Apple’s trade-in offer of up to £645 for last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max looks tempting at first glance, but a scratch or crack on your device could leave you empty-handed.
Yes, even if your iPhone’s in perfect working order with top-notch battery life, Apple won’t give you a penny if you’ve been unlucky enough to damage the screen or outer shell.
Macworld’s Michael Simon originally spotted the trade-in policy in the US. We couldn’t believe our eyes at first, so we thought we’d see for ourselves here in the UK.
Lo and behold, the same rules apply to Brits. Even if you’re handing over an iPhone 15 Pro with the maximum 1TB of storage, Apple will give you £0 if the device’s body has cracks, chips and scratches, or shattered glass on the back.
How to trade in your iPhone
Getting a valuation was mercifully quick, at least. We swiftly entered our iPhone make and model on the Apple Store website. Admittedly, we suffered some brain fog when quizzed about the storage capacity, but nothing that a quick rifle through the iPhone’s settings couldn’t fix.
Then came the moment of truth. “Is your iPhone in good condition?” Apple asked. Hmmm, that depends on your definition of “good”. There’s no need to get philosophical about it, however, as there are only two options: yes or no. To meet the former criteria, not only does your iPhone need to work as normal, but it also has to be free from the aforementioned cosmetic damage.
If you click no, Apple will ask you a further three questions about your iPhone’s condition. They basically boil down to whether the camera is in good nick, if the buttons work and if it has scratches. Answering no to the last two of those will result in Apple refusing to buy back your device, while the former will get you a much lower offer.
Instead of taking back your worn iPhone, Apple will offer to recycle it instead, which at this point feels like a gentle nudge to just give up and look elsewhere.
What to do if your iPhone is damaged?
Let’s be real, keeping an iPhone pristine isn’t easy. An accidental drop from your office desk, or while fumbling for your keys in your pocket, can result in a scuff or an ugly crack. Not to mention all the hazards that await on drunken nights out.
Apple must think we store our iPhones in armour-plated cases but, in reality, it doesn’t take much to end up with a ding that can tank your trade-in value.
Where does that leave you? Well, you could try your luck on eBay, where plenty of budding bargain hunters may be more lenient towards scratches and cracks. Or, you could get the damage repaired, which can easily wind up costing you £200 or more for the iPhone 15.
That’s hardly pocket change when you’re trying to save money on an iPhone 16.
