Phone battery barely lasts an hour? Won’t hold a charge? Completely dead? Don’t let a bad battery stop you from selling! This guide shows you exactly how much your phone with battery issues is worth and the best way to sell it.
Can You Sell a Phone With Battery Problems?
Absolutely yes! Phones with battery issues are extremely common and buyers actively want them. Here’s why:
- Battery replacement is cheap and easy for buyers ($30-80 parts cost)
- Everything else on your phone likely works perfectly
- Screen, camera, housing all retain full value
- Buyers can resell after quick battery swap
A phone with a dead battery typically sells for 70-90% of its full working value – far more than you’d expect!
How Much is Your Phone With Battery Issues Worth?
Battery condition has different value impacts depending on severity:
Battery Health Categories & Values
Excellent Battery (90-100% health)
- Lasts full day on single charge
- No performance throttling
- Charges normally
- Value: 100% of market price
Good Battery (80-89% health)
- Lasts most of the day
- Slight reduction in endurance
- Still reliable
- Value: 95-100% of market price
Fair/Degraded Battery (65-79% health)
- Needs charging mid-day
- Noticeable battery drain
- May have performance throttling
- Value: 85-95% of market price
Poor Battery (50-64% health)
- Dies quickly (2-4 hours use)
- Needs multiple charges daily
- Significant performance impact
- Value: 75-85% of market price
Dead/Expanded Battery (below 50% or won’t charge)
- Phone dies within minutes or won’t turn on
- Must stay plugged in to use
- Battery swollen/expanded
- Value: 70-80% of market price
Real Value Examples (2025)
| Phone Model | Perfect Battery | 80% Battery | Poor Battery (60%) | Dead Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | $950 | $903-950 | $808-856 | $713-760 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | $700 | $665-700 | $595-630 | $525-560 |
| iPhone 13 | $450 | $428-450 | $383-405 | $338-360 |
| Samsung S24 Ultra | $800 | $760-800 | $680-720 | $600-640 |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | $600 | $570-600 | $510-540 | $450-480 |
As you can see, even a completely dead battery only reduces value by 20-30% – your phone is still worth hundreds!
How to Check iPhone Battery Health
Buyers will ask for your battery health percentage. Here’s how to find it:
iPhone Battery Health Check (iOS 11.3+):
- Open Settings
- Tap Battery
- Tap Battery Health & Charging (or just “Battery Health” on older iOS)
- Look at Maximum Capacity percentage
- Note if “Performance Management” is active (means battery is degraded)
What the numbers mean:
- 100%: Brand new or recently replaced battery
- 95-99%: Excellent condition (normal after 6-12 months)
- 85-94%: Good condition (normal after 12-24 months)
- 80-84%: Fair condition (Apple recommends replacement at 80%)
- Below 80%: Degraded (needs replacement soon)
How to Check Android Battery Health
Android doesn’t show battery health as easily, but you have options:
Method 1: Dial Code (Most Androids)
- Open phone app
- Dial *#*#4636#*#*
- Tap “Battery Information” or “Battery Health”
- Look for battery health status (Good/Fair/Poor)
Method 2: Samsung Members App (Samsung Only)
- Download “Samsung Members” app
- Tap “Get Help”
- Tap “Interactive Checks”
- Run “Battery” test
- See battery life rating
Method 3: AccuBattery App (All Android)
- Download “AccuBattery” from Play Store (free)
- Use phone normally for 2-3 days
- App calculates battery health percentage
- See “Estimated capacity” vs “Design capacity”
Should You Replace the Battery Before Selling?
Usually no – the math rarely works in your favor:
Battery Replacement Costs:
- Apple Store (iPhone): $69-99
- Third-party repair (iPhone): $40-70
- Samsung/Google official: $50-80
- Third-party repair (Android): $30-60
Example: iPhone 14 Pro
Selling with bad battery: $550
Battery replacement cost: $70
Selling with new battery: $700
Net gain: $700 – $70 – $550 = $80 profit
You’d make $80 more, but:
- You lose time taking it to repair shop
- You risk repair issues (screen damage during battery replacement)
- Repair may void buyer confidence (“why was it opened?”)
- Battery has no warranty when you sell
Verdict: For $80 gain, not worth the hassle. Just sell as-is and let buyer handle it. Learn more about repair decisions.
How to Sell a Phone That Won’t Turn On (Dead Battery)
If your battery is so dead the phone won’t power on, buyers will still want it – but you need to provide assurance:
When getting a quote, mention:
- “Phone won’t turn on, but only because battery is dead”
- “Screen and body in excellent condition”
- “Was working fine before battery died”
- “No water damage or cracks”
Be prepared for in-person test:
Local buyers (like us) will bring a charger to the meetup and test if phone powers on when plugged in. This proves it’s just the battery, not a logic board issue.
If phone shows ANY sign of life when plugged in (Apple logo, charging indicator, vibration), you’ll get full “bad battery” value.
Expanded/Swollen Battery: Safety Warning
If your phone’s battery is swollen (screen lifting, back glass bulging), take special precautions:
Signs of swollen battery:
- Screen separating from frame
- Back glass curved or popping out
- Phone feels thicker than normal
- Case no longer fits properly
Safety steps:
- ❌ Don’t charge it (fire/explosion risk)
- ❌ Don’t puncture or squeeze it
- ✅ Store in cool, dry place
- ✅ Keep away from heat sources
- ✅ Sell ASAP to buyer who can handle safely
- ✅ Transport carefully (don’t put pressure on it)
Swollen batteries are still worth money! Buyers know how to dispose of them safely and replace them.
Battery Health & Phone Age
Battery degradation is normal and predictable:
Typical Battery Health by Age:
- 0-6 months: 95-100% (like new)
- 6-12 months: 90-95% (excellent)
- 12-18 months: 85-92% (good)
- 18-24 months: 80-88% (fair, approaching replacement)
- 24-36 months: 70-82% (degraded, needs replacement)
- 36+ months: Below 70% (severely degraded)
Heavy users (gamers, video streamers) degrade faster. Light users can maintain 85%+ health for 2+ years.
Why Battery Issues Don’t Kill Resale Value
Unlike cracked screens or water damage, battery problems are:
- Easy to fix – 30-minute repair for professionals
- Cheap parts – Batteries cost $15-40 wholesale
- High demand – Everyone’s phone battery degrades
- Predictable – Not a sign of other problems
- Cosmetically fine – Phone still looks perfect
Buyers know they can spend $30 on a battery and resell your phone for full value. That’s why they pay so well for battery-issue phones!
Best Places to Sell Phones With Battery Issues
1. Local Cash Buyers (Best Option)
Local buyers like Cell Me Your Phone can test your phone in person and pay immediately:
- ✅ Can verify phone works when plugged in
- ✅ No questions about “does it turn on?”
- ✅ Fair assessment of actual condition
- ✅ Cash payment same day
- ✅ No shipping risks
2. Online Buyback Services
Sites like Gazelle, Decluttr accept battery issues, but:
- Must ship phone (hard if it won’t turn on)
- Price can change after inspection
- Payment delayed 7-14 days
- Lower offers to account for unknowns
3. Avoid: Trade-Ins
Carrier and manufacturer trade-ins often reject phones with battery below 80% health or demand huge deductions.
Tips for Selling Phone With Battery Problems
Before Selling:
- Check and document battery health percentage
- Note how long phone lasts on full charge
- Test if phone works while plugged in
- Check for battery swelling
- Factory reset if phone still works
When Getting Quote:
- Be honest about battery condition
- Mention battery health % if you know it
- Specify if phone won’t turn on or only works plugged in
- Note if battery is swollen (affects price slightly)
At Sale Meeting:
- Bring phone charged enough to demonstrate (if possible)
- Have your passcode disabled for testing
- Be prepared for buyer to test with their charger
Common Battery Myths Debunked
Myth: “Battery below 80% makes phone worthless”
Truth: You still get 75-95% of full value. Batteries are easy to replace.
Myth: “I should replace battery to get more money”
Truth: You’ll spend almost as much as you gain, plus risk and hassle.
Myth: “Dead battery = broken phone”
Truth: Dead battery is just a worn-out consumable part. Rest of phone is fine.
Myth: “Android battery issues are worse than iPhone”
Truth: Both depreciate similarly for battery problems (10-30% reduction).
Sell Your Battery-Issue Phone Today
Don’t let a bad battery keep your phone in a drawer! Get cash today at Cell Me Your Phone.
How it works:
- Text (385) 503-2882 with phone model and battery condition
- Get instant quote in minutes
- Meet at safe location in Salt Lake County or Lehi
- We test phone with our charger
- Get cash same day
We buy phones with any battery issue:
- ✅ Low battery health (below 80%)
- ✅ Won’t hold charge
- ✅ Only works when plugged in
- ✅ Completely dead battery
- ✅ Swollen/expanded battery
We serve all of Salt Lake County including Salt Lake City, Sandy, Murray, Draper, West Valley City, and Lehi. Available 7 days a week, 8am-6pm.
Your phone with battery issues is worth more than you think – get your free quote today!
Call or text: (385) 503-2882