How to upgrade/trade iPhone 15 Pro to iPhone 15 Pro Max

amya152 wrote:

I understand that I cannot exchange the phone, but is it still eligible to trade in was my main question. I know that I would owe money, I just didn’t know if it were possible.

No, your current phone is not eligible for trade in at this point. You can either wait until iPhone 16 is released in the fall or if you really want to move up to a Pro Max model now, sell the phone outright to someone you know who would appreciate a current Pro Model iPhone. If you sell it outright, you'll likely make more on the sale than you would have in trade.

If you do decide to sell it, before you hand it over to someone, make sure you follow the directions in this link to ensure the phone is prepared properly for a new user --> What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

"Trade-in" doesn't necessarily mean you'll receive your new device directly through an exchange.

Here's a more accurate explanation:

• Trade-in: When you trade in your phone, you're essentially selling it back to the retailer (like Apple) at a discounted price.
• Exchange: An exchange, on the other hand, implies a direct swap of your old device for a new one, often without any additional cost.

Current models are not usually tradeable, if Apple.com buy page does not show your phone to trade in then you will have to eBay it (and probably get more money)