{"id":88,"date":"2026-09-03T13:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T13:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usedphonez.com\/blog\/?p=88"},"modified":"2026-09-04T06:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:35:41","slug":"get-the-most-money-for-your-old-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usedphonez.com\/blog\/get-the-most-money-for-your-old-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"Eyeing a New iPhone 18 Pro? Do This to Get the Most Money for Your Old Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to land this fall, and the rumored starting price is a steep $1,299, roughly $200 more than the iPhone 17 Pro’s debut. If that number stings, here is the good news: your current phone is worth more than you think right now, and a few simple steps before you hand it over can be the difference between a lowball offer and top dollar. This guide walks you through Apple’s boosted trade-in values, exactly how to prep and wipe your old iPhone the right way, and where to sell it to walk away with the most cash.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The short answer<\/b><\/h2>\n

To get the most money for your old iPhone before upgrading to the iPhone 18 Pro, back up your data, turn off Find My, sign out of iCloud, unpair your Apple Watch and AirPods, erase all content and settings, and remove your SIM card. Then compare offers, because a cash buyer like UsedphoneZ often pays more than Apple’s trade-in credit and pays you on the spot instead of in store credit.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why your old phone matters more than usual this year<\/b><\/h2>\n

Apple is changing its playbook in 2026. The pricier iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected in September, while the standard, cheaper iPhone 18 has reportedly been pushed to spring 2027. In plain terms, if you want a new iPhone this fall, the Pro is essentially your only option, and it is rumored to be the most expensive standard iPhone yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

That makes the money you get for your old device more important than ever. Every dollar of trade-in or resale value comes straight off that $1,299 price tag. The better you prep your phone and the smarter you choose where to sell it, the less the upgrade actually costs you.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the trade-in value for an older iPhone?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Apple raised its trade-in values twice this summer, so your old device is worth a little more than it was a few months ago. If you have an iPhone 16, Apple now lists up to $480 in trade-in value, and an iPhone 16 Pro can reach up to $630. Similar bumps hit Apple’s computers, tablets, and smartwatches too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the current maximum trade-in values by model.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
iPhone model<\/b><\/td>\nMax trade-in value<\/b><\/td>\nPrevious value<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 16 Pro Max<\/span><\/td>\n$720<\/span><\/td>\n$695<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 16 Pro<\/span><\/td>\n$630<\/span><\/td>\n$560<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 16 Plus<\/span><\/td>\n$485<\/span><\/td>\n$465<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 16<\/span><\/td>\n$480<\/span><\/td>\n$460<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 16e<\/span><\/td>\n$310<\/span><\/td>\nno change<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 15 Pro Max<\/span><\/td>\n$530<\/span><\/td>\n$490<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 15 Pro<\/span><\/td>\n$420<\/span><\/td>\n$410<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 15 Plus<\/span><\/td>\n$340<\/span><\/td>\n$325<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 15<\/span><\/td>\n$335<\/span><\/td>\n$320<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 14 Pro Max<\/span><\/td>\n$405<\/span><\/td>\n$375<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 14 Pro<\/span><\/td>\n$335<\/span><\/td>\n$320<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 14 Plus<\/span><\/td>\n$235<\/span><\/td>\nunchanged<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
iPhone 14<\/span><\/td>\n$235<\/span><\/td>\n$225<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

One important thing to understand: these are <\/span>maximum<\/span><\/i> values for a phone in near-perfect condition, and they are paid as Apple store credit, not cash. Trade-in numbers also shift with the market, usually dropping fastest right after a new model launches. So the value you see today is often the most you will get, and a cracked screen or worn battery can knock the real offer well below the max. That is exactly why comparing offers, and reading to the end of this guide, pays off.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to do before trading in your old iPhone<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

Whether you sell to Apple, a carrier, or a cash buyer, prep is what protects your data and your payout. A phone that is properly wiped and unlocked is worth more and easier to sell. Follow these steps in order.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Back up everything<\/b><\/h3>\n

Do not lose your data. Back up before you wipe.<\/span><\/p>\n

To back up to iCloud from the device, go to Settings, tap your name, then choose iCloud, iCloud Backup, and Back Up Now.<\/span><\/p>\n

To back up to a Mac, connect your iPhone by cable or Wi-Fi. On macOS Catalina or later, open Finder, select your iPhone, then choose General, Back Up All of the Data on Your iPhone to This Mac, and Back Up Now. On an earlier Mac or a Windows PC, use iTunes: open it, click the phone icon, then choose Summary and Back Up Now.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Turn off Find My<\/b><\/h3>\n

Apple’s Find My can block the next owner from activating the phone. Erasing all content and settings turns it off automatically, but do this first as a safeguard. Go to Settings, tap your name, choose Find My, disable it for the device, enter your Apple Account password, and tap Turn Off.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Sign out of Messages<\/b><\/h3>\n

Years ago, people who switched from iPhone to Android without logging out of Messages had texts vanish into “iMessage purgatory.” It has since been fixed, but it is still smart to turn iMessage off. Go to Settings, Apps, Messages, and disable iMessage.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Unpair your AirPods<\/b><\/h3>\n

You can pair AirPods to a new iPhone without unpairing the old one, but a clean slate avoids headaches. Place your AirPods and iPhone near each other, go to Settings, Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and select Forget This Device.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Unpair your Apple Watch<\/b><\/h3>\n

Save yourself a future headache and unpair your watch from the iPhone you are selling. Keep both nearby, open the Apple Watch app, go to My Watch, All Watches, tap the info circle next to your watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch and confirm. You may need your Apple Account password.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a GPS plus Cellular model, you will be asked whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Since you are selling the phone, remove it. If you are not pairing the watch to a new iPhone, you may need to call your carrier to cancel the plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Sign out of iCloud<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store before selling. Go to Settings, tap your name, choose Sign Out, enter your Apple Account password, and tap Turn Off.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Erase all content and settings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Once your new phone is set up and you are ready to sell, go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings, and approve the prompts. This fully wipes the device.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Remove the SIM card<\/b><\/h3>\n

Apple moved to eSIM starting with the iPhone 14 lineup, but older phones have a physical SIM. That little card holds your phone number, billing details, and security data, so remove it before selling. Find the SIM tray, insert a paper clip or SIM ejector until the tray pops out, take out the card, and reinsert the empty tray.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once these steps are done, your phone is clean, secure, and ready to fetch its best price.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best place to sell your phone: UsedphoneZ<\/b><\/h2>\n

Here is where most people leave money on the table. Apple’s trade-in program is convenient, but it pays you in store credit locked to an Apple purchase, and its offers are geared toward pristine devices. Carriers do the same thing, usually as bill credit spread over 24 or 36 months, not cash you can actually use.<\/span><\/p>\n

UsedphoneZ pays real cash, on the spot, and the offer is not tied to buying anything from Apple.<\/b> That is the difference that matters when you are trying to soften a $1,299 price tag. Here is why UsedphoneZ is the smarter place to sell.<\/span><\/p>\n