If you are planning to trade in your old iPhone for a new one, the timing may matter more than you expect. Apple has quietly adjusted its trade-in pricing once again, and this time the changes make upgrading slightly more expensive for owners of newer devices.
The company has revised trade-in values across several product categories, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. This marks Apple’s first trade-in update of 2026, but it is already the third adjustment since the iPhone 17 lineup was introduced in September 2025. While most products have seen reduced exchange values, the impact is most noticeable on newer iPhone models, which are now losing value at a faster pace than before.
Back in September 2025, Apple was offering up to $700 in trade-in credit for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. That number dropped to $670 by November, and the latest update reduces the maximum value further to $650. In just over four months, the device has lost roughly seven percent of its trade-in value, according to updated figures highlighted by MacRumors. For customers who tend to upgrade annually, this gradual decline can add up.
The same trend applies to other models in the iPhone 16 range. The standard iPhone 16, which could fetch up to $450 in trade-in credit shortly after launch, is now capped at $410 as of January 2026. That represents a drop of about nine percent in a relatively short window. Even the Plus and Pro variants have not been spared, with steady reductions across the board.
Older iPhones are seeing an even sharper contrast. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for example, was valued at up to $630 for trade-in in early 2025. After multiple downward revisions over the past year, the same device now tops out at $450. That is a loss of $180 in resale value, or more than 28 percent, in twelve months. Owners of the iPhone 14 Pro Max are also feeling the squeeze, with current trade-in values dropping to $350 after previously sitting higher.
This accelerating depreciation of newer iPhones appears to be driven by volume rather than demand. Apple is now receiving a larger number of returned devices through its own upgrade programs as well as carrier trade-ins. With more phones entering Apple’s refurbishment and resale pipeline, there is less incentive for the company to maintain aggressive exchange rates to attract early adopters.
By comparison, older iPhone models are aging more gracefully in trade-in terms. Devices such as the iPhone 13, iPhone 12, and even the iPhone 11 have seen relatively stable values over recent revisions. Since these models return in smaller numbers, Apple has less pricing pressure on the lower end of its trade-in scale.
The updated trade-in table reflects this shift clearly. High-end models continue to decline with each revision, while older devices experience smaller or no changes at all. These values also tend to influence the wider resale market, acting as informal benchmarks for third-party buyers and sellers. When Apple lowers its exchange rates, the ripple effect often spreads quickly across the used phone ecosystem.
For anyone considering a new iPhone or another Apple product, the latest trade-in update means paying a bit more out of pocket than before. Keeping an eye on these revisions can help buyers decide whether to upgrade now or wait, especially as Apple continues to fine-tune its pricing strategy in response to supply and upgrade behavior.
Apple regularly updates its trade-in program details on its official website, and third-party reporting from outlets like Digital Trends helps track how those changes affect real-world upgrade costs over time.
