The Value of Your Phone: How ecoATM Evaluates Devices

If you were to take an educated guess at the value of the phone in your hand, what would you think it’s worth? Before you guess, there are a few things that matter. Is it a newer model? Carrier-locked? Does it have a cracked screen or damaged back glass? These facts - and a few others - can affect your phone’s resale value, and that’s also the case if you’re looking to walk away with instant cash.

ecoATM takes these things into account when devices are evaluated at our kiosks - it’s our goal to give you a convenient selling experience - the process takes about 7 minutes - and to give you full transparency on how we choose what your device is worth. That way, you can make the most well-educated choice possible before you sell.

Here’s a quick look at what can affect your phone’s value:

• Screen and back glass damage: Cracked back glass alone can reduce a phone’s resale value by 15% to 40%. Screen issues like pixelation or backlight bleed can cut value by 30% or more.
• Battery health: If your battery health has dropped below 80%, that typically triggers an automatic discount at the kiosk.
• Functional failures: A single hardware issue - a broken camera, faulty speaker, or unresponsive button - can drop a quote by $100 or more.
• Brand and model age: iPhones tend to hold their value better than most Android devices, retaining roughly 50% of their value after three years.
• Carrier lock status: Unlocked phones are generally worth more, as they’re compatible with a wider range of buyers and carriers.

A few other things worth knowing before you head to a kiosk: you can sell as many as 3 devices in a single visit, and every device is checked against the CheckMEND database to ensure it hasn’t been reported lost or stolen - this protects sellers and buyers and keeps the process safe and transparent for everyone involved.

With over 15,000 devices recycled every day as of early 2025, ecoATM has helped millions of people turn old tech into instant cash - responsibly and conveniently.

How Phones Are Graded at the ecoATM Kiosk

Thanks to a team of dedicated experts and machine learning technology, our kiosks give you a cash offer for your used device in just about 7 minutes. Every device is checked against the CheckMEND database and any phone reported lost or stolen is automatically rejected. You can sell as many as 3 devices at one time at a kiosk.

Let’s talk about what the kiosk evaluates when determining your offer:

• Screen condition: Issues like pixelation or backlight bleed can reduce a device’s value by 30% or more.
• Back glass damage: A cracked back glass alone can cut 15% to 40% off the resale value.
• Battery health: A battery below 80% health often triggers an automatic discount.
• Functional components: A single failure - such as a broken camera or speaker - can drop your quote by $100 or more.

Remember that phone brand and model play a big part too. iPhones, just to give you an example, usually retain about 50% of their value after three years, outperforming most Android competitors - which means sellers receive stronger offers for Apple devices.

The Kiosk Grading Process

Once a device is plugged in to the kiosk, the following things are checked by the kiosk AI. Again, like any used car, we have to look at the outside body and under the hood:

1. Power: Does the device power on?
2. Make: What is the device’s make?
3. Model: What is the device’s model?
4. Capacity: What is the storage size for your device?
5. Carrier: Is the device locked to a specific carrier? Which one?
6. FMIP Lock: Is your device’s location services turned off? For example, “Find My” on iPhone. A device with Find My still enabled will be rejected outright.
7. LCD & Display Health: Does the screen have bad pixelation, backlight bleed, or water damage? Screen damage alone can reduce your offer by 30% or more.
8. Screen Glass: Are there any blemishes or cracks on the screen?
9. Back Glass & Body: Is the rear housing cracked or heavily damaged? A cracked back glass can cut anywhere from 15% to 40% off your device’s resale value.
10. Battery Health: Battery health below 80% often triggers an automatic discount, so it pays to know your battery’s condition before you head to the kiosk.
11. Functional Components: Are the camera, speakers, buttons, and other key features working properly? A single functional failure can drop a quote by $100 or more.
12. Stolen Device Check: Every device is automatically checked against the CheckMEND database. Any device reported lost or stolen will be rejected and cannot be sold.

Once each of these areas has been assessed by the kiosk, you’ll be presented with a cash offer. The entire process usually takes about 7 minutes from start to finish, and you can sell as many as 3 devices in a single visit. While some things are easier to detect than others, the cosmetic and functional condition of your device plays a large role in determining its final value - so it’s worth giving your phone a once-over before you go.

Assessing Your Device’s Appearance

Of the things above, one of the most common things that can affect the value of your device is its physical condition. The ecoATM kiosks use human experts and machine scanning, so you should learn to assess the condition of your device’s screen and general appearance.

Let’s get started with a real-life example of an iPhone^(R) sold at an ecoATM kiosk. Below is a photo of the phone from what would be seen by the human eye. From arm’s length, the device seems to be in good condition.

Below is a scan of the same phone from an ecoATM kiosk to show cosmetic device flaws that may be missed by the naked eye. As you can see, there are a lot of nicks and scratches that have been picked up - this level of detail is applied to every device looked at at the kiosk.

It’s worth knowing just how much cosmetic and functional condition can affect the offer you receive. Here’s an overview of what the kiosk is looking for:

• Cracked back glass can reduce your device’s resale value by 15% to 40%, even if the screen itself is intact.
• Screen damage such as pixelation, backlight bleed, or deep scratches can lower your offer by 30% or more.
• Battery health below 80% often triggers an automatic discount, as it signals reduced usability for the next owner.
• Functional failures - such as a non-working camera, speaker, or charging port - can drop your quote by $100 or more.

Other cosmetic conditions that can affect value include sunspots, discoloration, and wear from cases. One important tip: always remove your screen protector before selling. Any cracks or scratches on the protector can be read as damage to the screen, which may reduce your offer.

Taking a few minutes to clean your device, remove accessories, and look it over before heading to a kiosk can help set basic expectations - and the whole process only takes about 7 minutes from start to finish.

Other Factors That Affect Device Value

While device condition and functionality play a large role in determining a device’s value, there are other things that help when assessing your device.

Phone Depreciation

Does depreciation sound familiar? It’s used when determining the value of a car, and a very similar strategy is taken for devices. Phone depreciation refers to how much value a phone loses over time and can ultimately affect the amount of money you’ll receive for selling your used device.

What does phone depreciation entail? The top things include:

• Age: The age of a phone affects its value, with the most value being lost within the first year. That said, some devices hold their value better than others - iPhones, for example, typically retain around 50% of their value after three years, significantly outperforming most Android competitors.
• Make and Model: The top phone brands are at the top for a reason. These brands produce quality devices that carry their value longer than budget or mid-range alternatives.
• Mileage: Just like a car, a phone endures wear and tear from daily use. The mileage on a phone refers to its hours used and battery health. Battery health below 80% often triggers an automatic discount at resale, so keeping your battery in good shape matters more than many people realize.
• Condition: A phone’s condition will heavily determine its selling price. A cracked back glass alone can cut 15% to 40% off a phone’s resale value, while screen damage such as pixelation or backlight bleed can reduce value by 30% or more. Even a single functional failure - like a broken camera or speaker - can drop a quote by $100 or more.

Market Trends and Other Outside Factors

Have you noticed how phones and other devices drop in price when a newer model is released? Their value drops to make room for the newer model. Once new products hit the shelves, devices from previous release cycles lose extra value - sometimes overnight.

This is why timing your sale can make a difference. Selling your device before a big manufacturer announcement or new product launch usually means a higher payout than waiting until after the latest model hits the market. Keeping an eye on release cycles for companies like Apple and Samsung helps you maximize what you walk away with.

Why You Should Sell Your Devices with Us

Monetary value aside, our phones can also hold other value to them. We use them as cameras to capture life’s moments, file systems to store our personal information, and quick access to the internet - this attachment can affect how we see their phone’s value, which is why we’re committed to transparent communication on our cash offers.

We believe you should have the facts necessary to make an educated choice. For starters, the entire process takes about 7 minutes and you can sell as many as 3 devices at one time at a kiosk. Every device is checked against the CheckMEND database, so any phone reported lost or stolen will be rejected - keeping the process safe and honest for everyone involved.

When it comes to your quote, a few things can affect what your device is worth. A cracked back glass alone can cut 15% to 40% off a phone’s resale value. Battery health below 80% triggers an automatic discount, screen damage like pixelation or backlight bleed can cut back on value by 30% or more, and a single functional failure - think camera or speaker problems - can drop a quote by $100 or more. Knowing this ahead of time helps you walk in with realistic expectations and make a well-educated choice.

Beyond what it puts in your pocket, selling your device also does right by the planet. As of early 2025, ecoATM averages over 15,000 devices recycled every day. That helps keep electronics out of landfills and cuts back on e-waste on a massive scale. If you’re ready to sell, find an ecoATM kiosk near you or download our mobile app to get started.