Should I fix a cracked screen before selling my phone?

Usually yes — a cracked screen drops resale value by $200–$400 on flagships. If the screen repair costs $199–$349 but increases the sale price by $300–$500, you profit $50–$200 by fixing it first. The exception: phones 4+ years old where the repair cost approaches the total resale value of the phone even in perfect condition.

Should I replace the battery before selling my phone?

Almost always yes. Battery replacement costs $69–$149 and can increase resale value by $100–$200 because buyers specifically check battery health. A phone listing that says 'battery health 95%' sells for significantly more than one at '72%'. It's the highest ROI pre-sale repair — $69–$119 investment returns $100–$200 in sale price.

Is it better to sell a broken phone as-is or fix it first?

It depends on the repair cost vs value gain. For screen repairs on phones under 3 years old: fix it (you'll recoup 60–120% of the repair cost in higher sale price). For battery replacement: almost always fix it (highest ROI repair). For back glass: usually skip it — the repair cost ($89–$259) rarely returns full value. For water damage or multiple issues: sell as-is to a repair shop or parts buyer.

Where is the best place to sell a used phone in Australia?

Facebook Marketplace gets the highest prices (peer-to-peer, no commission) but requires effort. Gumtree is similar. Apple Trade In and Samsung Trade Up are convenient but pay 20–40% below market. Phone recyclers (Phonebot, Mazuma, Mobile Monster) offer instant quotes but at wholesale prices. eBay reaches the widest audience but takes 12–13% in fees. For damaged phones, selling to a repair shop or via eBay 'for parts' listings often gets better value than trade-in programs.

Should you fix your phone before selling? The math on repair vs sell as-is

The rule: does the repair pay for itself?

Calculate the ROI per repair: if the repair cost is less than the resale value it adds, fix it. If it costs more than it adds, sell as-is. Simple in theory — here's how it plays out for each repair type.

Screen repair: almost always fix it

A cracked screen is the single biggest resale killer. Buyers on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree heavily discount cracked phones because they assume the worst — hidden damage, failed biometrics, ongoing degradation.

Example: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Resale with cracked screen: ~$700–$900. Resale with perfect screen: ~$1,100–$1,300. Difference: $300–$400. Screen repair cost: $329–$459. ROI: roughly break-even to +$70. Worth doing on newer phones.

Example: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Resale with cracked screen: ~$650–$850. Resale with perfect screen: ~$950–$1,150. Difference: $300–$350. Screen repair cost: $349–$499. ROI: break-even. Worth doing if you can get a quality repair under $350.

Example: iPhone 13 (3 years old)

Resale with cracked screen: ~$250–$350. Resale with perfect screen: ~$450–$550. Difference: $150–$200. Screen repair cost: $169–$249. ROI: break-even. Marginal — only worth it if you can get a cheap repair.

The pattern: Screen repair before selling is positive ROI on phones under 2 years old, break-even on 2-3 year old phones, and negative ROI on phones 4+ years old (the total resale value is so low that the repair cost eats most of the gain).

Battery replacement: the highest ROI pre-sale repair

Buyers check battery health. A listing that says "battery health 95% — replaced 3 months ago" sells significantly faster and for more than "battery health 72%." And battery replacement is cheap.

The math is almost always positive: Battery replacement costs $69–$149. The resale bump from "worn battery" to "new battery" is $100–$200 on any flagship phone. That's a 30–100% return on investment. This is the single best pre-sale repair you can do.

When NOT to replace the battery before selling: Only if the phone is 5+ years old and the total resale value is under $200 — at that point, the $69–$149 battery cost is too large a percentage of the phone's total value.

Back glass: usually skip it

Cracked back glass looks bad but doesn't affect function. Buyers know this. The resale discount for cracked back glass is typically $100–$150 — but back glass repair costs $89–$259 depending on the model and method. The ROI is negative or break-even on most models.

Exception: iPhone 12–17 at Apple authorised ($119–$159). Apple's laser removal makes back glass cheaper than independent shops. At $119, the repair often adds $150+ in resale value. This is one of the few cases where Apple authorised is the best pre-sale repair option.

Charging port and other minor repairs: case by case

Charging port ($69–$149): A phone that doesn't charge is nearly unsellable. The repair is cheap and converts "broken phone" to "working phone" — a resale jump of $200+ on any flagship. Always fix before selling.

Camera lens ($49–$149): A cracked camera lens discounts the phone heavily (buyers assume the camera is damaged even if photos are fine). If only the protective glass is cracked, the repair is cheap and worthwhile.

Water damage (varies): Don't repair water damage just to sell the phone. The repair is expensive ($49–$499+), unpredictable, and buyers can detect water damage indicators. Sell water-damaged phones as-is to repair shops or "for parts" on eBay.

Where to sell in Australia

Facebook Marketplace: Highest prices (peer-to-peer, no fees). Requires effort — listing, messaging, meeting. Best for phones in good condition. List with clear photos and battery health screenshot.

Gumtree: Similar to Facebook Marketplace. Slightly older audience. Same peer-to-peer pricing advantage.

eBay Australia: Widest reach, especially for less common models. 12–13% in fees (eBay + PayPal). Good for damaged phones sold "for parts or repair" — repair shops actively buy on eBay.

Apple Trade In: Convenient (online or in-store) but pays 20–40% below market. Best for people who value convenience over maximum price. Screen damage dramatically reduces the offer.

Samsung Trade Up: Similar to Apple Trade In. Convenient, below-market pricing. Available through samsung.com/au.

Phone recyclers (Phonebot, Mazuma, Mobile Monster): Instant online quotes, free shipping. Wholesale pricing — expect 30–50% below Facebook Marketplace. Good for speed and zero-effort selling.

The pre-sale checklist

1. Check repair costs for your model: Use the repair calculator or check your model page for exact pricing.

2. Check resale value: Search your model on Facebook Marketplace (filter by "sold" if available) and eBay (filter by "completed listings") to see what it actually sells for — not what people are asking.

3. Do the math: If repair cost < resale value increase → fix it. If not → sell as-is.

4. Always replace the battery if health is below 85%. Highest ROI repair.

5. Factory reset before selling: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. On Android: Settings → System → Reset → Factory data reset. Sign out of iCloud/Google first.

For repair pricing on your specific model: Repair calculator | All 75+ models compared

Should you fix your phone before selling it?