The short version
- Typical range: £40 – £350
- Biggest single factor: condition — see the table below
- Category: Electronics
- Cost to sell on WishThrift: nothing, at any price
What a used mobile phone is worth by condition
Condition does more to the price than anything else. These figures are worked from the top of the range for mobile phones, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for the specifics of yours.
| Condition | Typical price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £350 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £297 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £227 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £157 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £87 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
These are the five grades WishThrift listings use, and sellers set the grade themselves — see what each condition grade means. Figures are shown in pounds as a reference point. On WishThrift prices display in your own currency, and sellers set their own asking price.
What raises the value of a mobile phone
- Unlocked handsets with a clean IMEI
- Recent models still receiving security updates
- Battery health well above eighty percent
- Original box, charger and accessories
What lowers it
- Blacklisted or finance-locked IMEIs, which are unsellable
- Devices past their security-update window
- Cracked screens and back glass
- Batteries needing immediate replacement
How to work out what yours is worth
- Check the IMEI against a blacklist service
- Note the exact model, storage and battery health
- Factory reset and remove all accounts
Once you have those three answers you can place your own mobile phone on the table above with reasonable confidence. If it sits between two rows, price it toward the lower one — items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully.
Ready to sell it? Listing on WishThrift is free, there is no commission, and you keep the full amount you agree with the buyer — see how selling works or create a free account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing a phone buyer checks?
The IMEI. A blacklisted or finance-locked handset cannot be used on any network, which makes it effectively worthless.
Does an unlocked phone sell for more?
Yes, consistently, because it works for any buyer on any network. It is one of the clearest price differences.
Must I factory reset before selling?
Absolutely. Remove all accounts and reset, or the buyer cannot set the phone up and your data goes with it.
More value guides: electronics guides · all value guides · browse live electronics listings.