Thinking about selling your old iPhone or iPad before buying the newer model? Did you know Apple has its very own trade-in program? The thing is, it’s perhaps not the place to get the best bang for your buck! Let’s take a closer look at how Apple’s trade-in program works and how much they will pay for your device.

How does the Apple Trade In program work?

Apple Trade In program is easy-to-use and convenient, as you just need to go to the store with your iPhone, iMac, iPad, or iWatch. The experts will then give you a price for your device, and you will be able to choose whether you want to trade it in or not.

Does Apple pay real money or only store credits if I trade in my device?

Apple will only give you store credits for trading in your computer or smartphone. However, if you were going there to buy a new device and offset the price of your next purchase, they will just apply the credits directly on the latter. Moreover, please note that there is an iPhone Upgrade Program that can help you get the best deal. Lastly, you can also convert your store credits into a gift card.

How much money Apple will give me for my device?

Well, they obviously won’t give you much for older models, and not more than half for the newer ones. However, we can’t argue that their trade-in program is pretty convenient and straightforward. You bring your device, you get store credits or a discount towards your next purchase, and that’s it!

For the sake of it, let’s see what the official website tells us in 2021 for their latest iPhone models when you trade them in:

iPhone 11 Pro Max	Up to $515
iPhone 11 Pro	Up to $465
iPhone 11	Up to $380
iPhone XS Max	Up to $340
iPhone XS	Up to $270
iPhone XR	Up to $220
iPhone X	Up to $220

As you can see, for an iPhone 11 Pro Max, that still sells for about $1000, you only get about half of that, if the condition is pristine. Keep in mind that this is a quick, headache-free solution, and definitely not the best way to sell your Apple device.

What are the best alternatives to sell my Apple device?

If you want to sell your device for actual real cash, know that you can do so on many selling and trading platforms such as eBay, Amazon, Swapper, Craigslist, Kijiji, and even Facebook Market Place. However, if you sell on Facebook, we recommend being careful to not get scammed. You never know when you sell directly to a stranger. So if you meet the buyer in person, make sure to meet him or her in a public place.

Can I trade in my Apple device online?

Yes, you surely can! All you need to do is go on their official website, fill in the form, they will ask you a couple of questions like your model and its condition. Once you’re done with that, you will need to ship the device to the indicated address.

They will give you an approximate value before you ship the beast, but that price might change later on after they inspected your device. If you are not happy with the revised quote, you can request a return, in which case Apple will send back your device, free of charge.

Does Apple accept other brands in their Trading Program?

Yes, they do accept many gadgets and devices from other brands, but if it’s not Apple, most likely you won’t receive any store credits, not even a penny. The only few they actually give you something for are the android phones, such as:

• BlackBerry
• Google
• HTC
• Huawei
• LG
• Nokia
• Oppo
• OnePlus
• Samsung
• Sony
• Vivo
• Xiaomi

For the rest, it’s only for the planet, since Apple won’t shell out one cent for you, but they will however recycle your device, so it’s still a win?

What happens if my iPhone is cracked, can I still get money?

You won’t get much, if anything, for a damaged iPhone or iPad, especially if the glass is cracked. That said, there is a solution. Indeed, you can use the AppleCare+ program in order to fix your device first. If you had invested in this insurance, it shouldn’t be too pricey, even if your device is badly damaged.

If you don’t have the AppleCare+ or if it’s expired, then that’s another story. You can always watch a YouTuber and try to fix it yourself or do business with a 3rd party, which we recommend over the DIY approach by the way.

In conclusion, is the Apple Trading Program worth it? Well, we have to give it to Apple, what they provide there is a nice service for their customers, especially for its convenience and easy process. Nevertheless, if you are willing to take a bit more time and energy, you can probably sell your device for much more elsewhere.