A rumor suggests Apple is buying back old iPhone 13 Pro Max phones for $1,000 each to boost iPhone 17 sales.
Some believe that Apple wants to buy back the iPhone 13 Pro Max because it's the greatest iPhone of all time.
In a video, TikTok user motiv8_tray suggests that the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best iPhone ever due to an advertisement. He said the ad stated Apple would pay $1,000 for the Phone 13 Pro Max as a trade in, while the Phone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 Pro Max weren't mentioned. This evolved into a rumor that Apple wants to repurchase the 2021 iPhone because it's the best iPhone and they want it out of consumer hands to boost iPhone 17 sales.
@motiv8_tray #newiphone #iphone17 #iphone17promax #iphone17air #iphone ♬ original sound - motiv8
Despite the rumor, Apple's marketing head Greg Joswiak said on September 9th during the iPhone 17 series unveiling that customers could get up to $1,100 off with the trade in of "an iPhone 13 Pro or newer" toward an iPhone 17. He had made similar offers previously for the iPhone 12 Pro and 11 Pro. Currently, Apple offers up to $320 in credit for an iPhone 13 Pro Max trade-in toward an iPhone 17.
While Apple offers up to $320 for trade-ins, carrier partners offer more significant deals, allowing customers to trade in an iPhone 13 Pro or later for up to $1,100 toward an iPhone 17 series model. Examples of trade-in deals for an iPhone 13 Pro include:
Verizon: Up to $1,100 off an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max with an eligible unlimited plan.
T-Mobile: Up to $1,100 off any iPhone 17 model for premium plan customers.
AT&T: Up to $1,100 off an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max with an eligible unlimited plan.
The rumor is based on a misunderstanding of legitimate iPhone trade-in offers. The TikTok user broadcasted what he believed to be a credible rumor. The iPhone 13 Pro Max received a 7.2 out of 10 in a review, with praise for its battery life.
In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro Max received an 8 out of 10. Therefore, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is likely not the best iPhone, and Apple is unlikely worried about it affecting iPhone 17 sales. It's important to be skeptical of news seen on TikTok.
However, those with an iPhone 13 Pro Max may want to explore carrier-offered deals, especially if they desire an iPhone that runs Apple.
In other news, a passion project called "Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" will be released in a few months and is a coffee table book for every tech-head that will bring you on a journey to relive the greatest technological revolution of the 21st century.