Many people have old phones sitting in drawers with cracked screens, broken buttons, or carrier locks. You might think these damaged or locked devices are worthless, but that's not true. Even phones with problems can be sold for cash. As a business that buys thousands of phones every month, we want to explain exactly what types of phones we accept and how much you can expect to receive.

Yes, You Can Sell Locked and Broken Phones

The short answer is yes. Broken and locked phones have value, though they sell for less money than fully functional unlocked devices. Buyers like GoRoostr purchase these phones for several reasons. Some get repaired and resold. Others are broken down for parts that work perfectly. Many go to recycling facilities where valuable materials get recovered. Even a phone that seems completely dead contains gold, silver, copper, and other materials worth extracting.

Understanding what makes your phone valuable helps you get the best price. Different types of problems affect value in different ways. Some issues barely impact price while others significantly reduce what buyers will pay.

Types of Locks on Phones

When people talk about locked phones, they usually mean one of three things. Each type of lock affects resale value differently.

Carrier Locks

Carrier locks are the most common type. When you buy a phone through a wireless carrier on a payment plan, the device gets locked to that carrier's network. You cannot use the phone with a different carrier's SIM card until the lock is removed.

Carrier-locked phones still have value. People who use the same carrier happily buy locked phones at a discount. International buyers need phones unlocked in order to be compatible with specific carriers for their regions.

Locked phones typically sell for 20% to 40% less than identical unlocked phones. The exact reduction depends on which carrier has the lock. Some carriers are more popular than others, affecting demand.

If your phone is paid off, you can request an unlock from your carrier before selling. This simple step can increase your selling price by $50 to $150, depending on the model. However, if you cannot unlock it, we still buy carrier-locked phones.

iCloud or Google Account Locks

Activation locks are different from carrier locks. These security features prevent anyone from using the phone without the original owner's ID, password or account credentials.

An iCloud-locked or Google-locked phone has almost no value. These security features work exactly as intended, making the phone unusable to anyone except the original owner. We cannot buy phones with activation locks because we cannot resell or recycle them effectively.

If you forgot your password and cannot remove the account, contact Apple or Google support. They can help you regain access if you can prove ownership. Without removing the activation lock, your phone has virtually zero resale value.

Blacklist or IMEI Locks

Phones reported lost or stolen get added to a blacklist database. Carriers check IMEI numbers against this database and block blacklisted phones from connecting to their networks.

We cannot buy blacklisted phones in most cases. These devices were reported as stolen or have unpaid balances. Selling or buying blacklisted phones creates legal issues and ethical concerns.

If your phone was blacklisted by mistake, contact your carrier to resolve the issue before trying to sell. Legitimate blacklist removals happen when phones are paid off or when reports were filed in error.

Types of Physical Damage We Accept

Physical damage comes in many forms. Some damage barely affects value, while other problems significantly reduce what we can pay. If you're looking to sell used iPhone models with cracks, battery issues, or carrier locks, many of them still qualify for fair offers based on parts, resale potential, and market demand.

• Cracked or Shattered Screens: Cracks reduce value by 20%–60% depending on severity and touch functionality. Still sellable because screens can be replaced, and parts remain useful.
• Camera Issues: Rear or front camera problems reduce value by 10%–40%. Phones are often resold for parts when camera components fail.
• Charging Port Problems: Poor or non-working ports reduce value by 25%–40%. Still sellable; wireless charging can lessen the reduction.
• Water Damage: Value drops 30%–50% or more, depending on symptoms. Unpredictable long-term effects due to corrosion.
• Battery Problems: Battery health below 80% reduces value by 15%–30%. Common issue: batteries are easy to replace.
• Missing Parts: Missing trays, covers, or small components reduce value by 5%–20%.

Functional Issues We Accept

Functional Issues We Accept

We have specific guidelines for the condition of iPhones we can purchase. Understanding these categories will help you determine if your device qualifies.

• Working Devices with Specific Issues
  Your iPhone must turn on and be fully functional overall, with no liquid damage.We accept devices with certain physical issues like cracked screens, degraded batteries, or blown speakers.These issues must be properly selected during the quote process.If your specific issue isn't listed in our system, please contact us before proceeding.
• Issues We Cannot Accept
  We cannot purchase iPhones that don't turn on or have any functional/connectivity problems.Devices with liquid damage are not eligible, regardless of other conditions.Phones with broken or malfunctioning Touch ID sensors or Face ID cameras cannot be purchased.Devices containing aftermarket parts are not eligible for purchase.
• Connectivity and Functional Problems We Don't Accept
  Port or charging issues disqualify devices from purchase.Problems with WiFi, Cellular, or Bluetooth connectivity make devices ineligible.Microphone issues or other functional problems prevent us from buying the device.Any issue affecting core functionality beyond cosmetic or replaceable components (screen, battery, speakers) makes the phone ineligible.

Important Note: While we accept devices with broken screens, bad batteries, or blown speakers, any other functional issue, even if the phone turns on, makes it ineligible for purchase through our service.

What We Cannot Buy

While we buy many phones of varying conditions, some situations prevent us from making purchases. You can also sell iPad Air devices with similar types of damage, since tablets follow the same value-based evaluation process as phones.

• Activation Locked Phones
  Phones locked to an iCloud or Google account cannot be purchased.These devices are unusable without the original owner's login credentials.Sellers must remove activation locks before attempting to sell; it is the most important step in the process.Phones that are still tied to a carrier account or have unpaid bills cannot be purchased, as carriers can blacklist these devices until all payments are completed.
• Blacklisted or Reported Stolen Phones
  Every device's IMEI is checked against national blacklist databases.Phones reported as lost or stolen cannot be purchased due to legal and security concerns.If a device was reported stolen to a carrier or insurer, the issue must be resolved before selling; carriers can sometimes remove devices from the blacklist if circumstances change.
• Phones We Cannot Identify
  If a device is so severely damaged that the model, storage capacity, or specifications cannot be determined, we cannot make an offer.This is rare but may occur with phones that are burned, crushed, or otherwise damaged beyond recognition.

How We Determine Offers for Damaged Phones

Maximizing Value for Your Locked or Broken Phone

Even with problems, you can take steps to get the best possible offer for your phone.

1. Remove All Locks You Can: If your phone is paid off, contact your carrier and request an unlock. This single step can increase your offer significantly. Unlocking takes a few days but is worth the wait.
2. Provide an Accurate Description: When requesting a quote, describe all problems honestly. Providing complete information upfront leads to accurate offers. If we discover undisclosed problems after purchase, we must revise the offer downward.
3. Include Accessories: Original chargers, cables, and boxes add value even for damaged phones. These accessories can be sold separately or bundled with repaired phones.
4. Clean the Phone: Clean your phone before selling. Remove dirt, dust, and grime. A clean phone photographs better and makes a better impression during evaluation.
5. Timing Matters: Phone values decline over time. If you know you will not use your damaged phone, sell it sooner rather than later. Waiting six months means accepting a lower offer.

Common Questions About Selling Damaged Phones

People often have specific questions when considering selling locked or broken phones.

Q: Can I sell a phone with a broken back glass?

A: Absolutely. Broken back glass is cosmetic damage that does not affect functionality. Value reduction is typically 15% to 25% depending on the phone model and how expensive replacement back glass costs.

Q: Do you buy very old phones?

A: We buy phones from recent years that still have market value. Phones older than five to seven years usually have minimal value because technology has advanced significantly.

Very old phones still contain recoverable materials. We might offer a small amount for old phones headed to recycling rather than resale.

Q: What if my phone has a prepaid carrier lock?

A: GoRoostr does not purchase prepaid carrier phones unless they are already unlocked and sold to us in that state. Prepaid carrier locks function like postpaid locks, and while some carriers have good resale markets, we only accept devices that are unlocked when received.

Q: Can I sell a phone financed through a payment plan?

A: You must own your phone outright before selling. Phones with outstanding payment plan balances belong to the carrier or financing company until paid off. Selling a phone you do not own creates legal issues, it’s best to pay off the device in full first.

Q: What happens to my phone after you buy it?

A: Phones in good condition get minimal repairs if needed and resell to customers looking for affordable devices. Phones with moderate damage get parted out with working components sold to repair shops. Phones beyond repair go to certified recyclers who extract valuable materials safely. We follow environmental regulations and ethical practices for all phones we purchase.

What This Means for Selling Your Locked or Broken Device

Locked and broken phones are definitely sellable. They are still valuable even though they are not as profitable as flawless devices. As a company that buys thousands of phones every month, we buy phones with carrier locks, cracked screens, and bad batteries.

Understanding how various issues impact value and taking action to optimize what you can obtain are crucial. Include accessories, remove activation locks, give truthful condition descriptions, and sell as soon as possible.

Whether your phone has a shattered screen or is locked to a carrier, it has value. The materials, parts, and potential for repair create demand from buyers like us. Do not let a damaged or locked phone sit unused when you could turn it into cash. Get a quote from GoRoostr today and discover what your phone is worth.