Compare and Recycle
11/10/2023

Does Tesco Mobile Recycle Mobile Phones?

a man inside tesco mobile store

Tesco is a household name in the UK, with hundreds of petrol stations, grocery and retail stores dominating the market. Its network - Tesco Mobile used to have a recycling programme for old mobile phones known as Tesco Mobile Recycling, which has now been replaced with Tesco Mobile Trade-In. Let’s take a look at how Tesco Mobile Phone Trade-in compares to Compare and Recycle and how you can get the most money for your old mobile phone.

Does Tesco Mobile recycle mobile phones?

Tesco Mobile have launched their trade-in programme in partnership with a recycling provider which allows you to trade in your old phone in exchange for cash or a Tesco voucher.

It works in a similar way to Compare and Recycle, you state what phone model you've got and condition it's in for a quick valuation and then post your mobile phone for recycling. But there's one crucial difference - on our comparison we list over 30 recyclers to help you compare and find the best trade-in price for your device which could mean that with Tesco Mobile Trade-in you may miss out on getting the most for your old phone or tablet.

What’s the difference between Compare and Recycle and Tesco Mobile Trade-In?

Although behind the scenes Tesco Mobile Trade-in and Compare and Recycle are similar in their purpose and nature, there are key differences that you should take advantage of. With Compare and Recycle you can easily shop around for trade-in offers from over 30 recycling companies neatly presented in a comparison table for you to choose from, unlike Tesco Mobile Trade-in programme which is powered by one recycling provider limiting your choices and access to higher prices. Relying on having just one price offered means potentially getting less cash for your used smartphone - and this sometimes could be as much as £55 or more.

Below we've compared a few most popular smartphones being traded in on Compare and Recycle vs Tesco Mobile Trade-in:

Phone Model Compare and Recycle Price Tesco Mobile Trade-in Price Difference
iPhone XR up to £170 up to £115 £55
iPhone 11 up to £246 up to £180 £66
iPhone 12 up to £343 up to £250 £93

prices correct on 31/03/2023

Prices aside, there's a difference in how you can post your device for recycling. Compare and Recycle and Tesco Mobile Trade-in both offer free postage, but with Tesco Mobile's programme you will receive a pre-paid postage label only which you will need to print out yourself. Recyclers featured on Compare and Recycle offer free trade-in packs along with paid postage, DPD and Royal Mail collections at no extra cost to you, so you can arrange for your phone to be picked up from your work or home address which makes it that tiny bit more convenient.

What can I do with my old mobile phone?

In order to get the most value out of your old mobile phone, take advantage of services that will help you to resell your device. Quick search on Compare and Recycle will provide you a comprehensive list of companies that will buy your old mobile phone from you. What's more, your phone will be given a second life and less e-waste will make its way to landfill.

We compare hundreds of phone models than just the ones below, so visit our site to find out more:

Sell your Apple iPhone 11 nowGet up to £220.00!Sell your Apple iPhone XR nowGet up to £165.00!

If your phone isn’t worth anything, don’t worry! There are options for you to safely dispose of your mobile phone. A great place to find information is on your local council’s website ranging from which gadgets you can recycle from your home, to which ones you should take to a speclialised recycling centre. Oftentimes, people do not know how to safely dispose of their unwanted gadgets, and this is a quick and easy way to find out how you can do so locally. The most important thing to remember, is to not throw them away in your regular black bin bag!

Benefits of recycling your mobile phone

When you recycle your phone with Compare and Recycle, your phone will be inspected by professional technicians and graded for refurbishment. The phones that can be repaired, will undergo a thorough refurbishment so they can be sold again as refurbished phones at a lower price compared to brand new. If the phone is beyond repair, and is not suitable for reuse, the parts will be salvaged to refurbish other devices. Recycling old electronics not only has a benefit for your wallet, but it also has a positive impact on the environment. When electronic devices are reused, this prevents them from getting left to become e-waste on landfill sites around the world and reduces the need to mine virgin metals.

This Is Why Mobile Phone Recycling Matters

While e-waste isn't just small electronics such as mobile phones, but also our frequently upgraded phones which add up and fuel the year-on-year increase of this rapidly growing waste stream.

5 MIN READ

Oftentimes, people think that recycling their phones is a long winded process with limited options, but when you go to the right place, like Compare and Recycle, it’s simple. So, if you are reading this, you’re already in the right place - go ahead and turn your old mobile phone into cash!

Yasmin

See more posts by Yasmin

Galaxy S Lineup Depreciation Trends

The Galaxy S25 marks the latest addition to Samsung’s flagship portfolio. In the lead-up to the launch of the S25, we analysed on-site trade-in prices of the past four generations of Galaxy S series (S21, S22, S23, and S24) to gain insights into how well these models retained their value during their first year on the market and what the first 12 months for the S25 might look like.

5 Min Read
Man using phone with ai integrations

Tech Trends To Look Out For In 2025

As each year progresses, it seems as though AI and GenAI is being woven into our society creating more and more innovative tech advancements. From generated text, images, videos and even technology that works to detect cancer, you can expect AI to be able to create all types of content and task completion which is only to be improved on in 2025.

3 Min Read
Two women smiling looking at phone

What Does A Sustainable Smartphone Look Like?

The environmental cost of our gadgets often go unnoticed. Mobile phones in particular contribute significantly to e-waste and resource depletion. But what if your next phone purchase could keep the planet in mind?

3 Min Read