Upgrading is the easy part. Selling the old phone is where people stall: worrying about personal data, guessing at a price, and dreading the meet-up in a mall car park. Here's the whole process for selling a used iPhone in the UAE, in the order you should do it.
Step 1: Back up and wipe it properly
Do this in order. Erasing the phone before signing out is the most common mistake, and it leaves the buyer with a phone they can't activate.
Back up
Make sure everything is on your new phone or in an iCloud or computer backup. If you use WhatsApp, back up your chats separately inside WhatsApp (Settings, Chats, Chat Backup).
Unpair your Apple Watch
If you have one, unpair it in the Watch app. This also removes its Activation Lock.
Sign out of your Apple Account
Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then Sign Out. This turns off Find My and Activation Lock, and removes the phone from your account.
Erase everything
Go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, then Erase All Content and Settings. If you use an eSIM, make sure your number has moved to your new phone first, then choose to erase the eSIM too. Take out any physical SIM card.
Step 2: Collect the details buyers ask for
Before erasing (or from the box), note down the things every buyer will want to know. Having them in the listing saves you a dozen messages:
- Model, storage and colour, for example iPhone 15 Pro, 256 GB, Natural Titanium
- Battery health, from Settings, Battery. Above 85% is a strong selling point
- Any repairs or replaced parts (screen, battery, camera), which iOS lists under Settings, General, About
- Whether AppleCare or warranty remains, and where it was bought
- What's included: box, cable, case, screen protector
Step 3: Price it right
iPhones hold their value better than almost anything else you own, especially the last two generations. As a rough guide, a recent model in good condition often resells for 50 to 75% of what the same phone costs new today, while models three or more years old drop quickly.
Search for your exact model and storage on the classifieds and resale apps, ignore the highest and lowest asking prices, and aim just under the middle. Knock a bit off for scratches, low battery health or a replaced screen, and add a little for the original box and remaining warranty. Our pricing guide explains the method in more detail, or try the free price estimator for a quick range.
Step 4: Photograph it honestly
- Clean the phone and the camera lenses first
- Shoot in daylight, front and back, plus each edge
- Photograph the screen switched on (a white screen shows dead pixels or marks)
- Take a screenshot of the Battery Health screen before you erase
- Show any scratch or dent up close, so there are no surprises
Step 5: Choose where to sell
Instant buyback apps
- Quote in minutes, paid almost immediately
- No listing, no buyers to deal with
- Wholesale prices, well below what a person would pay
- Deductions after inspection are common
Classifieds and Facebook groups
- Largest audience
- Direct-sale prices
- Meet-ups, no-shows and haggling
- You carry the payment risk: fake transfer screenshots are a common scam
Khaznati
- Direct-sale prices without meeting anyone
- The buyer pays up front and the money is held securely until delivery
- Courier pickup from your door
- Zero commission: keep your full listed price
- A newer marketplace with a smaller audience than the big classifieds sites
- Buyers pay a protection fee at checkout
Step 6: Pack it for the courier
If you're selling on Khaznati, you schedule a pickup slot after the sale and a courier collects from your door. Pack the phone in its original box if you have it, wrap it in bubble wrap or a soft cloth, and put it in a sturdy outer box or padded envelope so it can't move around. Your payout is released once the buyer confirms delivery, or 48 hours after delivery if they don't raise an issue.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset my iPhone before selling it?
Back it up, sign out of your Apple Account (Settings, tap your name, Sign Out), which also turns off Find My and Activation Lock, then go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Remove your SIM card and unpair any Apple Watch first.
What is Activation Lock and why does it matter when selling?
Activation Lock ties the iPhone to your Apple Account through Find My. If you sell a phone without signing out, the buyer can't set it up, and the phone is effectively useless to them. Always sign out of your Apple Account before erasing.
Is it better to sell my iPhone privately or to a buyback app in the UAE?
Buyback apps pay instantly but at wholesale prices. Selling to another person usually gets you noticeably more. On Khaznati you get a direct-sale price without meeting the buyer: a courier collects the phone, the buyer's payment is held securely, and sellers pay zero commission.
What details should I include when listing a used iPhone?
Model, storage, colour, battery health percentage, overall condition with photos of any marks, whether it has been repaired or had parts replaced, and what comes with it, such as the box, cable or case.