Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro launched at a higher price point than its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, largely driven by the rising cost of key components like processors and RAM. Cashify said that this price hike is expected to trigger a fresh surge in trade-ins, while also boosting demand for older, refurbished iPhone models, as steeper flagship pricing pushes buyers toward more affordable routes into Apple’s ecosystem. With the newest iPhones now available for purchase, Apple Premium Partners like Unicorn have already seen a surge in trade-ins – up by 8% – and experts have pointed that trade-ins are helping customers to make new purchases affordable.
Trade-ins are rising on the ground
Baljinder Singh, director at Unicorn Infosolutions Pvt Ltd, told The Times of India that this shift is already visible in real-time sales data. According to him, trade-in attach rates to purchase new iPhones have gone up compared to last year, with overall business performing well amid strong consumer demand.A trade-in attach rate is the percentage of primary product purchases (like a new smartphone, or home appliance) in which a customer trades an older used device as part of the transaction.Singh shared that trade-in attach rates for iPhone 18 Pro series have climbed from 26% last year to 33% this year – a meaningful jump that reflects just how many buyers are now choosing to trade in an old device rather than purchase outright.On Apple’s official website, there is an offer of Rs 4,500 – Rs 81,500 for trade-in. When asked about which colour variant is performing best, Singh noted that Burgundy has emerged as the most popular choice among buyers so far this year.
How trade-ins are helping bridge the affordability gap
According to Counterpoint Research, trade-in and exchange offers are becoming an increasingly critical affordability tool, particularly in emerging markets and tier-2 and tier-3 cities.“Trade-in and exchange offers are becoming an increasingly important affordability lever, with trade-in penetration moving from single digit to double-digit levels in some channels. They effectively reduce the upfront cost and can make aspirational devices more accessible beyond metros, especially when combined with EMI/financing options,” Rahul Raturi, Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research (Smartphones Practice), told The Times of India.
Which iPhones are seeing the biggest trade-in surge
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series are expected to see the sharpest rise in buybacks this cycle. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are likely to continue contributing significant trade-in volumes, largely thanks to how widely these models are already in use across the country.Cashify data shows that Apple accounted for 65.3% of all refurbished smartphone sales on its platform in 2025, along with 32.6% of total devices bought back through the platform. The iPhone 13, in particular, stood out as both the platform’s bestselling refurbished iPhone and its most frequently traded-in model.Refurbished phone retailers now expect demand for older iPhone models to pick up further following Apple’s latest round of price increases, particularly among buyers who want an Apple device but aren’t willing to spend close to Rs 1 lakh on a brand-new base model.
What rising prices mean for overall smartphone shipments
Looking at the broader market, Raturi expects rising device prices, both on new purchases and trade-in valuations, to put pressure on overall shipment volumes, particularly within price-sensitive segments of the market.“This is likely to reinforce the ongoing shift from volume-led growth toward value-led growth, with consumers either stretching replacement cycles, trading in existing devices, or moving up through financing,” Raturi added.
