The short answer
Sell as soon as you stop using the device, and before the next model comes out if you can. Used phones lose value steadily, and they lose more around launches. A phone in a drawer almost never gets more valuable.
Why prices drop around launches
When a new model is announced, two things happen at once. Buyers who would have paid for last year’s model now want the new one, and lots of people trade in or sell their old phones at the same time. Less demand and more supply pushes used prices down, and not just for the model that was replaced.
The launch calendar
The big brands keep a fairly regular schedule:
- iPhone: new models are usually announced in September. If you’re selling an iPhone, the weeks before that are a good window.
- Samsung Galaxy S: new models usually arrive early in the year, and the foldables in the summer.
- Google Pixel: new models have arrived in late summer or fall in recent years.
- iPad: releases are less regular, so the general rule applies: sell once you’ve replaced it.
Dates move from year to year, so treat these as rough guides, not deadlines.
Upgrading? Lock in the price first
You don’t have to choose between selling early and keeping your phone until the new one arrives. A CellBack quote stays valid for 14 days. Lock in the price, set up your new phone, move your data over, then send the old one before the quote expires.
Before you ship, back up, sign out of your accounts, and reset the device. How to reset your iPhone or Android before selling it walks through each step.
When waiting doesn’t help
- Waiting for a better offer. Prices follow the resale market, and the trend for a given model is down.
- Keeping it as a backup. A spare phone is useful, but it loses value every month you keep it. Most people never reach for it.
- Fixing it first. A repair rarely adds more value than it costs. We buy damaged devices as they are.
Check what yours is worth today
An instant quote takes a minute and costs nothing. What affects your phone’s value explains how the price is set. Start with your device: iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or iPad.