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## What Is the iPhone 14 Worth Now?
The current trade-in value for an iPhone 14 ranges from $170 to $380, depending on its condition and storage capacity. When it was released in 2022, the original price of a new iPhone 14 started at $799 USD for the base model with 128GB storage. The trade-in value decreases significantly based on how well you've cared for your device: "like new" phones get top dollar, while broken devices might only fetch $10 to $35.
How to Wipe Data Before Recycling the iPhone 14
To ensure your personal data stays private when recycling or trading in an iPhone 14, follow these steps:
- Back up all data to iCloud or a computer.
- Sign out of your Apple ID 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 any connected devices, such as an Apple Watch.
Erase all content and settings is a important step that wipes your data completely from the device. Don't skip this to avoid having personal information fall into someone else's hands.
Where to Recycle or Trade In the iPhone 14
You have several options for recycling or trading in your iPhone 14:
- Apple: Offers both trade-in and recycling programs, providing cash or store credit.
- Third-party services: Back Market, SellCell, Gazelle, GameStop (for phones with higher value) can offer you a good deal.
- Retailer programmes: Best Buy in the US, Currys PC World in the UK, Staples and JB Hi-Fi provide trade-in options as well.
For devices with no trade-in value, certified definition of e-waste recyclers are your best bet. These services ensure that your old iPhone 14 doesn't end up in a landfill but is responsibly recycled instead.
What Materials Are Recovered from the iPhone 14?
The materials recovered from recycling an iPhone 14 include aluminum, cobalt, lithium, gold, copper, and glass. Each material has its own purpose:
- Aluminum: Used in manufacturing new electronics or building products.
- Cobalt and Lithium: important for battery production.
- Gold and Copper: Commonly reused in circuit boards and wiring due to their conductivity.
The iPhone 14 weighs approximately 172 grams, which contains a small but significant amount of these valuable materials.
Environmental Impact of Recycling vs Landfill
Recycling an iPhone 14 has a far smaller environmental impact than sending it to the landfill. Mining one tonne of gold from ore generates about 18,000 tonnes of waste, whereas recovering gold from circuit boards is up to 80 times more efficient. The recoverable precious metals in a single smartphone are worth roughly $1-2.
lithium batteries in landfills can cause fires and release toxic substances into the groundwater, posing serious environmental risks. Recycling ensures these materials are reused responsibly instead of becoming waste hazards.
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iPhone 14: 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 14 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 media sanitisation Purge. See Hard Drive Destruction Cost Calculator.
Recoverable materials
Smartphones + tablets like iPhone 14 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 14 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).