So you have one or more old cell phones you have lying around the home or office, and you are wondering what to do with them. Here are some tips and ideas to breath life, help those in need, or safely dispose of your old phones.
First of All, Let’s Clear Off All of Your Data
Before you do anything, you may want to backup, then clear off all of your personal data before you get rid of that phone.
Here are links to some of the most common phone model instructions for backing up, and deleting data from your device;
- What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
- What to do before giving away or selling your android phone or tablet
Repair Your Broken iPhone or Android Phone
If you are just getting rid of your phone because it has a broken screen or any other cosmetic damage, chances are you could get it repaired relatively inexpensively. Even if you are selling it, sometimes the cost of the repair is less than the value of selling it in the repaired condition.
Our favorite local repair shops, for mobile devices and tablets, is uCRACKit-iFIXit on the west-side of Cleveland, located in Westlake Ohio.
You can find their Facebook page here
uCRACKit-iFIXit
There are plenty of ways you can re-purpose your old cell phone.
Here are a few ideas;
- Give them to your kids to use as toys, or for educational gaming
- Use them as baby monitors
- Give it to a family member or friend who needs it
- Keep it as a backup or emergency phone
Sell or Trade Your Old Phone
If your phone isn’t too old, you can always try an sell it. And you don’t mind the hassle, selling it on Ebay or Craigslist usually gets you the biggest bang for your buck. But, if you are like most people, you just want a quick and hassle free transaction. You can always check with your carrier too. Sometimes they have excellent trad-in or trade-up programs.
Here are a few places that offer cash for old mobile devices;
- Local in Cleveland uCRACKit-iFIXit
- Online Gazelle.com
- Online Glyde.com
- Your local carrier ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc…
Donate Your Old Phone
There are plenty of great places you can donate your old phones for good cause. We’ve listed a couple of charities below, but you can actually donate your phones by dropping them at participating drop locations such as Cell Phone Carriers like Verizon, Your Local Schools, and Phone Repair Shops;
Recycle Your Old Phone
Almost any cell phone provider will recycle your cell phone for you. If you have any questions on proper disposal, you can always reach out to your local recycling facility.