Apple expands iPhone XS and XR trade-in program countries around the world
Amid worries of an iPhone sales slowdown, Apple on Friday took steps to goose demand by expanding a promotional upgrade program for its latest iPhone XS and XR handsets to major markets around the world.
Apple's iPhone trade-in program page as seen in China.
The promotion, which has been heavily advertised in the U.S. since its launch in November, presents prospective buyers with a higher iPhone trade-in value to put toward the purchase of a new iPhone XS and XR.
In the U.S., customers can receive up to $450 when trading in an iPhone X, $350 for an iPhone 8 Plus or $300 for an iPhone 8 or iPhone 7 Plus. The higher than normal trade-in value is subsequently applied to the purchase of a new iPhone XS Max, XS or XR, effectively lowering upgrade pricing for existing iPhone owners.
According to regional Apple websites, similar offers are now available in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Taiwan. Beyond North America and Asia, a clutch of European countries -- Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK -- are also included in the promotion.
As of Friday, the trade-in program is not yet available in Latin America, Africa or India, the latter of which is widely viewed as a key growth market for Apple.
Like product prices, trade-in values fluctuate from country to country, though users in each region should expect a substantial savings on their purchase. The program's end date also varies by region, with countries like China and Japan seeing a cutoff of January 31, 2019, while others have yet to be specified.
Depending on the country, users are able to process the trade-in online via Apple's website. Those areas without online trade-in systems, like China, require customers bring their current iPhone in to an Apple Store for an on-the-spot assessment.
The limited time promotion augments Apple's GiveBack program which normally offers prices on the low end of the trade-in spectrum. Typically, customers can find better deals through third-party firms.
Today's program expansion arrives amidst concerns of slumping iPhone sales. A number of analysts and investment firms tracking Apple's smartphone performance have cut expectations as the company battles global economic headwinds, smartphone saturation, the U.S. and China trade war and other issues. Most recently, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this month slashed forecasts for the iPhone XR, a mid-tier handset many expected to account for a bulk of Apple's 2019 sales.
Apple's iPhone trade-in program page as seen in China.
The promotion, which has been heavily advertised in the U.S. since its launch in November, presents prospective buyers with a higher iPhone trade-in value to put toward the purchase of a new iPhone XS and XR.
In the U.S., customers can receive up to $450 when trading in an iPhone X, $350 for an iPhone 8 Plus or $300 for an iPhone 8 or iPhone 7 Plus. The higher than normal trade-in value is subsequently applied to the purchase of a new iPhone XS Max, XS or XR, effectively lowering upgrade pricing for existing iPhone owners.
According to regional Apple websites, similar offers are now available in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Taiwan. Beyond North America and Asia, a clutch of European countries -- Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK -- are also included in the promotion.
As of Friday, the trade-in program is not yet available in Latin America, Africa or India, the latter of which is widely viewed as a key growth market for Apple.
Like product prices, trade-in values fluctuate from country to country, though users in each region should expect a substantial savings on their purchase. The program's end date also varies by region, with countries like China and Japan seeing a cutoff of January 31, 2019, while others have yet to be specified.
Depending on the country, users are able to process the trade-in online via Apple's website. Those areas without online trade-in systems, like China, require customers bring their current iPhone in to an Apple Store for an on-the-spot assessment.
The limited time promotion augments Apple's GiveBack program which normally offers prices on the low end of the trade-in spectrum. Typically, customers can find better deals through third-party firms.
Today's program expansion arrives amidst concerns of slumping iPhone sales. A number of analysts and investment firms tracking Apple's smartphone performance have cut expectations as the company battles global economic headwinds, smartphone saturation, the U.S. and China trade war and other issues. Most recently, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this month slashed forecasts for the iPhone XR, a mid-tier handset many expected to account for a bulk of Apple's 2019 sales.
Comments
BTW, no promotion here in NZ. Apple must think that we have no issue paying $1400 for a base model XR.
Btw, I'm still using a BB9900. I'm not paying $800 or more for a damn phone!
I was pushed out of an upgrade due to pricing. With this promotion, I am back in. I will take a decision later today after discussing with my wife.
Unfortunately, the people that needed the “latest & greatest” upgraded with the iPhone X. The newer versions have little advantages to the X. All those people with a 7 or 8 have look at the XR/XS and seen little need to upgrade. The camera was already great, and the performance is sufficient to run 99.95% of all Apps in the Apple Store.
What are Apple’s new features? AR does nothing for people, and there are few Apps that take advantage of it. The camera? Still great... What else is there? Face ID isn’t a significant improvement over Touch ID.
There’s no advantage to buying a $1000 phone at this point. I think XR is more compelling, especially if Apple runs a buy one get one free promotion, but they just did that with the 8. Do people with an 8 “need” a XR? I don’t think so...
I don’t trust the news to accurately predict Apple’s sales, but I can see that they might have a case (this time). I do think the new iPad has some compelling features, and has the potential to expand its user base, but they need to improve file management to really “hit it out of the park”.
Apple is pushing AR & AI but they’re bleeding edge (at this point). Maybe in a few years they’ll be compelling.
According to Apple's new discounted pricing table, handing over an iPhone 6 will enable you to pick up an XR for 729€.
However, after clicking through and filling in the evaluation form, it returns a hand in value of 0€ (all questions answered positively).
Clearly, some buttons have been pushed at Apple to apply the new options.
As for your BB9900 - who the fuck cares?!
1. We hit Peak Apple with the iPhoneX this year similar to how they were talking about Peak Mobile Phone last year.
2. We are in a cyclical pattern similar to the the 6S that sold less than the iPhone6 after lots of people went to the bigger phone the year before.
3. The iPhone is just over priced to lots of people. Apple isn't using QualComm Modems anymore which we always heard added greatly to the price.
They didn't lower the price of the Xr, Xs, or X to reflect this.
4. Apple should have produced either a new 4.7 inch or SE model for those who like smaller phones.
5. Mid and high end Android phones are getting better and now people don't switch from Android to iOS anymore at the levels/rate they used to.
Many people may find google services like MAPS and GOOGLE ASSISTANT much better.
6. A Combination of the above.
I was surprised to see HomePods for $100 off this Christmas in several Sales. I might have bought two of those last year if they had premiered at that price but decided to go with Sonos instead. Also this year you could get the $329 iPad for $229. Big discounts I've never seen before. Now we will see big discounts on new MBP too.
Its will certainly be interesting to see how Apple ends up doing in the next quarterly financials. They may meet guidance due to the number of sales bringing people in.
Since they plan to withhold the details behind the numbers no one really knows.
The Jan-Mar quarter si usually a big quarter for Apple because of the Asian New Year. Will be interesting to see what happens then.
Unfortunately I think that the iPhone needs to have a new feature or function that Android doesn't have similar to FaceID but offered without raising the price through the roof.
Apple also needs to invest in Basic R&D to develop the future Technologies themselves instead of paying inflated prices to Samsung and other companies. Where are the microLED screen? Where are their own developed modems? Where are their solid State batteries.
I called the number to the Online Apple Store (after all, the promotion originates from the front page of Apple's web).
They confirmed the following:
They have no pricing details of the promotion beyond what is announced on the page. They were unable to clear up my doubts.
The promotion itself is limited to physical Apple Retail Stores.
They admit that the online promotional page points to the Brightstar system which is NOT part of the new promotion. This means that if you click through from the Apple home page from the offer, you will NOT get the new discount pricing. This is a terrible situation.
I had to call a physical retail store to get the real info. They have confirmed that I can giveback an iPhone 6 64GB in exchange for an XR 64GB for 729€.
I am about to start a 120KM round trip to see if this info is true.
Being a Saturday afternoon right before Christmas, I expect to wait a long while.
The only reason the slowing sales stories are sticking this time is Apple announce it is going to stop the practice of announcing sales volume to conform with its competitors. So people shorting the stock have everything to gain by the stock price sinking. The irony is Apple met its own guidance last quarter for sales and beat the numbers from the same quarter last year (although not by much).
Regular consumers don’t know crap about Qualcomm and don’t see any noticeable differences in performance either. I doubt it appreciably effects any buying decisions. It certainly didn’t mine. The XS Max is great phone. Not noticing any reception issues, which are certainly better than the iPhone 7 it replaced. We also don’t know if Apple pays Intel significantly less for its modem then Qualcomm.
If Apple sales were hurting, you’d think there would be significantly improved deals from carriers to push inventory. Yet carrier deals are about the same as last year. A few carriers you can get an XR for free or low cost with a multi year commitment. This is similar to last year. iPhone 8 you could get free and x for a reduced cost. So price shouldn’t be an issue for somebody who really wants a new iphone.
As far as killing the smaller phone, you’d think Apple would have the sales numbers to figure out whether that was the right move before making that move.
Other things to consider, due to Trumps trade war, and irrational behavior along with the FEDs increased interest rates the stock market is taking a hammering. People are going to start closing their pocket books as they watch their saving stuck in the markets dwindle which could effect sales.
And yet, people do buy them, time and time. Why? Because they offer value, even at a grand for the top-tier offering. Phone, camera, ipod, video camera, GPS nav, computing device, home automation controller, etc etc.. It adds up, and it’s worth it.
If you think a smartphone is just a phone, then you’re not an advanced user. You’d be better off with a flip phone to call your wife with or whatever.