- Device Trade-In
- Apple Trade-In
- iPhone Trade-In
- iPad Trade-In
- Apple Watch Trade-In
Trade-in your Apple Watch for cash
or
apply the trade-in value toward an
upgrade on the newest smartwatches
or another smart device.
Start now
Easily calculate the value of your
Apple Watch. Then choose to
receive that value in cash or put
it
toward your next upgrade.
Learn more
Looking to
upgrade your
Apple Watch?
Browse all the latest
Apple
Watch
models at Verizon.
Save money on new
accessories with Verizon.
Shop
Trade-In FAQs
The value is dependent on the model, memory and condition of the device. Go to www.verizon.com/od/trade-in/ and enter the device info. You will then be given the market value for that device, or if qualified for a promo, you will be given a promo value which is greater than the market value of the device.
No, anyone can go to the Verizon website and trade in a device. Verizon accepts devices from all carriers regardless of condition. The value of the device is determined by model, memory and condition, so keep in mind that a damaged device will have a lower value.
For market value trades, you can select a Verizon gift card or a PayPal credit. If the device qualifies for a trade in promotion, then the device value will be broken out over the term of your new device contract and deducted from the device payments.
Yes, if you qualify for instant credit you can use the value of your device towards your order before sending back your Apple Watch (chargebacks will apply if we do not receive the device in the alloted time). Non instant credit customers can use the value once the device is received.
The online submission process is quick and easy, only taking a few minutes. The overall trade in process is completed once Verizon receives your old device. Once received it is inspected within a few days and the customer is sent an email with the exact value.
See more FAQsFall brings a new slate of Apple products, including updated versions of iPhones and Apple Watches including the iPhone 14 and the Apple Watch Series 8, unveiled at the company’s Sept. 7 event—read more about that here. And prior to that was the release of the Apple Watch Series 7, one of our top picks for the best fitness trackers. Upgrading can be costly, but you can offset that by trading in your old device. Here are a few of the best ways to trade in last year’s devices for cash or store credit so you can score the latest tech for less.
Try the Apple Trade In Program
The most convenient way to turn in your old hardware and get credit toward new gear is by trading it in directly through Apple. The company accepts used iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches and even Android phones. Here’s how it works: If you’re shopping for a new device online, you’ll get a prompt as you’re choosing the model, color and storage capacity; it’s most prominent when choosing an iPhone. You’ll select the device you’re trading in and its condition from pulldown menus. Trade-in values range from $25 to $600 for iPhones, up to $150 for Apple Watches, a maximum of $555 for iPads and up to $1,000 for computers.
Here’s an example: As of August 2022, last year’s iPhone 12 in good condition (it turns on, the buttons and cameras work, the body, glass and display are all undamaged) will net you $400 cash or store credit regardless of the storage capacity. For the same phone in poor condition (say, the screen or cameras are in rough shape) the amount plummets to $100. These prices are generally less than you’d get from selling the item yourself, but the process is a lot easier. If Apple deems your device as not worth anything, it’ll still accept it for free recycling.
You’ll have a few options when you’re ready to complete the purchase. If you’re paying in full, you’ll be charged the retail price upfront, and then receive a credit back to that payment method once the trade-in is received and its condition validated. Alternately, you’ll receive instant credit if you’re paying with an Apple Card, via Apple’s iPhone payment program or through your carrier instead.
Regardless of your payment method, Apple will send a trade-in kit. This includes instructions for transferring your old device’s data to your new one and a postage-paid box for sending the hardware back to Apple. It’ll be inspected when it’s received to verify the condition matches what you reported; if it doesn’t, you’ll have the option to back out or continue with the trade and pay the difference.
If you’re at an Apple Store, the process is similar except everything happens right there on the spot. You can even take advantage of the program if you’re not ready to upgrade but want to get some old tech out of your home—you’ll go through a similar process on Apple’s Trade In site and receive a gift card.
Apple
iPhone 13
Apple
Apple Watch Series 7
Get trade-in credit through your carrier
Cellphone carriers want your used phones, and they’ll pay you for them, though the amount can vary widely—anywhere from $5 to $650, depending on the device’s condition. In early August 2022, for example, AT&T and T-Mobile are offering up to $290 for an iPhone 12 with 64 gigabytes of storage, and Verizon is giving up to $276. The carriers frequently offer special promotions around the launch of new devices, so these figures might change when the iPhone 14 is announced (likely in September 2022). Here’s the catch: All three major carriers generally want you to lease your phone, and rather than taking the money off upfront, they lower your monthly payment over two or three years.
Sell your cellphone or device online
Selling old devices yourself requires more work but offers a potentially bigger payoff. There’s the old standby, eBay, where you can sometimes get a great price, but it’s not a guarantee; a quick survey of recently completed transactions puts the average selling price of an unlocked, 64GB iPhone 12 at about $385, which is less than Apple’s $400 offer. That’s only an average, of course, and it’ll depend on the buyers who respond to your listing and the condition of your phone. You need to handle shipping and pay any associated fees, including 12.9% of the final value (which brings that $385 down to about $340). I’ve had success with eBay, but also a handful of flaky transactions where the buyer never paid or even responded to my messages, and then I had to list the phone again.
Another site, Swappa, lets you sell directly to another of the site’s users with a 3% fee. At the time of publication, Swappa’s average payout for an iPhone 12 is $501, which is more than Apple offers (even after Swappa’s 3% fee) but also entails a similar level of work as selling on eBay. Used-device seller BackMarket will also accept trade-ins, which is easier than having to connect with a seller, but is currently offering only $350 for a pristine-condition iPhone 12.
Decide whether you want top dollar or low hassle
If your Apple device is in good shape and your priority is an easy trade-in process, sending it to Apple is likely your best bet, though it’s worth checking out the deals your mobile carrier is offering too. Selling it yourself may earn you top dollar, but you’ll have to do the work of listing it and sending it in, and you run the risk of encountering buyers who ghost or shipping hassles in the process.
The advice, recommendations or rankings expressed in this article are those of the Buy Side from WSJ editorial team, and have not been reviewed or endorsed by our commercial partners.