Should You Recycle My iPhone X or Do Something Smarter With It?


Your iPhone X has been sitting in a drawer for months. You've upgraded to something newer, and now you're wondering what to do with the old one. Before you toss it in a bag and drop it at some random collection point, let's talk about your options — because you might be leaving real money on the table.

What Actually Happens When You Turn In an Old iPhone?

Most people picture recycling as some eco-friendly process where their phone gets broken down into useful parts. Sometimes that's true. But often, what happens depends on where you hand it in.

Some programs genuinely refurbish phones and pass them on to buyers who want affordable devices. Others strip out the valuable components — like the display and logic board — and melt or shred the rest. A small number of collection points, unfortunately, don't handle e-waste responsibly at all.

So when you decide to recycle your iPhone X, the program you choose matters more than you think.

Is Selling iPhone X Worth It in 2024?

Short answer: yes, often more than you'd expect.

The iPhone X still works well for a lot of people. It runs modern apps, has a sharp OLED display, and Face ID still impresses users who've never had it. That means there's a real market of buyers willing to pay for one.

If you go through a buyback or resale platform instead of a basic drop-off, you could walk away with anywhere from $50 to $150+ depending on the condition of your device. That's money back in your pocket just for a phone you're no longer using.

How to Check What Your iPhone X Is Worth

Before you commit to anything, take five minutes to check your device's value. Here's what affects the price:

Screen condition — Cracks or dead pixels drop the value significantly. A clean, crack-free screen is worth more.

Storage size — The 256GB model typically fetches more than the 64GB version.

Battery health — Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Anything above 80% is generally considered good. Higher health means higher value.

Unlocked vs. carrier-locked — An unlocked iPhone X sells for more because any buyer can use it on any network.

Included accessories — Original box and charger can add a little to the price, though most buyers don't require them.

Where Can You Send Your Old iPhone X?

You've got a few solid paths:

Trade-in through your carrier — Quick and easy, but trade-in credit often isn't the best value. You're getting store credit, not cash.

Apple Trade In — Apple accepts the iPhone X. You get Apple Store credit, which is useful if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. The process is straight forward and the device gets refurbished or properly recycled.

Resell it yourself — If you're comfortable listing on eBay or a local platform, this usually gets you the highest payout. The tradeoff is time and effort.

Certified e-waste recyclers — If the phone is broken beyond repair, look for an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler. These certifications mean the recycler meets strict environmental and data security standards.

Don't Skip This Step: Wipe Your Data First

Before your iPhone X leaves your hands, do this:

  1. Back up your phone to iCloud or your computer.

  2. Sign out of iCloud (Settings > your name > Sign Out).

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

This removes your personal data and removes the phone from your Apple ID. If you skip this, the new owner won't even be able to activate the phone — and your data could be at risk.

What If the Screen Is Cracked or It Won't Turn On?

A damaged iPhone X still has value. Many buyers and recyclers specifically look for broken devices because of the parts inside.

If the display is cracked but the phone still works, you'll get less than a flawless device but still something worthwhile. If it won't power on at all, some buyback programs and local repair shops will still take it — either to repair and resell, or to pull working components from it.

Don't assume a cracked or dead phone is worthless. Always check before you toss it.

The Smarter Way to Go About It

You don't need to guess which option is best. Compare a few buyback prices online, check what Apple Trade In offers, and if you want a streamlined experience that handles both the value and the responsible disposal side of things, Smart Recycler is worth looking at. They make the process simple — you know what you're getting paid before you send anything, and the phone is handled responsibly either way.

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