Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Lowers Trade-In Values for Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Where I live at least, if I trade in a device to buy another, Apple discounts the price on the new product and recalculates the sales tax. It actually netted me just over $100 for my MBP than if I had sold on ebay.
Huh? So you think people are going to say, for example, "Well, if Apple is offering $10 less for my iPad now than they did before, then I guess I might as well not get any money out of it and just throw it in the garbage can"? ?
This isn't going to impact recyling one iota. Come on.
Unbelievable because they are actually worth more based on market. The wait became longer for new models therefore older ones should be holding their value longer than previously.
Apple this week lowered its estimated trade-in values for select Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch models in the United States.
Apple has reduced trade-in values for the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini, Apple Watch Series 3 through Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and select Samsung and Google smartphones. Apple is also no longer accepting Apple Watch Series 2 trade-ins.
iPhone trade-in values are unchanged.
New trade-in values:
Previous trade-in values:
- MacBook Pro: Up to $1,000
- MacBook Air: Up to $400
- MacBook: Up to $220
- iMac Pro: Up to $1,500
- iMac: Up to $850
- Mac Pro: Up to $2,000
- Mac mini: Up to $450
- iPad Pro: Up to $655
- iPad Air: Up to $290
- iPad: Up to $190
- iPad mini: Up to $200
- Apple Watch Series 6: Up to $150
- Apple Watch SE: Up to $120
- Apple Watch Series 5: Up to $120
- Apple Watch Series 4: Up to $85
- Apple Watch Series 3: Up to $50
The full list of values can be found on Apple's trade-in website.
- MacBook Pro: Up to $1,350
- MacBook Air: Up to $490
- MacBook: Up to $315
- iMac Pro: Up to $2,135
- iMac: Up to $1,200
- Mac Pro: Up to $2,720
- Mac mini: Up to $600
- iPad Pro: Up to $680
- iPad Air: Up to $335
- iPad: Up to $200
- iPad mini: Up to $205
- Apple Watch Series 6: Up to $170
- Apple Watch SE: Up to $135
- Apple Watch Series 5: Up to $135
- Apple Watch Series 4: Up to $105
- Apple Watch Series 3: Up to $70
- Apple Watch Series 2: Up to $20
Article Link: Apple Lowers Trade-In Values for Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches
This is a case of Apple trying to control both the new AND used market. Like automobiles right now value has gone up not down based on supply and demand.
Apple is being disingenuous at best with the used values.
Crazy. It stands to reason if demand for new can’t be fulfilled than of course in the market used holds its value longer and higher. Don’t fall for this!
In Dec they gave me $1900 for my 2019 16” 2tb/32gb /2.4 i9. Towards a 16” loaded Max and they didn’t get used one till mid February when they delivered new one. So the machine is now worth half as much 60 days later? Nah I’m not going for that. Way too much market adjustment on their end.
Last edited:
I believe trade in values are almost always lower than what you can get for it as a private sale. Think of vehicles, for instance. On the other hand, a trade-in is normally a far quicker and less risky transaction, so it's a compromise.
Of course they are lower that’s always been the case. In my case it was a couple hundred. But then there is the tax savings which offsets it. All that aside they are over correcting at the moment. That’s my concern.
Not in my state. They only charged me tax on the difference same as an auto trade in.
How can your state have tax savings on auto yet not on tech product? Very wierd.
That’s exactly how they did my 16” max. Took the trade in of $1900 off the top. Then added tax to the balance. Plus they give you 12 months at 0%. While I had the cash I figured why not use their $ for next 12 months. They put payment on Apple Card each month. Which we always pay off anyhow.
There is a lot of satisfaction associated with hanging onto Apple devices and several years later you still have some trade in value. Other than iPhones, 15"/16" MBP's are often used for several years before you sell or trade it for a model that has totally surpassed what you presently use in many ways. You can also look at how many years of usage you achieved without being tempted by modest technology improvements and be very satisfied.
Of course it's somebody's choice. Somebody can choose to get ripped off all day long if they want.
My point is there's no reason to get all hyped up about the lowered trade-in values since it's merely one option to unload your current device. As I stated in another post, a trade-in is a compromise. You get a quick, secure transaction compared to a private sale to a stranger, but you take a hit on the value. "Rip off" implies Apple is somehow trying to deceive you. They're not.
A "rip off" can, though does not have to imply deceit. If I offer to sell you a Big Mac for $40, you can rightfully tell me "no, that's a rip off." No deceit involved or implied, just clearly not a price appropriate for what's being offered. Coincidentally, that's about the same order of magnitude of rip off as what Apple appears to be offering here, at least on their MBPs.
I don't see any definitions that fit your example scenario. All definitions involve deceit or theft. Therefore, "rip off" does not apply to Apple here.
So many new Mac Silicone computers were bought in record numbers this year, that the “used” market is becoming totally flooded. And due to that same great success of Apple Silicon, buying someone’s three year old Intel-based computer has become way less enticing. Everyone wants an M1. Sorry, but it’s the market, not Apple being unfair. Society has become so “entitled” and so “owed”.
And if you are so worried this will negatively impact recycling and a second life for your laptop, take it to a school, donate it to a needy family - countless ways to give an extended life to a computer. And they do not require Apple to buy it back for what you feel is an acceptable price to subsidize your desire to save the world.
And if you are so worried this will negatively impact recycling and a second life for your laptop, take it to a school, donate it to a needy family - countless ways to give an extended life to a computer. And they do not require Apple to buy it back for what you feel is an acceptable price to subsidize your desire to save the world.
Last edited:
The problem I see when occasionally checking on trade in prices, is how Apple doesn't even implement correct feature matches to recent M1 Mac models. You quickly find their trade in system is broken for something recent.
And the longer they lay around, the more value they lose, whether at Apple or anyone else for that matter…
Or it’s an immediate discount if you’re using the Apple Card…
Well, that statement certainly is incorrect, but, you can of course do as you please, and so can everyone else
Can't you trade in at the Apple Stores and avoid any worries there?
Ok, this is my fault for not being precise and distinguishing the verb form from the noun-form in my response. Your original statement used the term in the verb form, saying Apple was ripping people off. In that form (an action), it DOES always imply some form of deceit/dishonesty. Used as a noun, yes, it can in a very casual sense simply mean "I don't think x is worth that". But that's not the same thing as saying "vipergts2207 ripped me off" for instance.
Last edited: