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Usually Trade Your Old iPhone In with Your Carrier?

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Last updated September 13, 2023

It Could be Time To Look At Better Value Alternatives

Apple is expected to showcase the new iPhone 15 range at an event in September 2023. We expect the announcement of the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max along with a host of further upgrades across the Apple ecosystem. 

However, it’s the new iPhone 15 models that everybody will be most interested in and there is talk already the new top of the line iPhone 15 Pro Max could cost a whopping $2,100 – which is 60% more than a Macbook!

At prices this high you are going to want to get the very best bang for your buck for your existing phone, but with most Americans used to trading in with their existing carrier are they getting the highest trade-in value they can get?

The simple answer to this is no, and in some cases we aren’t just looking at a difference of a few dollars. iPhone lovers could be out of pocket to the tune of $412 if they don’t get their trade-in choices right.

Let’s analyze the details.

Who Offers the Best Trade-In Price Across iPhone Models?

SellCell Cost comparison of iPhone Trade-In Prices

The numbers, as they say, never lie and, as we can see from the data above, there is only one website to trade in your old iPhone, and that is SellCell.com.

Across the board, you can see that SellCell offers a higher trade-in value for the iPhone 13-series, 12-series, 11-series, X-series, and iPhone 8-series.

In some cases, as with the iPhone 13 Pro 1TB model, SellCell is offering up to $167 more back against the next highest trade-in value. The iPhone 13 512 GB can net you $97 more, compared to the next highest trade-in value.

That is a lot of money to lose out on if you’re trading your iPhone in to get the latest iPhone 15. You need as much cash back as possible to ensure you get the best value for your money. 

But despite the majority of Americans trading their old devices in with carriers they will offer them significantly less than SellCell’s trusted buyback vendors, which speaks volumes about how carriers look at their loyal customer base.

Why Don’t Carrier’s Offer the Best Trade-In Value for Your iPhone

There can be many reasons carriers don’t offer the best trade-in value for your handset but what is clear is that trading in with a carrier is usually not the best option.

The data shows the majority of Americans who choose to trade their old cell in with a carrier will lose on average between $75.92 and $190.92 depending on the model and condition.

 It can be seen as quick and convenient to just return it to your carrier and get money back for your old phone. But there is always a catch; that being you’ll pay for the convenience with the value you receive. In some cases a lot!  

Comparing the trade-in values of the equivalent top-of-the-line iPhone 13 Pro Max 1TB from 2 years ago, SellCell offers a top price of $792 compared with an AT&T price of $380 while Apple is offering $640 when the data was analyzed on 29th August 2023.

Trading in with your carrier can also tie you into using them in the future even if they aren’t offering the best prices for the new iPhone 15. Verizon will take your existing phone in exchange for account credit or Verizon gift cards while AT&T will only offer a promotion card to use towards other AT&T products and services.

Your carrier relies on its customers not shopping around despite it being just as quick and convenient to trade-in via alternative routes, such as with SellCell. Often, in fact, it is even easier, as SellCell takes all the hard work out of selling your old smartphone. Plus, you make more money in the process.

What is SellCell?

SellCell is a mobile phone reselling price comparison service, which compares prices across over 40 different buyback companies to ensure you get the highest value possible for your old iPhone. It sounds simple, and that’s because it is. You just tell SellCell which iPhone model you want to sell, and it’ll handle the rest. The process to sell your iPhone couldn’t be easier!

Once you’ve found your best price, you just need to strike your deal with the buyback vendor and send your phone off. You can even lock your price in, meaning that you get that day’s value until your new handset arrives; your phone’s value won’t depreciate in the meantime, leaving you with a phone worth less at trade-in.

SellCell even has a best price promise, so if you find you can get more for your handset anywhere else, SellCell will refund you DOUBLE the difference. You can’t say fairer than that (although this is unlikely to happen, given that it has found the best price for you, already).

Have You Got an Old iPhone to Sell?

If so, then you need to head over to SellCell’s iPhone price comparison page and see how much more you’ll get with a trusted trade-in company, compared to your carrier. Or Apple, for that matter.

If you’re not ready to sell just yet, you can still get your best price, lock it in, and if you change your mind at the end of the price-freeze period, you’re under no obligation to sell.

In all, you really should be wary about whom to trade your old handset with, as you don’t want to end up out of pocket, and SellCell doesn’t want you to, either.