Swappie: Sell your old phone, help the planet, what’s not to love?
Restaurant Utsu, Levi, Lapland, Finland. Picture taken with Swappie refurbished iPhone 14 Pro. Picture: Noel Campion.
When I started reviewing mobile phones, a Finnish company called Nokia was the most popular brand. Back then, you could go a week between charges and replace the battery if it started to wear out. I knew people who carried an extra battery at a time when phones started to become more powerful and battery banks were not yet a thing.
The selection of phones was much more limited than today, and people only changed their phones when they stopped working. There was no such thing as changing phones yearly because they lasted for years, partly because you could easily change the battery but also because they were much harder to break. Generally, the front and back covers were made of plastic and could easily be replaced.
Nowadays, we have an infinite selection of phones made of glass and metal that require more care to maintain. Most phone batteries are not user-replaceable, but this does not mean you should leave it in a drawer and get a new one when the battery life is spent.
The problem is, what do you do with your old phone? If you can pass it on to a family member or friend, that would be great. However, if you don’t have anyone to pass it on to, then will you sell it? If it’s an iPhone, one of the quickest, easiest and most reliable ways is to use a third-party company to take it from you, refurbish it and sell it for you. You get money, the phone gets a new lease on life, and the pile of electronic waste becomes one iPhone lighter — win-win all round.
I spoke with Swappie co-founder and CEO Sami Marttinen on a trip to Finland, where I was invited to spend a few days with a Swappie refurbished iPhone 14 Pro to prove you don’t need the latest iPhone to take amazing photographs. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Our small group of journalists and influencers from around Europe captured amazing images of the stunning Lapland snowscapes, including a lucky few snaps of the Northern Lights.
After talking with and listening to Sami speak about his love of nature and the outdoors, you can see he has a passion for the environment and sustainability. In a world where electronic waste is a growing concern, it’s important to find ways of extending the lifespan of our electronics rather than constantly lusting after the latest and greatest.
There’s no doubt that Swappie has found a profitable business model that works, but it doesn’t hurt that they’re helping, in a small way, to heal the world.
Sami’s journey to founding Swappie began with a combination of personal experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and a keen eye for opportunity. As a tech enthusiast and savvy entrepreneur, he identified a gap in the market for high-quality refurbished smartphones that offered both affordability and reliability.
He experienced firsthand the frustrations of trying to buy a second-hand iPhone at a reasonable price. After getting scammed, he realised that many consumers faced similar challenges, particularly those on a tight budget or looking for more sustainable alternatives to buying brand-new devices. Inspired by his own experiences and armed with a vision to disrupt the smartphone market, Sami created a solution to address these pain points.
Based on his technology and business background, he began researching the refurbished smartphone industry and exploring potential business models. He saw an opportunity to leverage technological advances and refurbishment processes to offer consumers high-quality smartphones at a fraction of the cost of new devices. He said Swappie’s vision is to provide affordable options for consumers and promote sustainability by giving used smartphones a second life.
Since its founding in 2016, Swappie has a workforce of over 700 people. From securing partnerships with suppliers to developing rigorous refurbishment processes and building an intuitive online platform, Swappie has created a seamless and reliable customer experience.
I’ve used companies like MPB that offer a similar business model to Swappie for camera gear, but to satisfy my curiosity, I sold an old iPhone 11 Pro Max to Swappie. You will receive an instant quote from Swappie after completing a few quick questions on their website on the condition of the iPhone you are selling. If you’re happy with the quote, they will provide you with a DHL label to print and put on your boxed iPhone. They don’t want the original packaging or accessories, just the phone.
Once I was ready, I arranged for DHL to collect the package. Within a few days, I got a notification from Swappie that they received the package and would get back to me after they had gone through their 52-step checking process. They found a few deep scratches on the display and downgraded the quote slightly. I accepted the new amount, which was paid directly into my account the next day. What’s reassuring from the point of view of a potential purchaser is that you know the device's condition is genuine, thanks to Swappies' rigorous inspection procedure.
To say the experience was painless is an understatement, and my only advice is not to leave your old phone in a drawer where it will eventually end up as electronic waste.
Swappie's rigorous refurbishment process ensures that each iPhone meets high-quality standards before reaching consumers' hands. With thorough testing and repairs conducted by skilled technicians, Swappie guarantees reliable performance and functionality, providing buyers with peace of mind. The process begins with a comprehensive inspection of each device to identify any issues or defects. Following this, necessary repairs are made using genuine parts to ensure the integrity and performance of the device. Finally, each iPhone undergoes extensive testing to ensure it meets Swappie’s strict quality criteria before being available for sale.
Despite common misconceptions, refurbished iPhones from Swappie come with warranty protection, offering coverage against potential defects and malfunctions.
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