Apple Cuts Trade-In Prices for iPhones, iPads, and Macs

If you’ve been holding off on upgrading to one of this year’s new iPhones, we may have some bad news. Apple has just slashed trade-in values for older models across the board — reducing some by as much as $110 from their previous levels.

Unsurprisingly, older iPhone models were affected more severely than newer ones. If you’re looking to trade in an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, the drop is only $20, while the iPhone 16 Pro models go down by $30. However, the 2023 iPhone 15 Pro Max plummeted by $160, going from a maximum trade-in value of $630 down to $470.

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Here’s the full run-down, as first reported by MacRumors:

Apple still accepts trade-ins for even older models, dating back to the 2017 iPhone 8 and iPhone X, with values now ranging from $220 for an iPhone 12 Pro Max to $40 for an iPhone 8. These have all dropped between $20 and $60, with the exception of the iPhone X and 2020 iPhone SE, which remain unchanged.

Other Trade-in Values

The new pricing doesn’t just affect iPhones; Apple has similarly cut trade-in values for the iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac — with one legacy model being effectively reduced to zero.

Maximum trade-in values for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models dropped by only $10; however, the 12-inch MacBook, last sold in 2019, is no longer accepted for trade-in (although Apple will presumably still be happy to recycle it for you).

Apple’s desktop Macs fared somewhat worse, with the iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac Studio all dropping by over $100, while the Mac mini loses $15 of its trade-in value.

In a particularly odd twist, the Mac Pro now lists a maximum trade-in value of $2,520, which is a $1,970 increase from its previous $550 level. That feels like a typo, but since these are maximum values, it’s also possible Apple is now factoring in higher-end configurations, since it was possible to spend up to $52,000 if you opted for the maxed-out configuration of the 2019 Intel model — including the $400 wheels.

Apple Watch and iPad trade-in values have also changed, but far more modestly. The original 2022 Apple Watch Ultra drops by $10, bringing it down to $245, while last year’s Apple Watch Series 10 actually loses the most value, going from $175 to $160. The rest all go down by $5, except for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and second-generation Apple Watch SE, which remain unchanged.

The trade-in value of the iPad Pro is similarly unchanged, while the iPad Air actually goes up by $15, from $400 to $415. The standard iPad loses $15 and the iPad mini goes down by $20.

Keep in mind that these are maximum trade-in values, and it’s telling that Apple isn’t offering specifics for iPads and Macs. For example, a base-model 2020 M1 MacBook Pro will only fetch $300, even in mint condition. However, it seems higher-end configurations may exceed these maximums, as Apple quoted me $1,035 for my late 2024 M4 Pro MacBook Pro.

You can visit Apple’s trade-in site to look up exact values on your device’s serial number.

These adjustments come just in time for the holiday season, when trade-ins often spike as users upgrade. While the lower payouts may sting, Apple’s offers remain among the best in the industry — at least for newer devices in good condition.

Still, if Apple’s revised trade-in prices leave you second-guessing an upgrade, there are other ways to get value from your old hardware. You can keep an older iPhone around as a dedicated camera, media player, or smart home controller — or find even more ideas in our roundup of 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Old Apple Devices.