Why does Apple think my M1 Pro MacBook Pro is suddenly worth nothing?

MacBook Pro 14-inch
(Image credit: Apple)

With the new M2 Pro MacBook Pros finally official, it's a great upgrade for anyone moving on from an Intel Mac. However, if you're thinking of trading it in through Apple to knock some of the price off, you might be far worse off than I've found with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro.

While I'm holding off for an M3 Pro MacBook Pro, curiosity made me check on Apple's site about how much my current Mac would be worth to trade in. I paid $2399 / £2199 / AU$2799 for it back in October 2021, and I'm still planning to own one until 2025. It's a powerful machine, and I want to get my money's worth.

Yet I look at Apple's trade-in value for it and wonder what the thought process was to come up with an amount of £850 / $900 / AU$943 for my Mac.

A deal that Del Boy would approve of

MacBook Pro 14-inch trade in value

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Price depreciation, where something loses value over time, is a normal, everyday fact of buying something. The car my wife owns will lose some of its value over time, and the same goes for my iPhone 13 Pro, and even some smart lightbulbs I have installed across our home.

Everything gets replaced by something new eventually, and it further drives down the cost of what currently exists. Yet there's a limit to this without it becoming ridiculous, and it seems to me as though Apple's trade-in methods are a shining example of what not to do.

Apple's M-series chips are still fairly new since they were announced at its developer conference WWDC back in June 2020. It's been less than three years, and there are still products such as the Mac Studio that house the M1 Max and M1 Ultra chip - these are essentially more powerful variations of the M1 Pro.

But now, the M1 Pro is nowhere to be seen on Apple's site - just the original M1, the M1 Max, and the M1 Ultra - alongside the new M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max. Even so, there's no reason why my MacBook Pro should be worth £1300 less in the space of just 15 months.

Others on Twitter are also looking at their trade-in prices, such as the above tweet where user @DurvidImel noted that the Intel Mac Pro has dropped 50 times its value in only three years. Granted, it's an Intel model, but it feels even more ridiculous that the trade-in value is in the hundreds here - and is only roughly $100 more than my M1 MacBook Pro.

Do better, Apple - if you say you're leading the way in helping the environment, especially when it comes to the disposal of old devices, an excessive drop in value when trading these in is not going to be a success.

TOPICS
Daryl Baxter
Software & Downloads Writer

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he's written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider'. His second book, '50 Years of Boss Fights', came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2026. He also has a newsletter called 'Springboard'. He's usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that's about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

Read more
MacBook Pro models on a green background
The best MacBook Pro deals in January 2025
The MacBook Air M2 on a blue background with text saying Price Cut.
The best MacBook Air (M4) preorder deal is at Best Buy – how to score the new Apple laptop for as little as $449
Mac Studio on a desk
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): the ultimate creative workstation
Two MacBook Air M4 laptops on a light blue background next to a Mac Studio on a blue background
New MacBook Air M4 launch live updates – laptop officially lands alongside new Mac Studio
The best MacBook Pro against a two tone Techradar background
Best MacBook Pro of 2025
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Latest in Macbooks
apple macbook air against blue background
There's a huge MacBook Air sale right now – shop record-low prices from $629.99
13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue
The new Apple MacBook Air M4 has a weird quirk with its performance cores - but it's nothing to worry about
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Apple MacBook Air M3 on yellow background with lowest price text overlay
Forget the MacBook Air M4: here are 9 older-model MacBook deals from $629.99
MacBook Air mute key
The new M4 MacBook Air finally fixes an Apple keyboard annoyance that's been around for decades
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) REVIEW
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is the best ultraportable – and the new price makes it even more appealing
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over