How much we give for a phone: amounts by model and what affects the appraisal
We break down what the loan amount consists of: model, storage, condition and accessories. We show maximum amounts for popular models and explain how to get a preliminary appraisal before visiting a branch.
H3-01-A Maximum loan and sale amounts for popular models
| Model | Loan up to, ₸ | Instant sale, ₸ |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Duo | 720 000 | 792 000 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 480 000 | 528 000 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | 430 000 | 473 000 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 420 000 | 462 000 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 370 000 | 407 000 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 355 000 | 390 500 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 340 000 | 374 000 |
| iPhone Air | 330 000 | 363 000 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 310 000 | 341 000 |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 300 000 | 330 000 |
The amounts in the table are the maximum for excellent condition and a full accessory set, which we record; the final figure depends on storage and condition: the same iPhone 17 Pro Max with box and charger and one with scratches on the screen differ by tens of thousands of tenge. For Xiaomi flagships and other models, we name the amount after photo appraisal.
H3-01-B How condition and accessories affect the amount
| Factor | Impact on the amount |
|---|---|
| Model and storage | calculation base |
| Body and screen condition | excellent / good / signs of wear / repair |
| Battery | capacity below normal — minus to the amount |
| Face ID / fingerprint | a fault lowers the appraisal |
| Box and charger | add to the amount |
| Receipt | adds to the amount |
Even a cracked screen doesn't mean a refusal: we accept the device in the "needs repair" category, but the amount will be lower — it's better to state defects in advance during photo appraisal to avoid wasting time on a visit. The appraiser checks the screen, cameras, Face ID or fingerprint, battery and IMEI in front of the client, and the owner signs out of iCloud or Google account themselves — we don't accept locked devices.
H3-01-C How to get a preliminary appraisal by photo in 5–10 minutes
- What to photograph: the body from four sides, the screen turned on, the "About this device" section with storage and IMEI.
- What to specify: model, storage, defects, accessories — box, charger, receipt.
- Where to send: Topcash WhatsApp — the appraiser replies within 5–10 minutes.
- Cost: appraisal is free, no fees for appraisal or paperwork.
- Next: come to any of the 6 branches 24/7 with the agreed amount.
Loan or immediate sale: which is better in your situation
You can pawn a phone in two ways — a collateral loan with the device returned and an immediate sale without return. We break it down with numbers, when it's better to pawn and when to sell.
How a phone collateral loan differs from an immediate sale
| Parameter | Collateral loan | Immediate sale |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | loan contract | purchase and sale contract |
| Interest | 0.19–0.25% per day | no |
| Term | 1–90 days | no |
| Phone return | yes, after repayment | no |
| Amount | up to 80% of value | +10% to the loan amount |
| When to choose | you repay — you get the phone back | you don't plan to repay |
Both formats are available for the same device: first the appraiser names the loan amount, and the buyout price is calculated from it.
When it's better to pawn and when to sell: a breakdown with numbers
Using iPhone 17 Pro Max as an example: a loan — up to 420,000 ₸ with the phone returned, an outright sale — up to 462,000 ₸ with no return; the difference is 42,000 ₸. Over 30 days at a rate of 0.19% per day on 420,000 ₸, about 23,940 ₸ accrues — the full loan cost comes to roughly 443,940 ₸, which is 18,060 ₸ cheaper than a buyout, but the device goes back to the owner. With early repayment on day 10, interest comes to about 7,980 ₸, and the device is collected on the same visit. For the Galaxy S25 Ultra the math is similar: 300,000 ₸ loan versus 330,000 ₸ buyout at about 17,100 ₸ interest per month. Consider not just the amount in hand, but also the term for which you're ready to part with the device: if the return is planned within a month, the loan preserves both the device and part of the money.
Can I sell a phone to a pawnshop if it's on credit or installments
Yes, we accept phones on installments or credit — the main thing is that the device isn't collateral at another pawnshop or bank and isn't listed in the stolen IMEI database. The appraiser checks the IMEI in front of the client, matches the serial number with the body and box, and runs the device through the lost device database. If the phone was bought on installments via Kaspi or Halyk and the balance isn't paid off yet, but the device itself wasn't pledged to the bank — the deal goes through: obligations to the bank remain with the owner. Before the deal, check the installment balance: if the phone is bank collateral, selling without the bank's consent is impossible. We check the IMEI against the stolen device database, so we don't accept "gray" devices.
Loan terms: rate, APR, term and online extension
We break down the numbers that determine the real overpayment: daily rate, full loan cost, term and extension options — so you understand the total amount before signing the contract.
Rate, APR and term: what a phone collateral loan costs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Rate | 0.19–0.25% per day |
| APR | up to 69.35% (up to 45 MRP) / up to 44.03% (over 45 MRP) |
| Loan term | 1–90 days |
| Repayment | one-time, no payment schedule |
| Early repayment | any day, no penalty |
| Interest | only for actual days |
| Document | national ID of the RK / passport |
| Age | from 18 years old |
At Topcash the rate is 0.19–0.25% per day, APR up to 69.35% for loans up to 45 MRP and up to 44.03% above 45 MRP, loan term — from 1 to 90 days. APR is the full loan cost with all payments, and it's the correct way to compare lenders: a bank card with installments, a microcredit and a phone collateral loan differ by multiples. We charge interest only for actual days: repay in 10 days — pay for 10, not the whole term.
How to extend a loan online via Kaspi without a visit
- When to extend: 1–2 days before the term ends — don't go into overdue, keep your current rate.
- How to pay: interest via Kaspi using the loan details, the transfer takes a couple of minutes.
- What's next: the term extends up to 90 days in total, the phone stays in the safe.
- Branch visit: not needed — confirmation comes online, the loan status is visible in the chat.
- If you don't extend: the loan goes into overdue status, and the collateral is sold under the contract.
Early repayment: interest only for actual days
You can repay a loan at Topcash any day without a penalty — we charge interest only for the actual days you use the money. If you took 420,000 ₸ against an iPhone 17 Pro Max for 90 days but returned it after 15 — the overpayment is calculated for 15 days, not the whole term, and you save about 75 days of interest. This is what sets a collateral loan apart from a classic loan with a payment schedule, where early repayment often comes with a fee or requires an application several days in advance. On early return, we hand over the phone the same day after recalculation. In our practice, clients usually repay after 7–20 days, when they close a cash gap.
Documents and requirements: what to bring
A phone pawnshop in Almaty asks for a minimal document package: national ID and phone. We break down what's needed to apply, from what age we accept, and why proof of income isn't required.
What documents are needed to get a phone collateral loan
- National ID of the RK — the main document, we accept the original, copies and photos won't do.
- Passport — an alternative for citizens of other countries and those without a national ID of the RK.
- Age: you can get a loan from 18, no upper limit.
- Proof of income: not needed — the loan is secured by collateral, not earnings.
- Credit history: not checked, a refusal due to past overdue payments is impossible.
- Receipt and box: not required, but they add to the appraisal amount.
- Phone: unlinked from iCloud or a Google account, with your SIM card in hand.
Can I do without a receipt and box
No, the receipt and box aren't required — we accept the device without them, but a full set adds to the appraised amount. Legality is confirmed via IMEI: the appraiser checks the number against the stolen device database, and this step is mandatory regardless of documents. The box and original charger aren't a formality but a real bonus to the amount: all else being equal, a complete set raises a smartphone's appraisal by 5–10%. If the receipt is lost but the device was bought at Kaspi Magazin or Technodom, the purchase history can be pulled up in the seller's account — but the deal will go through without it too. In our practice, there was a case where a client brought a Galaxy S25 Ultra without a box or receipt, but with a flawless screen — the amount was agreed by IMEI in 8 minutes. Don't throw away the packaging when you move: it pays off on your next deal.
Phone prep checklist before your visit
- Backup: save your photos, contacts and chats to iCloud or a Google account before your visit.
- Sign out of iCloud / Google: do it in front of the appraiser — he'll walk you through the steps and verify the result.
- SIM card: take it with you, it stays yours and isn't kept in the safe.
- Screen password: unlock before the check — the appraiser tests the cameras and Face ID.
- Accessories: bring the box, charger and receipt if you still have them — it's a bonus to the amount.
- ID: a national ID of the RK or passport, original, no copies.
How a phone is checked: iCloud, IMEI and condition
You can pawn an iPhone only after inspection: the appraiser checks the screen, cameras, biometrics, battery and IMEI in your presence. Here's exactly what goes into the report and why we don't take locked devices for either collateral or buyout.
What the appraiser checks in front of the client
- Screen: dead pixels, cracks, touch response, backlight evenness on white and black backgrounds.
- Cameras: front and main, autofocus, flash, stabilization, no spots on the sensor.
- Face ID or fingerprint: biometrics must work on the first or second touch, otherwise the module needs replacing.
- Battery: capacity per system data and charge cycle count — on iPhone we check in battery settings.
- IMEI: check against the stolen device database and the carrier database.
- Accessories: box, charger, receipt — they add to the amount, and an original box with a matching IMEI is valued higher.
Why we don't accept locked or "grey" phones
Topcash doesn't accept devices locked to iCloud or a Google account, or phones with an IMEI from the stolen database — this is an ARDFM license requirement and protection for clients. If a device is wanted, a deal with it creates risk for both sides: a bona fide buyer will have the device seized, and the pledger will lose money and time. "Grey" imports without a receipt or warranty are a separate story: the IMEI may be clean, but without proof of origin the appraiser can't tell it apart from a device brought in bypassing customs. On iPhone we also check Find My status: if activation lock is on and the Apple ID belongs to someone else, not even an Apple service center can unlock the device. According to acceptance stats, about 8% of collateral rejections are due to an active activation lock.
What to do if your phone is locked to iCloud
If your phone is locked to iCloud, restore access to the Apple ID through official account recovery, then sign out of iCloud in front of the appraiser — only after that will we accept the device. Recovery takes from a few hours to several days: Apple sends a code to a trusted number or backup email linked to the account. If access is completely lost, you'll need to file a request with Apple support confirming the purchase — a receipt from Kaspi Magazin, Technodom or Mechta speeds things up. On Android the path is simpler: reset via the Google account and confirm the owner's identity. A locked device still works for calls and apps, but you can't sell or pawn it at any pawnshop — not just Topcash. Don't buy "unlocking" from third-party services for 15 000–30 000 ₸: it's either a scam or a temporary fix that doesn't remove the activation lock.
Storage, security and what happens if you don't buy it back
We answer the client's main fear — losing their item. Here's where the device physically stays after the deal, who's responsible for its safekeeping, and what happens if the loan isn't bought back on time.
Where the device is stored and whether the collateral is insured
Collateral at Topcash is kept in the pawnshop's safe and insured; we seal the gold in a bag with the client's signature and return it in the same condition. After inspection and signing the contract, the device does not stay on the counter or in the back room — it is placed in an individual safe deposit cell accessible only to the employee responsible for storage. For each accepted item, an acceptance-transfer act is drawn up describing: model, color, storage capacity, serial number, visible damage to the body and screen, and completeness. This document is your insurance upon return: if a scratch that was not in the act is found upon issue, you record the discrepancy on the spot. Collateral insurance is not a marketing promise but a condition of the ARDFM license No. 02.26.0041.L. If the device is damaged or lost through the pawnshop's fault, the client receives compensation under the insurance, not "apologies".
What happens if you don't buy back the collateral on time
If you don't buy back the collateral within 1–90 days, the loan goes into overdue status; to avoid this, extend the loan online via Kaspi or arrange a sale right away. Extension means paying the accrued interest without visiting a branch: the debt amount stays the same, the term is extended up to a total of 90 days, and the device remains in the safe. If the term has passed and there was no extension, the loan contract moves to a stage where the device can no longer be returned on the previous terms — it is sold to repay the debt. Overdue is unprofitable for both parties: the client loses the chance to buy back the device, and the pawnshop bears storage and appraisal costs. If you realize you won't make it, extend the loan in advance, a day or two before the term ends: it's cheaper and easier than dealing with the consequences of overdue.
How to collect the device after repaying the loan
After the loan is repaid, we return the equipment in the same condition we received it — at any of the 6 Topcash branches 24/7, upon presenting your national ID. You can repay in cash at the till or by transfer to Kaspi Gold, Halyk, or any Kazakhstani card: once the funds are credited, the contract is closed and the appraiser hands over the device against an acceptance certificate. Check the serial number and body condition against the records in the certificate before you leave the branch — this is standard procedure, not distrust. Pick up the device right after repayment: storage after the contract is closed is not provided. If you can't come in person, check with support whether handover to a trusted person under a notarized power of attorney is possible.
Conclusion
We've gathered the key takeaways that will save you time and nerves when dealing with a phone: what the amount depends on, how a loan differs from a sale, and which terms to consider normal.
Key takeaways
- The amount depends on the model, storage, and condition: flagships give the maximum, while screen defects, battery wear, and a missing box reduce the appraisal by 10–25%.
- Loan and sale are different formats: a loan keeps the option to get the phone back, while a sale immediately gives about 10% more with no interest or terms.
- The rate and term are transparent: 0.19–0.25% per day, 1–90 days, interest only for actual days, extension online via Kaspi without a visit.
- The only document is a national ID: no income statements or credit history needed, age from 18.
- The collateral is kept in a safe and insured: locked and "gray" devices are not accepted — this protects both parties.