SELLING TIPS

musicMagpie vs ur — which pays more for your phone in 2026?

June 2026

musicMagpie vs ur — the two biggest names in UK phone recycling

musicMagpie is the UK's most recognised phone recycler by volume. ur is the increasingly competitive alternative that has been gaining ground with strong prices and a slick process. If you are selling your phone and trying to choose between them, this comparison has everything you need.

Price comparison

Price is usually the deciding factor. The honest answer is that it depends on the model — neither recycler consistently beats the other across every phone.

Where ur tends to win: Flagship iPhones and recent Samsung Galaxy S models. ur's pricing on premium devices is often 5–15% higher than musicMagpie.

Where musicMagpie tends to win: Older models and mid-range devices. Their volume means they can still offer competitive prices on phones that smaller recyclers have stopped taking.

The golden rule: Always compare both before you commit. The difference on a single phone can be £20–£50.

Compare live prices from both recyclers →

Payment speed

musicMagpie: Payment typically within 24 hours of the phone being received and graded. Bank transfer or PayPal.

ur: Payment within 1–3 working days of receipt. Bank transfer.

Winner: musicMagpie on raw speed — but the difference is hours not days.

The grading and inspection process

Both recyclers inspect every phone after they receive it and reserve the right to revise their offer if the condition does not match what you described.

Tip for both: Be honest and conservative when grading your own phone. If you say Excellent but there are visible scratches, both recyclers will downgrade it — and you may end up with a lower offer than if you had stated Good from the start.

Ease of process

Both have nailed the basics — online quote, free postage label, tracked delivery, payment on receipt. The process is near-identical.

Trust and reputation

musicMagpie: Trustpilot 4.5+, tens of thousands of reviews, trading since 2007.

ur: Strong and growing Trustpilot profile. Newer but consistently well-reviewed.

Winner: musicMagpie on volume of reviews, but ur's satisfaction scores are comparable.

Which should you choose?

Choose ur if: You are selling a premium or recent flagship phone — pricing on high-value devices tends to be stronger, and GadgetRank integrates ur's live prices directly.

Choose musicMagpie if: You are selling an older or mid-range device, or you want the fastest possible payment.

Best approach: Get a quote from both. It takes two minutes and could be worth £20–£50.

Compare ur and musicMagpie prices for your phone →

See all UK recyclers ranked by price →

How to factory reset your phone before selling →

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