Selling Your iPhone in Vancouver? Here's What Actually Affects Your Offer

Every week someone walks in with an old iPhone expecting either way more or way less than what it's actually worth. The truth is the payout comes down to a handful of specific factors — and a couple of them you can improve yourself before you ever get an offer.

1. Model and storage size

This is the biggest factor by far. A newer, higher-storage model holds value longer — but even older iPhones (SE, 11, 12) still have real resale value, especially with decent battery health and no cracks.

2. Screen and body condition

A cracked screen, deep scratches, or a bent frame will lower your offer more than most people expect — screens are one of the most expensive parts to replace, so a damaged one gets priced in accordingly. If it's a small crack, it's sometimes worth a quick repair first — check our iPhone repair cost guide to see if fixing it before selling makes financial sense.

3. Battery health

A phone at 65% battery health sells for less than one at 90%, even if everything else is identical — buyers (and resellers) know a low battery health score usually means a replacement is coming soon.

4. Whether it's unlocked

A phone with an active SIM lock tied to a specific carrier is worth less than an unlocked one, since it limits who can buy it. If you're not sure whether your phone is locked, bring it in — we can check for you.

5. iCloud and Find My status

This one trips people up the most. Your iPhone must be signed out of iCloud with Find My iPhone turned off before anyone can buy or trade it in — an activation-locked phone is effectively unsellable until that's cleared. Do this before you leave the house, not at the counter.

How the process actually works

Bring your phone into any of our five Vancouver locations for a free inspection — no appointment needed. We check the condition on the spot and give you an honest, upfront offer immediately. Take it as cash, or roll it into credit toward a new or certified pre-owned device. Whatever you don't sell, we responsibly wipe, refurbish, or recycle — no landfill e-waste.