The Pixel 11 lineup isn’t cheap, but you can soften the blow with surprisingly generous trade-in values.
Google’s Pixel 11 devices are officially here, and the entire lineup comes with a pretty hefty price tag. The base Pixel 11 starts at $899, rising to a starting cost of $1,900 for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. If you’re looking to upgrade, you might be able to save more money than you think by trading in your current phone — or even an older model that’s gathering dust — with Google.
The prices offered by many retailers (like those featured in Best Buy or Apple’s trade-in programs) can be a bit disappointing, especially if you’re looking to get rid of an older model. For example, consider a 128GB Pixel 9 Pro XL, retailing for $1,099 when it launches in 2024. Currently, it’ll only run you $255 with Apple, $310 with Amazon, or $300 at Best Buy. If you trade it in with Google’s program, you could get several hundred more for the same phone, and this trend applies to many other models.
How much is your old phone worth?
As with any trade-in, the value of your old phone will depend on its quality. Google’s values may also vary slightly depending on which Pixel 11 model you want to purchase. Surprisingly, Google will accept models as old as the original Pixel ($100), Galaxy S10 ($30), and iPhone 6s Plus ($30) for trade-in.
Slightly newer devices are worth more than you might expect. With base storage, the Pixel 4a and Galaxy S20 are each worth $150, while the iPhone 11 is $200. And for newer models, you’ll see a much bigger return, like $600 for a Pixel 10 Pro, $700 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and $550 for the iPhone 17.
Even though Google tends to have the best Pixel trade-in deals, it’s worth checking with other retailers before making a final decision. Best Buy’s trade-in prices are generally lower, but it also offers a gift card (up to $350 for the Pro Fold) when you buy a Pixel line device. Likewise, Amazon offers bundles that include either a gift card or a discounted Pixel Watch 5. If you already shop at these stores a lot, they might be a better route for you.
How to trade in your old phone with Google
Cherlynn Low/Woozad
Trading in your old device with Google is simple and requires just a few extra steps alongside purchasing your new Pixel phone:
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Go to the Google Store and select the Pixel phone of your choice. Check out our Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro reviews if you need help deciding!
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After choosing a color, storage size and media, select Get an estimate under the section titled Trade in your phone.
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Enter the brand, model and storage size of your old device and confirm if it is in good condition.
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Select Add an exchangethen follow the rest of the steps, such as choosing Pixel Care+ and other offers.. Choose Add to cart once finished.
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Go to your cart and pay as usual.
From there, Google will send you instructions on how to prepare and ship your phone for trade-in. This involves moving everything from your old device to your new one, resetting the old phone to factory settings, and removing any locks or passwords. Then you’ll send it back with a prepaid kit – you won’t have to pay shipping costs.
There are a few other important things to keep in mind when trading in for a new Pixel. Check the Accept the new value if it changes after inspection if you want the trade-in value even if what you send is not what you specified online. Uncheck this box and Google will return the device (without trade-in credit) if it is not what you specified.
How the discount works also varies. Some customers – based on criteria that Google doesn’t specify – will be eligible for an instant exchange, meaning the discount is applied to your order up front. For those who are not eligible, the trade-in value will instead be applied as a refund to your payment method once your old device has been received and accepted.
