In an exciting yet slightly discouraging move for Apple users, the tech giant has recently revised its trade-in rates for older iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. This adjustment marks the first update of 2026 and the third change since the debut of the iPhone 17 in September 2025. While older models seem to be holding their value remarkably well, newer ones are experiencing significant drops in trade-in value.
Back in September 2025, Apple promoted a maximum trade-in value of up to $700 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, that number fell to $670 just two months later in November, and it has now dropped further to $650—a decrease of 7% within a mere four months, as detailed in a report by Macrumors.
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
Newer iPhones are Losing Value Faster
A similar trend can be observed with the baseline iPhone 16, whose trade-in value has plummeted from $450 in September 2025 to $410 just a few months later in January 2026—an approximate decline of 9%. Even more astonishing is the depreciation of the iPhone 15 series, particularly the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Originally valued at up to $630 for trade-in in January 2025, it has since seen a staggering drop of $180, now sitting at $450—a remarkable 28% decline over the year. For those holding onto the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the trade-in value now reaches only up to $350, down from $450 in January 2026.
This ongoing decrease in Apple’s trade-in values—especially for newer models—can be attributed to a higher influx of returned devices, which are being funneled into the company’s refurbishment and resale pipeline. This trend diminishes the need for Apple to offer elevated exchange prices to coax early adopters into their upgrade programs.
| New Trade-In Value | Old Trade-In Value (November 2025) | Trade-In Value (September 2025) | |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Up to $650 | Up to $670 | Up to $700 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | Up to $530 | Up to $550 | Up to $580 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | Up to $440 | Up to $450 | Up to $470 |
| iPhone 16 | Up to $410 | Up to $420 | Up to $450 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Up to $450 | Up to $470 | Up to $630 |
| iPhone 15 Pro | Up to $380 | Up to $400 | Up to $500 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | Up to $320 | Up to $330 | Up to $440 |
| iPhone 15 | Up to $300 | Up to $310 | Up to $400 |
| iPhone 14 | Up to $210 | Up to $220 | Up to $290 |
| iPhone 13 | Up to $180 | Up to $180 | Up to $250 |
| iPhone 12 | Up to $120 | Up to $130 | Up to $170 |
| iPhone 11 | Up to $100 | Up to $100 | Up to $130 |
| iPhone XS | Up to $70 | Up to $70 | Up to $90 |
| iPhone X | Up to $60 | Up to $60 | Up to $60 |
| iPhone 8 | Up to $40 | Up to $40 | Up to $45 |
On the other hand, older iPhones tend to yield fewer returns, which contributes to their more stable exchange rates. Nevertheless, staying informed about these trade-in values is crucial, as they often serve as benchmarks within the resale market. Significant shifts in these values could quickly reverberate throughout the entire upgrade ecosystem.
Ultimately, if you are contemplating upgrading to a new iPhone or another Apple product while trading in an older device, be prepared for a slightly higher out-of-pocket expense.
For further details regarding these trade-in value changes, you can check the complete report Here.
Image Credit: www.digitaltrends.com
