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What to do with your old smartphone or tablet

Brett Molina
USA TODAY

Now that you've unwrapped your new smartphone or tablet, tapped around and downloaded some apps, the next big question is what should you do with your older device?

Apple's iPhone 5

Fortunately, you have some options. Let's look at a couple:

Give it away. The obvious choice is giving your phone to a family member or friend. 'Tis the season, after all.

Trade it in. There are several places consumers can bring in older smartphones or tablets for trade-in, including websites like Gazelle, retailing giants like Best Buy and Target, or even wireless carriers.

Prices vary based on multiple factors, such as the condition of the device, the amount of storage available and whether the device is unlocked. For example, on Gazelle you can trade in a 16GB iPhone 5 from Verizon for $85. If you own a 64GB model, you can net $100. Some places will offer straight cash, while other provide gift cards. Make sure you compare prices to strike the best deal.

If you do plan on parting with your smartphone or tablet, remember to perform a full data wipe. This will remove all personal info from the device before handing it off to another person or retailer.

Keep using it. This is especially helpful if you've got a smartphone or tablet with limited storage. Save space (and battery life) on that new gadget by turning your old mobile device into a media player or a games machine. There's other cool stuff users can do, such as turn it into a powerful GPS unit or video surveillance monitor.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

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