The best trade-in deals for the Samsung Galaxy S24

The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy S24 series is here, but these premium phones don’t come cheap. With prices beginning at $1,399 for the base Galaxy S24 — and up to $2,799 for the high-end Galaxy S24 Ultra — not everyone can afford these devices, even if you’re not buying your phone at full price upfront.

However, you can cut the cost of a new phone by trading in your old handset. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone each offer trade-in options for S24 buyers, with Vodafone offering additional bonus credit for customers who trade in during the pre-order period. To help you find the best deal, we’ve compared the Samsung Galaxy S24 trade-in credits on offer from each telco, as well as from Samsung directly.

Compare Samsung Galaxy S24 plans, deals and prices from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone

Vodafone Samsung Galaxy S24 trade-in deals

Out of the big three telcos, Vodafone is the sole name offering customers bonus credit for trading in old devices for the Samsung Galaxy S24. Order any model in the new S24 range from Vodafone by February 6, 2023,  and you can score $400 in bonus credit, in addition to the trade-in value of your phone.

To qualify for bonus credit, customers will need to buy any of the new S24 models on a Vodafone device payment plan, pair it with a Vodafone SIM-only plan, and stay connected for the duration of their phone payments (either 12, 24, or 36 months). You can select to trade in your old phone at checkout, and get a quote for the device online; you’ll then be sent a Trade ID information email from Vodafone. Mail in or drop off your unwanted device by February 20, 2024, and you’ll be eligible for the full trade-in credit, plus the extra $400

Keep in mind that bonus credit will be applied in equal monthly installments to your bill, so you’ll need to stay with Vodafone for the full 12, 24 or 36 months of your payment term. If you cancel early, you’ll forfeit the rest of your bonus trade-in credit.

Aside from bonuses, Vodafone offers more than $1,000 in trade in value for new, high-end models in excellent condition. The biggest credit is available for the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage, at up to $1,165. Older iPhones are also highly valued: you can claim up to $875 for the iPhone 13 Pro Max, $595 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and $425 for the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Samsung owners can claim $900 for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with 1TB of storage, with the 1TB Galaxy S22 Ultra valued at $510. The standard Galaxy S22 is worth up to $330, while the Galaxy S21 5G with 256GB storage can get you $220.

Vodafone also accepts eligible trade-ins for Google, OPPO and Huawei phones. The Google Pixel 6 Pro with 256GB of storage can earn you up to $220, while one of the best OPPO offers is for the OPPO Find X5 Pro 512GB at $400.

Compare Vodafone Samsung Galaxy S24 plans

Telstra Samsung Galaxy S24 trade-in deals

Unlike previous years, Telstra isn’t coming out of the gate with a hero trade-in offer for the Samsung Galaxy S24. However, if you’ve got an old phone handy, you can still save hundreds on the asking price for the Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra on a Telstra plan.

Customers can trade in selected Apple, Samsung and Google devices for the S24 range — you can see if your specific handset is eligible on Telstra’s website. The newer and more expensive your current phone, the bigger the trade-in credit; for example, the 1TB Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max in good working condition can net you a hefty $1,300. However, the older Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage is valued at up to $425, even in great condition.

For flagship-level phones that are more than two years old, you can expect a trade-in value of around $300-$500 depending on your device. The 128GB iPhone 12 Pro in good condition is valued at up to $400, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with 256GB of storage can net you up to $325, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 256GB is worth $300. Samsung and Apple devices command the largest trade-in value, with Google phones maxing out at $425 for the Google Pixel 7 Pro with 512GB of storage.

If you are buying from Telstra, you can claim a trade-in credit for purchasing on a device payment plan or outright — you’ll just need to pair it with a Telstra mobile plan. Complete the online device condition assessment, then follow the instructions to send your old phone to Telstra’s trade-in partner Kingfisher. If your trade-in is approved, credit will be applied to your Telstra bill within two billing cycles.

Compare Telstra Samsung Galaxy S24 plans

Optus Samsung Galaxy S24 trade-in deals

If you’re picking up one of the new Galaxy phones on a 12, 24, or 36-month Optus plan, you can take advantage of Optus’ phone trade-in service. Unlike other telcos, Optus no longer applies trade-in credit directly to your bill, opting instead to issue Mastercard gift cards for the value. However, this means you aren’t required to stick with Optus long-term to receive the full device credit.

Currently, the largest trade-in quote available is for the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage, which Optus values at $1,100 in good working order. A 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max is valued at $860, the 512GB iPhone 12 Pro Max at up to $555, and the 128GB iPhone 12 at $315.

Samsung owners are offered up to $900 for last year’s 1TB Galaxy S23 Ultra. The standard Samsung Galaxy S23 with 128GB storage is valued at $495, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB can net you up to $310. A range of other Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy A, Samsung Galaxy Z and Samsung Galaxy Note models are also accepted, as well as Google and OPPO devices.

Customers can get a quote for their old device online via Optus’ website, and complete the trade-in process either by the same web portal, over the phone, or in Optus stores. Once the trade-in application is received, customers will receive a prepaid satchel for their old phone; send it off, and once the process is complete you’ll be credited with the full trade-in amount via a Mastercard gift card.

Compare Optus Samsung Galaxy S24 plans

Which telco has the best Samsung Galaxy S24 trade-in deal?

If you are planning to use your old phone to score a trade-in discount, you’ll probably want to shop around first to see which telco or seller can give you the best deal. The amount of credit you can claim for your unwanted phone will depend on:

• The model and storage size of your device
• Your phone’s physical condition and working ability
• Your choice of telco

One thing to be aware of: even if a telco gives you a higher trade-in value for your old device, they may not offer the most competitive mobile plans, both in terms of features and price. Saving an extra $100 on the initial price of the Samsung Galaxy S24 may not be worth it if you’ve signed up to a plan that’s $10 more per month than other telcos. You could end up paying an extra $120, $240 or $360 over the life of your device payments, even if you initially received a higher trade-in value for your old phone.

Below is a comparison of the maximum current trade-in value of several popular smartphones across Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, when traded in for any new Samsung Galaxy S24 model. These prices are a guide only and may be subject to change; check provider websites for a more accurate quote for your current device.

Note: Vodafone prices do not include the $400 trade-in bonus currently offered for the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.

Samsung mobile trade-in deals for the Galaxy S24

If you’re planning to buy the Galaxy S24 directly from Samsung, the manufacturer also offers it own mobile trade-in program. Samsung allows customers to trade in up to two eligible devices for credit on new phones, and accepts not only smartphones, but also tablets and watches.

Eligible brands include Samsung, Apple, Google, Huawei and OPPO, with trade-in values of up to $1,290 available for selected smartphones.

Estimated trade-in values as of January 2024 include:

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: up to $970
• Samsung Galaxy S23: up to $565
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: up to $575
• Samsung Galaxy S22: up to $390
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: up to $1,070
• Apple iPhone 14: up to $720
• Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: up to $720
• Apple iPhone 13: up to $525
• Google Pixel 7 Pro: up to $400
• Google Pixel 6 Pro: up to $245

Samsung is also offering customers who trade in a device for any of the three new Galaxy S24 phones an additional bonus credit of up to $350. This offer is available until February 15, 2024, terms apply.

Main image: Samsung Australia