How to Sell Your iPhone in Australia and Get the Best Price

Most Australians upgrade their iPhone every 18 to 24 months. That means there are a lot of perfectly good phones sitting in kitchen drawers, collecting dust. If yours is one of them, you are losing money every week you wait.

iPhones drop in value fast. A 12-month-old iPhone 15 Pro might fetch $800 today. In six months, that same phone could be worth $200 less - simply because a newer model came out. Selling quickly makes a real difference to what ends up in your pocket.

This guide covers everything: how to check your iPhone's resale value, how to prepare it properly before you sell, how to sell it safely without getting ripped off, and why thousands of Australians trust trade.com.au to get the job done fast.

How Much Is Your iPhone Worth in Australia?

The short answer: more than you might expect, but less than it was six months ago.

iPhone resale values vary a lot depending on the model, storage size, condition, and whether you still have the original box and accessories. Below is a rough guide based on current Australian market prices for phones in good working condition with no major screen damage.

 

Insider tip from our team: Having the original charging cable and earphones adds roughly $10–$20 to your offer. The original box can add another $15–$30. It sounds small, but on a $400 sale that is a meaningful bump.

For a confirmed quote on your specific iPhone, get in touch with our team here - we respond within a few hours.

What to Do Before You Sell Your iPhone 

Skipping these steps is the most common mistake people make. Taking 20 minutes to prepare your iPhone properly protects your personal data, gets you a better price, and makes the whole process run smoothly.

1. Back Up Everything First

Before you do anything else, back up your iPhone. You do not want to factory reset it and then realise your photos are gone.

The two simplest ways:

• iCloud backup - Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Your photos, contacts, messages, and app data will all be saved to your iCloud account. Apple's official iCloud backup guide walks through this step by step if you need it.
• Computer backup - Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC and back up through Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows/older Mac). This creates a complete local copy of your phone.

Once the backup is done, check it actually worked before moving to the next step.

2. Sign Out of iCloud and Disable Find My iPhone

This step is non-negotiable. If you forget to turn off Find My iPhone, the person who buys your phone cannot activate it. This is called "Activation Lock" and it will get your sale flagged or cancelled.

Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out and follow the prompts. When asked, enter your Apple ID password to turn off Find My. Alternatively, go to Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Find My iPhone and toggle it off.

3. Erase All Content and Settings

Once iCloud is signed out, wipe the phone completely.

Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.

On iPhones running iOS 15 or later, you will see an option to prepare the phone for a new user directly from this screen - use it. For a full walkthrough, Apple's official erase and reset guide covers every iOS version.

After the wipe, your phone should sit on the "Hello" setup screen. That confirms it is fully reset and ready for a new owner.

4. Check Your IMEI and Blacklist Status

Type *#06# on your keypad - this displays your IMEI number. Then run it through AMTA's CheckMEND tool or the ACMA's register to make sure your iPhone is not reported stolen or blacklisted. Buyers and platforms (including ours) check this automatically. If there is an issue, it is better to know before you try to sell.

5. Clean the Phone and Gather Accessories

A clean phone photographs better and commands a better offer. Use a microfibre cloth lightly dampened with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution - this is what Apple recommends for safe cleaning. Wipe the screen, back panel, and camera lens. Let it dry completely before taking photos.

Round up whatever accessories you still have - original box, charging cable, earphones, cases. Even if they are not pristine, they add value.

How to Sell Your iPhone Through Trade.com.au

Selling your iPhone through trade.com.au takes three steps. Most people complete the whole process in under 48 hours.

Step 1 - Get Your Quote

Head to trade.com.au/pages/contact and submit your iPhone details. Take a few clear photos - front, back, sides, and one of the screens turned on. Our team reviews every submission individually. You will receive a quote within a few hours, sometimes within the hour during business days. There is no obligation to accept.

Step 2 - Shipping is on Us or Simply Come to Us in Brisbane 

After getting your quote, you are offered one of the following choices: 

• Free shipping – we'll email a shipping label for you! . Pack your iPhone securely (bubble wrap or at least a padded envelope), drop it at any Australia Post outlet, and we handle the rest. Shipping is fully covered.
• In-store drop-off - If you are in Brisbane, come directly to our store at 303 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Our team assesses your phone on the spot.

We are also happy to arrange assessments for customers in Sydney and Melbourne - contact us and we will sort out the details.

Step 3 - Get Paid the Same Day

Once one of our techs confirms your phone is in the condition you’ve stated, your payment is disbursed to you immediately. It’s yours:

• PayPal - Usually arrives within minutes
• Bank transfer (EFT) - Typically same day

If your phone has a fault that was not mentioned upfront, we call you to discuss a revised offer before doing anything. You can accept the new price or have your phone returned - your call.

Sell, Trade, or Donate - Which Option Suits You? 

Not sure whether to sell, trade in, or simply pass your old iPhone on? Here is a straight comparison.

The biggest difference between selling privately (eBay, Gumtree, Facebook) and selling through trade.com.au is time and safety. Private sales can get you $50–$100 more, but you deal with no-shows, low-ballers, scammers, and the stress of strangers turning up to your home. Our process is fixed, clear, and done within 48 hours.

Looking to upgrade? Browse our range of refurbished iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, or refurbished MacBooks - all sold with a 12-month warranty.

Why Waiting Costs You More Than You Think

Here is something most people do not factor in: your old iPhone loses roughly 30–40% of its value in the first year, and another 20–25% in the second year. After that, the curve flattens - but the damage is already done.

When Apple announces a new iPhone (typically every September), every previous model drops in price within weeks. If you are sitting on an iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16 has already launched, you are already selling into a depreciated market. Every month you wait makes it worse.

The phones that hold value best - iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro - still drop noticeably the moment a successor lands. Sell as soon as you have upgraded and you keep the gap between what you paid and what you get back as small as possible.

What Happens to Your Data and Your Phone After You Sell?

Data security is something we take seriously, not just mention. Every device that comes through trade.com.au goes through a full data wipe regardless of what the seller has done beforehand. Our technicians use certified data erasure software that overwrites device storage - this is not just a factory reset.

After the wipe is verified, each device is tested, graded, and photographed before being listed for resale. Phones that are too old or too damaged for resale are responsibly recycled through certified Australian e-waste partners - they do not end up in landfill.

Your personal information is not stored, sold, or shared. We are a licensed secondhand dealer (Dealer Licence 4719222) operating under Queensland's Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act, which has strict requirements around data handling and chain of custody.

Why Australians Choose Trade.com.au

We have been buying, selling, and trading phones in Australia for over 10 years. In that time we have processed thousands of devices and built a reputation on three things: fair prices, fast payment, and no nonsense.

A few things that matter to our customers:

We buy phones in all conditions. Cracked screen, dead battery, water damage - we still want to see it. The offer adjusts for conditions, but we rarely say no outright.

We are a real business with a physical address. 303 Adelaide Street, Brisbane CBD. ABN 11 689 612 879. Licensed and regulated. You are not dealing with a random Gumtree seller.

Our prices are competitive. We are in the business of reselling phones, so we need to buy them at a price that makes sense for everyone. We do not lowball - we need volume and we build that through repeat customers and referrals.

12-month warranty on everything we sell. If you are also looking to buy your next phone, every device on trade.com.au comes with a full 12-month warranty and a no-fuss return policy. Read our full warranty policy here and returns policy here.

You can also read more about who we are if you want to know the full story.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I sell a cracked iPhone?

Yes. Trade.com.au buys iPhones with cracked screens, broken buttons, and other damage. The quote reflects the condition - a cracked screen will reduce the offer compared to a pristine device, but it does not disqualify your phone from the process. We assess every device on its own merits.

How long does it take to get paid?

For in-store drop-offs, payment is processed the same day once your device is verified. For mail-in sales, payment is sent as soon as the phone arrives and is checked - usually within 24 hours of us receiving it.

Do I need the original box to sell my iPhone?

No, you do not need the original box. It is helpful (and can add a small premium to your offer), but most people sell without it and that is completely fine.

What iPhone models do you buy?

We buy a wide range - from older models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X all the way through to current-generation devices. If you are unsure whether your model qualifies, send us a message with the model and condition and we will let you know within a few hours.

Is trade.com.au legitimate?

Yes. Trade.com.au is operated by Trade.com.au Pty Ltd (ABN 11 689 612 879), holds a Queensland Secondhand Dealer Licence (4719222), and has a physical store at 303 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. We have been operating for over 10 years with more than 5,000 customers served.

Can I sell my iPhone if Find My iPhone is still on?

No - you need to turn off Find My iPhone and sign out of your Apple ID before the phone can be verified and relisted. This is an Apple requirement, not just ours. The steps are covered in the preparation section above.

How do I know I am getting a fair price?

You can compare our quote against Apple Trade In, carrier trade-in programs, and current eBay sold listings for your model and condition. We encourage you to do this. Our quotes are competitive because we need to move volume - we are not in the business of lowballing and hoping nobody checks.

Can I also sell my iPad or MacBook through trade.com.au?

Yes. We buy iPads and MacBooks as well. The process is identical - contact us with the model, storage, and condition, and we will come back with a quote.

What if the phone arrives and the condition is different from what I described?

Our technicians check every device thoroughly. If there is a discrepancy between the described and actual condition, we contact you with a revised offer before doing anything. You can accept the adjusted price or have the phone returned at no cost to you.

Ready to Sell Your iPhone? 

If your old iPhone is sitting in a drawer, it is losing value right now. The process takes less time than you probably think, the payment is fast, and there is no risk involved.

Here's what to do next:

1. Check your iPhone's approximate value using the table above
2. Do the prep: back up, sign out of iCloud, factory reset, clean
3. Contact our team at trade.com.au with your phone details and a few photos
4. Receive your quote and decide - no pressure either way

Questions before you start? Call us on (07) 3211 9218 or email hello@trade.com.au during business hours. Our Brisbane team is happy to walk you through anything.

And if you are already thinking about what comes next, take a look at our full range of refurbished iPhones - every one backed by a 12-month warranty and sold by a team that knows devices inside out.