On October 26, 2026, Apple raised the maximum estimated trade-in values for iPad and Mac models in its U.S. Apple Trade In program on apple.com, according to MacRumors. The change came the same day Apple announced the redesigned iPad mini with an OLED display, an A20 Pro chip, and an IP67 rating.
The short answer to “can I get more for my old device now?” is yes, but the size of the bump varies by device. Higher-end Macs got bigger increases than most iPads. These are ceilings, not promises, and your actual quote depends on your exact model, year, and condition.
Apple’s own Trade In page initially still showed the older numbers. When we rechecked it on October 28, its model list showed the new estimates, including up to $915 for iPad Pro and a Mac range topping out at $2,560.
What Happened
MacRumors reported on October 26, 2026 that Apple had updated the maximum estimated trade-in values across its U.S. iPad and Mac lineup. These are the “up to” figures Apple shows for a device in top condition.
The timing lines up with Apple’s newsroom announcement, “Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever”, published the same day. Apple says the new iPad mini has:
- An OLED display, replacing the previous LCD
- The A20 Pro chip
- IP67 water and dust resistance
These are Apple’s own claims. We haven’t found independent reviews or benchmarks of the new model yet, so performance, display quality, and battery life are unverified for now.
Apple’s newsroom release says customers can preorder the new iPad mini starting Wednesday, October 28, with sales beginning November 6. MacRumors’ coverage also cites October 28 as the preorder date, matching Apple’s own release. The November 6 launch date matches across sources as well.
The timing matters for buyers: a bigger estimate on your old iPad or Mac can make a new purchase cheaper, especially when you apply the credit at checkout.
How It Stacks Up
Against the previous Apple Trade In values
MacRumors’ October 26 report lists specific before-and-after trade-in ceilings for each iPad and Mac model line. Apple didn’t include a revised table in its newsroom release, but its public Trade In page lists estimates for most model lines.
When we first checked on October 26, Apple’s page showed up to $905 for iPad and up to $2,195 for Mac, the same numbers MacRumors lists as the previous iPad Pro and Mac Pro ceilings. By October 28, the page showed the new figures.
Here are the maximum estimates MacRumors reported, before and after the change:
| Device line | Previous maximum | New maximum (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro | $905 | $915 |
| iPad Air | $510 | $525 |
| iPad mini | $320 | $340 |
| iPad | $280 | $300 |
| MacBook Pro | $1,315 | $1,435 |
| MacBook Air | $705 | $795 |
| Mac mini | $620 | $645 |
| Mac Studio | $1,460 | $1,700 |
| iMac | $385 | $440 |
| Mac Pro | $2,195 | $2,560 |
On October 28, Apple’s Trade In page listed the new figures for iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac and Mac mini, and its Mac range topped out at $2,560, matching the new Mac Pro ceiling. The Mac Studio figure comes from MacRumors alone, as does the report that the discontinued iMac Pro stayed at up to $340.
Two things stand out:
- Macs got the bigger bump. The iPad increases range from $10 to $20. The Mac increases range from $25 for Mac mini to $365 for Mac Pro, with Mac Studio up $240.
- Ironically, the iPad mini announcement may help Mac owners most. Owners of high-end desktop Macs gain more from this update than most iPad buyers, even though the iPad mini is the headline product.
The iMac Pro reportedly staying flat makes sense, since Apple discontinued that model years ago. The reported numbers suggest Apple simply didn’t revise its trade-in ceiling for a legacy product.
Apple’s own page has caught up
When we first checked Apple’s U.S. Trade In page on October 26, 2026, it still showed the older ceilings: up to $905 for iPad and up to $2,195 for Mac. When we rechecked on October 28, the page’s iPad and Mac sections showed the new figures: “$45–$915” for iPad and “$45–$2560” for Mac, with the per-model estimates matching MacRumors’ numbers.
One quirk: the device-type picker on the same page still read up to $905 for tablets and up to $2,195 for computers when we checked, so look at the model list instead. For your own decision, the quote you get for your device matters most.
Against Google, Samsung, and Microsoft
Here’s where we have to be upfront. Our research found no verified current trade-in values for Google’s Pixel program, Samsung’s Galaxy program, or Microsoft’s Surface trade-in. We also found no data on recent changes to those programs. We won’t guess at numbers or claim Apple is more or less generous than its rivals.
If you’re switching from Android or Windows, get a quote directly from each program and compare the real offers for your specific device. That’s more useful than any headline maximum anyway.
Who This Affects
This change applies to:
- The U.S. Apple Trade In program. All figures here are U.S. values. Other countries weren’t covered in the research.
- iPad and Mac owners. The reported update covers iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. iPhone and other categories weren’t part of this report.
- Anyone buying the new iPad mini or another Apple product. Trade-in credit works toward a new purchase, so you don’t have to buy an iPad mini to benefit.
Here’s how Apple Trade In works. You answer questions about your device’s model and condition on apple.com or in the Apple Store app. Apple then offers one of three outcomes:
- Credit toward a new purchase
- An Apple Store Gift Card
- Free recycling, if the device has no resale value
Requesting a quote costs nothing.
What to Do Next
Don’t plan your budget around the figures above. Get a real quote for your own device. Go to apple.com/shop/trade-in, pick iPad or Mac, and enter your exact model, year, and condition.
The reported maximums only apply to devices in the best condition tier. A four-year-old MacBook Air with a scuffed lid and worn battery will get far less than the reported maximum for that line.
If the number looks good and you decide to trade in, back up your device first. Apple’s guide on what to do before you trade in a Mac then recommends Erase All Content and Settings on macOS Monterey or later. On older versions, the same guide walks you through signing out of iCloud and Messages and then erasing the Mac.
On a Mac, a Time Machine backup to an external SSD is a simple way to keep everything before the machine leaves your hands. Apple also has a support article on using Ready for Repair or Trade In that’s worth reading before you send anything off.
The Reaction
Reaction is still forming. A search of X turned up little or no discussion of the trade-in change, and we found no matching Hacker News threads, so there isn’t enough public response to summarize yet.
Our Take
Verdict: A genuine but modest sweetener for iPad owners, and a meaningful one for high-end Mac owners. It’s not a reason to upgrade by itself.
Did Apple do it better, later, or worse than the competition? We can’t say, because we couldn’t verify current trade-in values from Google, Samsung, or Microsoft. What we can say is that Apple did better than its own previous offers. Every reported category except the discontinued iMac Pro reportedly went up.
Should you upgrade? It depends on what you own:
- You own an older iPad and want the new iPad mini. A reported $10 to $20 increase on the ceiling won’t change the math much. Decide based on whether the OLED display, A20 Pro, and IP67 rating matter to you, and wait for independent reviews if you can. Apple’s claims are all we have right now. The trade-in bump is a small bonus, not the main event.
- You own a well-kept Mac Studio, Mac Pro, or recent MacBook Pro and were already thinking about upgrading. This is the group that should pay attention. These lines got notably larger increases in the ceiling, which could be real money if your machine is in great shape. Get a quote and compare it with what you could get selling privately.
- You’re happy with what you have. Nothing here forces your hand. Higher trade-in ceilings don’t make a working device worse.
Wrapping Up
Apple’s trade-in value increase is real and now shows on Apple’s own Trade In page, but the gains favor Macs over iPads, and every number is a best-case ceiling. If you have a high-end Mac in good condition and an upgrade on your list, now is a reasonable time to get a quote.
If you’re mainly excited about the OLED iPad mini, let the reviews drive that decision, not a small bump in trade-in credit.
| Step | Action | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check the reported before/after ceiling for your device line | iPad and Mac owners (U.S.) |
| 2 | Get a personalized quote at apple.com/shop/trade-in | Anyone considering a trade-in |
| 3 | Confirm the iPad mini preorder date on Apple’s newsroom page | iPad mini buyers |
| 4 | Back up your device before sending it in | Anyone who decides to trade in |