AppleInsider Staff
Apple on Friday launched an iPhone upgrade promotion that sweetens the deal for iPhone owners looking to step to a new iPhone 5s or 5c. Specifically, owners of iPhone 4S models can net greater trade-in incentives than usual — up to $199.
As seen in the image above, owners of previous generation iPhones can bring their old handsets into an Apple Store for recycling, with trade-in proceeds going toward the purchase of a new iPhone 5s or 5c.
Customers can check upgrade eligibility with their wireless carrier in-store and immediately apply an iPhone's trade-in value to a new purchase.
Apple is apparently targeting iPhone 4 and 4S owners with the program as trade-in values for those devices have been boosted to up to $99 and $199, respectively. For example, the maximum $99 iPhone 4 trade-in amount can fetch a free iPhone 5c with two-year contract, while iPhone 4S trade-ins are worth up to $199, meaning some owners will be able to upgrade to a brand new iPhone 5s at no cost.
The process is based on Apple's Reuse and Recycling program, for allows customers to bring in old products that can be "recycled" for . Apple first partnered with PowerON to offer its buyback program in 2011 and recently expanded operations to include free recycling of all Apple products at all brick-and-mortar Apple Stores.
Other iPhone models are also part of the Reuse and Recycle program, including the iPhone 3G and 3GS, as well as more recent versions like the iPhone 5. Owners of the latter may not be eligible for a carrier-subsidized upgrade, however.
Outside of Apple's Reuse and Recycle program, third-party firms like Gazelle and eBay offer up to $270 in cash for 64GB iPhone 4S models. Those looking to upgrade to a newer model or simply offload old hardware can check out AppleInsider's Trade-in Guide for the latest deals.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
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Andrew Orr
31 Comments
THIS makes the iPhone the least expensive smart phone to own...
This is so tempting, but I'm holding out for the iPhone 6. By the way, this is yet another hint that it's coming soon.
It's easy to suspect that recycling means turning those still useful iPhone 4/4s phones into plastic and aluminum pop cans rather the keeping them in service, so Apple can sell more new phones. Don't do that. That's wasterful. Make sure they are reused for what they were intended. Sell them or give them to a friend or relative.
[quote name="Inkling" url="/t/179354/apple-boosts-iphone-4-4s-trade-in-values-in-handset-upgrade-push#post_2531195"]It's easy to suspect that recycling means turning those still useful iPhone 4/4s phones into plastic and aluminum pop cans rather the keeping them in service, so Apple can sell more new phones. Don't do that. That's wasterful. Make sure they are reused for what they were intended. Sell them or give them to a friend or relative.[/quote] Apple's program is called a Recycle and Reuse program for a reason. If the phone is serviceable as a resale unit or can reasonably be reconditioned it will be resold, typically overseas. Otherwise it will be recycled. My guess is that those slated for recycling can and are first canibalized for any usable components to be used in reconditioning others. For example, an iPhone 4S with a shattered and nonfunctional display but with a perfect rear glass could have that rear glass canibalized to recondition another 4S that is fine except for a cracked rear glass.
This also helps to get many non-California-kill-switch-law compliant off the streets much faster, moving to 5s and 5c. Next, after the 6-midi and 6-maxi come out,(think of the 5s as the 6-mini) you will see a push to upgrade the non-compliant 5, particularly before July 2015. If Apple can get 60 percent upgraded to 5c, 5s and 6 in the next year, they will be way ahead of all the other smart phone makers.