Apple has not yet published iPhone Duo-specific trade-in figures. This guide uses Apple’s current trade-in program and the carrier deals live for the iPhone 18 Pro line as the best available baseline, and will be updated with confirmed iPhone Duo numbers when pre-orders open October 16, 2026.
Apple’s trade-in program currently credits iPhone 13 or later between roughly $175 and $885, depending on model and condition, with an iPhone 17 Pro Max at the top of that range.
Carriers are more aggressive: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are each offering up to $1,200 off an iPhone 18 Pro model with an eligible trade-in and a qualifying plan, paid out as monthly bill credits over 24 to 36 months rather than upfront.
Apple hasn’t confirmed what any of this looks like for iPhone Duo specifically, and history suggests trade-in values actually drop in the days between a new iPhone’s announcement and its release – so if you’re trading in toward a Duo, sooner is generally better than waiting.
How Apple’s Trade-In Program Works
Apple doesn’t publish a fixed price list. Its trade-in page runs you through a short questionnaire about your device and its condition, then returns an estimate that’s confirmed once Apple physically inspects the phone.
Every published figure is a ceiling for a device in good working order – a cracked screen, a swollen battery, or a failed diagnostic test can cut the credit significantly, sometimes far below the headline number.
As of this month, Apple’s stated range for eligible trade-ins is roughly $175 to $885 in the US. Reported individual values under that range include:
| Device | Reported Apple Trade-In Value |
|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $885 |
| iPhone 16 Pro | Dropped by as much as $120 after the Sept 9 keynote |
| iPhone 15 | $305 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | $285 (flat regardless of storage size) |
| iPhone 13 | $175 |
| iPhone 13 mini | $155 (August figure; not recaptured since) |
Two details matter more than the numbers themselves. First, Apple’s trade-in credit is reported to be flat per model regardless of storage – a 512GB iPhone 14 Pro and a 128GB iPhone 14 Pro are quoted the same figure.
Second, and more important if you’re timing a trade-in: values are known to move on announcement days.
Apple’s own trade-in values shifted on September 9, the day iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo were unveiled, and a trade-in comparison site’s analysis of the iPhone 15, 16, and 17 launches found trade-in values fell for 75% of tracked models in the 10-day window between announcement and release – an average drop of over $36 per device, with some models losing well over $100.
What this means for iPhone Duo specifically: Apple is very likely to publish or adjust Duo-specific trade-in figures around October 16, when pre-orders open.
If the pattern from prior launches holds, values may drift downward between then and the October 23 ship date, so locking in a trade-in on pre-order day is a reasonable default rather than waiting to see if the number improves.
What an iPhone 18 Pro Max or Older Pro Model Is Likely Worth
Since iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, the trade-in credit you get for your current phone directly sets your net cost.
Using Apple’s current figures as a stand-in until Duo-specific numbers post:
- iPhone 18 Pro Max (released September 18, 2026): too new for a reported trade-in figure yet, but based on how Apple has priced current-generation flagships against last year’s Pro Max, expect it to land at or near the top of Apple’s range once eligible.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: reported at $885, currently the highest confirmed figure in Apple’s program.
- iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max: dropped as much as $120 immediately after the September 9 keynote — a useful reminder that “older Pro model” trade-in values erode the moment a new iPhone is announced, not just when it ships.
- iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max: track closer to the $305 figure reported for the standard iPhone 15, likely somewhat higher for the Pro variant, though Apple hasn’t published Pro-specific numbers separately in current reporting.
- iPhone 14 Pro and older: in the $175–$285 range, with condition mattering more at this age, since a three- or four-year-old battery and screen are far more likely to show wear that lowers the final inspected value.
Apple’s program uses these credits as instant checkout credit, applied directly to your Duo purchase price, unlike most carrier trade-in deals below.
Carrier Trade-In Deals: Bigger Numbers, Bigger Strings Attached
Carrier trade-in offers routinely advertise larger totals than Apple’s own program, but they come with real conditions that Apple’s instant credit doesn’t.
As of this month, against the iPhone 18 Pro line:
| Carrier | Offer | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Up to $1,200 off | Eligible trade-in and a new line or switch on Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next |
| Verizon | Up to $1,200 off (new line) / up to $1,020 off (upgrade existing line) | Qualified trade-in plus a myPlan line |
| AT&T | Up to $1,200 off | Eligible trade-in and an upgrade or switch on a qualifying unlimited plan |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Up to $300 off | Number port-in and a $50 plan with AutoPay |
The number that matters most isn’t in that table: carrier trade-in credit is almost always paid out as a monthly bill credit spread over 24 to 36 months, not as money off the phone’s upfront price.
To collect the full advertised amount, you generally need to keep that line active, on the required plan, for the entire term. Cancel early, downgrade your plan, or switch carriers before the term ends, and the remaining credits typically stop.
That structure makes carrier deals a better fit for people who were going to keep that line and plan anyway, and a worse fit for anyone who trades phones or carriers frequently.
Apple’s smaller, instant credit is the more flexible option if you want the trade-in value applied once, with no ongoing commitment.
None of the carriers above have published iPhone Duo-specific trade-in terms yet.
Given that Duo pre-orders don’t open until October 16, expect carrier offers to be announced alongside or shortly after that date, most likely mirroring the structure of their current iPhone 18 Pro deals rather than introducing something new.
Apple Trade-In vs. Carrier Trade-In: Which Should You Use?
- Choose Apple’s trade-in if you want the credit applied immediately to a lower purchase price, you’re paying for iPhone Duo outright or via Apple’s own financing, or you don’t want your trade-in tied to a multi-year carrier commitment.
- Choose a carrier trade-in if the advertised total is meaningfully higher than Apple’s offer for your specific device, you were already planning to stay on that carrier and plan for the next two to three years, and you’re comfortable losing the remaining credit if your plans change.
- Run the math on your actual device before assuming carrier wins. Carrier “up to” figures apply to specific high-value trade-ins on specific plans. An older Pro model might net less through a carrier’s tiered system than Apple’s flat instant credit, especially once you account for any plan cost difference.
Key Takeaways
- Apple hasn’t published iPhone Duo-specific trade-in values yet; this guide will update once pre-orders open October 16, 2026.
- Apple’s current trade-in program credits roughly $175 to $885 depending on model and condition, applied instantly at checkout.
- Trade-in values are known to drop in the window between an iPhone’s announcement and its release, so trading in earlier is generally safer than waiting.
- Carrier deals from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T currently advertise up to $1,200 off an iPhone 18 Pro model, but pay out as bill credits over 24–36 months tied to keeping a specific plan and line active.
- An iPhone 18 Pro Max or newer Pro model will sit at the top of whatever range Apple and carriers set for iPhone Duo trade-ins; older Pro models drop off quickly, both with age and with each new iPhone announcement.
- Compare Apple’s flat instant credit against a carrier’s multi-year bill credit based on your actual plans, not just the bigger headline number.
FAQ
No. Apple’s trade-in figures for iPhone Duo specifically are expected around October 16, 2026, when pre-orders open.
Not yet published, since the iPhone 18 Pro Max only released September 18, 2026. Expect it to land near the top of Apple’s trade-in range once eligible figures post.
Trade-in values have historically dropped in the days between an iPhone’s announcement and its release, so locking in a value on or near pre-order day is generally safer than waiting to see if it improves.
Not necessarily. Carrier deals often advertise higher totals, but they’re paid out as bill credits over 24 to 36 months and require keeping a specific plan and line active. Apple’s credit is smaller on paper but instant and has no ongoing commitment.
Apple’s trade-in credit has been reported as flat per model regardless of storage — a higher-storage phone doesn’t appear to earn more than a lower-storage one of the same model.
Sources
Disclaimer: Trade-in values and carrier offers change frequently and vary by device condition, region, and current promotions. Figures in this article reflect Apple’s and major carriers’ published programs for the iPhone 18 Pro line as of September 11, 2026, since iPhone Duo-specific terms are not yet available. Confirm current values directly with Apple or your carrier before trading in a device. This article is not sponsored by Apple, T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T.
T’kal is the lead strategist and developer behind Apple Headlines. With a background in digital marketing and web development, he specializes in technical Apple troubleshooting, software news, and hardware rumors. T’kal focuses on delivering high-authority tech content that bridges the gap between Apple enthusiasts and the latest industry innovations.
