Upgrading to the iPhone 15? This is why you should trade in your old iPhone now
The iPhone 15 series is expected to launch on September 12, but the best time to sell your current iPhone is much earlier than that. According to historical trade-in data, between August 19 and August 26, you should try to sell or get quotes on your old iPhone to get the best price for it.
The comparison site for the trade-in of smartphones Sales cell says that week is the sweet spot to keep your current iPhone for as long as possible while avoiding the sharp drop in value that historically occurs in the few weeks leading up to a major Apple iPhone event.
Of course, the drop in trade-in price depends on which iPhone you own. For example, the iPhone 14 will likely see a bigger drop in value than the iPhone 13 or 12, older models that have already been written off.
But overall, SellCell found that existing models can drop in value by as much as $261 (about £205) during the four weeks leading up to a new iPhone release. This is consistent with data for the UK from Envirofone, which suggests iPhone 14 Pro trade-in prices could fall by £102 (or around 16%) between now and after the iPhone 15 release date.
So, what do you do in the period between selling your current iPhone and waiting for the iPhone 15? Many of the trade-in sites that SellCell collects quotes from, such as GadgetGone and Swappa, promise to honor trade-in values for a minimum of 14 days, or sometimes longer.
This means it’s a good idea to check how long your iPhone trade-in quote will be honored. While 30-day quote guarantees are rarer these days, you might be able to find a good compromise between losing value on your old iPhone and getting a quote that lets you keep it until the new one arrives – especially when the iPhone 15 sees a release date look more confident.
Keep in mind that while the iPhone 15 series is expected to be announced on September 12 or 13, we’re not likely to see the phones appear until later, with the latest rumors suggesting shipping on September 22.
Still, one thing’s for sure: you’ll definitely want to trade in your old iPhone X or iPhone 8 during that August window or sooner, as both phones will basically be obsolete once iOS 17 arrives in mid-September.
Where should you sell your old iPhone?
If you’ve decided to sell your old iPhone rather than trade it in to a carrier, you have quite a few options — all of which are likely to make you more money than trading it in to Apple.
The Apple Trade In site has historically offered a pretty poor price compared to its many rivals, even though it’s often the simplest option with obvious reliability. If you still want to wait for the iPhone 15, Apple is at least giving you the option to get paid with an Apple Gift Card, which Apple says can be used for any Apple product or service.
But take a look at trade-in comparison sites such as Flipsy, Sales cell or SellMyMobile shows that Apple’s pricing is likely to be beaten by GadgetGone and Swappa (in the US), or Grade Mobile and Twig (in the UK). Here are a few example iPhone trade-in prices (below) to give you an idea.
| Employ | iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 |
| Apple trade-in | up to $530 / £525 | up to $420 / £415 |
| ItsWorthMore (US) | up to $685 | $523 |
| GadgetGone (US) | up to $696 | $516 |
| Rank mobile (UK) | up to £648 | to £496 |
| eBay (typical price) | up to $870 / £790 | up to $599 / £590 |
Of course, private selling on the likes of eBay or Facebook Marketplace will probably get you the highest price for your iPhone, but it also involves the most hassle – in the form of buyer inquiries and a little less control over when you send your old phone away .
Our advice is to start with the trade-in comparison sites to get an idea of how much your current iPhone is worth and check out any particularly good deals, then follow our guide on how to sell or recycle your phone.
Once you’ve received your quote and are ready to trade in, you should also read our tips on all the things to do before selling your old smartphone. These include being honest about the condition of your device (to avoid hassle later on) and learning how to factory reset your iPhone.
Selling your old iPhone in the run-up to the iPhone 15 can be a complex dance, but it’s one that can also save you a decent chunk of loose change if you get the timing right.