O2 Recycle, a trade-in and recycling programme by Virgin Media O2, has been operating in the United Kingdom since 2009. Over this period, O2 Recycle has paid out more than £270 million to customers who recycle their old devices. The programme accepts smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and selected gaming consoles from any network operator, making it a versatile option for consumers looking to dispose of outdated technology responsibly.
£335 | £320 | £325 | | iPhone 13 128GB | £225 | £205 | £215 | | iPhone 12 64GB | £135 | £120 | £125 | | iPhone 11 64GB | £85 | £70 | £75 | | iPhone XR | £55 | £40 | £45 | | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB | £475 | £455 | £465 | | Samsung Galaxy S22 128GB | £155 | £140 | £150 | | Samsung Galaxy A54 | £90 | £80 | £85 | | Google Pixel 8 Pro 128GB | £315 | £295 | £305 | | iPad Air 5th gen 64GB | £225 | £210 | £220 | | Nintendo Switch OLED | £165 | n/a | n/a | | PlayStation 5 (Disc edition) | £225 | n/a | n/a |
For brand new flagships in the first 6 months, prices are closely matched across all four UK carriers. The O2 premium kicks in for 18-month-plus devices.
Condition grading
O2 Recycle uses 5 grades, more granular than EE's 4-tier system:
- Excellent: like new condition, all packaging
- Good: minor wear, no screen damage, all functions work
- Fair: scratches and scuffs, all functions work
- Poor: cosmetic damage but device works fully (eligible at reduced rate)
- Faulty: screen damage or partial functional issue (still accepted at scrap)
The "Poor" tier is unique to O2 and typically pays 35-50% of Good price. Most other carriers refuse devices at this condition.
Faulty and damaged device pricing
O2 Recycle accepts almost any device with some value, even cracked screens and water damage:
| Device | Cracked screen value | Faulty value | Bricked value |
|---|
| iPhone 13 128GB | £85 | £55 | £18 |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 | £55 | £35 | £8 |
| iPhone 11 | £35 | £18 | £3 |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | £75 | £40 | £12 |
This makes O2 Recycle one of the few UK options for "give me anything for my dead phone" scenarios.
O2 Recycle partners with ADISA-certified processors for any device that reaches end-of-life rather than refurbishment. ADISA Distinction is the UK's strictest data destruction certification (see our data destruction service cost comparison).
Every accepted device undergoes:
- Factory reset on receipt
- NIST 800-88 guidelines Clear-level software wipe
- Physical destruction of storage media if the device fails grading
Customers can request a free Certificate of Data Destruction stating the IMEI, sanitisation method (Clear or Purge), and operator ID. Useful for business or corporate trade-ins.
O2 Recycle vs alternatives
| Provider | iPhone 13 128GB Good | Damaged accepted? | Payout speed |
|---|
| O2 Recycle | £225 | Yes (£85) | 14-21 days (or same-day via PayPal) |
| EE Trade-In | £205 | Yes (reduced) | 14 days |
| Vodafone Trade-In | £215 | Yes (reduced) | 14 days |
| Music Magpie | £230 | Yes (£60-£90) | 1-3 days |
| BackMarket | £245 | Limited | 7-14 days |
O2 wins on damaged-device pricing and PayPal speed. Music Magpie usually wins on flagship resale value.
Key takeaways
- O2 Recycle accepts smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming consoles from any UK network
- 2026 prices typically run 3-8% above EE and Vodafone for devices over 2 years old
- Only UK carrier offering PayPal payout (same-day)
- Accepts faulty and damaged devices including cracked screens at reduced rate
- ADISA-certified data destruction with free Certificate of Data Destruction on request
Sources
O2 Recycle published price guide Q1 2026. Virgin Media O2 Annual Sustainability Report 2024. ADISA certification register. EE / Vodafone / Music Magpie / BackMarket published trade-in prices Q1 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does O2 Recycle pay for an iPhone 13?
£225 for a 128GB iPhone 13 in Good condition. O2 typically prices 3-8% above EE and Vodafone for devices over 2 years old, making it the top-paying UK carrier option for older flagships.
Does O2 Recycle accept phones with cracked screens?
Yes. A cracked iPhone 13 typically fetches £85, an iPhone 11 £35, a Samsung S22 £55. The Damaged tier pays 35-50% of Good condition value. Most other UK carriers refuse Damaged condition devices.
Can I get same-day payment from O2 Recycle?
Yes if you choose PayPal payout. PayPal lands the same day O2 confirms device testing (typically day 7-10 from posting). BACS payment lands 14-21 days from receipt. Both routes are free.
Do I need an O2 account to use O2 Recycle?
No. O2 Recycle accepts phones from any UK network including EE, Vodafone, Three, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, giffgaff, iD Mobile, and SIM-free unlocked devices. No O2 contract or pay-as-you-go account required.
Does O2 Recycle provide a data destruction certificate?
Yes, free on request. O2's ADISA-certified data destruction process uses NIST 800-88 Clear-level software wipe for working devices and physical media destruction for failed-grade devices. The certificate states IMEI, method, and operator.
