If you’re sitting on a cracked iPhone, you should stop doing that because it’s a good way to get glass shards stuck in unpleasant places. Thankfully, there will soon be a more appropriate place for you to put that busted up device—Apple is launching an iPhone trade-in program.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, starting this week, Apple is granting its retail locations across the United States the ability to give credit to customers in exchange for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and 6 Plus handsets that have suffered major damage.
The program will take in devices that have damaged displays, broken cameras, or unresponsive buttons in hopes of convincing people to upgrade to a new device instead of undergoing repairs.
The reported figures for the trade-in value of devices put the credit at $50 for an iPhone 5s, $200 for an iPhone 6, and $250 for an iPhone 6 Plus. In combination with subsidized pricing and financing plans, the credit could make it cheaper to leave the Apple Store with a new handset rather than pursue other options.
Previously, Apple’s Reuse and Recycle program for iPhones offered a trade-in credit for new models, but did not accept devices with damages.
Apple is also going to start taking a preventative step to make sure fewer cracked screens are coming back to its stores. In the coming weeks, Apple Stores will begin offering screen protector installations on all iPhones. The program has already launched at select stores, with Belkin screen protectors being installed with machines dedicated to the task.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8am_K24Nj0
Apple previously shied away from offering installations of third-party products to avoid potentially screwing up the process. With the machine-performed installation, Apple will offer a replacement protector at no cost.
