With the launch of new iPhones right around the corner, many users will be looking at trading in their old iPhone models for a chance to reduce the price of the iPhone X, which is reported to be the most expensive iPhone ever released.
To help out with the search for the best trade-in values, we've decided to look at some of the most popular recycling websites to see how much you can get back for the iPhone 7 32GB, iPhone 7 Plus 128GB, iPhone 6s 32GB, and iPhone 6s Plus 128GB. Although not all-encompassing, this should provide a helpful glimpse at where to start shopping around for the best value for your current iPhone as you make your upgrade plans for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus.
iPhone trade-in values were looked at on the following websites: Amazon, Gazelle, NextWorth, MyPhones Unlimited, Best Buy, and GameStop.
A few things to note -- although each website's trade-in process differs, prices on average centered on a device in "good" or equivalent condition. Prices sometimes fluctuate depending on color (albeit not by much), and if the option was available "Black" was chosen for iPhone 7 devices and "Silver" for iPhone 6s devices. Quotes are also subject to change over time.
Check out how the prices compared in the charts below:
iPhone 7 32GB
iPhone 7 Plus 128GB
iPhone 6s 32GB
iPhone 6s Plus 128GB
A few of the reseller sites also have some notable discounts and special programs running as we enter iPhone launch season. Gazelle lets you lock your top-tier quote on an iPhone from now until September 22, and you'll have until October 22 to mail it in.
This extended grace period is Gazelle's way of ensuring customers can get the most for their old iPhones (or any smartphone) right now, before the prices depreciate after the announcement and launch of the iPhone X. If you trade in your old smartphone during this time frame, you'll also be entered into Gazelle's Paid to Trade sweepstakes, which will offer three winners the "approximate value" of an iPhone X.
If you decide to go with MyPhones Unlimited, the site has an exclusive offer for MacRumors readers: add an extra $10 to your quoted trade-in price with the promo code rumors.
Apple has an iPhone Trade-Up program of its own as well, which will net you an Apple gift card for the value of your old iPhone. Regarding the iPhone models listed above, Apple's program will see average trade-in values of $375 (iPhone 7 32GB), $425 (iPhone 7 Plus 128GB), $215 (iPhone 6s 32GB), and $260 (iPhone 6s Plus 128GB).
Carriers themselves also have their own trade-in programs with quotes that mostly hit around the prices offered by the previously listed reseller sites. AT&T and Verizon were the best in this regard, with AT&T offering $270 for an iPhone 7 32GB from AT&T, and Verizon even beating that price (for an AT&T-locked device) at $302. On the opposite end, Sprint's quote for the same phone was $165.
If you're willing to enter sites like eBay and Craigslist, there's the usual opportunity to get well above the prices displayed in these charts. Quick quote searches on each site averaged prices between $500-$550 for an iPhone 7 32GB on AT&T, $200 above the highest trade-in price that we found from MyPhones Unlimited.
Of course, the eBay and Craigslist marketplaces come with the usual added risk of selling items to other consumers online. You'd have to part with your current iPhone immediately, and potentially be without a smartphone for the amount of time it will take the new device to come in, which in the case of the iPhone X could be weeks or even months. With trade-in sites like Gazelle, you have the option to lock-in a price ahead of time, and then receive a grace period (usually around 30 days) in which you have to send your old device in.
Notable too is eBay's "Quick Sale" storefront, which acts more like trade-in sites than the traditional eBay marketplace. Here you can type in the brand, storage, carrier, and other relevant information for your smartphone, with quotes averaging about $60-$100 above competitor sites for iPhone 7 devices. Older phones aren't supported, however, so the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus can't be traded in to eBay's Quick Sale valet program.
For more deals, discounts, and news on the latest sales, be sure to visit the MacRumors Deals Roundup.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Top Rated Comments
With Verizon, an iPhone 7 Plus 256GB bought for $970 can be traded when 1/2 the value is paid off. That's effectively a $485 trade-in value (doesn't even have to be flawless) which is way better than I can do with Gazelle, Gamestop, Best Buy, Apple, or anyone else which is around $380 (good) or $420 (flawless) while a 128GB gets $30 less.
If I do not trade in at 12 months, then selling it may become a better deal. But at this point, I'm just going to trade in for the 8 Plus or X in November when I've made 12 payments.
I'd like to add that if you can wait, carriers sometimes run better trade-in deals.
Last year on Black Friday (and repeated around Christmas) Verizon was giving $650 trade-in value on iPhone 6S and $620 on a two year old iPhone 6. That's the only reason I upgraded at the time otherwise I'd have waited until this year.
Speculation is that deals won't be as aggressive this year as carrier wars have cooled down, but you never know. If you don't need it day one, then hold out until at least Jan 1 to see what promos come down. I think Target had a good deal too.
My wife and I upgraded both of our 5s to 6s at Target in March of 2016. We got a great deal of $150 Target gift cards for each of us ($300 total). Of course, gift cards are not the same as cash but my wife loves shopping at Target anyways so the deal suited us well, and it was six months after the product launch.
Honestly, the older I get, the less I need to have the latest and greatest the soonest. Good things come to those who can wait. YMMV.