Former Apple employee details the 'Trade In' process that could you hundreds on your next iPhone

As new models of the iPhone get released each year, it can be incredibly tempting to want to upgrade your phone as often as possible but doing so could run up quite an expensive bill – but not if you make use of Apple’s ‘Trade In’ scheme.

Former Apple Store employee-turned-technology content creator Tyler Morgan (known by the username @hitomidocameraroll) has explained the process of the Trade In scheme in a recent video he posted to the social media app, TikTok.

Save hundreds by trading in when getting your next iPhone

“Apparently, not everyone knows how trade-ins work so we’re going to talk about it,” says Tyler as he begins the video.

The Apple Trade In scheme lets you swap your current device for credit which you can then use when purchasing your next iPhone – or any other piece of Apple technology for that matter.

As the Apple website states, there are two methods of trading in an old device, either online or in person at an Apple Store.

If trading in your phone online, step one is to have your current device valued by filling in a few questions about its model and condition.

“Answer these honestly,” says Tyler. “Basically, your phone just can’t have obvious scratches on the sides or on the screen.”

“If it does, you can still trade it in but it’s going to lose some points,” he adds. “Now, if your phone is cracked, no you can’t trade it in.”

Once your phone has been valued, you can choose your new Apple product and continue to check out.

Step two is preparing your old device to be traded in. Apple will send you instructions on how to back up your data and prepare your phone for trade-in.

And finally, you can either mail the device to Apple or drop it off in person at an Apple Store.

If you want to trade in your phone in-store, you will need to prepare your device by backing up any personal data you want to save and then simply take it to an Apple Store where a specialist will be able to value it on the spot.

In his video, Tyler warns that not all iPhones and Apple products are eligible for trade-in.

“The lowest model you can trade in is an iPhone 7,” he says. “If you have a 6S or something like that, you can’t trade it in, [but] you can recycle it.”

As well as older phones, Apple won’t accept trade-ins for any accessories such as AirPods or an Apple Pencil.

But you can trade in Android phones as well as Apple Watches, iPads and Macs.

“You do not have to trade it in as you’re buying your new device, I believe you have 10 days,” Tyler adds. “All you have to do is keep the receipt, which is emailed to you, go back to the Apple Store, show them the receipt and they’ll link it together, done.”

“Please don’t do what my sister told me that she does, which is just not trade in the device and let it collect dust for years,” he says.

How much each iPhone is worth when trading in

If you are looking to trade in your old iPhone, certain models will be worth more than others.

Additionally, models older than the iPhone 7 are unable to be traded in but can be recycled by Apple for free.