You Just Got the iPhone 7 – Here’s What to Do with Your Old Phone

 

Millions of people face the ultimate first-world problem around the same time every year: Now that they have purchased the new iPhone, what should they do with the old one? It is not the kind of decision that will decide the fate of nations, but if you are in that situation, it is a real challenge to figure out.

There are a lot of bad things you can do with it. Chief among them is to throw it away. The fact that you are done with it does not mean that the planet is ready, or even able to reclaim it. We have learned the hard way about the environmental damage done when electronics are disposed of improperly.

Another bad thing to do with your old phone is to put it in a drawer and forget about it. In the grand scheme of things, that is a terribly selfish and wasteful thing to do. However, there are plenty of good things you can do with those old phones. Here are three:

Resale

In the fictional world of Star Trek DS9, the Ferengi 5 stages of acquisition are:

• Infatuation
• Justification
• Appropriation
• Obsession
• Resale

That suspiciously models the acquisition cycle of the avid iPhone enthusiast. But that last step is not part of the cycle for many fans who could really benefit from it. Perhaps they just don’t realize how easy it is to do it.

The iPhone 7 is not a must-have upgrade for current iPhone 6s owners. But if you sell iPhone 6s’ and other models can be worth cold hard cash. Combine that money with carrier incentives, and you can practically pick up an iPhone 7 for free.

There are many companies that pay close to $300 for an iPhone 6s Plus even two or more weeks after the release of the iPhone 7. Many of them will send you a box along with postage. If you have the original packaging and accessories, you can get even more for your pre-owned device.

You can also do very well by selling it locally on the popular personals and auction sites. But many will find it a lot easier to skip the hassle of finding a buyer and jump right to the step of pocketing money for a device they will never use again anyway. Make sure resale is a part of your cycle of acquisition.

Pass It Down

Making money on that older phone is not the only responsible thing you can do with it. You can also keep it in service by passing it down to family members.

Don’t buy your kids the new hotness. The latest and greatest tech makes them the biggest target for criminals. Frankly, any iPhone puts them at a little risk because it is so popular. You never hear of people being targeted for their Samsung Galaxy whatever.

Passing it down is also a great way to keep non-techie parents in the loop. You want them to have all the latest features. And you don’t want to have to provide tech support for older devices that don’t get those features or don’t run them well. If you are going to get a new one anyway, you might just as well keep the old one in the family.

Donate It

There have always been ways for people to donate pre-owned smartphones. From soldiers to schools to families who have suffered a disaster, there are plenty of people who can use your old phone and would be delighted to have it. You can donate a lot more than blood to the Red Cross.

In addition to the good feeling of passing your perfectly useable device along to someone in need, you can write it off as a charitable contribution on your taxes. There is nothing wrong with helping yourself while helping others.

Sure, you can always keep your old devices as collectables. And perhaps that makes sense for devices that no longer work, or are otherwise broken. But for perfectly good devices in working order, resale, passing it down, and donating it to charity are much better options, for you, the planet, and the next recipient of your phone.