(Image credit: Future)
Upgrading your phone can be an expensive endeavor, even if you spread the cost out over two or three years. Thankfully, you can offset some of the cost by either selling or trading in your old device. If you play your cards right and sell the right phone in the right place, you may even be able to save hundreds of dollars on the cost of your new device.The question is, how do you actually maximize your phone's resale value and get the most money back for your used handset? Here are seven ways to help increase the value of your phone, and use it to reduce the cost of that shiny new device you've had your eye on.The type of phone matters
(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)It goes without saying that not all phones are equal when trade-ins are concerned. It's all about supply and demand: The more in-demand your existing phone is, the more someone is going to pay for it. For that reason, newer devices sell for more than older ones, while premium devices sell for more than their cheaper counterparts.The $500 Galaxy A56 is not going to sell for anything like as much as the $1,200 Galaxy S25 Ultra, after all.It's also worth noting that the brand of phone plays a big role. iPhones are very sought-after devices, and tend to hold their value better than other brands. Likewise, phones with ample brand awareness, like Samsung, are going to sell for more than devices from the likes of HMD or Nothing. So just remember that the type of device you have will limit how much you can actually get for your old phone.Compare trade-in prices
