Apple Working on 'Cosmetic Scan' Trade-In Tool for iPhone - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Working on 'Cosmetic Scan' Trade-In Tool for iPhone

by

Apple is developing a new trade-in tool that will be used to scan the iPhone for cosmetic damage, likely with the aim of generating a more accurate trade-in estimate.

iPhone trade in
Code for the feature was discovered in the iOS 15.4 beta by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, and it was also highlighted by 9to5Mac. There's not a lot of detail right now, but in a Diagnostic Services section, there are mentions of a Trade-In Tool and Cosmetic Scan, which will also involve a QR code.


We don't know how it works as of yet, but it may allow an iPhone user to take an image scan of their trade-in device to get a close look at scratches, dings, and other cosmetic damage, with the results sent to Apple.

There are no outward-facing signs of this feature available at the current time, but since it's linked to trade-ins, it might be something that we'll see when the iOS 15.4 update is released to the public.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Thursday September 3, 2026 3:41 am PDT by
Less than a week before Apple debuts new iPhone 18 Pro models, research firm TrendForce has estimated the prices of the devices based on the latest hardware cost environment. TrendForce's price estimates compared to last year's models look like this: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 iPhone 18 Pro $...
Read Full Article • 119 comments
iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...
Read Full Article • 162 comments
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Reportedly Starts With 256GB of Storage

Thursday September 3, 2026 9:22 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro has double the base storage compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, there will apparently be no further increase this year. Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today again reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models will start with 256GB of storage, like the iPhone 17 Pro models. Minimum storage capacities by model:iPhone 16 Pro: 128GB iPhone 17 Pro: 256GB iPhone 18 Pro...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

szw-mapple fan Avatar
szw-mapple fan
60 months ago

Looks like Apple is finally fed up with the negative reviews and reactions from how Phobio conducts their business! Apple is finally developing a tool that will get a good price for the trade-in, which Phobio can't refute...I think this is where Apple is going with this...to put Phobio in their place...
Definitely good news if this is the intent. I've always hesitated on using mail-in trade ins for Macs because of how many bad reviews I read for Phobio.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anshuvorty Avatar
anshuvorty
60 months ago

I would not be surprised if this is a response to the well-known issues with their trade-in partners claiming "damage," that isn't visible to anyone but the trade-in partner (e.g., "cracked screens" that magically repair themselves when returned to the customer).
Looks like Apple is finally fed up with the negative reviews and reactions from how Phobio conducts their business! Apple is finally developing a tool that will get a good price for the trade-in, which Phobio can't refute...I think this is where Apple is going with this...to put Phobio in their place...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G
goonie4life9
60 months ago
I would not be surprised if this is a response to the well-known issues with their trade-in partners claiming "damage," that isn't visible to anyone but the trade-in partner (e.g., "cracked screens" that magically repair themselves when returned to the customer).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Baritone_Guy
60 months ago
I am curious to see how we will take pictures of the device we are trying to trade in from the device we are trying to trade in.

I was pretty happy with how smoothly the trade in went for my new phone last year. Got the full value and the equivalent sales tax refund as well.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheColtr Avatar
TheColtr
60 months ago
They already do this in retail stores. When doing a trade in the employee device takes pictures of the front of the device which has a QR code on the display with an all black screen and an all white screen. It also takes a picture of the side of the device. I assume to check for bending. It also runs a diagnostic I assume to check for hardware failure.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
randolorian Avatar
randolorian
60 months ago
Better trade in my phone before this goes live.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments