The proliferation of mobile games has turned almost everyone into a gamer, even those people who wouldn’t necessarily label themselves as such. At the same time, however, it has also reduced interest in games that use physical objects, even for younger people whose mental development would normally require plenty of tactile feedback. That’s not to say that games should be an either-or affair, either virtual only or physical only. In fact, it would be so much better if we could combine the best of both worlds, which is exactly the kind of exhilarating hybrid gaming experience that this racing system is bringing to your living room floor.
To call MODIplay a “smartphone-controlled racing game” would be a huge disservice that underplays the exciting experiences you can have with this hybrid gaming system. If you really wanted to, yes, you can simply drive the cars on any floor or surface and still have tons of fun, especially with the realistic engine sounds that match your car’s model. MODIplay, however, offers so much more flexibility and variety, making it enjoyable for literally anyone, even those who wouldn’t be familiar with controlling a mini race car.
Turn up your speakers and enjoy the pure engine sound.
At the heart of the system is, of course, the MODI-Racer, an advanced mini car that comes in a combination of colors and designs, each with its own distinct engine and special feature. It’s like each racer has a personality of its own, whether it focuses on speed, acceleration, or grip. Built-in sensors and a high-speed steering drive keep the car running stably, even with one of its rear wheels missing. Of course, you control all of these through your smartphone or simply let the cars drive themselves on a track like a traditional slot car. Of course, you might prefer the actual thrill of driving the car yourself, especially with realistic physics and simulated elements like tire grip, temperature, and wear.
While you can really race anywhere on the floor in Free Mode, the real excitement and challenge come from building your own race tracks. Right off the bat, you get access to 15 modules that you can combine any which way you like, from the simplest to the most devilish layout, all for a total of 6.09 meters. You can try designing your course from the app first, which lets you see how many pieces you have left, or you can just add the track after you’re done by having your MODI Racer run through the course while scanning it. While the track helps keep the cars on track, you can always drive them off a corner, accidentally or otherwise. There’s no reason to worry, though, since you can simply drive them back onto the course to get back into the game.
The MODIplay RACING app is the bridge that brings all these elements together, and it’s definitely more than just a remote for the car. Everything you’d normally see on a mobile racing game is present here, like a virtual tuning garage, a career mode, or online races and leaderboards. Of course, the app does also have all the controls and information you need to drive the car, from dashboard information to a turbo boost button. Best of all, new features can be added with a simple update, like a donut move to show off your mad driving skills.
With technologies like mixed reality and the metaverse, the future of gaming will neither be just physical nor virtual only. Gaming will be hybrid, bridging the real and the simulated in a more engaging and exciting fashion. And for only $160, you can get started with a 15-piece MODI-Track and two MODI-Racers to get a foretaste of how the games of the future will be played.
The proliferation of mobile games has turned almost everyone into a gamer, even those people who wouldn’t necessarily label themselves as such. At the same time, however, it has also reduced interest in games that use physical objects, even for younger people whose mental development would normally require plenty of tactile feedback. That’s not to say that games should be an either-or affair, either virtual only or physical only. In fact, it would be so much better if we could combine the best of both worlds, which is exactly the kind of exhilarating hybrid gaming experience that this racing system is bringing to your living room floor.
To call MODIplay a “smartphone-controlled racing game” would be a huge disservice that underplays the exciting experiences you can have with this hybrid gaming system. If you really wanted to, yes, you can simply drive the cars on any floor or surface and still have tons of fun, especially with the realistic engine sounds that match your car’s model. MODIplay, however, offers so much more flexibility and variety, making it enjoyable for literally anyone, even those who wouldn’t be familiar with controlling a mini race car.
Turn up your speakers and enjoy the pure engine sound.
At the heart of the system is, of course, the MODI-Racer, an advanced mini car that comes in a combination of colors and designs, each with its own distinct engine and special feature. It’s like each racer has a personality of its own, whether it focuses on speed, acceleration, or grip. Built-in sensors and a high-speed steering drive keep the car running stably, even with one of its rear wheels missing. Of course, you control all of these through your smartphone or simply let the cars drive themselves on a track like a traditional slot car. Of course, you might prefer the actual thrill of driving the car yourself, especially with realistic physics and simulated elements like tire grip, temperature, and wear.
While you can really race anywhere on the floor in Free Mode, the real excitement and challenge come from building your own race tracks. Right off the bat, you get access to 15 modules that you can combine any which way you like, from the simplest to the most devilish layout, all for a total of 6.09 meters. You can try designing your course from the app first, which lets you see how many pieces you have left, or you can just add the track after you’re done by having your MODI Racer run through the course while scanning it. While the track helps keep the cars on track, you can always drive them off a corner, accidentally or otherwise. There’s no reason to worry, though, since you can simply drive them back onto the course to get back into the game.
The MODIplay RACING app is the bridge that brings all these elements together, and it’s definitely more than just a remote for the car. Everything you’d normally see on a mobile racing game is present here, like a virtual tuning garage, a career mode, or online races and leaderboards. Of course, the app does also have all the controls and information you need to drive the car, from dashboard information to a turbo boost button. Best of all, new features can be added with a simple update, like a donut move to show off your mad driving skills.
With technologies like mixed reality and the metaverse, the future of gaming will neither be just physical nor virtual only. Gaming will be hybrid, bridging the real and the simulated in a more engaging and exciting fashion. And for only $160, you can get started with a 15-piece MODI-Track and two MODI-Racers to get a foretaste of how the games of the future will be played.
Wireless charging has been around for many years, but, as usual, it was Apple’s adoption of the technology that finally opened the floodgates for other companies. Naturally, that has given birth to a wide variety of accessories supporting wireless charging, ranging from charging mats to portable power banks. Wireless chargers don’t always have to be complex, though, and there is indeed a pushback against chargers that take up more space than necessary. It might even be possible to actually distill the technology down to its most basic components, such as this a cord for the power and a cylinder. Rather than limiting its functions, however, this minimalist design actually offers a bit more flexibility in the way you can charge your phone wirelessly.
The standard design of a wireless charging mat was born from the limitations of the technology. It had to be flat, or at least flat enough to reduce the gap between the charging coils in the charger and in the device. Given smartphones’ tendency to slide off a flat surface, charging mats themselves often lie horizontally or at a small incline only. Apple made the latter limitation moot when it introduced magnets to the equation, allowing the two flat surfaces to stick together regardless of the position.
This ultra-minimal wireless charger concept uses that design as well as simple shapes to reduce the space needed for the accessory. The charger itself is nothing more than a cylinder with a hemisphere cap on one end that leads to the simple power cord. In addition to being an interesting shape, it also functions as a mechanism to prop a phone up at any angle, regardless of its orientation.
The curved end of the charger makes sure that its body is never completely flat when a phone is attached. The phone’s body, which exceeds the area of the charger’s flat end, is what raises the two to the ideal angle. Simple physics prevents the charger from sliding backward, while the phone’s flat edges stop its round body from rolling sideways. Of course, the connection between the two is only made possible if there are magnets involved, like with an iPhone and Apple MagSafe.
The resulting design makes this wireless charger even more flexible than the most sophisticated charger design. You can use it almost anywhere with very little space requirement, and it can even be incorporated into other designs or accessories, like something that would hold it aloft with a stand. More importantly, it also reduces material waste with its compact design, something that would appeal to both minimalism fans and eco-conscious users.
Video games have always been a lucrative business, but the past two years or so have seen that industry explode thanks to being cooped up indoors due to the pandemic. Now that most of the restrictions have been lifted, the boon and the bane of video games have been placed under a microscope once more. No matter the platform it’s played on, these games require players to stay put in one place, whether sitting or standing, for safety purposes. Of course, there are a few “active” titles that require people to move and sweat it out, but these are rare exceptions. That kind of lifestyle can be detrimental to the physical and social development of younger gamers, which is something that this novel console is trying to correct by making gaming a little bit more physical and a lot more engaging.
At first glance, the UDU CONSOLE looks like a Wiimote or a VR controller. In some ways, it does share some of the characteristics, especially when it comes to motion detection and input controls, but that doesn’t really do it justice. The handheld console can indeed do that and so much more by creating a new kind of mobile gaming experience where you really feel as if you’re living in the game’s virtual world rather than just tapping and sliding away at the screen.
This upgraded gaming experience starts by simply connecting the UDU CONSOLE with a phone or tablet via Bluetooth and selecting one of the dozens of new games created just for the console. Swing the console like a sword to slash at enemies, swing it to the beat in a fruit-based rhythm game, or flex and wave at an invisible canvas to create your digital art masterpiece. Your body becomes part of the game, engaging your whole being rather than just your eyes, brain, and fingers. And thanks to UDU’s HD Haptics, you can also feel the force of a sword’s impact on an enemy or the bristling of the brush in the hands of an artist.
Part of UDU’s magic is thanks to UDU GAMES app, a growing library of gaming experiences that will take you to new worlds together with the handheld console and your mobile device. Most of the games use geolocation like the popular Pokémon GO, so you’ll have new experiences to discover as you explore the real world as well. More importantly, these games are designed to be active, engaging, and fun like no other game before. Whether you’re playing alone or with a friend, the UDU CONSOLE will have you moving about, thoroughly immersed in the virtual world of your choosing.
The UDU CONSOLE has plenty of other things that set it apart from plain gaming controllers. A crisp, circular display acts as a second screen for your phone or tablet, while a multi-touch trackpad, trigger, and squeeze button all work together to provide an intuitive interface for interacting with games. The handheld’s ergonomic design makes the UDU CONSOLE comfortable to hold, while its durable casing and included wristband remove worries about using it outdoors.
Once it launches, this innovative gaming system will cost $199 and require a $10 monthly subscription for unlimited access to those games, just like Apple Arcade. For a limited introductory promo, however, you can get the UDU CONSOLE for only $126, which includes 12 months of free access to that gaming library. It’s definitely a sweet deal, especially for a promising new gaming platform that will have young gamers on their feet and enjoying the great outdoors, all while also playing their new favorite mobile games with a phone and motion-controlled console in hand.
Great smartphones don't need to cost a fortune. Years of commoditization have brought features once exclusive to high-end devices – including big batteries, multi-camera arrays and high refresh rate displays – down to their more affordable siblings. While there are still some things you'll only find on flagship smartphones, you don't have to compromise as much anymore if you're looking to find the best buy at a lower price point. If you have less than $600 to spend, we can help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find the best midrange smartphone.
What is a midrange phone, anyway?
While the term shows up frequently in articles and videos, there isn’t an agreed-upon definition for “midrange” beyond a phone that isn’t a flagship or an entry-level option. Most of our recommendations for the best midrange smartphones cost between $400 and $600 — any less and you should expect significant compromises. If your budget is higher, though, you should consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S24.
What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone
Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, it’s great.) And if you’re an Android fan, there’s no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldn’t rule either out.
Obviously, also consider how much you’re comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. And manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer. It’s definitely worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford.
Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life or fast charging speed? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras? While they continue to improve every year, even the best midrange smartphones still demand some compromises, and knowing what’s important to you will make choosing one easier.
Lastly, pay attention to wireless bands and network compatibility. If you don’t want to worry about that, your best bet is to buy directly from your carrier. To make things easier, all the phones we recommend are compatible with every major US wireless provider and can be purchased unlocked.
What won’t you get from a midrange smartphone?
Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones gets blurrier as more upmarket features and specs trickle down to more affordable models. When we first published this guide in 2020, it was difficult to find $500 devices with waterproofing or 5G. Now, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging. Just remember to budget for a power adapter too – many companies have stopped including chargers with their smartphones. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their cameras have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600.
The best midrange phones for 2024
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-engadget-guide-to-the-best-midrange-smartphones-120050366.html?src=rss
As one of Engadget’s resident mobile geeks, I’ve reviewed dozens of midrange phones and have found that a great smartphone doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Years of commoditization have brought features once exclusive to high-end devices – including big batteries, multi-camera arrays and high refresh rate displays – down to their more affordable siblings. If your budget is less than $600, I can help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find the best midrange phone for the money.
What is a midrange phone, anyway?
While the term shows up frequently in articles and videos, there isn’t an agreed-upon definition for “midrange” beyond a phone that isn’t a flagship or an entry-level option. For this guide, our recommendations for the best phone in this category cost between $400 and $600. Any less and you should expect significant compromises. If your budget is higher, though, you should consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22.
What factors should you consider when buying a midrange smartphone?
Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, it’s great.) And if you’re an Android fan, there’s no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldn’t rule either out.
Obviously, also consider how much you’re comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. And manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer. It’s definitely worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford.
Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras? While they continue to improve every year, midrange phones still involve some compromises, and knowing what’s important to you will make choosing one easier.
Lastly, pay attention to wireless bands and network compatibility. If you don’t want to worry about that, your best bet is to buy directly from your carrier. To make things easier, all the phones we recommend are compatible with every major US wireless provider and can be purchased unlocked.
What won’t you get from a midrange smartphone?
Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones gets blurrier as more upmarket features trickle down. When we first published this guide in 2020, it was difficult to find $500 devices with waterproofing or 5G. Now, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging. Just remember to budget for a power adapter too – many companies have stopped including them. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their cameras have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600.
The best midrange Android phone: Pixel 6a
There’s a lot to like about Google's Pixel 6a. For one, the Pixel 6a features the best cameras at this price. It may not have as many lenses as some of the other options on this list, but thanks to Google’s expertise in computational photography, the 6a delivers pictures that are on par with phones that cost hundreds more. Nighttime photos in particular are stellar thanks in part to Night Sight, which helps brighten up dim environments and bring out more detail.
The Google Pixel 6a has a few other things going for it. Thanks to its large battery and efficient chipset, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice. It lasted just over 19 hours in our battery testing, and Google's Tensor chipset allows the 6a to run very similarly to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro handsets. And those who plan to hang on to their smartphone for as long as possible will appreciate that Google plans to support the 6a with software updates for the next five years.
In addition to its solid battery life and performance, the Google Pixel 6a even has some advanced features you may not expect to see on a midrange phone. Its design looks very similar to the flagship models with the striking camera bar on the handset's rear top half, and it has a 2,400 x 1,080 resolution OLED touchscreen with an under-display fingerprint sensor. You'll only get a refresh rate of 60Hz on the 6a, but that's a small sacrifice to make when you're getting a number of other features at a killer price.
The best (and only) iPhone under $600: iPhone SE
If you can get past its dated design and small 5.4-inch display, the Apple iPhone SE is the fastest phone you can buy for less than $600. No other device on this list has a processor that comes close to the SE’s A15 Bionic. What’s more, you can expect Apple to support the 2022 model for years to come. The company is only just ending support for the first-generation SE after six years. The company hasn’t said how long it intends to furnish the latest SE with new software, but it’s likely to support the device for a similar length of time.
For all its strengths, the iPhone SE is held back by a dated display. Not only is the SE’s screen small and slow, but it also uses an IPS panel instead of an OLED, meaning it can’t deliver deep blacks. Additionally, that screen is surrounded by some of the largest bezels you’ll find on a modern phone. That’s not surprising. The SE uses the design of the iPhone 6, which will be a decade old in two years. And if the SE looks dated now, it will only feel more tired in a few years.
The midrange phone with the best screen: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
For the best possible display at this price, look no further than Samsung’s $450 Galaxy A53 5G. It features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display that is ideal for watching TV shows and movies. Plus the 120Hz panel is the fastest on this list. Other standout features of this Samsung phone include a 5,000mAh battery and versatile camera system. The A53’s three cameras may not deliver photos with the same detail and natural colors as the Pixel 6a, but it can capture bigger scenes with its two wide-angle lenses.
Like the other Android smartphones on this list, the Samsung Galaxy A53 isn’t the fastest performer. At best, Samsung’s Exynos 1280 is a lateral move from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G found in the Galaxy A52 5G. And though the A53 is $50 cheaper than its predecessor, this Samsung phone no longer comes with a power adapter and headphone jack, so the difference may not end up being much.
An ultra-budget 5G option: OnePlus Nord N200 5G
If you only have around $200 to spend on your next phone, you could do a lot worse than the OnePlus Nord N200. To start, this budget phone features a big 5,000mAh battery that will easily last you a full day. The N200 also has a 90Hz display and 5G connectivity, which are tricky to find at this price. Best of all, it doesn’t look like a cheap phone.
But the N200 is also a good illustration of why you should spend more on a budget phone if you can. It's the slowest device on this list, due to its Snapdragon 480 chipset and paltry 4GB of RAM. Its triple main camera system is serviceable during the day but struggles in low light and doesn’t offer much versatility beyond a disappointing macro lens. OnePlus also doesn’t plan to update the phone beyond the soon-to-be-outdated Android 12. In short, the N200 is unlikely to last you as long as any of the other recommendations on this list.
The Maku trailer is a lightweight, multi-use camper that’s currently being used as a mobile radio station to capture the sounds of nature throughout Japan.
Camping trailers can be used for a variety of purposes–from remote living to transporting goods. The potential for trailers begins and ends as far as your imagination takes you. Typically, trailers are mobile homes that keep a small size that designers maximize through minimalism and built-in multifunctional furniture. Finding promise in an array of different possibilities, Japanese designer Taichi Kuma constructed a lightweight mobile unit from aluminum that can be used as a house, remote workspace, and even a radio station.
Calling it the Maku trailer, Kuma’s mobile trailer finds durability through an aluminum frame that’s draped in layers of PTFE membrane for protection against the elements. Kuma also incorporated a transparent glass fiber insulation mat that’s positioned in between two membrane layers. The fiber insulation mat allows for year-round adaptability against extreme weather and temperatures.
The membrane layers and insulation mat are both translucent to optimize the amount of natural sunlight pouring in from outside. With this, the Maku trailer glows like a warm lantern at night when interior lighting is turned on. Measuring only 3.3 m by 1.8 m, the Maku trailer keeps a slightly untraditional cubic shape, with a roof that gradually inclines for lofty ceiling heights.
While the small size and lightweight nature of the Maku trailer offer plenty of adaptability and versatility between uses, Kuma imagines the Maku trailer as a mobile radio station. Traveling through Japan, those residing inside the Maku trailer will collect the sounds of nature to stream them from anywhere.
The roll-up door provides easy access to the trailer’s interior space.
The PTFE membrane and translucent glass insulation layers are designed to maximize the available natural sunlight.
When interior lighting is turned on, the Maku trailer glows like a lantern at night.
Cars of any size and make can attach to the Maku trailer for optimal transportation.
Nomadic Office is a mobile office that finds an old Peugeot Boxer van transformed into a living space.
Work culture is changing in unprecedented ways. The coffee shop has become the new collaborative workspace and everyone is remote working these days. Since all we need is WiFi and our laptops to get through our 9-to-5’s, many are choosing to hit the road for mobile working. Some are escaping to their tiny offices in the woods to get away from the city noise and others are renovating their vans to bring their work on the road. Architecture and design studio Atelier JMCA did just that with their latest project, Nomadic Office.
The designers at Atelier JMCA had their work cut out for them when they decided to transform an old Peugeot Boxer van into a mobile workspace. Before gutting the van’s interior, the architects at Atelier JMCA used a 3D laser to scan the vehicle’s interior space and create a precise CAD drawing of the van’s bodywork.
To start, the van collects solar energy from two 330 watts solar panels that are positioned on the van’s roof. Then, two 80L water tanks provide fresh water and treat wastewater for the kitchen and lavatory, which are located behind the driver’s seat. Additionally, insulation and a diesel heating system ensure comfortable temperatures throughout the van. With these features, Nomadic Office has off-grid capabilities that allow users to work off-grid for up to a week.
A retractable wooden system defines the internal layout of Nomadic Office. Outfitted with a dining area, sleeping accommodations, workspace, and storage compartment, fold-out furniture systems save space through hinge mechanisms that allow users to fold up the bed and dining table when not in use. Comprised of thick, 15cm wooden panels, the architects made sure to make full use of the 3m x 2m main living space.
When users would like to have a meal or work at the dining table, they can open the 5cm thick wooden board 90-degrees without the need for a support base. Then, when its time for bed, users can use the same fold-down mechanism for the built-in, two-person bed. To activate Nomadic Office’s ‘night mode,’ users can unlock a lock system to reveal the van’s mattress, which is propped up by two wooden blocks. Storage compartments and hanging racks provide spaces for users to hang their clothes out of the way.
If you’ve been following the news here on Engadget, you know there are always new smartphones coming out to outshine your old handset and inspire some real gadget FOMO. But once you’ve upgraded, what do you do with your old phone? If it’s still in good working condition, chances are that someone out there is willing to shell out a few bucks for your castoff. And that goes for so much more than just phones since you can always find somewhere to sell your old laptops, game consoles and other electronics for a pretty penny. Learn about all of the places where you can sell your used gadgets below.
Trade-in sites
If you're looking for the least amount of hassle and easiest way to get money in hand as soon as possible, there are plenty of sites that automate the trade-in process. You'll select your device from a list, get a quote within minutes and send the device to the company in return for cash in a matter of days.
Decluttr
Decluttr definitely lives up to its name. Not only can you sell phones from a number of manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung and Google, but the site also takes lots of physical media, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, video games and books. For devices, you'll be asked to provide a general assessment of its condition before you’re given a quote immediately. Once you complete your order, the site will send you a free shipping label. Decluttr also will accept handsets as old as the iPhone 7, though it'll offer you only $14 for a 32GB model in good condition.
uSell
uSell operates as a broker, searching other sites for their best offers on a given device and taking care of the rest. Like most buyback sites, it's big on iPhones, but you can still sell off other manufacturers' devices; it really depends on who's buying them at that point. The selection is a bit of a grab bag — newer phones like the Galaxy S22 aren't listed, though you can get a quote for the iPhone 15 ($672 for an unlocked, “flawless” 64GB model). Once you complete your order the site will send you a free shipping kit to send in your device, and you can get paid for the item via PayPal, Venmo or an old-fashioned check.
ecoATM
If you don't want to have to worry about packaging up your old device and mailing it off, or would like to receive your payout right away, there's always ecoATM. It's literally all in the name: the company operates automated machines that you place your device into to get it examined, and it pays you out on the spot. It accepts the biggest brands (i.e., Apple, Google and Samsung), along with devices from a wide variety of manufacturers, including LG, Motorola and ZTE. If the machine determines that your device isn't worth anything at all, you can still use ecoATM to responsibly recycle your old gadget. You'll find ecoATM kiosks in Walmart and Kroger locations, as well as malls and check-cashing stores across the country.
Amazon
While browsing Amazon listings, it’s likely you’ve come across products marked as “refurbished.” Well, if you’ve ever wondered where those come from, a lot of them likely hail from Amazon’s trade-in program. The company will put its own products, like Kindle ereaders and Fire tablets front and center, but you can also send in phones and gaming products in for an Amazon gift card as well. It’s not great if you want cash, but if you’re looking to upgrade an Amazon device, this option is your best bet, as trading in an older one also nets you a 20 percent discount in addition to the store credit. You’ll need to print out a shipping label, or you can drop off your electronics at select Amazon Locker, Whole Foods or uBreakiFix locations.
Apple
This is a good option if you’re looking to upgrade to a newer Apple device. You can trade in iPhones, iPads, Macs and even Apple Watches. That’s notable as wearables are a category you don’t often see on trade-in sites. Apple will even take your old Android phone if you were thinking of making the switch. The trade-in values are on par with other sites, but you can get a smaller payout in the form of a gift card instead if you’d rather wait before making a new purchase, want to put it toward media purchases or even just use it in an Apple Store. The latter, by the way, also accepts trade-ins in case you’re not comfortable shipping your old but still expensive device.
It'sWorthMore
The nice thing about It’sWorthMore is that its on-site forms handle a larger variety of gadgets than other sites, incorporating companies such as Microsoft, AMD and even GoPro in addition to standards like Apple, Samsung and Google. You’ll answer a few standard questions about your device’s condition and whether you still have the original box — obviously, the more you’ve kept from the original packaging, the better. You’ll then get a ballpark estimate of its worth and a prepaid shipping label to print out. Once your device has been received, you’ll generally get the assessment and payment via check, PayPal, Zelle or a gift card in under 10 days.
BuyBackWorld
The appeal of BuyBackWorld is that device assessment is a streamlined process: Instead of having to answer a barrage of detailed questions for your device you give it a general assessment and let the site handle the rest. Just like with It’sWorthMore, BuyBackWorld will provide a printable shipping label in your confirmation email but, if you don’t have a printer or boxes to pack your device up, you can always have the site send you a free shipping kit, which can handle everything the site takes except desktop computers.
GadgetGone
If you’ve read through the other site descriptions, GadgetGone’s modus operandi should be familiar: To sell a product, you’ll have to answer a few questions about what type of device you have and what condition it’s in, after which the site will generate a prepaid shipping label. At least here you can find brands like OnePlus included among the options, and you can also sell MacBooks and Mac minis here. You can get paid a number of ways, too, including PayPal, virtual VISA card, Amazon and Target gift cards or just good, old-fashioned bank transfer.
Store trade-ins
Sometimes you need your money right now, or just don't want to trust your device to the vagaries of various shipping companies. There are a few nationwide retailers that accept trade-ins for cash or store credit. Additionally, wireless carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T will all give you credit toward a new phone.
Best Buy
Best Buy also offers trade-ins both by mail and in-store — with more than 1,000 locations, this might be extremely convenient for you. You fill out the form online and bring that to customer service. It's easy, but there's one big downside: You can get your payout only via a Best Buy gift card. This is great if you spend a lot of money with them anyway, but not ideal if you need cash.
Target
Target isn’t as well known for its trade-in program, but it’s certainly a welcomed option. With over 1,900 locations across the US, it’s easy enough to bring your unwanted phones, tablets, game consoles, smart speakers and video games to a nearby Target’s electronics department for a quote. They’ll even package it up and ship it off to the processing facility for you. You’ll get a Target gift card via email within a week. If you can’t make it to a store, Target also offers a mail-in option.
GameStop
GameStop is infamous for buying games back at ridiculously low prices and flipping them at near retail, but don't let that stop you from making some easy cash when you need to quickly clear your closet of old electronics and games. And yes, I said cash: GameStop offers store credit, a Visa prepaid card or actual money if you want to take your bounty elsewhere. For example, you can trade in Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Switch and get $35 in store credit or $24.50 cash, which isn't bad when new copies are going for $50 on Amazon. GameStop also accepts phones, tablets and Apple Watches, though the prices aren't going to match what you'd get from an online trade-in site.
Consumer to consumer
Sometimes you prefer to cut out the middleman and get a bit more personal — a transaction where you're selling your device directly to another person instead of letting a faceless site flip it for you as a "refurbished" unit. In those cases, you want a site that's more user-to-user, though a few will still automate certain bits to make your sale as smooth and secure as possible.
Swappa
Swappa is a marketplace site, which means sellers can set their own price. So if you're getting rid of a newer phone, this is probably the best way to go — the iPhone 14 fetches around $533, for example. That's a huge improvement over what you'd get selling through a site like Decluttr, which is offering only $267 for a 128GB unit.
Amazon
When shopping on Amazon, you've probably been tempted by some of those marketplace deals in the past and, chances are, if you list an item on there, someone will give your old device a look. Since almost everyone on earth seems to have an Amazon account, your potential customer base is huge, and it costs only $0.99, plus a percentage based on category, to sell an item through the site. The downsides are that Amazon isn't really optimized for individual sales; you'll be competing with wholesale companies and even bots that will tweak the price of a product automatically in response to the competition.
eBay
eBay is sort of the Wild West of sales sites, but the biggest advantage is that you can sell anything there and hopefully find a buyer, regardless of how old a product is. Even so, the site has come a long way in the past decade or so, adding structured categories that can help lead customers to your product. For phones, you can search by network, color or storage capacity, and even filter for features like 4K video or fingerprint sensors.
In the end, it still works as it always did: You list a product and set an end date for the listing with a minimum price, or just set a "Buy It Now" price if you don't want to wait to see how an auction turns out. Chances are you already have an eBay account with a feedback score, so there's no extra setup required on your part. Your first 250 listings are free every month, and you'll pay up to 15 percent of the purchase price only if an item sells. The biggest downside is that you're competing with a lot more sellers, and chances are there's always someone willing to undercut you on price.
Cash-back comparison
Ultimately, the site you go with should be whatever's most useful and convenient, but if you just care about how much money you'll get, we've priced out a few recent flagship handsets just to give you an idea of what each site will pay out.
All phone prices are for the lowest storage capacity, usually 128GB, and for devices that are in generally good condition with no cracks or scratches. The prices are for the unlocked models when available, or the carrier where it's being traded. These prices were valid the day this post was written, but they fluctuate daily or, in the case of sites like Amazon and eBay, hourly.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Google Pixel 7
Declutter
$361
$268
$153
uSell
$455
N/A
N/A
ecoATM
$275
$185
$55
Verizon
$364
$223
$127
T-Mobile
$315
$210
$115
AT&T
$330
$230
$130
Best Buy
$340
$235
$115
GameStop
$498 credit / $349 cash
$181 credit / $127 cash
N/A
Swappa
$664
$539
$293
Amazon
$578
$460
$229
eBay
$350
$340
$214
BuyBackWorld
$375
$275
$150
It'sWorthMore
$446
$382
$165
GadgetGone
$476
$411
$218
If you were looking to sell some games, we've also got a shorter list, because not every site accepts trade-ins. GameStop will offer you more money than what's listed below if you're a member of its Elite or Elite Pro programs.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)
Diablo IV (Xbox)
Decluttr
$20
$16
$18
GameStop
$30 credit / $21 cash
$17 credit / $12 cash
$12 credit / $8 cash
Amazon
$10 trade-in / $45 marketplace
$34 marketplace
$34 marketplace
eBay
$12
$10
$15
Once you've picked a site and listed your item, there are a few important things to remember before you ship off your device. At the top of the list is to do a full factory reset before disposing of a phone or laptop (or any other device) containing personal data. That also means turning off "Find My iPhone" and the activation lock on iOS devices. See if you can unlock the phone, too; you'll actually get more money selling it carrier-free. And finally, make sure you've backed up any important data you may have, like contact info, game saves and, of course, photos. Cash is great, but it won't save your memories.
Images: Mike Blake / Reuters (ecoATM); Alamy (Gamestop); Getty Images for eBay (eBay)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/where-to-sell-used-electronics.html?src=rss
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