Great! So now I can trade in my in-perfectly-good-condition 14Pro for $300 and turn right around and buy it back from the Apple refurnished store for $1019! Sweet! Thanks Apple.
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Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More
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Distinction without a difference.
People/corporations respond to incentives. In this case as you state, the incentive for Apple is to induce/facilitate a new purchase.
Apple has determined that all of:
- Offering trade-ins
- Paying for them
- Dealing with them
- Wiping them
- Cleaning them
- Refurbishing them
- Selling them
- Re-selling them
- Recycling them
- Junking them
What would the alternative even be? A corporation/person taking devices back for no benefit?
I agree that selling more devices is the primary, most heavily-weighted reason for the program, but the only reason? No.
The other, secondary reasons include, but are not limited to:
- The PR value of being a “green” company in the eyes of eco-conscious consumers
- The ability to harvest metals and other materials from recycled devices to lower future manufacturing costs
- the brand equity of Apple providing a “we’ll take care of it for you” premium experience by taking the cognitive load + time of having to deal with an old device off the consumers’ hands
- In service of their corporate goals for carbon neutrality
They promoted and increased the trade-in value of iPhones from summer until the release of the iPhone 17, but now they’ve dropped it? Good grief! I’m glad I prefer to give away my old iPhones to my family instead of trading them in.
"We can't give them too much of a good deal. We already gave them ProMotion and more storage on the base iPhone 17." —Tim Cook (probably)
Exactly!
Verizon doesn't make their money selling Apple iPhones or Samsung Galaxy phones.
You know that $100/month you'll be paying for the rest of your life? That's where Verizon makes their money.
The service... monthly service. Cha-ching!
😎
That’s more than a little annoying. I was about to trade in old iPad Pro and buy a new iPad through Amazon. The price dropped quite significantly.
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store.
The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump.
In addition to the changed values, Apple has stopped accepting 12-inch MacBook trade-ins.
iPhone
iPhone Model New Values Old Values iPhone 16 Pro Max Up to $670 Up to $700 iPhone 16 Pro Up to $550 Up to $580 iPhone 16 Plus Up to $450 Up to $470 iPhone 16 Up to $420 Up to $450 iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $470 Up to $630 iPhone 15 Pro Up to $400 Up to $500 iPhone 15 Plus Up to $330 Up to $440 iPhone 15 Up to $310 Up to $400 iPhone 14 Pro Max Up to $370 Up to $455 iPhone 14 Pro Up to $300 Up to $380 iPhone 14 Plus Up to $240 Up to $300 iPhone 14 Up to $220 Up to $290 iPhone SE (3rd generation) Up to $80 Up to $100 iPhone 13 Pro Max Up to $300 Up to $370 iPhone 13 Pro Up to $230 Up to $300 iPhone 13 Up to $180 Up to $250 iPhone 13 mini Up to $150 Up to $200 iPhone 12 Pro Max Up to $220 Up to $280 iPhone 12 Pro Up to $160 Up to $220 iPhone 12 Up to $130 Up to $170 iPhone 12 mini Up to $90 Up to $120 iPhone SE (2nd generation) Up to $50 Up to $50 iPhone 11 Pro Max Up to $150 Up to $180 iPhone 11 Pro Up to $130 Up to $150 iPhone 11 Up to $100 Up to $130 iPhone XS Max Up to $100 Up to $120 iPhone XS Up to $70 Up to $90 iPhone XR Up to $80 Up to $100 iPhone X Up to $60 Up to $60 iPhone 8 Plus Up to $50 Up to $60 iPhone 8 Up to $40 Up to $45
iPad
iPad Model New Values Old Values iPad Pro Up to $695 Up to $695 iPad Air Up to $415 Up to $400 iPad Up to $175 Up to $190 iPad mini Up to $255 Up to $275
Mac
Mac Model New Values Old Values MacBook Pro Up to $760 Up to $770 MacBook Air Up to $540 Up to $550 MacBook No longer accepted Up to $60 iMac Up to $375 Up to $490 iMac Pro Up to $240 Up to $385 Mac mini Up to $380 Up to $395 Mac Studio Up to $1,030 Up to $1,140 Mac Pro Up to $2,520* Up to $550
* Given the significant increase to this value, it could be a typo by Apple.
Apple Watch
Apple also adjusted its trade-in values for select Android smartphones.
Apple Watch Model New Values Old Values Apple Watch Series 10 Up to $160 Up to $175 Apple Watch Ultra 2 Up to $335 Up to $335 Apple Watch Series 9 Up to $125 Up to $130 Apple Watch Ultra Up to $245 Up to $255 Apple Watch Series 8 Up to $95 Up to $100 Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) Up to $60 Up to $60 Apple Watch Series 7 Up to $65 Up to $70 Apple Watch Series 6 Up to $50 Up to $55 Apple Watch SE (1st generation) Up to $30 Up to $35 Apple Watch Series 5 Up to $25 Up to $30
Article Link: Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More
I guess I will sell it on to someone else.
This is exactly what I do.
Because I seriously enjoy buying various iPhones and Androids for the experience and variety, I always have phones to share with family members.
The only exception was last year when purchasing my iPhone 16 Pro Max and all family members were covered I did trade my 15 Pro Max into Apple.
The message is clear - the best approach is to buy absolutely as little as you possibly can. Trade in values no longer hold up.
Exactly. I currently have the base iPhone 14. I was looking at the iPhone 17s and when I saw the $220 trade in value for my 14 that is in perfect condition, I closed the browser window.
Even upgrading your iPhone when the old iPhone isn’t compatible with iOS anymore, its trade in value is drastically lower than when it was still compatible with iOS before its last update.
How do Apple’s trade in values compare to other players? Is this typical MR forums knee jerk or a thing? I’m developing an odd syndrome lately, NBS.
Behavior of companies and tariffs are the triggers. Not Buying Sh*t unless necessary for awhile.
Behavior of companies and tariffs are the triggers. Not Buying Sh*t unless necessary for awhile.
Apple's the only brand I know of that's got a large established secondary market, with a lot of people cycling through their new purchases faster because they expect to be able to unload them on someone else later, and treat them equipment rentals or leases. I'm sure it affects how many people buy just what they need and will actually use vs. the shiniest shiny.
I don't think Apple's known for giving the highest value for trade-in, but they're the fallback position and they have the big contracts with wireless carriers and retailers to supply Apple-certified refurbs, so they probably set the price floor. Imagine if they suddenly stopped buying back entirely for a while, what would happen to that secondary market as people rush to other retailers willing to buy back, and then to markets where people have to haggle with individuals; the sudden influx would cause the prices to tumble. Well, they don't stop, but they do revise their offers from time to time.
Apple's Trade-In Values have tanked, against their own track record.
What I'm seeing is it's near impossible to get my old 15 Pro Max sold on eBay or Swappa. Just won't move. Economy is at a standstill, I think.