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Apple now giving less cash for Android trades, so why would we switch?
- The Apple trade-in values of Android phones are all much lower now than previously.
- The most Apple will give for an Android phone is $405 for a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
- Apple has also slashed other trade-in values, but the Android changes make it less likely folks will switch to iOS.
Like most electronics companies, Apple will happily take your current tech and give you money towards new tech. Sure, you can usually make more money by selling your device on your own, but nothing beats the convenience of handing over something old to immediately get a deep discount on something new.
See also: Do’s and don’t’s of buying used phones
However, this week, the Apple trade-in values for Android phones are much lower than ever before. Apparently overnight (as spotted by MacRumors), Apple dropped the value of nearly every Android phone it accepts for trades.
Yesterday, if you traded in a like-new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (original MSRP: $1,299), Apple would have given you $545. Today, Apple will only give you $405, a drop of nearly 25%. The most recent phone you can give for an Apple trade-in — the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus — used to go for $435 but now earns you just $325.
You can see the full list of available Android trades below.
Apple trade-in values: New price (old price)
- Samsung Galaxy S21 — $260 ($325)
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus — $325 ($435)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus — $205 ($275)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 — $150 ($205)
- Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus — $170 ($185)
- Samsung Galaxy S10 — $150 ($160)
- Samsung Galaxy S10e — $120 ($130)
- Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus — $80 ($95)
- Samsung Galaxy S9 — $65 ($75)
- Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus — $60 (no change)
- Samsung Galaxy S8 — $50 (no change)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra — $405 ($545)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 — $285 ($385)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10 — $175 ($235)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 — $120 ($130)
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8 — $45 ($65)
- Google Pixel 5 — $235 ($315)
- Google Pixel 4 XL — $135 ($180)
- Google Pixel 4 — $110 ($150)
- Google Pixel 4a — $120 ($160)
- Google Pixel 3 XL — $50 ($70)
- Google Pixel 3 — $45 ($55)
- Google Pixel 3a XL — $50 ($55)
- Google Pixel 3a — $50 (no change)
Apple is dropping trades all over, but why?
Android phones aren’t the only items Apple will accept for less money now. MacBooks, iMacs, iPads, and other Apple products also have lower trade-in values. Likewise, Apple is now forcing students to prove their education status before earning education discounts on its products.
Obviously, Apple is Apple and it doesn’t really need these trade programs to be successful. In fact, it could probably do away with the entire practice and still sell tons of products. However, it is strange to see the company now giving less incentive to Android users to jump ship to iOS.
Related reading: The things we want to see from Apple in 2022
It’s especially strange that these new trade-in values seem to make little sense for the trader. A like-new Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, for example, can go for at least $800 on the used market, which is twice as much as what Apple is now offering. Also, it’s interesting that the Note 20 Ultra is the only Ultra model accepted. Why not also accept the Galaxy S20 Ultra or Galaxy S21 Ultra?
We know that not many of our readers are thinking about switching to iOS any time soon, but Apple isn’t doing itself any favors with these changes.