Take special care when bringing a i9500 S4 smartphone-Priceangels.com

Unfortunately, neither Microsoft nor a large consumer base have had a lot of love for Windows phones. As a result, experts like Navarro give Windows smartphones a thumbs-down as far as their resale value is concerned. "Windows phones just don't have a heavy following," he says. As a result, there isn't much demand for the models, which in turn means a seller won't be able to net as much money during a resale.

While Apple and Samsung appear to be bitter enemies in court, they have actually shared a lot of technology over the years, and the two tech giants have followings that approach cult status. Other big-name Android phone manufacturers will retain their value, "but the Samsung Galaxy series is still number one."

But while both Samsung and Apple can fetch relatively high resale price points, iOS is still king for holding its value; a recent study suggests that Samsung phones drop in value at a much faster rate than iPhones. In fact, Navarro says that even a relative dinosaur like the iPhone 3S can fetch about $65 from a refurbisher, as estimated from PaceButler. However, consumers can fetch even greater trade-in value by selling old smartphones to the likes of Gazelle or NextWorth, or to other consumers via eBay.

Some trade-in sites like Gazelle ask that sellers ship smartphones without any accessories. But other resellers and smaller companies love customers who bring in i9500 S4smartphones with cables, plugs, ear buds, and all the original packaging. More often than not gadgets + great condition + private sale = a higher resale value.

Navarro saved his best tip for last, and it's the one that makes the most sense to us: "Plan for the day you're going to sell your phone the day you buy it," he says. "Think of it as an investment you're making. With any phone, you get back what you pay for it. And if it's a free phone, chances are it will be nothing. But if it's a sought-after phone, and you take care of it, it could pay for your next phone."flj8fFDFd3 

The rear of the phone is where Samsung designers have placed the physical power control and volume switch, as opposed to the sides or top where such smartphone buttons typically reside. The back of the phone is also where your index finger usually is when the device is held up to your ear during a call.

"For too long we have been blaming fingers for smartphone drops that were simply not their fault," says James Fishler, Samsung Electronics USA's senior vice president for marketing. "It sounds so simple but is a big design enhancement."It seems to make sense, but I'll have to live with the phone for a while to see if I ultimately agree. My first inclination when I picked up the device at the launch event was to navigate my own paws to the side. So it looks like it will take getting used to.

The South Korean manufacturer has added other simple but potentially important innovations. If you get a call, you can merely pick up the phone to answer it, just like the good old days when we answered calls on corded telephones just by answering the phone. Samsung's innovation here would let you answer a call, say, in the cold of winter without having to remove your gloves. And don't worry about the ringtone blasting your eardrum — the volume is automatically reduced when the phone gets closer to your ear.