Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Aug 12

Apple Develops 90-Day Wallet Trade-In Offers, Extending Beyond Current 14-Day Window

Updated

Updated · MacRumors · Aug 12

Apple Develops 90-Day Wallet Trade-In Offers, Extending Beyond Current 14-Day Window

Q: If an iPhone's value drops overnight, will Apple's unannounced 90-day trade-in pass force the tech giant to eat the cost?

No. Based on the code seen so far, Apple’s unannounced 90-day Wallet pass would not necessarily force the company to absorb a sudden drop in iPhone values. The key unknown is whether the pass locks the quoted dollar amount for the full 90 days or simply preserves an offer that can still be revised. The code only says the offer can be added to Apple Wallet and “will be valid for 90 days.” It does not say the price is guaranteed for that entire period. That matters because Apple’s existing trade-in program already treats quotes as estimates, not fixed purchase commitments. Current terms allow values to change if the device’s condition differs from what was reported, if Activation Lock or Find My is still enabled, or if timing requirements are missed. Apple also appears to be pulling quotes from trade-in partners, which suggests the economics may sit partly with those vendors rather than Apple alone. The reported workflow includes serial or IMEI checks, condition questions, and Apple Diagnostics before generating the Wallet pass. That could help Apple narrow uncertainty and reduce the risk of overpaying. But it still does not prove Apple would guarantee a price through market swings. So if an iPhone’s resale value falls overnight, Apple would only “eat the cost” if the final product explicitly guarantees the quoted amount for 90 days. Nothing in the discovered code confirms that yet, and the feature may still be an internal test or change before launch.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Aug 12

Code in Apple’s Guide app shows a trade-in system that would let customers save an offer to Apple Wallet for up to 90 days by scanning a QR code.
The workflow appears broader than a simple quote: staff could check device eligibility, capture a serial number or IMEI, assess condition, run Apple Diagnostics, pull vendor pricing and then generate a Wallet pass.
Server-side switches control both the trade-in feature and the Wallet pass option, so the system may not be live and could remain an internal test or change before release.
A 90-day offer would far exceed Apple’s current 14-day online trade-in return window and could support in-store evaluations for customers who want more time before upgrading.
Apple’s code does not confirm whether the quoted value would be guaranteed for the full 90 days, and current terms still allow revisions for condition mismatches, lock issues or late returns.