uk_iphone_store_recyclingAfter officially launching the U.S. version of the program in late August, Apple has officially confirmed that it is launching its iPhone trade-in program today at its UK retail stores, reports Pocket-lint.

"iPhones hold great value. So, Apple Retail Stores in the UK are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling," an Apple spokesperson has said. "In addition to helping support the environment, customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone."

Under the program, users can receive a gift card in exchange for their older devices, although the gift card must immediately be used toward the purchase of a new iPhone.

Customers may also get quotes from Apple for a similar trade-in program online that launched nearly two years ago, with the option of shipping a device for recycling available as well. In the United States, the online and in-store programs are run by different third-party companies, and the same may be true in the UK, meaning that consumers may want to check both programs to determine any differences in trade-in value. Separate trade-in services may also offer greater value, although Apple's in-store program offers the convenience of an immediate no-hassle credit against the purchase of a new device.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

keysofanxiety Avatar
159 months ago
Why do I always get the feeling consumers are getting shafted by Apple? I used to feel a certain amount of pride using Apple products; they were a joy, especially off the back of coming from a Windows environment.

Maybe I've fallen out-of-love, maybe my eyes are finally opened, or maybe my empty bank balance is telling me something ... everything's just priced too damn high, often unreasonably so. They don't need to price everything at such a premium, and this trade-in shows just what their mentality is like. £175 for a 64GB iPhone 5? They have to be joking.

I can't see the value anymore, and as much as I hate to admit it, iOS 7 is sloppy. Really sloppy. Sloppy animations, sloppy performance, and Siri is far too unreliable (I can't take any requests at the moment) from a £600 product. I don't feel like I'm using a premium product, I feel like I'm using a self-indulgent GUI from Jony Ive's nutsack.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Freida Avatar
159 months ago
you can get almost twice as much from other companies :)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jpn369 Avatar
158 months ago
Anybody ever part exchanged their old car? This is exactly the same. The garage offer you less than its worth because they will want to sell it for a profit. You trade in because it's less hassle than selling privately or even keeping 2 cars road legal for a few weeks (tax, insurance etc). You all know the garage never give you the best deal.
Apple are doing the same. You don't have to take the offer. It's their for people who don't want to (or can't be bothered) to use other means. Take it or leave it. I know what I'll be doing when the iPhone 6 comes out.

Yes I have part exchanged my old car, but the deal if I part exed my current car I would get around £5255, if I sold it privately I would get around £5000-£5850 (source:Parkers Used Car Guide) If I exchanged my iPhone 4s 16gb I would be offered around £15. I sold it on Ebay for £180.
Apple are more like webuyanycar.com who would give me £3345 for my minimum £5k car.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaySoul Avatar
159 months ago
So I've got a 32gb iPhone 5 and after a year, it's not worth over £175 to Apple?

Then why do they expect us to pay so much in the first place?

EDIT:

I just went to official website and entered all the details, and was offered £230.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Obi Wan Kenobi Avatar
158 months ago
iPhone 4 32GB Black - excellent condition

Price offered by Apple/Dataserv £36.75?

You have to be kidding me! These trade in prices are ridiculous.


I would have thought Apple would have offered more realistic / competitive prices. These phones can show Apple real-life wear and tear after 2-3 years of use (ie the full product life-span). This data should help them design more robust and reliable devices in future.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sn Avatar
158 months ago
It's laughable!! I don't need a new iPhone, but I was going to get one for my mother. Her old iPhone 3G is, well, old..
So I filled in the details to see what it's worth as a trade in..

£3.75!! lol :rolleyes:
(Thats about $5 to you Merkins)

Ok, it's getting on a bit. But it works! £3.75?? Really?? I'd rather blend it for that money.

Yeah, it's a bit of a p*ss take. I got a quote on the apple website for my iphone 4 which has a hairline crack on the rear glass... £6.50!??!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...