Apple’s iPhone 18 launch puts new trade-in numbers on older iPhones

Apple’s September 11 newsroom update on the iPhone 18 Pro launch gave buyers a new set of trade-in reference points. It said an iPhone 13 or newer could bring $175 to $885 in Apple Trade In credit. The same announcement described up to $1,200 in credit through select carriers for an iPhone 14 or newer in any condition. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were set for preorder on September 12, with store availability beginning September 18. These are launch-era figures, not a quote for every older phone.

For a US buyer deciding whether to trade an older iPhone or keep shopping for a refurbished one, the stated range is a useful comparison point. But Apple does not assign each model to a dollar amount in the newsroom post, and carrier credits come with their own plan and payment terms. Treating the maximum as the value of a particular device would be an error. A direct resale offer and an installment credit can also affect the cost of upgrading differently; that is a comparison buyers should make with their own quotes.

The announcement does not say how long these credit ranges will last or give refurbished prices for earlier iPhones. It does not establish the condition of any phone on the secondhand market. Before deciding, obtain a live Apple or carrier trade-in quote for the exact model and condition, then compare it with the current price and terms of the refurbished alternative.