With the iPhone 13 launch due later this week, now is the perfect time for you to trade in your existing iPhone or Android device to get the most value from it. This will help you get the most value from your existing iPhone and ensure that you don’t end up burning a big hole in your pocket while upgrading to the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro.
As soon as Apple announces the iPhone 13 series at its ‘California Streaming’ event later this week, the prices of existing iPhones will crash. It is a smart idea to sell your iPhone or trade it in before the event. This will work only if you own a spare iPhone. If not, your only option is to wait until the iPhone 13 is out so that you can then trade in your existing iPhone against it.
In case you plan to buy the new iPhone, you can watch the iPhone 13 launch event live to catch all the action as it happens.
How to Prepare Your iPhone for Trade-In
1. Prepare for handover
Before trading in your iPhones, you need to follow a few steps and ensure that all personal data is transferred. Customers prefer to have unlocked iPhones. It’s worth noting, however. You can unlock the phone to avoid it being locked to one carrier.
Most of the carriers will unlock your iPhone for free. Some might require a small fee, but it is worth the effort. Please ensure that your contract is terminated before unlocking.
- How to Unlock Your AT&T iPhone
- How to Unlock Your Verizon iPhone
- How to unlock your Sprint iPhone
- How to Unlock Your T-Mobile iPhone
You can find a list of the carriers that allow iPhone unlocking here.
2. Backup and Erase All Your Data
Before you sell or trade in your iPhone, you should back up all your data and then erase it. Backups will allow you to restore your entire iPhone and all settings. You will also be able access contacts and data from your new iPhone.
If you have a paid iCloud account, then it is advisable to backup your iPhone on iCloud. However, you can also use iTunes offline method and back up your iPhone data.
Read: How to Backup Your iPhone and iPad with and without iTunes
3. Unpair Apple Watch
If you have paired an Apple Watch with your iPhone, make sure to unpair it first.
4. Deactivate Find My iPhone and Factory Reset Your iPhone
It is important to deactivate Find my iPhone so that the next buyer can use your iPhone without any hassles. Many stores that allow trade-in require you to deactivate your iPhone. If you’re selling your iPhone to someone else, it is possible that you forgot to activate the device.
Read: How to Turn Off Find My iPhone
After deactivating Find my iPhone, you need to erase the device. It is a crucial step, as your iPhone stores years worth of personal and private data. You can erase all data from your iPhone before you sell it.
Read: How To Erase Your iPhone’s Data Before You Sell It
Switching to an Android Device?
Are you considering switching from Apple to Android devices? If so, make sure to turn off iMessage. This messaging platform can only be used with Apple devices. This is how to deregister your number from iMessage, even after you sell it.
Best Places to Sell or Trade-in Your Old iPhone
If you want the best value for your iPhone, your best option is to sell it to a friend, family or use one of the classifieds websites. This is time-consuming and can be dangerous as scammers are often found on classifieds websites.
Cellphone resellers and stores are also an option, though they will not give you the best deal. You can choose from one of these options to exchange your iPhone.
1. Trade-In Websites
Trade-in websites are a good alternative to direct selling. Although you may not be able to get the best price for an iPhone than on Craiglist or other classified websites, you can trade-in your iPhone without worrying about finding the right buyer and dealing with them. These sites save time and make it easy to find the right buyer.
SellCell is one of the best places to sell or trade-in your old iPhone to get the best price as it compares the trade-in price across 30+ of the biggest buyback companies in the US, including Gazelle, Decluttr, ItsWorthMore, BuyBackWorld & more.
Take a look at the image below, which shows just how much you can get from SellCell for trading in your existing iPhone. For iPhone 11 Pro Max, you can get as much as $821, which means you will only have to spend around $300-$400 to upgrade to the iPhone 12 Pro.
2. Carrier Stores
Take your used iPhone to the Carrier store and trade it for a new iPhone. You will receive a discount on your used iPhone and a few hundred dollars off the purchase of a new iPhone.
3. Classifieds
As we said earlier, your iPhone is almost certain to fetch a higher price when sold privately. This is an option if you’re willing to accept the risk, and are able to work with low-ballers. Uncle Henry’s Maine can be used for classifieds.
However, keep your eyes open for scamsters. As a general rule of thumb, you should never meet your buyers in an isolated place. It is better to notify your friends or invite them to join you. You can also look into sites such as eBay. These sites offer many conveniences, but they charge service fees.
4. Amazon
Most people tend to use Amazon to buy new products, but they don’t know that you can also trade in your iPhones. Amazon offers a decent trade-in program and a price-lock for 28-day.
The best part is that you can ship off your iPhone to Amazon only after getting hold of the new iPhone. The condition of the device will determine how much Amazon can trade in your iPhone. Phones that have been damaged or not maintained well will be offered at a lower price.
5. Family and Friends
Another great way of selling off your iPhone is to hand it over to family and friends. You will be reassured that the device is safe and sound, so there are less chances of it being stolen. The buyer can be sure that their iPhone is genuine and not counterfeit.
6. Apple Trade-In
Apple has its own trade-in program where you can trade in your iPhone, iPad, or just about any other Apple device and get an Apple Gift card that you can then use to buy anything from Apple — be it a product or service. In case you do not have a spare phone, you have the option of trading in your existing iPhone or Android device while buying the iPhone 13 from Apple’s online store.
Apple will then ship the new device to you and pick up your old iPhone after that. The company can credit your payment method, or give you a gift certificate, depending on what preference.
Apple’s trade-in page currently states that you can get up to $450 for trading in an iPhone XS Max while an older device like the iPhone 8 or iPhone 7 will get you $170 or $110, respectively. Trade-in costs are less than what you would get if the device were sold to friends or posted on a classifieds site.
7. iPhone Upgrade Program
The Upgrade Program is best if you want to upgrade to new iPhones every year. This program allows you to purchase an iPhone with Apple on a 2-year agreement. You will be required to make monthly payments as part of your contract. You can trade-in your existing iPhone at the end of the 12-month period for a new device.
The iPhone Upgrade Program is better than other trade-in methods as you will get free AppleCare+ coverage on devices. Additionally, you will only need to send your existing iPhone to Apple once you get the iPhone 13 in your hand, making the entire process relatively hassle-free.
Check out our detailed guide on the iPhone Upgrade Program to know how it works.
Do drop a comment and let us know how you ended up selling your iPhone 12 and for how much. This might help others!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, so we may receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. We appreciate your help.
