Overview
- Apple updated its trade-in listings on Tuesday to show both the iPhone Air and the standard iPhone 17 eligible for up to $585 in the United States.
- That $585 parity erases the $200 launch-price difference between the phones since the iPhone Air started at $999 and the iPhone 17 started at $799, creating roughly $400 and $300 declines from their launch prices respectively.
- Apple's posted amounts are maximum estimates and the company now applies a more granular condition grading that can lower the final offer after it inspects a device.
- Reporters note that trading with Apple trades convenience and lower risk for potentially less cash and suggest using third-party trade-in services or direct sales on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace to try to get higher returns.
- Regional outcomes differ: Apple's India trade-in page still values the iPhone Air higher at Rs 55,500 versus Rs 45,000 for the iPhone 17, and the same Apple update raised trade-in values for many iPad and Mac models, highlighting market-by-market volatility in resale pricing.