Let's be real for a second. You probably paid somewhere north of $1,200 for that iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s got the titanium frame, that 5x tetraprism zoom that actually takes decent moon shots, and a battery that usually lasts long enough to ignore your charger for a day. But now, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is out, or maybe you’re eyeing that new "iPhone Air" everyone is buzzing about. You want to upgrade, but the thought of just handing over your 15 Pro Max for whatever crumbs Apple offers feels... wrong.
Honestly, it is wrong. If you just walk into an Apple Store and do a blind trade in iPhone 15 Pro Max transaction, you are likely getting the safe, "easy" price. Easy usually means less money. Like, hundreds of dollars less.
As of early 2026, the market for the 15 Pro Max is weirdly split. Because it was the first "Pro" iPhone to really lean into Apple Intelligence features with that A17 Pro chip, it's holding value better than the 14 series did. But where you take it determines if you’re getting a $450 credit or an $1,100 bill credit.
The Brutal Reality of Trade-In Values Right Now
If you go to Apple's official trade-in page today, you’ll see a number that’s probably going to disappoint you. For a 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max in "good" condition, they’re generally hovering around the $450 to $500 range for direct credit. That’s it. You’re basically paying for the privilege of not having to think.
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But wait. Have you looked at the carrier deals lately? This is where the "Expert Content" part kicks in. AT&T and Verizon are currently in a total war for subscribers. They don't want your old phone for the parts; they want you for the next 36 months.
I’ve seen AT&T offers as high as $1,100 in bill credits for a 15 Pro Max when you trade it in for a new iPhone 17 Pro. The catch? You’re locked in for three years. If you try to leave in 18 months, those credits vanish, and you owe the remaining balance on the new phone. It’s a golden handcuff, plain and simple.
Where the Money Is (and Isn't)
- Apple Store: Fast, reliable, but pays the least. Best if you just want a lower monthly payment on a SIM-free phone.
- Third-Party Buyback Sites: Sites like BankMyCell or SellCell are currently showing cash offers around $650 to $780 for a 1TB model in "Flawless" condition. This is actual cash in your Venmo or PayPal, not a gift card.
- Best Buy: They’re kind of the middle ground. You can get around $600 in an eGift card. Great if you need a new air fryer or a TV, less great if you just want to pay your rent.
- Swappa/eBay: You’ll get the absolute most here—maybe $850—but you have to deal with people asking if you'll take $300 and a used Xbox. No thanks.
The "Condition" Trap Most People Fall Into
I can’t tell you how many people think their phone is "Mint."
"It’s been in a case since day one!" they say. Then they take it out and there are those tiny, microscopic pits in the titanium from dust getting trapped inside the case. Or those "micro-scratches" on the screen that only show up under a bright LED light.
When you do a trade in iPhone 15 Pro Max through a mail-in service, they are going to find those. If you claim "Flawless" and they find a single scratch, they’ll often "re-evaluate" your offer. Suddenly your $700 quote becomes $510.
Pro tip: If you have a screen protector on, keep it on until the last second, but take it off before you ship. Some refurbishers will actually mark you down if they can't see the glass underneath immediately. Also, check your battery health. If it’s below 80%, most "Good" ratings automatically drop to "Fair" or "Poor."
Is It Better to Sell or Trade In?
This is the big question. Kinda depends on your personality.
If you’re the type who hates talking to strangers, just use the carrier deal. It’s basically "set it and forget it." You get a massive credit spread out over your bill, and the 15 Pro Max basically pays for 80% of your new phone.
However, if you want the freedom to switch carriers whenever T-Mobile or Verizon pisses you off, you need to sell for cash. Taking $700 in cash from a site like ItsWorthMore or Gazelle gives you the "Unlocking" power. You buy your next phone outright, and you aren't beholden to anyone.
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Preparing the Beast for Its New Home
Don't just hit "Erase All Content and Settings" and toss it in a box. You’ve got to be methodical.
- Unpair your Apple Watch. This is the one everyone forgets. If you don't do this, your Watch might stay locked to a ghost phone.
- Turn off "Find My iPhone." This is non-negotiable. If you send a phone with Find My turned on, the trade-in partner can't touch it. They’ll just send it back or, worse, hold it until you fix it remotely.
- Back up to a Mac or PC. Cloud backups are fine, but a physical encrypted backup saves your passwords and health data way more reliably.
- The Box Matters. Don't just use a padded envelope. The 15 Pro Max is heavy. If the box gets crushed, that "Good" condition screen becomes a "Cracked" screen, and your value plummets by 50% instantly.
What Most People Get Wrong About Storage
If you have the 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max, I have some bad news. You aren't getting that $400 premium back.
In the trade-in world, storage has diminishing returns. A 256GB model might get you $550, while a 1TB model gets you $625. You paid way more than a $75 difference at launch. If you’re planning to trade in every two years, the 256GB or 512GB models are always the "smarter" financial play. The 1TB is for people who shoot ProRes video, not for people looking for resale value.
What about the "Broken" ones?
Surprisingly, a cracked 15 Pro Max is still worth a decent chunk. Because the A17 Pro chip and the camera modules are so expensive, places like Back Market are still paying around $350 for units with cracked back glass. Don't throw it in a drawer just because you dropped it at a concert. It’s still a paycheck.
Actionable Steps for Your Upgrade
If you’re ready to move on from your 15 Pro Max, do this exact sequence to maximize your money:
- Check your Carrier App first: See if you have a "Loyalty" offer. Sometimes they give you the $1,000 credit without needing a new line.
- Get a quote from a comparison site: Use SellCell or BankMyCell to see the "Cash floor." This is the minimum your phone is worth.
- Clean the port: Use a wooden toothpick to get the lint out of the USB-C port. If the technician can't get it to charge instantly, they might flag it as "Faulty."
- Photograph everything: Take a video of the phone working, showing the serial number in Settings, and then showing the physical condition. If it gets damaged in shipping, this is your only insurance.
The trade in iPhone 15 Pro Max market is moving fast. As more people move toward the iPhone 17 and the rumored "Air" models, the supply of used 15s will spike, and these prices will drop. If you’re going to pull the trigger, doing it before the next big iOS announcement is usually the sweet spot for value.