Can Broken Phones Still Be Worth Selling?
In most cases, yes — and usually for more than people expect. The economics of refurbishment have shifted significantly over the last few years, which means a broken phone is rarely just rubbish.
When a phone breaks, the temptation is to write it off and put it in a drawer. The actual second-hand market is much friendlier than that. Replacement parts are widely available, refurbishment workflows are well-established, and component-level repairs that were specialist work five years ago are now routine. The question is rarely does this phone have value? — it's how much, and as what?
Two paths for any broken phone
Every damaged device gets assessed against two routes:
Path 1 — refurbishment
Repair the device back to a sellable grade and resell it. This works when the model is in active demand, the damage is contained to one or two components, and the realistic resale price after repair leaves margin. Modern iPhone Pro models, Samsung Ultras and recent flagships often fall into this category even with significant damage.
Path 2 — parts recovery
Strip the device for components — boards, cameras, charging assemblies, frames, glass, batteries — and feed those into the wider repair market. A phone that won't power on can still have a perfectly good rear camera array, Face ID assembly or rear glass that's worth more apart than as a whole.
Which broken phones are worth most?
- Recent iPhone Pro / Pro Max — strong refurb demand, expensive parts, big spread between component value and screen-replacement cost
- Samsung Ultra and foldables — high original price, in-demand parts, AMOLED assemblies have wholesale value even when removed
- Recent Pixel flagships — narrower buyer pool but solid component value, especially camera modules
- iPhone XS / 11 / 12 series — reliable refurb candidates because the second-hand demand is still healthy and the repair costs are reasonable
Older budget Androids, on the other hand, often value at parts only — the refurb economics don't stack up because the working resale price is too low to justify the repair cost.
How specific damage gets priced
Cracked screens
Usually a single-component repair on iPhone, more involved on Samsung (see why OLED damage reduces Samsung value). On a current iPhone Pro, a cracked screen is rarely a deal-breaker — the panel is replaceable and the rest of the phone keeps full value.
Battery faults
Low health, fast drain or unexpected shutdowns are factored in as a battery service before resale. Battery swelling is graded separately. Detailed breakdown on why battery health affects value.
Water damage
Graded on whether the corrosion is contained or has reached the board. Devices that powered down quickly and were dried straight away tend to recover well. Long-soaked or salt-water devices are usually parts-only. Bring it in dry rather than testing it yourself.
Won't power on
Still buyable. The board may be repairable (charging IC, power management chip, tristar IC are all common faults with known fixes), and even if it isn't, the rest of the device — cameras, Face ID, frame, rear glass, charging port — has parts value.
Multi-fault devices
A phone with a cracked screen, faulty battery and a non-working camera isn't three deductions. It's a single grading conversation about whether the unit makes more sense as a refurb candidate or a parts donor — and the parts donor route still produces an offer.
Why posting broken phones away rarely works in your favour
Postal trade-in services are designed for working phones. Send a broken one and the original quote almost always gets revised down on arrival, sometimes dramatically, and you're then stuck negotiating about a phone you no longer have. In-person grading avoids all of that — the device stays with you until the price is agreed.
Bring it in for a proper figure
WhatsApp the model and a quick photo of the damage and we'll come back with a realistic estimate. See also our broken phones, water-damaged and faulty phone guides.
Common questions
Is it worth selling an iPhone that won't switch on?
On recent models, almost always yes. Even non-booting iPhone Pro and Pro Max devices have meaningful parts value. Older models depend on age and condition.
Do you buy phones with a known motherboard fault?
Yes. Specific board-level faults (charging IC, baseband, NAND) are common enough to have established repair workflows. The offer reflects whether the fault is fixable economically or whether the device routes to parts.
What about phones that have been water damaged?
Bring them in. Severity varies — clean water and a quick power-off recovers better than salt water or a slow soak. We grade on visible corrosion and what we can see when the device is opened.
Should I try to repair it myself first?
Almost never. DIY repairs can introduce additional faults that hit the offer harder than the original damage. Bring it in as-is.
Want this applied to your specific device? Send the model and we'll come back with a realistic guide figure.
Related reading
Cash for Broken Phones St Helens →
Honest in-person grading on damaged devices.
Sell water-damaged phones →
Corrosion grading and what we look for.
Sell faulty phones →
Intermittent and hardware faults.
Why battery health affects value →
Battery deductions explained.
How phone valuations work →
The full breakdown of how offers are built.