Following the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo announcement this week, Apple has started accepting iPhone Air and iPhone 17 trade-ins for credit. However, the iPhone Air offer is a bit of a sore spot, especially after this week’s price increases.
Apple usually waits for a new version of an iPhone to come out before accepting trade-ins. That’s not the case for the iPhone Air and iPhone 17. There’s no iPhone Air 2 or iPhone 18 yet. We expect to see these new models early next year at the soonest.
But Apple does want to give iPhone Air and iPhone 17 users a chance to upgrade to an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Duo. For that reason, both models still being sold by Apple without newer versions are eligible for trade-in.
For the iPhone 17, which now starts at $899 after a $100 price increase this week, Apple offers up to $585.
iPhone Air also saw a $100 price increase this week, bringing the starting price to $1099. And what does the $200 premium over the iPhone 17 net you in trade-in? The same $585 offer. Ouch.
Apple’s trade-in value table almost makes it look like a $100 error. In reality, Apple is probably basing it on demand and the value of parts. That’s too bad, considering the iPhone Air uses almost the same chip as the iPhone 17 Pro.
To recap, iPhone Air’s value went up $100 for new customers. However, iPhone Air’s trade-in value, at least according to Apple, is the same as a $200 cheaper model. Not great, Bob.
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