- Confirm the exact model code in Settings > About phone
- Run Samsung Members diagnostics to check the panel is original
- Compare sold listings for that model line and storage
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- Front, screen on, showing a light background so any burn-in is visible
- Back and frame in daylight
- The About phone screen with the exact model number
- The battery diagnostic result, plus any crack or scratch
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken samsung galaxys want these confirmed:
- Exact model including any Plus, Ultra or FE suffix, plus storage
- Battery health from Samsung diagnostics if available
- Whether the AMOLED screen shows any burn-in or green tint
- Unlock status, and whether the S Pen is included on models that use one
Full model and storage: “Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 256GB Unlocked, Phantom Black”. The suffix is essential — Plus and Ultra variants carry big price differences. Colour is worth including because Galaxy colourways are searched by name.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Display a plain white or grey image full screen and photograph it. AMOLED burn-in is the characteristic Galaxy fault and buyers check for it specifically.
Read it from the About phone screen. Guessing between base, Plus and Ultra variants misprices the phone in one direction or the other.
On Ultra and Note models say clearly, and confirm it still works. A missing S Pen is an expensive omission.
Is it worth repairing first?
Usually not, unless it is cheap and you can evidence it. What lifts the price is condition and completeness, which a repair rarely restores:
- S-series and Z-series flagships rather than A-series models
- Unlocked status with a clean IMEI
- S Pen included where the model came with one
- Screen with no burn-in and original factory panel
If the work would cost more than the gap between £112 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Sell quickly when priced to market. Values step down each time Samsung launches a new flagship, so waiting costs money.
Getting it to the buyer
Confirm cleared payment before handover. For local sales, meeting somewhere public and letting the buyer check the screen properly suits both sides.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full samsung galaxy selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken samsung galaxy worth anything?
Yes — typically £15 to £112 at For Parts against £60 to £450 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. A-series models, which depreciate very quickly
Should I repair it before selling?
Usually not, unless the repair is cheap and you can evidence it. The things that genuinely lift the price are s-series and Z-series flagships rather than A-series models and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty samsung galaxy?
The fault itself, in detail. Display a plain white or grey image full screen and photograph it. AMOLED burn-in is the characteristic Galaxy fault and buyers check for it specifically. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what samsung galaxy is worth by condition · how to sell samsung galaxy · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.