Apple Raises Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Watches and Macs
▼ Summary
– Apple stealthily adjusted trade-in payout ranges for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, with some values increasing and others decreasing.
– The actual trade-in value for a device depends on its model, configuration, condition, and other factors, not just the maximum payout listed.
– Some products, like most iPads, received higher trade-in values, while others, including the second-gen iPhone SE and original Watch Ultra, saw lower values.
– The Mac Mini received the largest percentage increase at 10.3%, while iPhone Pro models (13, 14, 15) saw the largest percentage bumps among phones.
– Apple dropped the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S24 lines from its trade-in program entirely and reduced values for other Android phones, with no increases given.
Apple has quietly updated its trade-in valuation ranges this week, giving some customers a better deal when they upgrade to newer iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. However, not every device saw an increase, and a few models actually took a hit.
The figures listed are the maximum trade-in values Apple will offer. Your actual payout depends on the specific model, configuration (like storage or memory), device condition, and other variables.
The general trade-in pattern remains unchanged: newer devices still command higher estimated values than older ones. Some phones saw no adjustment at all. While every iPad model received a higher payout, certain products , including the second-generation iPhone SE, the original Watch Ultra, the iMac Pro, and the Mac Pro , saw their trade-in values drop.
Here are the most notable percentage increases for iPhones:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: up to $490 (a $25 increase)Other devices with notable bumps:
- MacBook Air: up to $520 (a $35 increase)All changes fall within 10% of the original maximum values. Among iPhones, the Pro models of the iPhone 13, 14, and 15 received the largest percentage adjustments: $20 (8.3%), $25 (8.5%), and $35 (9.3%), respectively. The Mac Mini saw the biggest overall percentage boost: 10.3%, from $340 to $375.It’s somewhat surprising that Apple still accepts trade-ins for Intel-based Macs rather than simply recycling them. Apple transitioned to its own M-series silicon starting in 2020 and has used it exclusively since 2023. Still, there appears to be a market for used Intel models, as sites like BackMarket continue to offer them.Apple’s macOS will stop supporting Intel processors natively with the next version, macOS 27, and only through Rosetta emulation software through macOS 28. If you’re still using an almost 10-year-old iMac Pro, I strongly recommend trading it in before Apple drops support entirely.More concerning for some users: Apple has also reduced what it will pay for Android trade-ins. The most recent Samsung Galaxy phones, the S23 and S24 lines, have been removed entirely from Apple’s program. None of the remaining Samsung models received an increase, and several dropped by $5. I’ve asked Apple for clarification on these decisions.Apple periodically reassesses trade-in values. But these adjustments come just before the company’s annual developer conference, WWDC, on June 8, so the timing could be strategic. Apple has historically used these events to debut new hardware showcasing updated operating system capabilities. However, it hasn’t done that since 2023, when it launched multiple devices including the Vision Pro headset and 15-inch MacBook Air.Price volatility for consumers may also be a factor. AI’s massive demand for components , and the resources needed to produce them , has caused severe shortages of memory, processors, and SSD storage, driving up computer and phone prices and limiting configuration options.Apple’s trade-in value updates might be an effort to ease the sticker shock for budget-conscious buyers upgrading their hardware.