If you’re looking to upgrade your Android smartphone, Google is set to make the trade-in process smoother and quicker.
The tech giant is reportedly working on a feature that will simplify the evaluation of old devices, potentially speeding up the time it takes to assess the trade-in value of your phone.
This improvement could save both time and effort for users, making it easier to trade in older Android devices when buying a new phone, particularly one from the list of best Android phones.
This new update aims to streamline the current trade-in system, making it more efficient for users and technicians alike.
Google’s New Feature: Evaluation Mode
The update was recently spotted by Android Authority in edits to the main Android codebase. The new system allows technicians to put a phone into a special ‘evaluation mode’.
This mode is designed to let the tester quickly assess whether the phone is functioning correctly without having to go through the time-consuming process of resetting and setting up the phone.
Currently, when a user wants to trade in an Android phone, it’s recommended to perform a factory reset to ensure that no personal data remains on the device.
However, this can slow down the trade-in process as technicians need to go through the full Android setup process just to test basic functionalities like battery health, screen responsiveness, and more.
With the new ‘evaluation mode’, this setup process would be bypassed, allowing technicians to evaluate the phone much faster.
This new feature would ultimately benefit users by speeding up the assessment and decision-making process for determining the trade-in value of their phone.
Using Android Debug Bridge for Faster Testing
The new feature will be integrated into Android’s Debug Bridge (ADB), a comprehensive tool mainly used by developers and technicians for accessing and debugging Android devices.
Once connected to the ADB system, the technician will be able to skip the usual setup procedures and directly assess the phone’s condition.
While this won’t change how users interact with Android on the surface, it will significantly improve the speed and efficiency of behind-the-scenes phone evaluations.
This is especially good news for anyone looking to upgrade to the upcoming Google Pixel 9 or any other Android flagship, as you might get a quicker response on the trade-in value of your old device, potentially saving you money on your new purchase.
What’s Next: Android 15 and Beyond
We expect to see the final release of Android 15 on Pixel devices very soon, possibly by the end of this month.
Once Android 15 rolls out, Samsung Galaxy and other Android phones should follow with their own updates early next year.
While it’s not yet confirmed if this new ‘evaluation mode’ will be tied to the Android 15 update or pushed as a separate patch, it’s definitely on the horizon.
Rumours about Android 16 have already started surfacing, although specifics on what new features it might bring remain unclear at this point.
Simpler Trade-Ins for a Better Upgrade Experience
Ultimately, this update from Google is all about making the process of trading in old Android phones easier, quicker, and more efficient.
With the new ‘evaluation mode’, you won’t have to wait long for a technician to assess your phone, allowing you to get your trade-in value faster when upgrading to a new model.
