Skip to main content

Apple will take your Android phone now and give you a shiny new iPhone instead

Best Phablets Apple iPhone 6 Plus
A lot of people left the iPhone for phablets when Apple was still making small iPhones, but now, Apple is willing to welcome the switchers back into the flock with open arms. Its brand-new trade-in program lets Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry users hand in their old phones for bright, shiny iPhones.

Perviously, only iPhones were accepted as trade ins at Apple Stores, but now any Apple Store in the U.S., UK, Canada, and a few other European countries will accept phones that run the competitions’ software. The change is listed on individual store pages, and is listed on the UK Apple Store’s iPhone Reuse and Recycling program page. Trade ins for non iPhones aren’t advertised very loudly, but hidden under a category that’s simply called, “Smartphone,” as if Apple doesn’t really want to advertise that its letting Android users into its program.

Right now, the online trade-in page only gives the option to hand over phones from Sony, Samsung, Nokia, LG, HTC, and BlackBerry, but if you go into stores with another Android device, you may also get credit. No one’s tested that theory yet, though. The other thing to note about Apple’s new policy is that you may not get very much money for your old Android. A Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in mint condition will only get you about $140. Still, it’s better than nothing.

Apple’s decision to accept non-iPhone trade ins isn’t too surprising, given the recent report that it would open up to Android devices at the very least. It also makes sense, assuming that CEO Tim Cook’s claims that Android users are leaving Google for Apple in droves are actually true.

If you’re interested in finding out how much your phone will fetch, you can either head over to an Apple Store, or check out the UK website for an estimate. The U.S. Apple Store page doesn’t say anything about non-iPhone trade ins at the moment.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
iOS 16.5 is bringing two exciting new features to your iPhone
apple launches ios 16 5 new pride wallpapers more wallpaper update

After about a month in the beta testing stage, Apple is finally rolling out iOS 16.5 to the public. This is a surprisingly nice update, as it includes a few new features and some bug fixes.

One of the headliner features of the iOS 16.5 update is the addition of new Pride Celebration wallpapers. This wallpaper can be used for the lock and home screens, and it is meant to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. This wallpaper is being released ahead of the Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band, which will be available starting on May 24.

Read more
I hate my iPhone’s keyboard, but this app made it better
Theming on SwiftKey

The iPhone does a lot of things right. From serving a secure environment, a smooth operating system, unmatched performance, and consistently good cameras, there are plenty of practically justifiable reasons to overlook any of the best Android phones in favor of a pricey iPhone.

Interestingly, Apple tends to take a conservatively slow approach when it comes to smartphone innovations and only serves them after nearly near-perfecting the formula. But the default iPhone keyboard is a tale of stagnation. Or, to put it more accurately, it’s absurdly feature-devoid and depressingly non-exciting.

Read more
Your iPhone will soon be able to speak with your voice
Apple's preview of new accessibility features for its devices.

Apple has announced a slew of new accessibility features coming to the iPhone and its other devices later this year.

They include Personal Voice, which uses a synthesized version of your voice for spoken conversations, offering a more meaningful way to communicate with loved ones for those who have lost the ability to talk.

Read more