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## What Is the iPhone 12 Worth Now?
The current trade-in value for an iPhone 12 ranges from $70 to $200, depending on its condition and age. When it was released in 2020, the original price started at $799 USD. For optimal trade-in values, iPhones need to be in "like new" or "good" condition. A phone that's deemed "fair" will fetch less, typically between 40-65% of its original value, while a broken one might only get you around 10-35%.
How to Wipe Data Before Recycling the iPhone 12
To ensure your personal data stays secure when recycling or trading in an iPhone 12, follow these steps:
- Back up all data to iCloud or a computer.
- Sign out of iCloud from Settings > [your name] > Sign Out.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Remove the SIM card and any case or screen protector.
- Unpair an Apple Watch if it's connected to your phone.
Wiping data is important before recycling or trading in your device to prevent unauthorized access to personal information.
Where to Recycle or Trade In the iPhone 12
Several options exist for recycling or getting cash back from an iPhone 12:
- Brand Programme: Apple offers a trade-in program where you can get store credit or cash. Visit apple.com/trade-in to check your device's value.
- Third-party Trade-In Services: Websites like Gazelle and Back Market, Back Market, SellCell, Gazelle, and GameStop provide quotes for used devices. iPhone 12 offers both cash and store credit based on the phone's condition.
- Retailer Programmes: Best Buy in the US, Currys in the UK, Staples in the US, and JB Hi-Fi in Australia accept trade-ins and give you options between cash and store credit.
- Certified electronic waste) Recyclers: If your iPhone 12 has no trade-in value, consider certified e-waste recyclers who can safely dispose of or recycle it.
What Materials Are Recovered from the iPhone 12?
The primary materials recovered from an iPhone 12 include aluminum, cobalt, lithium, gold, copper, and glass. Each material serves specific purposes:
- Aluminum: Used in manufacturing new devices.
- Cobalt: important for battery production.
- Lithium: important for the phone's lithium-ion batteries.
- Gold: Valuable for circuit boards and connectors.
- Copper: Widely used for wiring and conductive elements.
- Glass: Recycled to make new glass products or components.
The iPhone 12 weighs around 164 grams, reflecting a relatively modest material quantity compared to its technological capabilities.
Environmental Impact of Recycling vs Landfill
Recycling an iPhone 12 significantly reduces environmental impact. Mining one tonne of gold from ore generates about 18,000 tonnes of waste, whereas recovering the same amount from circuit boards is 80 times more efficient. A single smartphone contains approximately $1-2 worth of recoverable precious metals.
Sending electronics to landfill can be detrimental; lithium batteries can cause fires and leach toxic materials like lead into groundwater. Recycling helps preserve natural resources and minimises pollution, making it a better choice overall.
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iPhone 12: complete recycling + trade-in guide (2026-05-20)
Trade-in vs recycle decision
Use this matrix to decide:
| Device condition | Best route | Typical net value |
|---|
| Working, 0-2 years old | Manufacturer trade-in or carrier upgrade | 35-65% of MSRP |
| Working, screen damaged but functional | eBay / Swappa / Music Magpie | 20-45% of MSRP |
| Working, 2-4 years old | Music Magpie / BackMarket buyback | 15-25% of MSRP |
| Working, 4-6 years old | Specialist refurbisher | 5-15% of MSRP |
| 6+ years old OR not working | Certified recycler (free) | $0 but avoided landfill fines |
Compare 7 buyback prices for iPhone 12 in 30 seconds via our Trade-In Best Price Finder.
Data sanitisation steps
- Sign out of all cloud services - Apple ID, Google account, Microsoft account, Samsung account. For Apple devices, removing iCloud lock is mandatory or the next owner can't activate.
- Factory reset via Settings menu:
- iOS: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content
- Android: Settings → System → Reset → Factory data reset
- Windows: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything
- macOS: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset
- Verify the reset completed - powered-on device should land on setup-from-scratch screen.
- For sensitive data: factory reset alone is insufficient for SSDs (drive may retain recoverable data). Use a certified ITAD provider with NIST 800-88 guidelines Purge. See Hard Drive Destruction Cost Calculator.
Recoverable materials
Smartphones + tablets like iPhone 12 contain (per Apple environmental reports + iFixit teardowns):
- Aluminium frame: 1-3% mass recovered at certified processors
- Copper wiring: 60-80% recovery rate
- Gold + silver in connectors: 35-65% recovery
- Lithium-ion battery: must be separated stream (fire risk in mixed loads)
- Rare earth magnets in speakers + haptics: limited recovery economically
Total recoverable material value per smartphone-class device: $1.50-$4.20 at current commodity prices. Look up live value via our Scrap Value Calculator.
Manufacturer programs available
Most major device brands offer free recycling for their own devices:
- Apple Trade In - free shipping, in-store credit or gift card payout
- Samsung Recycle Direct - free mail-in, gift card payout
- Google Pixel Trade-In - free mail-in, instant credit
- Microsoft Trade-In - via authorised partners, gift card payout
- Dell Reconnect (US) - free in-store via Goodwill partnership
- HP Planet Partners - free mail-in label
For full verified list per device brand: Manufacturer Take-Back Finder.
Compliance + penalties
Personal data on a disposed device that isn't properly sanitised exposes the original owner to GDPR / state privacy law liability:
- UK GDPR + EU GDPR Art 32: appropriate technical + organisational measures - penalties up to £17.5M / €20M or 4% global turnover
- US state laws (CCPA, NY SHIELD Act, CO CDPA): per-incident penalties $2,500-$7,500
- HIPAA (US healthcare): per-incident penalties $137-$68,928 + per-record $137-$2,134
For any data-bearing device, request a Certificate of Destruction or use a free template via GDPR Data Erasure Certificate Generator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell iPhone 12 if it's still on the carrier blocklist? No - blocked devices have negligible resale value and reputable buyback services reject them. Contact the original carrier to remove the block first (verify with original purchase records). If blocked due to non-payment, settle the account before listing.
What about devices with broken screens but working internals? Refurbishers like Music Magpie + BackMarket pay 40-60% of working-condition value for broken-screen devices. Worth listing - the screen swap costs them $30-$80 wholesale.
Should I remove the battery before recycling? No - certified recyclers want intact devices. Manual battery removal risks puncture + lithium-ion fire. Loose batteries also need separate hazmat shipping stream.
Related tools + guides
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Device data verified against manufacturer environmental reports + iFixit repairability database + current commodity prices as of 2026-05-20. Operated by Defining Style Limited (UK Companies House 10572391, ICO Registration ZA711914).