Do you want to exchange your iPhone for money with Apple or another provider? These are the most important things to keep in mind to get good resale value, and avoid disappointment.
Trade in iPhone: these are the options
Are you ready for a new iPhone or do you want to clean up some old devices? Your old iPhone regularly earns money when you trade it in. This can be done at Apple itself in exchange for a gift card or discount on a new iPhone, but there are many companies that offer a sum of money for it.
The price you get for your iPhone is very dependent on the condition of the device. It often happens that a consumer’s price expectation is higher than the final price offered by a company, a reBuy spokesperson confirms. Because you cannot perform such a thorough check yourself as the parties themselves do, it is therefore important to take a number of things into account. This way you are better prepared for what a good trade-in value is for your iPhone.
5 things to watch out for when trading in your iPhone
If you are planning to trade in your iPhone, it is good to pay attention to at least the following five things.
1. Check the battery condition
First check the battery condition of the device on your iPhone. In order to resell the traded-in device, the battery is usually replaced as soon as the capacity is between 80 and 85 percent or less. This can affect the price you get for it. You can take this into account by checking this yourself in advance.
You can check the battery condition by going to Settings and selecting ‘Battery’ here. Here, tap on ‘Battery health’. Behind ‘Maximum capacity’ you see a percentage. If it is higher than 85 percent, the battery will most likely not be replaced. This means less costs for the provider to refurbish the iPhone, and therefore a better trade-in value for you.
If the battery condition is lower, you can expect a somewhat lower trade-in value. The costs of replacing the battery are, as it were, passed on to you. How much less the value of your device is, of course, depends on the model.
2. Read the steps carefully
Then carefully follow all the steps that trade-in parties ask you when offering an iPhone. You go through some questions about the device, and then you have to indicate which condition you think the iPhone is in. You start by selecting the type of iPhone you have. You are also asked about the color and storage capacity.
This is followed by a questionnaire about the technical condition, external condition and the delivery of accessories. For example, you have to indicate whether all buttons still work, how many scratches on them and whether you are including the original charger and earplugs. Read these questions carefully what the technical and external conditions are, and what they entail.
For example, if you yourself think that your iPhone looks as good as new with a few light scratches, this is probably not the case for the party. Because everyone’s perception of ‘as good as new’ differs, it can be difficult to estimate exactly how good your iPhone is. Many people tend to estimate the condition of the trade-in device more positively than it actually is.
Therefore, look realistically at the external damage and condition, and scale your iPhone accordingly. This way you avoid disappointment if you receive a lower price proposal because you had too high expectations.
3. Provide light when checking
To make sure you don’t overestimate the condition of your iPhone, there are a few measures you can take. When checking for scratches, it is useful to choose a place with a lot of light, so that you don’t miss anything. Do not only look at the housing, but also at any scratches on the home button. This also affects the condition.
With enough light, you can also see whether the charging port is dirty or maybe slightly bent. By looking realistically at all possible damage, you know better what to expect from the trade-in value. Be aware that the party that buys your iPhone also wants to sell it again. If this might require (small) repairs, you will know better what to expect from the trade-in price.
4. Empty your device
Then make sure to back up your iPhone, completely empty your device and erase all data. A provider of a trade-in service is of no use to an iPhone that, for example, is still locked with Touch ID, Face ID or a passcode. Moreover, you do not want others to have access to your data just like that. Read more about the preparations you need to make if you want to sell or trade in your iPhone, such as choosing the right time.
5. Take unforeseen defects into account
Finally, keep in mind that unforeseen defects or damage may still come to light during an inspection by the company you are trading in. An example of this is a pixel error in the screen, where some pixels no longer work (properly). This cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it does affect the condition and therefore the price you receive during the iPhone exchange.
Similar controls
Are you still not satisfied with a price proposal? First, look at the reasons why the price proposal is lower than you expected. In general, the parties indicate this immediately.
You can also try another company that offers an iPhone trade-in service. Be aware that the checks that are performed to determine how good your iPhone is, are fairly the same and this does not guarantee a better price.
Here you can trade in an iPhone, among other things
Have you decided you want to trade in your iPhone? You can easily exchange your iPhone at all the companies listed below by first going through a number of online steps before sending the device.
Have you traded in your iPhone and are now looking for something new? In our comparator you will find the best offers if you want to buy an iPhone. If you want to save even more money, it is interesting to buy a refurbished iPhone after exchanging your old iPhone. This way you not only have an extra cent from the exchange, but you also pay less for your new iPhone.