Apple set the tech world on fire by unveiling the 14” MacBook Pro 2021 and 16″ MacBook Pro 2021 with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in late 2021 and then followed up with M2 Pro and M2 Max powered models in January 2023. The 2021 and 2023 MacBook Pro lineups are powered by the latest in Apple Silicon and feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with mini LED technology and over 10,000 local dimming zones, these are some of the most impressive and technologically advanced laptops that money can buy.
All this tech means that the latest MacBooks don’t come cheap. Fortunately, you can upgrade for less by selling your current laptop. Keep reading to learn where you can get the most cash for your used MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
How much is a used MacBook worth?
Selling your current MacBook is a great way to fund an upgrade to a newer or more powerful model. The first step toward using your current MacBook to ease the cost of upgrading is to determine the value, which as you’ll see, varies wildly based on where (or how) you sell it. Essentially, the first step is deciding whether you want to sell it or trade it in.
- Sell your MacBook: 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 that you will get money as compared to trading it in.
- Trade-in your MacBook: Trading in is generally a quick and easy process. Trade-ins require less effort on your part, but also mean less money as compared to selling directly to another person.
Trade-in services, such as what you get with Apple also pay you in the form of a gift card. This means you then need to purchase your new device directly from Apple — which limits your ability to find a sale through another retailer or to find a great deal on a gently used model like what you can find on Swappa.
To help you figure out how much your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro is worth — we’ve compiled the Swappa values and the Apple trade-in values for many MacBooks. Let’s just say that the numbers speak for themselves.
MacBook Air Trade-In Value
| Swappa Marketplace | Apple Trade-In | |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 11” (2015) | Starting around $170 | |
| MacBook Air 13” (2015) | Starting around $195 | |
| MacBook Air 13” (2017) | Starting around $221 | |
| MacBook Air 13” (2018) | Starting around $330 | |
| MacBook Air 13” (2019) | Starting around $414 | |
| MacBook Air 13” (2020) | Starting around $461 | |
| MacBook Air 13″ (2022) | Starting around $750 | Up to $615 |
MacBook Pro Trade-In Value
| Swappa Marketplace | Apple Trade-In | |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13” (2015) | Starting around $294 | |
| MacBook Pro 15” (2015) | Starting around $330 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2016) | Starting around $361 | |
| MacBook Pro 15” (2016) | Starting around $361 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2017) | Starting around $329 | |
| MacBook Pro 15” (2017) | Starting around $464 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2018) | Starting around $448 | |
| MacBook Pro 15” (2018) | Starting around $515 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2019) | Starting around $400 | |
| MacBook Pro 15” (2019) | Starting around $649 | |
| MacBook Pro 16” (2019) | Starting around $659 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2020) | Starting around $554 | |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2021) | Starting around $1,210 | |
| MacBook Pro 16″ (2021) | Starting around $1,338 | |
| MacBook Pro 13” (2022) | Starting around $845 | |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2023) | Starting around $1,450 | |
| MacBook Pro 16″ (2023) | Starting around $2,060 | Up to $1,090 |
You likely noticed the Apple trade-in side of the above tables is light on information. That is because Apple isn’t as upfront about trade-in values. In the case of the MacBook Air, you can get up to $615, and in the case of the MacBook Pro, you can get up to $1,090. Of course, it is important to keep in mind these Apple ‘up to’ amounts are what you would get for the newest and most powerful MacBooks.
Can I exchange my MacBook at the Apple Store?
The short answer here is yes, at least in most cases. But as we touched on earlier, while trade-in services are quick and easy, you will not get nearly as much money in return, and what money you will get is on a gift card that can only be used with Apple. Simply put, selling your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro directly to another person will get you more money.
Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech. Real people verify listings before they go live, so buyers know what they’re getting. And, our strict No Junk, No Jerks policy and advanced fraud prevention keep the scams out, so you can concentrate on making more and saving more.
So what are you waiting for? Get more for your MacBook on Swappa today!
Snag the best deals on used MacBooks deals wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!
