You probably already know that Swappa is the best – and safest – way to save money on gently used tech. But did you know that when it comes time to sell your old phone, Swappa gets you about twice as much money as the Apple Trade In Program?
Trade-in programs make their money by paying you less than your phone is worth, and then flipping your old tech for profit. Making matters worse, you’re usually paid in the form of a store gift card — not cash.
On Swappa, sellers deal directly with buyers, so you get the true market value for your used tech. In other words, you get top dollar for your used iPhones, used iPads, or used MacBooks — while simultaneously providing buyers with great deals they can feel good about. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Keep reading to see how Swappa compares with the Apple Trade In Program, and see for yourself why selling on Swappa is the best way to get the most money for your used iPhone.
What is Apple Trade In?
Like most other services, the Apple Trade In — formerly Apple GiveBack or sometimes referred to as Apple buyback — allows customers to trade in their old iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. Apple will “buy back” your old Apple device by giving you store credit toward a new purchase or an Apple Store gift card. For devices that no longer have a trade-in value, Apple will offer to recycle the device instead.
Apple Trade In does not pay you cash. Sell your used tech on Swappa instead and get paid in cash to use however you’d like.
Can I do trade-in at the Apple Store?
Apple Store trade-ins can be done either in-store or online. If going the online route, you receive a prepaid Apple trade-in kit to ship your old device out free of charge. The only exception is Mac trade-in, which must be done in-store. Once your trade-in is received, Apple typically mails out Apple Store gift cards within 1-2 weeks.
Does Apple allow you to trade-in cracked screens?
One thing Apple and Swappa have in common is that neither allow users to sell (or trade-in) an iPhone with a cracked screen. Apple will offer to repair the screen, but that cost will go against your overall trade-in value, leaving you with very little value left over.
If you have a cracked or broken screen, you’ll want to get it fixed first. The Swappa Repair Network is a collection of local repair shops offering quality repairs with 30-day guarantees and services typically cheaper than you’d get at the Apple Store. Once your Apple device is fixed, sell it on Swappa for cash and get twice as much as Apple would pay.
Apple Trade In value vs Swappa
If you’re wondering exactly how much you will get for your iPhone or other Apple device trade-in, Apple provides customers with the best possible price on their Trade In page. Of course, trade-in values vary depending on device condition and the specific model you’re looking to sell.
To help make it easy on you, we’ve gone ahead and provided a list showing you exactly how much each iPhone and Apple device is worth, along with the current going rate if you were to sell that same device on Swappa. You might want to sit down for this…
iPhone trade in value
| iPhone model | Apple | Swappa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | $785 | $943 | +$158 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | $635 | $846 | +$211 |
| iPhone 12 mini | $400 | $569 | +$169 |
| iPhone 12 | $530 | $644 | +$134 |
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) | $170 | $261 | +$91 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | $500 | $655 | +$155 |
| iPhone 11 Pro | $445 | $588 | +$143 |
| iPhone 11 | $335 | $463 | +$128 |
| iPhone XS Max | $320 | $413 | +$93 |
| iPhone XS | $235 | $348 | +$113 |
| iPhone XR | $225 | $322 | +$97 |
| iPhone X | $200 | $303 | +$103 |
| iPhone 8 Plus | $175 | $263 | +$88 |
| iPhone 8 | $105 | $183 | +$78 |
| iPhone 7 Plus | $110 | $178 | +$68 |
| iPhone 7 | $45 | $118 | +$73 |
| iPhone 6S Plus | $55 | $131 | +$76 |
| iPhone 6S | $30 | $80 | +$50 |
iPad trade in value
| iPad model | Apple | Swappa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro 11-inch (2018) | $455 | $585 | +$130 |
| iPad (6th gen) | $190 | $284 | +$94 |
| iPad Air 2 | $140 | $218 | +$78 |
| iPad Mini 4 | $150 | $241 | +$91 |
Apple Watch trade in value
| Apple Watch model | Apple | Swappa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm) | $180 | $364 | +$184 |
| Apple Watch Series 4 (44mm) | $135 | $247 | +$112 |
| Apple Watch Series 3 (42mm) | $85 | $159 | +$74 |
| Apple Watch Series 2 (42mm) | $60 | $159 | +$99 |
| Apple Watch Series 1 (42mm) | $35 | $83 | +$48 |
MacBook trade in value
| MacBook model | Apple | Swappa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13-inch Mid 2020 (Core i5) | $760 | $1,264 | +$504 |
| MacBook Pro 16-inch Late 2019 (Core i7) | $1,250 | $1,830 | +$580 |
| MacBook Pro 15-inch Mid 2018 (Core i5) | $660 | $1,570 | +$910 |
| MacBook Pro Mid 13-inch 2017 (Core i5) | $380 | $913 | +$533 |
(Highest Apple trade-in values compared with average cash price on Swappa)
As you can see above, Apple Trade In values pale in comparison to what you’d get selling the same devices on Swappa. Just look at the trade-in value for the iPhone 7, where the current Apple trade-in price is $45, while the average price for an iPhone 7 sold on Swappa is $118 — nearly three times as much!
With Apple’s recently released iPhone 13 lineup (iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max), Apple recently dropped the trade-in value for most of their devices across the board. Meanwhile, Swappa has been making headlines, receiving critical acclaim from outlets like ZDNet, The Verge, LifeHacker, and Android Police as one of the best ways to get the most money for your old tech. So don’t fall for the Apple Trade In scam — sell that same used iPhone, used MacBook, used iPad, or used Apple Watch on Swappa and CASH IN BIG.
Get the most money for your Apple devices on Swappa
Why would you want to receive less when selling your old iPhone, while at the same time paying more for a brand-new model when you upgrade? Swappa gets you more for your old phone and lets you pick up a gently used replacement for less! This includes great iPhones no longer sold by Apple such as the iPhone X, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and the iPhone 7.
Really, the choice is clear: Swappa always gets you more for your used iPhone so you can upgrade for less. And when you’re ready to upgrade, our iPhone Buyer’s Guide helps you find the right iPhone for you!
Ready to sell your old iPhone on Swappa? Creating a listing is free, and you can get started right now by hitting the button below. For a detailed walkthrough on selling in our marketplace, make sure you check out our complete Swappa Selling Guide.
