In with the new, out with the old! You can call it planned obsolescence or whatever you like, but when there’s a major shift in device software, some of the old models are sent packing.
Apple has announced iOS 17 – a system update that packs so many new features that many of the old iPhones simply can’t handle them. When the new iOS is released, there’ll be major upgrades to FaceTime and Message, more customization options for the Lock Screen, new twists for the Health app, and an all-new Standby mode.
The phones that WILL be compatible with iOS 17 are:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
Apart from these models, all other iPhone models are not compatible with iOS 17. In short, that’s any iPhone model prior to the iPhone SE (2nd generation or older).
What are your options?
Depending on how old the iPhone is and what shape it’s in, it could be worth somewhere between $40 and $630 if you trade it in to Apple and buy a newer model. When ConsumerAffairs contacted Apple support, we were pointed to this list of what those estimated trade-in values are:
Your device | Estimated trade-in value |
iPhone 13 Pro Max | Up to $630 |
iPhone 13 Pro | Up to $530 |
iPhone 13 | Up to $400 |
iPhone 13 mini | Up to $330 |
iPhone SE (3rd generation) | Up to $160 |
iPhone 12 Pro Max | Up to $440 |
iPhone 12 Pro | Up to $350 |
iPhone 12 | Up to $300 |
iPhone 12 mini | Up to $220 |
iPhone SE (2nd generation) | Up to $90 |
iPhone 11 Pro Max | Up to $280 |
iPhone 11 Pro | Up to $240 |
iPhone 11 | Up to $200 |
iPhone XS Max | Up to $200 |
iPhone XS | Up to $160 |
iPhone XR | Up to $150 |
iPhone X | Up to $130 |
iPhone 8 Plus | Up to $100 |
iPhone 8 | Up to $75 |
iPhone 7 Plus | Up to $60 |
iPhone 7 | Up to $40 |
If you want to do the trade-in option, Apple’s phone number to make that happen is 800–692–7753 and they’re open during normal business hours.
However, if you think you’d rather try and sell your iPhone on the open market, you can always go the eBay route or any of the other device buyers that’ll give you cash instead of trade-in credit.
Don’t expect a windfall, though. When ConsumerAffairs checked how much BuyBackWorld would pay for an iPhone 7 32GB from T-Mobile, the offer price was only $20 and only if the phone was in “excellent” shape.