We Buy Cracked & Dead Phones in Kenya: Here's What You'll Get

Mzuri Team 25 May 2026 8 min read
We Buy Cracked & Dead Phones in Kenya: Here's What You'll Get

That phone with the shattered screen, the one that will not switch on, or the iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, is not worthless. In Kenya there is a real, active market for cracked, faulty and dead phones, and you can turn yours into cash instead of leaving it in a drawer. This guide explains honestly what a broken phone is worth, what affects the price, and how to sell it safely.

Yes, Broken Phones Have Real Value in Kenya

It surprises many people, but a dead or cracked phone still holds value for several reasons:

  • Spare parts. Screens, batteries, cameras, charging ports, motherboards and back glass are harvested and resold. A cracked phone often has many perfectly good components inside.
  • Refurbishment. A phone that "does not work" sometimes needs only a screen or battery swap to be restored and resold.
  • Recycling. Phones contain valuable materials, and recyclers pay for them by the lot.

So before you assume your handset is rubbish, understand that buyers in Nairobi and across Kenya actively look for exactly these devices.

What Affects How Much You'll Get

The price for a broken phone depends on a few key things:

Brand and model

This matters more than almost anything. A dead iPhone is worth far more than a dead budget Android, because iPhone parts (screens, batteries, cameras, Face ID modules) command high resale prices. A cracked iPhone 13 can still fetch meaningful money, while a cracked entry-level Tecno may only be worth a small parts fee. Samsung flagships also retain decent broken-value.

The exact fault

Not all "broken" is equal. Buyers pay more when more of the phone still works:

  • Cracked screen only, everything else works: Highest broken-value. Often only the screen needs replacing.
  • Dead but no physical damage: Good value, especially iPhones, the board may be repairable.
  • Water damage: Lower and unpredictable, depends on what survived.
  • Bad battery or charging port: Usually a cheap fix, so decent value.
  • Cracked screen plus dead board: Lowest, sold mainly for the remaining parts.

Whether iCloud or Google lock is removed

This is critical for iPhones. A dead iPhone that is still locked to an Apple ID (iCloud locked) is worth dramatically less, because it cannot be fully refurbished and resold. If your iPhone can still power on at all, remove it from your Apple ID and turn off Find My iPhone before selling. The same applies to Google account locks on Android.

Completeness

Even on a broken phone, the original box, charger or a removable back can add a little to the offer.

Rough Guide: What Broken Phones Fetch in Kenya (2026)

These are realistic mid-2026 ranges. Actual offers vary with the exact fault and the buyer.

| Device and fault | Rough offer (KSh) | |---|---| | iPhone 13/14 with cracked screen, works | 18,000 – 35,000 | | iPhone 11/12, dead but no iCloud lock | 8,000 – 20,000 | | iPhone with iCloud lock (any) | Much lower, parts only | | Samsung flagship, cracked screen, works | 6,000 – 18,000 | | Mid-range Samsung A-series, dead | 1,500 – 5,000 | | Tecno / Infinix / Xiaomi, cracked or dead | 800 – 3,500 |

Treat these as starting points. The single biggest swing factor is the brand: iPhones and Samsung flagships sit at the top, budget Androids at the bottom.

How to Sell Your Cracked or Dead Phone

Step 1: Diagnose it honestly

Note exactly what is wrong. Does it power on at all? Does the screen respond? Does it charge? Buyers will ask, and an honest description gets you serious offers fast.

Step 2: Remove account locks if you can

If the phone powers on even briefly, sign out of your Apple ID (turn off Find My iPhone) or remove your Google account, and factory reset if possible. This protects your data and significantly increases the value, especially for iPhones.

Step 3: Find the IMEI

Even on a broken phone, the IMEI is often on the SIM tray, under a removable back, or on the box. A genuine, verifiable IMEI reassures buyers. If the phone still powers on, dial *#06# to read it.

Step 4: List it or get quotes

You have two main routes:

  • List it to a private buyer or repairer. Many technicians and parts dealers actively buy broken phones. Post a free listing on Mzuri, describe the fault clearly, add photos of the damage, and you will reach buyers who want exactly that.
  • Use a specialist broken-phone buyer or repair shop. Repair shops in Nairobi CBD and services that buy dead and cracked phones will quote you, often paying via M-Pesa. Get two or three quotes, as offers vary widely.

For a sense of what working versions of your model sell for (useful for negotiating the broken price), browse current phone listings on Mzuri.

Step 5: Meet safely and confirm payment

Even for a broken phone, sell safely:

  • Meet in a public, busy place in daylight.
  • Confirm the M-Pesa payment has actually landed in your account, check your own confirmation SMS and balance, never trust a screenshot.
  • Hand over the phone only after the money is confirmed.

See our full safety tips for selling phones in Kenya.

When It Is Better to Repair Instead of Sell

Sometimes fixing the phone and either keeping it or selling it working nets you more. A simple cracked-screen repair on a popular model may cost a few thousand shillings but raise the resale value by much more. As a rule of thumb:

  • Repair if the fault is a cheap, common fix (screen or battery) on an iPhone or Samsung flagship.
  • Sell as-is if the fault is the motherboard, water damage, or the phone is a budget model where repair costs approach its value.

If you are unsure, get a repair quote and a sell-as-is quote, then compare.

Protect Your Data Before Selling a Broken Phone

A cracked or even a dead phone can still hold your personal data, M-Pesa app, WhatsApp chats, photos and saved passwords. Do not assume a non-working phone is safe to hand over. Take these precautions:

  • If the phone powers on at all, sign out of accounts and factory reset before selling.
  • If the screen is cracked but responsive, you can usually still navigate to Settings to wipe it. A repairer may also do a temporary screen connection to wipe it for you.
  • If the phone is fully dead, make clear to the buyer that the data could not be wiped, and ideally sell to a reputable repairer rather than an anonymous individual. For iPhones, remotely remove the device from your Apple ID using iCloud.com on another device.
  • Remove the SIM and memory card before handing the phone over, every time.

Treating your data seriously also reassures honest buyers and keeps your M-Pesa and accounts safe.

Selling Broken Phones in Bulk or as a Repairer

If you run a shop or have accumulated several faulty phones, the economics change. Parts dealers and refurbishers buy in lots and pay per working component rather than per phone. A box of assorted broken Androids might be worth more sold together to a parts buyer than individually. Keep faulty iPhones and Samsung flagships separate, though, since these are worth listing individually for their high parts value. If you regularly have stock, building a relationship with one or two reliable repairers gives you a steady outlet and better prices than one-off sales.

Don't Let a Dead Phone Sit in a Drawer

A broken phone loses value every month as newer models arrive and parts demand shifts. The sooner you sell, the more you get. Whether it is a cracked iPhone, a dead Samsung, or a budget Android that gave up, there is a buyer for it in Kenya.

Ready to turn that broken handset into M-Pesa cash? List your cracked or dead phone for free on Mzuri and reach repairers and parts buyers across the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really sell a phone that won't switch on? Yes. Dead phones are bought for parts and repair across Kenya. iPhones and Samsung flagships fetch the most, because their components hold high resale value even when the phone itself is dead.

How much is a cracked iPhone worth in Kenya? A recent iPhone (13 or 14) with only a cracked screen but otherwise working can fetch roughly KSh 18,000 to 35,000 in 2026. Older models or those with extra faults are worth less, and an iCloud-locked iPhone is worth much less.

Why does iCloud lock reduce my iPhone's value so much? An iCloud-locked iPhone cannot be fully refurbished or resold as a working phone, so it is only useful for parts. Removing it from your Apple ID and turning off Find My iPhone before selling dramatically increases the offer.

Should I repair my phone or sell it broken? Repair if the fault is a cheap, common fix like a screen or battery on an iPhone or Samsung flagship, as repair often raises the value by more than it costs. Sell as-is if it is a motherboard fault, water damage, or a budget phone where repair costs approach its worth.

How do I sell a broken phone safely? Meet buyers in a public, busy place, confirm the M-Pesa payment has genuinely landed in your account before handing over the phone, and never rely on a payment screenshot, which can be faked.

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