The new iPhone is just around the corner, and it's time to get serious about trading in your old smartphone.
Apple Stores, carriers and smartphone recycling companies are practically falling over themselves trying to get you to trade-in your old phone, offering huge deals. The market for older smartphones -- particularly used iPhones -- is exploding, and there's a likelihood that your old phone is worth hundreds of dollars.
But deciding where to recycle your phone can be confusing. Each company is offering a slightly different promotion. Some are giving credits towards a new phone, others are giving discounts on service and then some are simply giving you cash.
Here's a quick guide to what you can expect to get for your old iPhone:
1) Gazelle
The phone recycling company Gazelle is offering a tempting plan: It will beat your carrier or Apple's trade-in offer between Sept. 2 and Sept. 9 (the day of Apple's announcement), and it will give you cash for your old iPhone 5S, 6 or 6 Plus.
Gazelle said if you trade in your old 16 GB iPhone 6, you should be able to get between $300 and $390 for it, depending on its network and condition. A 16 GB iPhone 6 Plus will get you between $325 and $440, and a 16 GB iPhone 5S demands between $165 and $200.
The company's most lucrative deals are for Verizon phones (which have the highest demand) and for iPhones in perfect condition. If you find a better offer during that time period, Gazelle said you have to send the company proof, and it will beat the deal.
The promotion has limitations, though. It only applies to a deal from your carrier -- not a rival carrier's offer to switch. Gazelle also doesn't guarantee that it will beat offers from other phone recyclers, such as NextWorth.
2) Carriers
Each of the wireless carriers is giving customers incentives to re-up (and new customers reason to switch), luring them in with impressive trade-in deals.
Verizon (VZ) will give customers who trade in an old smartphone and buy a new device a $200 Verizon gift card and a $100 bill credit. It's a good deal if your old phone is worth less than $300.
AT&T (T) similarly offers customers up to $300 for old phones, but the amount you'll get is determined by the phone's appraisal. If your phone is worth more than $300, it probably isn't the best deal.
T-Mobile (TMUS) is offering customers who trade in their old phones the ability to pay $15 a month to lease a new iPhone for 18 months (a savings of $12 per month). Customers will get an iPhone 6 and then get a free upgrade to a new iPhone 6S (or whatever it will be called) when that becomes available. But if your phone is worth more than $216, T-Mobile's deal isn't worth it. Also, you won't be able to trade in your leased iPhone, since T-Mobile owns the phone.
Sprint (S) is also offering a similar deal, providing a $15-a-month leased iPhone to customers who trade in their old phones. The promotion will last 22 months, so it's a bit better than T-Mobile's deal -- but not by much. If your phone is worth more than $264, it's not the best deal.
3) Apple
Apple (AAPL) will give you credit towards your next iPhone if you trade in your old iPhone at an Apple Store. You can also receive an Apple gift card if you trade in your old iPhone online.
Online, you're currently unable to trade in an iPhone 6.
Apple's prices are competitive, but they're not the best.
