So, you've dropped your phone and now you're staring at a spiderweb of cracked glass. The good news? You can absolutely still sell it. A smashed screen doesn't mean your phone is worthless—far from it. There’s a surprisingly big market in the UK for broken phones, with specialist refurbishers and buyers constantly on the lookout for them.
Why Your Cracked Screen Still Has Value
That gut-wrenching moment your phone hits the floor doesn't have to be the end of its financial life. While the screen might look a mess, many of the internal parts—the logic board, cameras, battery, and charging port—are likely still in perfect working order.
Think of your phone as a collection of valuable components. Professional repair shops need a steady stream of genuine parts to fix other people's devices. For them, your phone is a goldmine. They can either replace the screen for much less than it would cost you, or they can harvest the working parts to give another phone a new lease of life. That’s why you can still get a decent amount of cash for it.
The Market for Damaged Phones Is Huge
Trust me, you're not the only one in this boat. Cracked screens are incredibly common, which has actually helped create a stable and predictable market for damaged phones.
Research from Mintel paints a clear picture: nearly a quarter of all UK smartphone owners (24%) have broken their screen in the last two years. That figure shoots up to an astonishing 48% for people aged 16-24. If you're interested in the numbers, you can dive into their full report on smartphone damage.
This guide is here to show you exactly how to turn that frustrating crack into cash. We'll go through everything, from figuring out how bad the damage really is to finding the best place to sell it.
The trick is to stop thinking of it as a 'broken' phone. Instead, see it as a device with financial value still locked inside. You just need to know how to unlock it.
How to Realistically Assess Your Phone's Condition
Before you even think about listing your phone, you need to play detective. Getting a fair price starts with a brutally honest look at the device's true condition. This is about more than just a cracked screen; it's about understanding exactly what a buyer is getting, which builds trust and helps you set a realistic asking price.
This visual guide breaks down the simple journey from damaged device to cash in your hand.
As you can see, a successful sale always starts with a detailed check-up of the damage.
Look Beyond the Obvious Crack
First things first, let's figure out if the damage is just cosmetic or if it's affecting how the phone actually works. A phone with a fully responsive touchscreen, even with a spiderweb crack, is worlds apart from one with dead spots.
Here's how to check:
The Touchscreen Test: Open a drawing app or a blank note. Now, carefully drag your finger across every single part of the screen. Pay close attention to the corners and the areas right next to the crack. If the line you're drawing breaks at any point, you've found a dead spot.
The Visual Display Check: It's time to hunt for hidden issues. Find a plain white image online and look for any dead pixels (tiny black dots). Then, switch to a plain black image to spot any bright spots. You should also check for any discolouration or screen burn-in, which often looks like a faint, ghostly after-image.
The Physical Button and Port Inspection: Don't get so focused on the screen that you forget the basics. Methodically press every physical button – power, volume up, volume down. Do they still click satisfyingly? Do they work? Pop in a charging cable to make sure the port is fine, and if your phone has a headphone jack, give that a quick test too.
You're not alone in living with a bit of damage. Research from YouGov shows that around 40% of Brits just keep using their phone with a cracked screen. Interestingly, it’s even more common among younger people, with 43% of 18–34 year-olds choosing to live with the damage rather than getting it fixed right away.
How Screen Damage Impacts Your Phone's Payout
To give you a clearer picture, I've put together a table showing how different types of screen damage can affect the value of a popular phone like an iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy S22.
As you can see, the hit to your payout depends entirely on whether the damage is just on the surface or runs deeper.
Document Everything for the Sale
Once you know exactly what's wrong (and what's right!) with your phone, it’s time to get your camera out. Taking clear, well-lit photos isn't just a suggestion; it's essential if you want to sell a phone with a cracked screen for the best possible price.
Pro Tip: Be your own harshest critic. Take close-up shots of every crack, scuff, and ding. This level of honesty might feel counterintuitive, but it prevents any nasty surprises or disputes down the line. Buyers appreciate transparency, and it often leads to a quicker, smoother sale.
Finding the Best Place to Sell Your Damaged Phone
Right, you’ve given your phone a proper once-over and know exactly what you’re working with. Now it’s time to find its next owner. When you need to sell a phone with a cracked screen, you’re really choosing between two things: getting cash quickly and easily, or getting the most money possible.
Don’t worry, you're in good company. A cracked screen is probably the most common smartphone injury out there. One survey revealed that a staggering 13 million Brits had damaged their phone in just one year, and smashed screens were the top culprit, making up 36% of all mishaps. You can read the full findings on smartphone damage for yourself.
The good news is that this has created a healthy market for damaged tech, giving you a few solid options.
Dedicated Trade-In Websites for Quick Cash
For a lot of people, the fastest and most painless route is using a dedicated buyback website. Companies like Mazuma Mobile, MusicMagpie, and of course, us here at EXE, are set up specifically to buy used and broken gadgets.
The whole process is incredibly simple:
- Hop on their website and answer a few questions about your phone’s model and condition.
- You’ll get an instant, guaranteed quote.
- They’ll give you a free postage label to send your device in.
- Once it arrives and they’ve checked it over, the money is sent straight to your bank.
It’s the definition of hassle-free. No need to write listings, haggle with buyers, or worry about postage. The trade-off, of course, is that the payout is usually a bit lower than selling it yourself. These companies have to cover their own repair costs and make a profit, after all.
Selling Privately for a Higher Payout
If you’re happy to put in a little more legwork, you can often get the best price by selling your phone privately. Platforms like eBay, Gumtree, or Facebook Marketplace are your best bet here. You'll be selling directly to someone who either doesn't mind the crack or runs a small repair business.
Key Takeaway: Selling privately puts you in the driver's seat on price, but it also means you handle everything else. You'll need to take clear photos, write an honest and detailed description, field questions from buyers, and sort out secure payment and shipping. It’s more effort, no doubt, but the financial reward can be a lot bigger.
Considering Network Provider Trade-Ins
Lastly, don’t forget to check with your mobile network provider. Most of the big names, like EE, O2, and Vodafone, have trade-in schemes that run alongside their upgrades. They’ll often accept phones with cracked screens, giving you a discount on a new handset or a credit on your monthly bill.
This can be handy, but the values they offer rarely match what specialist buyback sites will pay. It’s really an option for people who are already upgrading with their provider and just want a simple way to knock a bit off the cost of their new phone.
Securing Your Data Before You Sell
Before your phone goes anywhere, we need to talk about your data. It's easy to focus on the cracked screen, but the real value is in the information stored inside—your photos, messages, banking details, everything. Handing it over without a proper wipe is a massive privacy gamble.
So, the very first job is to get a complete backup. This is your safety net, ensuring that years of memories and important files aren't lost just because the hardware is leaving your hands. It’s a pretty straightforward process that brings total peace of mind.
Create a Failsafe Backup
For most of us, a cloud backup is the easiest way to go. Once you set it up, it quietly works in the background, saving your photos, app data, and settings without you having to think about it.
- For iPhone Users: Head to
Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Check the toggle is on, then tap "Back Up Now" to force one last, final backup before you move on. - For Android Users: Pop over to
Settings > Google > Backup. Make sure "Back up to Google One" is active and hit "Back up now" to sync everything one last time.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can always plug your phone directly into a computer. iPhones connect with Finder on a Mac or iTunes on a Windows PC to create a local backup. Android phones generally let you drag and drop files directly once connected via USB.
The Essential Wipe and Reset Process
Okay, once you're 100% sure your data is safely copied elsewhere, it's time to scrub the phone clean. I don't just mean deleting a few photos—we're talking about a full factory reset that returns the device to its original, out-of-the-box state.
Crucial step: Before you reset anything, you absolutely must sign out of your iCloud or Google account. This turns off security locks like Find My iPhone and Factory Reset Protection. If you don't, the next owner might find themselves with a very expensive paperweight.
After you've signed out of your accounts, you can perform the factory reset.
On an iPhone, you’ll find this under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. For most Android devices, the path is something like Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
This is the point of no return, so triple-check your backup is complete and accessible. To be absolutely certain your personal information is gone for good, you could even seek secure data recovery expertise for that extra layer of assurance.
Making Your Private Listing Stand Out
If you decide to sell your phone privately, think of your online listing as your one and only salesperson. To get a decent price and attract serious buyers, you've got to build trust right from the start. And when you sell a phone with a cracked screen, total honesty is your best policy.
It all begins with the photos. Get your phone under some good light and take sharp, clear pictures from every angle imaginable—front, back, both sides, and especially the corners. Whatever you do, don't try to hide the damage. Instead, make the crack a focal point. A good, clean close-up shot of the screen damage shows you're not trying to pull a fast one and helps buyers understand exactly what they'd be getting into.
How to Write a Description That Actually Sells
Your written description needs to be just as transparent as your photos. The trick is to be upfront about the flaws while still making it clear what works perfectly. This balance of honesty and reassurance is what weeds out the time-wasters and attracts the right buyer.
A good approach is to break it down like this:
Highlight the good stuff first. Start with the basics: model, storage size, and colour. Then, big up the features that are still in perfect nick. Think along the lines of, "Camera is flawless," "Battery still easily lasts a full day," or "All buttons and ports are 100% responsive."
Be specific about the damage. Don't just say "cracked screen." Describe it. Use clear language like "a single hairline crack running down the top-right corner" or "spiderweb cracks across the bottom half of the screen."
Confirm what still works. If the touch screen is still fully functional despite the cracks, make a point of saying so. This is a huge selling point for many buyers.
A well-written description builds confidence. For example: "Selling my iPhone 12, 128GB in Blue. The battery health is excellent and both front and back cameras work perfectly. As you can see in the photos, the screen has some cracks, but the touch display is unaffected and works perfectly across the entire screen with no dead spots."
Finally, nail your pricing. The best way to do this is to jump on eBay and filter for "sold" listings of the same phone model in a similar, cracked condition. This shows you what people are actually willing to pay, not just what sellers are asking for. Price it right, and it’ll be gone in no time.
Still Got Questions About Selling Your Cracked Phone?
It's completely normal to have a few last-minute questions when you're about to sell a damaged phone. You want to make sure you're getting a fair price and not missing a trick. Let's clear up some of the most common things people ask when they sell a phone with a cracked screen.
Should I Bother Repairing the Screen First?
This is probably the number one question I hear, and my answer is almost always a firm no. It’s tempting to think a new screen will boost the price, but the reality is quite different.
The cost of a professional screen replacement can be staggering, especially for newer phones. That expense will almost certainly wipe out any extra value you might gain. Companies that buy broken phones get parts and labour far cheaper than you can, so they've already factored the repair cost into their offer. You’re much better off financially just selling it as is.
So, How Much Is My Cracked Phone Actually Worth?
The honest answer? It depends. The phone's model and age are huge factors, as is how bad the damage really is. A recent flagship model, like an iPhone 14, might lose 40-60% of its value just from a cracked screen. For an older phone, that drop could be over 70%.
The biggest decider, though, is whether the phone still works. If it’s just cosmetic damage and the touchscreen and display are fine, you’ll get a much better price. If the screen has dead spots or doesn't respond to touch, the value takes a much bigger hit.
Here's a tip: Even a completely dead phone has some value. Don't just bin it! Internal parts like the main circuit board, cameras, and charging port can be harvested. You won't get a fortune, but specialist recyclers will definitely give you some cash for a phone listed for 'spares or repair'.
And what if there’s other damage, like a cracked back or a scratched camera lens? Just be upfront about it. Honesty is the best policy here—it ensures the price you're quoted is the price you'll actually receive, with no nasty surprises.
Ready to turn that cracked screen into cash without the hassle? At EXE, we offer competitive prices for broken devices and make the process incredibly simple with our free collection service. Get your instant, no-obligation quote today and see what your phone is really worth at https://www.exe.co.uk.
