The Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen), released in 2022, is currently trading at approximately $120 to $160 for devices in excellent condition, marking a significant decline of about 67% from its original retail price of $429. This guide covers the current trade-in values offered by major services like Gazelle, Back Market, Apple Trade In, and Best Buy, providing insights on where to purchase a certified refurbished unit or how to recycle your device responsibly if it has reached end-of-life.
fied, 90-day warranty minimum.
All certified-refurbished sellers test the device, replace the battery if degraded below 80% capacity, and reset to factory defaults.
How to Recycle a Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
If trade-in value is below £20 / $25 - or the device has a swollen battery, cracked screen with internal damage, or won't power on - recycling is the responsible end-of-life route.
The fastest free option for a Apple device is the manufacturer programme: Apple Trade In. Cash card or new-purchase credit. Mail-in or in-store. Most products eligible including non-working.
Free options that work for any smartphone:
Before recycling, factory-reset the device, remove SIM and SD cards, and sign out of any cloud account.
What's Inside (Recoverable Materials)
A modern smartphone contains roughly 0.034g gold, 0.34g silver, 0.015g palladium, 15g copper and 16g aluminium. Total recoverable raw-material value is around $1-$3 per device at 2026 commodity prices. Lithium-cobalt batteries are 30-50g and require separate processing.
The UN Global e-waste Monitor 2024 estimates that the raw materials in global e-waste were worth $91 billion in 2022, with only 22.3% formally recycled. Every device sent to certified recycling closes a small part of that loop.
Fair-condition trade-in is around $52. Small repairs (battery, screen) at $40-$100 can lift the unit to excellent and double the resale value - worth doing if the device is otherwise functional.
Common failure modes for this generation: battery degradation below 80% capacity (cheap fix at any independent repair shop), screen damage from drops (out-of-warranty repair from the manufacturer is usually 2-3x what an independent shop charges), and water damage (rarely worth repairing - recycle and trade up).
Related Guides
Sources
- Trade-in prices: market estimates across Gazelle, Back Market and Apple Trade In, Best Buy Trade-In, retrieved 2026-05-17
- Manufacturer take-back URLs: official manufacturer recycling pages
- Recoverable materials: UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (UNITAR/ITU) baseline data
- Repairability scores: iFixit teardown database where available
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) worth in 2026?
In excellent condition, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) trades in for $120-$160. In fair condition (screen scratches, battery health 80-90%), expect $40-$65. Quotes vary by service; check Decluttr, Gazelle and Back Market for live pricing.
Where can I sell my Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) for the most cash?
For US sellers, Decluttr typically pays the highest cash for Apple devices and ships money within 1 business day of inspection. Back Market wins on Macs and premium laptops. Apple Trade In pays in store credit only but stacks with current promotions.
Is the Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) worth repairing?
It depends on what's broken. Battery replacement on the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) costs $40-$80 at an independent shop and is almost always worth it if the device is otherwise functional. Screen damage is more expensive ($150-$250) but still cost-effective if the device is less than 4 years old. Water damage is rarely worth repairing.
How do I recycle a Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen) if it has no trade-in value?
Three free options: (1) the Apple manufacturer take-back programme (prepaid mail label), (2) Best Buy Electronics Recycling (drop-off, 3 items per day), or (3) Staples Electronics Recycling (no quantity limit). All three are R2 or e-Stewards certified.
Is it safe to sell or recycle a iPhone SE (3rd Gen) with personal data on it?
Only after a full factory reset. On the iPhone SE (3rd Gen), this clears the encryption key and makes the data unrecoverable to the next owner. Sign out of any cloud account first (iCloud, Google, Microsoft account), then perform a factory reset from the settings menu before shipping.
