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Today, Apple is launching its long-awaited iPhone trade-in program, meaning you could get up to $280 in credit toward a new iPhone. (If you read this post on how to play your cards right, that is.)
That $280 is reserved for people with 16GB iPhone 5s in optimal condition, which, let's be honest, is not a "gently used" phone. Most consumers won't get that $280: The best an iPhone 4 or 4S owner can hope for is $120, according to TechCrunch's Mathew Panzarino. Even so, with a little luck and our assistance, readers might get enough money to help cover the cost of one of the new devices — rumored to be an updated iPhone 5 and a cheaper version called a 5C — said to hit stores in just a few weeks. Here's how to get the most bank for your device:
Step 1: Have a Working, on-Contract iPhone 4, 4S or 5
Apple will only accept in-use iPhones with current wireless company contract. That means: No unlocked phones, phones with lapsed contracts, or water-damaged devices that won't turn on. In addition, it doesn't sound like Apple will give store credit for models older than the iPhone 4 — at least the pilots of this program mentioned by Panzarino didn't offer any money for anything older than the 4.