Original research · Published 2026-06-25
The Phone Trade-In Price Gap: Buyers Vary by Up to 72% on the Same Device
We track buyback prices every day across the largest US trade-in sites. Analyzing 139,358 price points across 20 buyers and 517 devices, one thing is clear: where you sell matters far more than most people realize.
This study was compiled and published on 2026-06-25, and every price figure below reflects the market as of that date. Trade-in prices move constantly — for a live number on your device, get an instant quote.
1. The same phone, wildly different offers
For devices quoted by at least three buyers, the highest flawless/unlocked offer averaged 72% above the lowest, an average gap of $83, and as much as $761 on a single device. Selling to the first site you find, rather than comparing, routinely leaves real money behind.
| Device (flawless, unlocked) | Lowest offer | Highest offer | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | $470 | $587 | $117 (25%) |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | $420 | $546 | $126 (30%) |
| iPhone 14 Pro | $315 | $422 | $107 (34%) |
| iPhone 15 | $295 | $405 | $110 (37%) |
| Pixel 8 Pro | $205 | $281 | $76 (37%) |
| iPhone 13 | $170 | $240 | $70 (41%) |
2. The condition cliff
Condition is the single biggest factor in your payout. Averaged across buyers and devices, here's what each grade is worth relative to a flawless device:
A "good" phone keeps 83% of flawless value; "fair" drops to 63%; a cracked or non-working phone is worth just 23%. Turning off activation lock and cleaning the device before you quote is often worth more than the shipping.
3. The most-advertised site isn't the highest payer
Brand visibility and payout don't correlate. Some of the most heavily marketed trade-in names topped the price comparison on only a small fraction of devices, while lesser-known buyers frequently paid the most. The takeaway for sellers is the same: compare before you commit.
Methodology
BuyBackBear records publicly listed buyback prices daily across 20 US trade-in services, covering 517 devices and 139,358 price points as of 2026-06-25. Comparisons use flawless-condition, unlocked pricing unless noted; condition figures compare grades for the same device and buyer. Figures are point-in-time and update as prices move.
Citation / press: Journalists may cite this study with a link to this page. Per-buyer and per-model datasets are available on request, contact press@buybackbear.com.
Put this to work on your device
The study says compare before you commit, and check condition and lock status first. Here's where to do that:
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