How Much Is My iPhone Worth in 2026? Trade-In Values for Every Model

Short answer: probably more than you'd guess, and less every month you wait. iPhones hold their resale value better than any other phone brand, so even a four-year-old iPhone 12 is still worth real cash in 2026.

The catch is that the number you see advertised is rarely the number you pocket. Apple's estimator quotes one figure, then hands you store credit instead of cash. Carrier deals want you to finance a new phone over two or three years. And some buyback sites quote high, then trim the offer after your phone is already in their hands.

Below are current, real buyback prices for every iPhone from the 12 up to the 17 Pro Max, plus a plain explanation of what moves your phone's value and how to get the top offer. Every price here comes from GadgetRenu's live catalog and reflects an unlocked device in Excellent condition at its highest storage tier, as of July 2026. Your exact phone may land lower depending on storage, condition, and carrier lock — the ranges below show how far.

Want a number for your specific model right now? Get an instant quote on GadgetRenu's iPhone page — it takes about two minutes, no account required.

These are live GadgetRenu buyback prices, as of July 2026. The Up to column is the top payout — highest storage, Excellent condition, unlocked. The Condition floor is what the same model pays at its lowest (rough shape, base storage, carrier-locked). Your phone lands somewhere between the two.

iPhone 17 series (and iPhone Air)

iPhone 16 series

iPhone 15 series

iPhone 14 series

iPhone 13 series

iPhone 12 series and SE

These are cash offers — not gift cards, not account credit you can only spend in one place. GadgetRenu pays by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or mailed check within three business days after your device is delivered and inspected.

Prices move as the market shifts, so the sooner you sell, the more you keep. Get a quote today and your price is locked for 14 days.

Two iPhones of the same model rarely fetch the same offer. Five things drive the spread.

1. Model and generation. The biggest lever by far. A current iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,157) is worth about eight times an iPhone 12 ($142). Within a single generation, the Pro Max carries a hefty premium: the iPhone 16 Pro Max tops out at $775 versus $490 for the standard iPhone 16 — roughly 58% more.

2. Storage capacity. The Up to prices above all assume the highest storage tier. Drop to a base-storage version of the same model and the offer steps down accordingly, since resellers pay more for the configurations buyers want most.

3. Cosmetic condition. This is what separates the top payout from the floor. An Excellent iPhone 15 Pro Max earns up to $586; a scratched, dented, or cracked one slides toward the $94 end of its range. A cracked screen doesn't make a phone worthless, though — even damaged iPhones carry real value in their cameras, logic boards, and other parts. More on that in Is My Cracked iPhone Still Worth Anything?

4. Carrier lock status. An unlocked iPhone resells to a wider market, so it earns more than one still tied to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. Most carriers unlock a phone once it's paid off, and it's worth doing before you sell. If your phone is iCloud-locked or reported lost or stolen, that's a separate situation — see How to Sell a Locked iPhone.

5. Battery health. Apple rates iPhone 15 and later batteries to keep 80% of their original capacity through 1,000 charge cycles (older models were rated for 500). A phone above 90% is worth noticeably more than one in the high 70s, because a tired battery means shorter runtime and Apple's performance throttling. Check yours in Settings > Battery > Battery Health — it takes ten seconds and explains a lot about your quote. Details in How to Check iPhone Battery Health Before Selling.

Every month you hold an iPhone you plan to sell, it's worth a little less. You don't need a made-up depreciation curve to see the pattern — GadgetRenu's own catalog spells it out. Line up the Pro Max at each generation:

Each step back a generation lops off roughly a fifth to a third of the value. A two-generation-old iPhone 15 Pro Max ($586) is worth about half of today's flagship. The standard line behaves the same way: iPhone 17 ($638) → 16 ($490) → 15 ($364) → 14 ($277) → 13 ($210) → 12 ($142).

The drops aren't evenly spaced through the year. The value cliff comes each September, when Apple announces the next generation and the market fills with people trading in last year's phone. If you're planning to sell, the sweet spot is the couple of weeks before that announcement — you catch the last of the current-generation pricing. Miss it, and the next best time is simply now, because from here the line only points down.

Here's where GadgetRenu fits against the common alternatives. Fair disclosure: this is GadgetRenu's own read on the market, so weigh it against your own quotes.

Apple Trade-In is genuinely convenient — trade in at any Apple Store or on apple.com — but it pays in Apple store credit or an Apple Gift Card, never cash. If you're already buying a new Apple product, that credit is useful. If you want spendable money, an independent cash quote is the comparison to make. For an iPhone 15 Pro Max, GadgetRenu pays up to $586 in cash.

Gazelle, Decluttr, and other buyback sites each have their strengths, and it's worth pulling a live quote from a couple of them for your exact model. Across the industry, the two things reviewers most often flag are slow payment timelines and offers that get revised downward after inspection — so before you ship anywhere, check how long payment takes and what the return policy is if the offer changes.

What GadgetRenu does differently. GadgetRenu is a family-owned electronics buyback company in Wallington, New Jersey that refurbishes and resells devices directly rather than acting as a middleman. That's what funds a competitive cash payout. The specifics:

• 14-day price lock — your quote holds for two full weeks, so there's no ship-tonight pressure.
• Free insured USPS shipping — a prepaid label lands in your inbox, and your device is covered in transit.
• Certified Data Wipe — every device is erased at an R2-certified facility to the NIST 800-88 (Purge) standard, so your data is gone for good.
• Real cash, fast — PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or check, paid within three business days after delivery.

Start a quote on GadgetRenu's iPhone page.

Fear of getting shortchanged is the top reason old iPhones sit dead in a drawer. It's a fair worry — here's how to stay ahead of it.

Be honest about condition. The most common reason an offer gets revised is a phone described as "Excellent" that actually has scratches or a weak battery. Before you quote, look it over under bright light: run a fingernail across the screen for scratches, check the frame and corners for dents, hunt for hairline cracks, watch for display discoloration or burn-in, and note the battery percentage. Describe it accurately and the quote you accept is the payment you get.

Pick a buyer with a real price lock. Some sites honor a quote for only 24–48 hours, which rushes you into shipping before you've even backed up. GadgetRenu's 14-day lock gives you room to breathe.

Read the return policy first. The real test of a buyback company is what happens when it wants to lower your offer. The honest ones return your device free if you decline; the sketchy ones charge for return shipping to pressure you into saying yes. Know which you're dealing with before you mail anything.

Look for patterns in reviews, not one-off gripes. Every company has a few unhappy customers. What matters is whether the same complaint — quoted high, paid low — shows up again and again.

Get two or three quotes. It takes a few minutes to price your phone at several buyers. Compare the number, the payment speed, and the fine print, then go with the best combination.

Active time is about five minutes; the rest is shipping and payment.

1. Get your instant quote. On GadgetRenu's iPhone page, pick your model, storage, carrier status, and condition. Your offer appears right away — no account, no email required just to see a price.

2. Accept and lock it. If the number works, accept it. Your price is locked for 14 days from that moment, and GadgetRenu emails you a free prepaid, insured USPS label.

3. Prep the phone. Back up to iCloud or your computer. Sign out of iCloud (Settings > [your name] > Sign Out) to switch off Find My and Activation Lock. Erase it (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings). Remove the SIM. Skipping the iCloud sign-out is the single most common mistake — if Find My is still on, the phone can't be processed and payment stalls.

4. Ship it. Any box with padding works. Attach the label, drop it at USPS or schedule a free pickup. It's insured in transit.

5. Get paid. Once it arrives at the New Jersey facility and is inspected, payment goes out within three business days after delivery, by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or check. No haggling, no store credit, no two-year plan.

How much is a used iPhone 15 worth in 2026?

At GadgetRenu, as of July 2026, a standard iPhone 15 is worth up to $364, an iPhone 15 Pro up to $519, and an iPhone 15 Pro Max up to $586 — assuming top storage, Excellent condition, and unlocked. Lower storage, wear, or a carrier lock brings it down from there. These are cash offers, not store credit.

Can I sell an iPhone with a cracked screen?

Yes. A crack lowers the offer but doesn't zero it out — even heavily damaged iPhones hold value in their cameras, logic boards, and other parts, which is why the same model's range runs down to a real dollar floor rather than $0. GadgetRenu accepts iPhones in any condition and quotes based on the actual state. See Is My Cracked iPhone Still Worth Anything?

Is it better to trade in at the Apple Store or sell to a buyback company?

If you want cash, a buyback company is the comparison to make: Apple Trade-In pays only in store credit or an Apple Gift Card. Apple's route makes sense mainly if you're already buying a new Apple product and want the simplest possible flow. Otherwise, put an independent cash quote next to Apple's credit before deciding.

How long does it take to get paid?

With GadgetRenu, payment issues within three business days after delivery. Shipping usually runs 2–4 days on the free prepaid USPS label, and inspection happens within about a business day of arrival — roughly a week from mailbox to money. You choose PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or check.

Will my quote change after inspection?

Only if the phone doesn't match what you described. Say you selected "Excellent" but there are visible scratches — GadgetRenu explains the difference and offers a revised price with photos. Don't agree? They return the phone free. The decision stays with you.