The Top 20 Recycled Phones of 2025: Year-End Recap
As 2025 comes to an end, it’s a great time to look back at one of the most important trends in tech—smartphone recycling. Recycling phones isn’t just about getting rid of old gadgets. It’s a key part of protecting the environment and helping to create a cleaner, more sustainable world. As people upgrade to new phones, they recycle their old ones, which reduces electronic waste (e-waste) and helps support the circular economy.
In this blog, we’ll look at the top 20 recycled phones of 2025. By seeing which phones are recycled the most, we can better understand how recycling helps reduce e-waste and make our planet cleaner.
Why Is Recycling Phones Important?
Before we get into the list, let’s talk about why recycling phones is so important. Every year, millions of tons of e-waste are thrown away, and phones are a big part of that. However, when we recycle phones, we can recover valuable materials like gold, copper, and lithium. These materials can be reused to make new devices, which helps save energy and reduce the need for mining. Plus, recycling phones lowers CO2 emissions, which is important for fighting climate change.
The Criteria for the Most Recycled Phones of 2025
We created this list of the top recycled phones based on a few factors:
- Popularity: Phones that are widely used or have high sales are more likely to be recycled.
- Technology: Phones with features like 5G, AI, and great cameras tend to last longer and are recycled more.
- Brand: Brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google are known for their eco-friendly efforts, which make people more likely to recycle their phones.
- Global Reach: Phones that are used all around the world are recycled more.
Let’s jump into the top 20 recycled phones of 2025!
1. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is at the top of the list because of its amazing features, like 5G connectivity, an AI-powered camera, and a beautiful screen. Samsung’s focus on recycling and sustainability makes this phone one of the most recycled.
2. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max, with its powerful A17 chip, Face ID, and stunning OLED display, is another popular choice for recycling. Apple has made great efforts to make this phone more eco-friendly, encouraging users to recycle it.
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a foldable phone that stands out for its innovative design and large screens. As foldable phones grow in popularity, this model has been recycled a lot, especially as users upgrade to the latest foldable models.
4. Google Pixel 9
The Google Pixel 9 is loved for its excellent AI features, great camera, and the fact that Google focuses on sustainability. People are recycling it because it’s a phone that lasts and is easy on the environment.
5. Apple iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 is still one of the top recycled phones in 2025. With its A16 chip, excellent camera system, and 5G, it’s a great phone to recycle when you upgrade.
6. Samsung Galaxy A85 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A85 5G is an affordable phone with 5G and solid performance. Its budget-friendly price and strong features make it a popular choice for recycling.
7. OnePlus 11
OnePlus 11 is a great option for recycling thanks to its 5G support, smooth display, and powerful performance. People love it because it’s durable and eco-friendly.
8. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra continues to be recycled in 2025 because of its powerful chip, awesome camera system, and long-lasting features. Samsung’s focus on recycling and sustainability also makes it a popular choice.
9. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro is another popular recycled phone. It has a beautiful OLED display, great camera features, and Apple’s eco-friendly approach to recycling.
10. Samsung Galaxy Note 21 Ultra
The Galaxy Note 21 Ultra is well-known for its S Pen and great camera system. Its solid build and performance make it a phone that many people recycle when they upgrade.
11. OnePlus Nord 3
The OnePlus Nord 3 is a great budget phone with excellent value for the price. It’s eco-friendly and has good performance, making it a great choice for recycling.
12. Apple iPhone SE (2025)
The iPhone SE (2025) is affordable, yet powerful, with the A16 Bionic chip. It’s a great phone to recycle, especially for those looking for a reliable, budget-friendly option.
13. Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro is known for its great AI features, camera, and Google’s eco-friendly practices. It’s a phone that people love to recycle.
14. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is another foldable phone that’s recycled a lot due to its compact size and high-tech features. Its unique design makes it a popular choice for recycling.
15. Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Even though the iPhone 12 Mini is smaller, it’s still one of the most recycled phones. Its compact size, 5G support, and powerful features make it a great option for recycling.
16. Samsung Galaxy A70 5G
The Galaxy A70 5G is a reliable mid-range phone with strong performance and 5G. Its affordability and solid features make it popular for recycling.
17. Apple iPhone 11 Pro
The iPhone 11 Pro is still recycled in large numbers because of its great camera, performance, and Apple’s focus on making it eco-friendly.
18. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
The Galaxy S21 FE is another phone that’s recycled a lot. It offers great performance and a reasonable price, making it a popular choice for recycling.
19. OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro is a top pick for recycling because of its 5G support, beautiful AMOLED display, and fast charging features.
20. Apple iPhone 7
Despite being an older model, the iPhone 7 is still recycled a lot. Its durable design and reliable performance make it a great option for recycling.
Why Recycling Phones Is Important
Recycling phones is important because it helps keep old devices out of landfills. It also recovers valuable materials like gold and copper, which can be reused to make new tech. By recycling your phone, you’re helping to reduce the need for mining, lower CO2 emissions, and support a circular economy.
At Sell Your Gadget, we make it easy to recycle your old phones. Our simple process ensures that your devices are recycled responsibly, and the materials are reused to create new products.
How to Recycle Your Phone with Us
Recycling your phone with Sell Your Gadget is easy. Here’s how:
- Visit Our Website: Check out the available devices and get an estimate for your phone.
- Get a Quote: Use our tool to see how much your phone is worth.
- Ship It to Us: We’ll send you a prepaid shipping label so you don’t have to worry about postage.
- Receive Payment: Once we process your phone, we’ll send payment quickly and securely.
Start recycling today and make a positive impact on the environment!
Conclusion
Recycling phones is one of the best ways to reduce e-waste and protect the environment. The top 20 recycled phones of 2025, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, show how popular and sustainable these devices are. If you have one of these phones—or any other device—be sure to recycle it the right way to help keep our planet clean!
