Apple has the solution to all of your problems, at least as long as they relate to having an Android smartphone that you wish was actually an iPhone. For some time now, Apple has offered a trade-in and trade-up program for those wishing to swap their old iOS or MacOS X gear for the latest and greatest… but soon they will extend that same courtesy to those wanting to make the switch away from Android.
Part of it stinks of arrogance on Apple’s part, assuming that the only thing preventing Android users from switching to their platform is cash. On the other hand, with so many carriers locking you in for a few years before being eligible to upgrade your device, finding ways to switch yourself into something new could be very much appreciated.
As long as it works the same way as their existing program, it is an incredibly easy process: bring your device into any Apple Store where it will be graded based on cosmetics and functionality, receive a gift card to be used toward your fancy new iDevice.
Nobody knows just how Apple will value your Android device, particularly with so many makes and models floating around out there… which may give Apple cause to create a reasonable ‘push-pull-or-drag’ standard trade-in value for any device, regardless of the vintage.
In my experience, Apple pays a fair price that is comparable to what you could expect selling your old electronics privately (or only slightly lower, but you get to avoid all of the hassle). There will always be a sweet spot, of course –if you picked up a high-end Samsung Galaxy S5 a few weeks ago, you aren’t going to get what you paid for it… but if you’re holding on to an older Galaxy S3, you may see a reasonable down-payment toward an Apple-branded upgrade (I took $250CDN for my 32GB iPhone 5S when I bought my new 64GB iPhone 6 Plus when it was released last fall).
Even though it will cost Apple a few cash dollars, expanding their trade-in program is bound to deliver a few warm and fuzzy feelings… it also demonstrates confidence in their product line (and they have always excelled at establishing brand loyalty).
Whether you choose to take advantage of the program or not, things should be in place within a few weeks (following training programs for retail store employes that are already getting underway).
Jillian Koskie is an experienced software developer, content writer, project manager and usability design expert. With over 17 years in these roles, Jillian has enjoyed applying her skill-set to assist clients and users across a wide variety of sectors including: legal, health, and financial services. Combining these professional opportunities with a love of technology, Jillian is pleased to contribute articles, opinions, and advice to numerous news outlets, websites, and publications.