- 01Why I Decided to Trade It In
- 02The Ultra 2 Trade-In Value Is Up to 42,000 Yen
- 03Gift Card vs. Discount on a Purchase
- 04Eligibility for Applying
- 05Conditions That Reduce the Value or Make It Ineligible
- 06Trade-In Steps
- 07Unpair to Remove the Lock
- 08Applying and Identity Verification
- 09From Receiving the Kit to Dropping It Off
- 10Cancel the Watch’s Cellular Plan Too
- 11How to Compare It with Selling to a Resale Shop
- 12Common Mistakes and Pitfalls
- 13Frequently Asked Questions
- 14Official Sources I Referred To
- 15Summary
Good morning, this is まさきん.
In our household, I switched smartwatches from an Apple Watch Ultra 2 to a Fitbit. I have decided to send the leftover Ultra 2 to Apple Trade In. Trade-in values were revised in September, so I re-checked the terms and wrote down the plan here.
*This information is current as of publication. Please check the official websites for the latest terms.
- The trade-in value for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 is up to 42,000 yen on Apple’s official site
- If you are not buying a new product, you apply through Likewize and receive an Apple Gift Card
- The quote is valid for 24 days from the date you apply, not from the day the kit arrives
- You send only the watch itself. No band, charging cable or box is needed, and they do not affect the valuation
- If you are comparing with cash from a resale shop, I think deciding by “whether you already know what you will spend it on” is less confusing than looking at the price gap
Why I Decided to Trade It In
At first I planned on “no trade-in.” Since I switched to a Fitbit, the Ultra 2 would just sit in a drawer.
But the longer it sits there, the lower its value gets. So I looked into the Apple Trade In terms again.
It turned out that you do not need to send any accessories. It looked like less hassle than I expected, so I am leaning toward trading it in.
The Ultra 2 Trade-In Value Is Up to 42,000 Yen
I checked the maximum values for Apple Watch on Apple’s official trade-in value page. Here are the main models.
| Model | Maximum trade-in value |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Up to 67,000 yen |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Up to 42,000 yen |
| Apple Watch Series 11 | Up to 37,000 yen |
| Apple Watch Ultra | Up to 30,000 yen |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | Up to 25,000 yen |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | Up to 18,000 yen |
| Apple Watch SE (3rd generation) | Up to 17,000 yen |
After the September revision, the Ultra 2 was at up to 42,000 yen. That is lower than what I saw before. Honestly, it dropped more than I expected.
This amount is only the “maximum.” Apple’s official note says it varies with condition and year of manufacture. It also apparently differs by the country or region where the device was first sold. The actual amount can come in below the quote.
Older models’ values may tend to move every time a new model comes out. Once you decide to trade in, it seems better to act early.
Gift Card vs. Discount on a Purchase
There are two main ways to receive value through Apple Trade In. It depends on whether you are buying a new product.
| Item | Discount on a purchase | Receive an Apple Gift Card |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a new product | Required | Not required |
| Where to apply | Apple Store (online or in store) | Partner company (Likewize) website |
| Shipping deadline | Must arrive within 14 days of receiving your new device | Within 24 days of applying |
| How you receive it | For one-time payments, the discount is applied to your payment method | You receive a Gift Card code by email |
| Time until you receive it | Usually 2 to 3 weeks | Usually 1 to 2 weeks |
With the purchase discount, the trade-in value can exceed the purchase price. In that case, Apple says the difference is sent by email as an Apple Gift Card.
We are not buying a new Apple Watch. So we are on the Gift Card side. A Gift Card can be used for Apple products and services. We already know what we will use it for, so this format should not be a problem.
Eligibility for Applying
The Gift Card route is run by Likewize Japan. I picked out the conditions from the FAQ and terms of use.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Age and residence | Residents of Japan aged 18 or older |
| Identity verification | Required online if the valuation exceeds 10,000 yen |
| ID documents | Photo ID such as a driver’s license or My Number Card |
| Proof of purchase | No receipt or warranty card needed |
| Buying a new product | Not required |
| Shipping costs | Paid by Likewize |
| Checking eligible models | Models that appear when you search the model number on the top page |
For an Ultra 2, the expected amount will likely exceed 10,000 yen. So I am assuming identity verification cannot be avoided.
Applying also required signing in with an Apple Account (formerly Apple ID). Combined with identity verification, a family member cannot do the procedure on your behalf. The assumption is that the owner handles it personally.
Conditions That Reduce the Value or Make It Ineligible
The quote is based on the condition you report yourself. If the actual device that arrives is different, the amount changes.
- If any function does not work, you cannot apply in the first place
- A cracked screen, display defects, a bent body, a lifted screen or a swollen battery may result in a purchase price of 100 yen
- If Activation Lock is still on, the process will not move forward
- If you send a different model from the one you applied for, it will be re-quoted at that model’s rate
- If the device is found to be lost or stolen property, no payment will be made
Light scratches are said to be fine. If you have a scratch you are unsure about, I think answering the condition questions honestly is best.
If it gets re-quoted, you receive an email with the amount and the reason. Within 14 days of receiving it, you choose to accept or cancel. If you do not reply, it is automatically canceled and the watch is returned with free shipping.
Trade-In Steps
From here on is my plan for sending it in. This is the order I have in mind.
- Note the model number from your order confirmation email or similar
- Search the model number on the Likewize site and check the quote
- Unpair the watch on your iPhone (this also removes Activation Lock)
- If you use a cellular plan for the watch, cancel it with your carrier
- Sign in with your Apple Account and apply
- Complete online identity verification
- Put the watch in the shipping kit you receive, attach the shipping label, and drop it in a mailbox
- Wait for the valuation email and receive your Gift Card
To search for an Apple Watch, you use the model number. It is the number that starts with M. We were able to find it in the order email from when we bought it.
While it is still paired, you can also check it on your iPhone. In the Apple Watch app, go to “My Watch,” then “General,” then “About.” Once you unpair, you can no longer see it, so I recommend noting it down first.
- Did you note the model number (from the order email or the Apple Watch app)?
- Do you remember your Apple Account password?
- Do you remember your Apple Watch passcode?
- Do you have photo ID on hand?
- Are you subscribed to a cellular plan for the watch?
- Can you schedule the drop-off within 24 days of applying?
Unpair to Remove the Lock
The most important step is unpairing. Apple’s support page explains that unpairing also removes the lock.
The steps are as follows.
- Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone
- In the “My Watch” tab, tap “All Watches”
- Tap the info button next to the watch you want to unpair
- Tap “Unpair Apple Watch” and confirm
- If you have a cellular plan, choose “Remove” since you are selling or giving it away
- Enter your Apple Account password and tap Unpair
Once unpairing is done, the watch returns to its factory settings. Erasing the data is taken care of at this point too. For selling or giving it away, Apple advises turning it off at the end.
If you do not have your iPhone with you, you can also erase it from the watch itself. However, this method does not remove the lock. Apple officially says unpairing from the iPhone is the most desirable approach.
You can check on your iPhone whether the lock is still there. If you open the details in the Apple Watch app and “Find My Apple Watch” appears, the lock is still active.
Applying and Identity Verification
After unpairing, move on to the application. On the Likewize site, enter the model number and answer the condition questions.
If you are happy with the amount, apply. Sign in with your Apple Account and verify your identity with photo ID.
The terms also ask you to declare your name, address, occupation and date of birth. Apparently this check is based on the Secondhand Articles Dealer Act. It is a bit of a hassle, but I plan to just accept it. Resale shops generally require identity verification too.
From Receiving the Kit to Dropping It Off
The shipping kit is sent out the business day after you apply. It usually arrives about 3 to 4 days after applying.
Put the watch in the kit box and attach the enclosed shipping label. For an Apple Watch, dropping it in a mailbox is fine. You do not need to book a pickup.
The deadline is what to watch out for. The quote is valid for 24 days from the date you apply. The FAQ clearly states that it is not counted from the day you receive the kit.
If it arrives after the deadline, the price may change. My mindset is to drop it off within the same week the kit arrives.
From drop-off to arrival takes about 2 business days. Valuation takes 2 to 4 business days. After that, the Gift Card code apparently arrives by email in about 2 business days.
Cancel the Watch’s Cellular Plan Too
If you used a cellular plan on a cellular model, do not forget to cancel it. Removing the plan on the unpairing screen does not end the contract, which is separate.
Apple’s support page also tells you to contact your carrier to cancel. You do not want the monthly fee to keep going after the watch is gone.
I covered how I think about the option of giving the watch its own number in my post on the cost-benefit of Apple Watch number sharing. Parting with a device is also a good chance to review small monthly fees like this.
While you are letting go of the watch, checking your smartphone bill at the same time saves you doing it twice.
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How to Compare It with Selling to a Resale Shop
The other option is selling to a resale shop. I will lay this out in general terms.
| Point of comparison | Apple Trade In (Gift Card) | Resale shop |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | Apple Gift Card | Usually cash |
| Where you can use it | Apple products and services | No restrictions |
| Price guide | Maximum values are published officially | Varies by shop, so comparing takes effort |
| Accessories | Not needed and do not affect the valuation | Box and accessories are said to sometimes change the valuation |
| Identity verification | Required above 10,000 yen | Generally required |
| Shipping costs | Paid by Likewize | Varies by shop and method |
Cash gives you more ways to use it. At the same amount, cash may have the edge.
On the other hand, a Gift Card works just like cash if you put it toward something you were going to buy anyway. We already knew what we would use it for, so we chose the Gift Card. It felt like the use, more than the size of the price gap, made the decision.
I also wrote about how I think about letting things go in my take-home calculation before selling 3D printer filament on Mercari. With flea-market apps, the selling fee and shipping costs being deducted is another factor to consider when comparing.
Common Mistakes and Pitfalls
These are the points I felt people could trip over while researching.
- Unpairing before noting the model number. You can no longer check it from the app
- Counting the deadline from the day the kit arrives. The correct count is 24 days from the application date
- Sending it with the band attached. Only the watch is needed, and accessories you send may not be returned
- Getting rid of the iPhone first. You cannot unpair, and removing the lock requires a detour
- Forgetting to cancel the cellular plan. The monthly fee continues even without the watch
- Describing the condition too generously. The re-quote lowers the amount and adds back-and-forth
The model number in particular is safest to note down first. If you still have the order email, you can check it there too.
As a separate topic, I wrote about health data on the smartwatch I switched to in redoing consent when smartwatch sleep data is not syncing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much is the trade-in value for an Apple Watch Ultra 2?
On Apple’s official trade-in value page, it is up to 42,000 yen. It varies with condition, year of manufacture and so on, and can come in below the quote. The surest way to get the exact amount is to search by model number.
Q. Can I trade in without buying a new Apple Watch?
Yes. If you apply through the Likewize site, you do not need to buy a new product. You receive the trade-in value as an Apple Gift Card.
Q. Do I need to send the band and charging cable too?
No. For Apple Watch, you are told to remove the band and send only the watch itself. Whether you include accessories apparently does not affect the valuation either.
Q. What is the shipping deadline?
If you receive a Gift Card, the quote is valid for 24 days from the date you apply. If you trade in along with buying a new product, it must arrive within 14 days of receiving your new device. Either way, sending it early is safer.
Q. Do I need to erase the data myself?
Yes, do it before you send it. When you unpair on your iPhone, the watch is reset and the lock is removed. Apple officially recommends unpairing from the iPhone.
Q. Can I apply for my family’s Apple Watches all together?
Because identity verification and signing in with an Apple Account are required, the owner is expected to handle it personally. I think each family member would need to apply for their own.
Q. What happens if the valuation is lower than the quote?
You receive an email with the amount and the reason. You can choose to accept or cancel within 14 days. If you cancel or do not reply, the watch is returned with free shipping.
Q. What if I want to back out after applying?
If you receive the kit and do not ship it, it is simply canceled. After shipping, you generally cannot cancel. However, it is said that you can request a return before the Gift Card issuance process begins.
Official Sources I Referred To
- Apple Trade In (Apple official)
- Apple Watch trade-in values (Apple official)
- How to prepare your device for trade-in (Apple official)
- Apple Trade In (Likewize Japan)
- Frequently asked questions (Likewize Japan)
- Terms of use (Likewize Japan)
- How to look up your device (Likewize Japan)
- Unpair and erase your Apple Watch (Apple Support)
- About Activation Lock on Apple Watch (Apple Support)
Summary
After the revision, the trade-in value for an Apple Watch Ultra 2 was up to 42,000 yen. The procedure itself comes down to three key steps: unpairing, applying and dropping it off.
After that, you just need to meet the 24-day deadline from your application. If you are torn between this and a resale shop, working backward from how you will use the money may make it easier to decide. We have noted our model number too, so next up is unpairing.
Parting with a device is also a natural point to review your monthly phone bill.
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