Apple just raised the trade-in value of some of its latest iPhones, but not enough to make them a good value compared to alternative options.
In the US, Apple’s estimated trade-in values for the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro just increased by $30, and it’s also offering an extra $20 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It’s a similar story in the UK. only with slightly lower increases: an extra £15 for both Apple iPhone 13 Pro models and just £5 for the iPhone 13 Mini.
These slight increases are a welcome contrast to January, when Apple slashed iPhone prices for its official Trade In program, and apparently went too far. It’s also worth keeping in mind that these are “estimated trade-in values” which, like other trade-in services, will vary based on factors like the condition and specifications of your iPhone.
| Now | Previously | Change | |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | $600 | $570 | +$30 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | $500 | $470 | +$30 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $420 | $400 | +$20 |
Still, the prices give us an idea of the maximum trade-in values Apple is prepared to offer, and are generally well below what you can get from phone carriers, third-party trading services, or private selling sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. These are the Apple Trade In price changes for the UK.
| Now | Previously | Change | |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | £580 | £565 | £15 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | £500 | £485 | £15 |
| iPhone 13mini | £330 | £325 | £5 |
To give you an idea, we’ve compared the possible maximum prices to trade in an iPhone 13 Pro and an iPhone 13 with other services below. Apple’s prices for the most part continue to lag behind the alternatives, plus rivals like Carphone Warehouse (in the UK).
This isn’t to say you should never use the official Apple Trade In program – it’s still one of the easiest ways to upgrade to a new iPhone, and that’s probably why Apple has increased its prices slightly for a period. difficult. once for smartphone sales.
| service | iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 |
| apple swap | up to $500 / £500 | up to $400 / £390 |
| Worth More (US) | up to $696 | $511 |
| Gadget Gone (US) | up to $711 | $530 |
| Swapa (United States) | up to $654 | up to $533 |
| Carphone Warehouse (UK) | up to £485 | up to £380 |
| eBay (typical price) | up to $849 / £700 | up to $599 / £525 |
But Apple’s program won’t necessarily recycle your old iPhone, either. The program’s fine print says that if your phone is “in good standing,” it will “help it pass on to a new owner.” And this is partly why Apple’s trade-in prices aren’t as good as alternative options, since there’s a cost involved in doing so.
Naturally, with the highest possible prices, for going the private sales route, also comes the most potential problems in the form of unanswered questions from buyers and the risk of dispute. But you may find there’s a sweet spot between third-party services and Apple’s exchange pricing, even if the latter has gotten a slight boost.
Analysis: Doing Exchange Research Pays Off
There’s no better way to trade in your old iPhone; instead, the options are more on a sliding scale of convenience versus value. The exception is if you have an old device that you want to recycle rather than resell, as you’ll want to use a reputable recycler like apple exchange (opens in a new tab), ecological ATM (opens in a new tab) (in the US), or telephone bank (opens in a new tab) in the United Kingdom.
Some schemes, such as Three’s reconnected (opens in a new tab) and from Vodafone Great British Tech Appeal (opens in a new tab) in the UK, so let yourself donate your old iPhone to someone in need, which is another good middle ground between selling and recycling.
But if you need the financial boost from your current iPhone to go for a new option, then Apple’s official scheme is simply one of the many options we’ve rounded up in our guide to the best Apple Trade In alternatives.
Apple’s service can still be a good no-hassle option, especially if you do it in-store. If you choose the online route with Apple Trade In, the company says it “generally takes 2-3 weeks.” Once the device has been reviewed by Apple, you’ll get instant credit toward a new iPhone or an Apple Gift Card.
But to get the highest price for your old iPhone, it’s even more rewarding to go through phone carrier trade-in schemes or sell privately on sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
