The math they don’t want you to see: iPhone carrier trade-ins are always a bad idea (2024)

FAQs

Why you should never trade in your phone? ›

As phones become more expensive, trading in older models is one way for consumers to afford to buy new editions. But trading in old devices can be risky if any data is left behind. Russ Ernst, an executive at data sanitization company Blancco, called this a "ticking time bomb," and he has advice for avoiding disaster.

Using Apple's trade-in system is also often one of the best ways to maximize the return on your investment, as Apple often offers the highest prices for its products. That being said, it's always best to check other third-party trade-in services as they may offer better deals from time to time.

Value for Your Old Device

Trade-ins offer residual value for your old phone. Like many consumer goods, phones decrease in value the longer you use them. The parts wear out, the screens get cracked, the batteries no longer charge.

If you accept it, we'll continue with the trade-in and either charge or credit the difference in value to the card you provided. If you reject it, we'll cancel the trade-in, return your old device, and charge the original trade-in value to your card.

The upgrade push

Trade-in programs give original equipment manufacturers, retailers, and manufacturers a way to entice new customers and prevent existing customers from switching away from their products. Using devices for longer is beneficial for sustainability and the environment.

With Apple Trade In, you can get a great value for your current device and apply it toward a new one. And you can do it all online or at an Apple Store. If your device isn't eligible for credit, we'll recycle it for free. It's good for you and the planet.

A phone that has not been properly factory reset, backed up, or shipped in the appropriate manner can delay the evaluation process for your discount and, in the worst case, be deemed as ineligible for any offer.

Trade-in programs give wireless carriers and manufacturers a way to entice new customers and prevent existing customers from switching away from their products — as we saw with AT&T's free iPhone deal.

Should I remove SIM card before trading in iPhone? ›

Back up your data. Erase the device. Remove any SIM cards, memory cards, cases, and screen protectors.

Traditionally anyone that walks into a store is not thinking about negotiating the price… but when comes to TRADE IN… YOU CAN! According to apple policy you're allowed to negotiate with the salesman to get the best value and buy a new phone!

Once your item is received, the experts over at Apple will evaluate your gadget's condition. If their assessment doesn't match what you initially described, your device's trade-in value will be adjusted accordingly. From there, you can accept the offer and receive credit to be used online or in-store.

No cash. If you're not trading your old iPhone in for a new one, you won't be able to get cash back. Your only option is to get an Apple Store gift card.

Selling your phone instead of trading it in requires more legwork, but it could result in more cash in your pocket, which you can put toward your new phone or recoup some of its cost if you already purchased it.

A big reason is that Apple updates device software for more years than its competitors do. That seems like the key to all of it. A 2 year old iPhone (or to be fair, Google Pixel now) still has enough years of support to be worth spending hundreds of dollars on for budget minded buyers.

Trade-ins require less effort on your part, but also mean less money as compared to selling directly to another person. Selling: Selling is generally easy, but it isn't always as quick as a trade-in. Selling your gently used tech requires a bit more effort, but also means more money as compared to trading in.

Once they receive the returned products, they are inspected, cleaned, repaired if needed, and either used as in-store demo devices or are sold to customers from Apple's Certified Refurbished Program.

Regarding AT&T, for new and existing customers, there's no question that their trade-in program is a worthy option to consider if they don't mind getting store credit instead of cash, as long as their device isn't cracked, and if they're ok with settling for less trade-in value than some other buyback options.

You can trade one device towards a new phone.

Which iPhone has highest trade-in value? ›

After 4 years, iPhones will lose -47.49% of their initial buyback value, on average. Over 48 months, the average yearly loss of an iPhone retailing at $699 or more is -14.80% of their original trade-in value.

The buyer will refurbish the phone to bring it back to like-new condition. They might use spare parts from other phones, or third-party parts. These can include things like new screens, new buttons, and new batteries.

Do i have to make an appointment to trade in my iphone or can i just walk in? Appointments are generally only necessary for Service. Trade Ins and purchases do not require one.

Regardless of your payment method, Apple will send a trade-in kit. This includes instructions for transferring your old device's data to your new one and a postage-paid box for sending the hardware back to Apple.

The iPhone 14 is better than the iPhone 12 in almost all areas, offering a brighter screen, a faster chipset, more capable cameras, and longer battery life. It also boasts basic satellite connectivity and Crash Detection. The iPhone 14 is a worthy upgrade for anyone coming from an iPhone 11 or an older model.

Can I trade-in a carrier locked iPhone? ›

Yes. You can trade-in a carrier locked iPhone. Note that you will still be responsible for any remaining payment balance on that iPhone.

Trade-ins with screen damage may receive partial value but they don't qualify for promotions. If you have Protection<360>, you may place a claim to repair or replace your damaged device. If you have other Device Protection, you may place a claim to replace your damaged device.

Once your service is active and your number has been transferred, your new carrier will let you know. Meanwhile, the number transfer will automatically cancel your old service in most cases. After you're up and running, we suggest that you call your old cell phone company to confirm the cancellation.

The iPhone 15 series is expected to arrive in about four and a half months in mid September 2023 featuring four models, just like the iPhone 14 series before it. First of them is the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, the most affordable vanilla model.

There are a couple of benefits to purchasing a locked device. First, it is generally sold at a discounted price. By having you agree to stay on their network, the carrier subsidizes a portion of the cost (or bundles it into your monthly subscription rate). Also, locked phones prevent theft.

If you're going to keep the same phone number, you may be able to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. If you're not going to reuse the SIM card, destroy it. If your phone has an SD memory card for storage, remove it.

Reset All Settings: All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.

That's your number and no one else can use it, even if you forgot to remove the sim card from your phone. If they replace your phone, when you get it back, you just get a new sim card from your cellular provider and they'll put your number on the new card. Stop worrying about this.

AppleCare allows Apple product buyers to get help making repairs to their products over time — from AirPods to an Apple Watch that's malfunctioning — even if it's beyond its warranty period. Since Costco purchases items like this in bulk, it may be able to provide its customers with better pricing for AppleCare.

Greater availability: You can buy an iPhone immediately in your choice of color and storage capacity at one of 272 Apple Store locations in the U.S. or have it shipped to you for free. Depending on your location, you might even be able to get 2-hour delivery.

Should I negotiate Apple offer? ›

The Bottom Line. Everyone can—and should—negotiate their job offer with Apple to receive a competitive compensation package and increase their overall career earnings.

If you accept it, we'll continue with the trade-in and either charge or credit the difference in value to the card you provided. If you reject it, we'll cancel the trade-in, return your old device, and charge the original trade-in value to your card.

Using Apple's trade-in system is also often one of the best ways to maximize the return on your investment, as Apple often offers the highest prices for its products. That being said, it's always best to check other third-party trade-in services as they may offer better deals from time to time.

Apple's customer satisfaction and loyalty have been growing steadily over the years, reflecting the way consumers view the brand. According to NPS Benchmarks, Apple's NPS score in 2022 is a resounding 72, which is significantly higher than the average NPS score of the consumer electronics industry.

It appears that if Apple detects too many refunds being made within a short period of time, it'll cut off the ability for an account to return digital purchases.

If you buy an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch, your credit will be applied to your original payment method up to the total purchase price after we receive your trade-in device and confirm that the condition matches what you described. For any remaining amount, you'll receive an Apple Gift Card by email.

Selling Your Phone Is the Best Financial Value

Trading in your phone does not get you cash in hand. As long as you own your phone outright and do not have monthly payments left, you can probably sell your old, good-condition phone to another person directly or through a third party for more money than a trade-in.

What should I turn off on my iPhone before trading in? ›

Sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store. If you're using iOS 10.3 or later, tap Settings > [your name]. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.

A factory restore erases the information and settings on your device. This includes removing any apps that were installed without your knowledge and resetting your privacy settings so you aren't sharing location with any people or apps.

Trading in your phone, tablet, smartwatch or other device is easy with our Device Trade-in Program. Just tell us the device and its condition and you'll get a new one, instant credit, account credit, or gift card.

Simply put, Swappa gets you the most money for your used iPhone. Not only is the Swappa marketplace free from junk and scams, but you get the true market value for your used iPhone. This means that you will make more money selling in the Swappa marketplace than you would if you used a trade-in program.

Get paid. Finally, when the buyer receives your device, they'll do a quick inspection to make sure it is what you said it was in your quote.

We follow strict federal guidelines to make sure your old device is completely erased. Once we receive and verify your device, you're all set. Was this helpful?

Yes. You can trade-in a carrier locked iPhone. Note that you will still be responsible for any remaining payment balance on that iPhone.

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.

How often should you trade in your cell phone? ›

The best time to maximize your trade-in value is usually after two years. After 24 months you can usually still get 25 percent of the phone's value through a trade. In comparison, a two-year-old Samsung Galaxy will typically be worth 20 percent as a trade-in.