Apple’s iPhone Air Trade-In Value Raises Eyebrows After iPhone 18 Pro Launch
Apple has officially introduced the iPhone 18 Pro lineup along with its first foldable model, the iPhone Duo. While the iPhone Duo is not expected to go on sale until late October, pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are already open. Alongside the launch, Apple has also updated its trade-in program, giving customers a clearer idea of how much their older iPhones are worth toward a new purchase.
Unsurprisingly, last year’s top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max currently receives the highest trade-in estimate. Apple lists the device at up to $885, making it the most valuable model in the program among the previous-generation iPhones. The iPhone 17 Pro follows closely behind with a maximum trade-in value of up to $785.
Those figures make sense when compared with their original launch prices. The iPhone 17 Pro Max started at $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro, and Apple’s trade-in values appear to reflect that price gap.
The more surprising detail is the iPhone Air.
When Apple launched the iPhone Air last year, it positioned the device as a premium, ultra-slim alternative in the lineup. It arrived with a starting price of $999, making it $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro but still $200 more expensive than the standard iPhone 17.
However, Apple’s latest trade-in estimate does not reflect that original pricing. The iPhone Air is currently valued at up to $585, the same maximum amount offered for the regular iPhone 17. That is a notable difference, especially considering the iPhone Air cost significantly more at launch.
So why is the iPhone Air trade-in value so low?
The most likely explanation is resale demand. Trade-in values are not based only on launch prices. They are also influenced by how desirable a device remains in the used smartphone market. If fewer people are looking to buy a second-hand iPhone Air, Apple has less reason to offer a higher trade-in value.
The standard iPhone 17 appears to have held stronger appeal with buyers. It reportedly ranked as the best-selling smartphone worldwide in the second quarter of 2026, while several other iPhone models also remained among the most popular devices. The iPhone Air, however, did not appear to generate the same level of demand.
That may not come as a shock to many iPhone users. The iPhone Air’s biggest selling point is its thin and lightweight design. For people who prioritize portability and style, that sleek form factor is appealing. But the slimmer body also comes with compromises.
Compared with Apple’s more traditional iPhone models, the iPhone Air sacrifices certain features, including extra camera hardware, fuller speaker performance, and battery capacity. Those trade-offs may have made it less attractive to mainstream buyers, especially once the initial excitement around its design faded.
For iPhone Air owners looking to upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone Duo, the trade-in estimate may feel disappointing. A phone that launched near the $1,000 mark now being valued the same as a cheaper standard iPhone suggests that Apple sees the device as less competitive in the resale market.
The updated trade-in numbers also highlight an important lesson for smartphone buyers: the most expensive or most unique iPhone is not always the one that holds its value best. Popularity, practicality, battery life, camera features, and long-term demand can matter just as much as launch price.
With the iPhone 18 Pro series now available for pre-order and the foldable iPhone Duo arriving later, many Apple customers will be weighing whether to upgrade. For those trading in an iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Pro, the current values are relatively strong. For iPhone Air owners, however, Apple’s offer may be harder to accept.
