How to Maximize Your Profits and Minimize Your Hassles When You Sell Apple TV Devices

Do you have more streaming devices than you have TVs? Are you upgrading one of your TVs to a smart TV, and you now want to sell your old Apple TV box? Whatever the reason, there may come a time when you want to get rid of your Apple TV. Selling these devices is easier than ever, thanks to the fact that ecoATM now offers to buy them from you via our mail-in service.

What’s the Difference Between Apple TV and Apple TV+?

The branding of the Apple TV has been highly confusing ever since the introduction of Apple TV+ in 2019. For clarification, we’ll explain the differences between Apple TV and Apple TV+ before digging into the details of selling your Apple TV.

The first-generation Apple TV streaming device debuted in 2007. Since then, the manufacturer has steadily improved upon the product, adding high-definition (HD) support in 2015 and creating its first 4K devices in 2017.

However, Apple made a baffling marketing decision when it created Apple TV+ in 2019. Despite their nearly identical names, Apple TV and Apple TV+ are entirely different products. While Apple TV is a physical device that connects to your TV to allow you to watch streaming services, Apple TV+ is itself a digital streaming service (and it’s the home of such popular shows as Severance and Ted Lasso). In other words, you can buy an Apple TV to watch Apple TV+.

We know, we know…that’s still pretty confusing! To keep things simple, we’ll entirely ignore the Apple TV+ streaming service in the rest of this article to focus on the real task at hand: figuring out how you can get the most money for your Apple TV device while experiencing the lowest possible level of hassle.

The Important Details of the Apple TV Device

While Apple typically releases annual upgrades for its flagship devices (like the iPhone and iPad), that’s not the case with the Apple TV. In fact, the most recent release in the Apple TV product line debuted back in 2022.

Called the Apple TV 4K, the latest iteration of this device includes the A15 Bionic chip, the fastest processor Apple has ever used in a streaming device. It also offers convenient integrations with all of your other Apple devices, making it easy to stream content from an iPhone or iPad.

Here are a few of the other noteworthy features available on the latest Apple TV 4K products:

• Apple Fitness+: Apple refers to this feature as “the world’s largest library of 4K UHD fitness and wellness content.” It includes 12 different categories of workouts, from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to yoga and many points in between. You can set up custom workout plans, track your progress, and view real-time performance metrics.
• FaceTime: FaceTime has long been one of the most popular features on iPhones, and it’s now available on Apple TV 4K as well. Not only can you conduct video calls on your TV, but the FaceTime Live Captions feature provides real-time subtitles, making it easy for everyone to understand the conversation.
• Enhance Dialogue: One of the most persistent complaints about modern-day TV shows and movies is that the dialogue is often too difficult to hear. That’s no problem with the Apple TV 4K, as its “Enhance Dialogue” feature can amplify dialogue to make sure it doesn’t get drowned out by music or other sound effects.
• Apple Arcade: It seems like just about every device in the world has some sort of gaming feature these days, and the Apple TV 4K is no exception. However, Apple Arcade on Apple TV 4K has one really interesting feature we wanted to point out: It allows you to use Xbox and PlayStation controllers. So, for example, if your family is watching a movie on your gaming console, you can still use your favorite controller to play games on your Apple TV.
• InSight: This feature is nearly identical to Amazon Prime Video’s X-Ray feature. It displays details about the actors in a show you’re watching and helps you identify songs from the soundtrack. However, with Apple TV, this feature only works when you’re watching programming from Apple Originals — it’s disabled for all other content. This is a bit disappointing, especially when you consider that Prime Video provides the X-Ray feature for a much wider variety of programming.

Why You Should Sell Your Old Apple TV

There are a few common reasons why Apple TV owners might be ready to move on from their devices. Whether you’re thinking about an Apple TV trade-in program or resale platform, here are a couple of the popular reasons to sell a used Apple TV device.

• You’re Upgrading to a New Apple TV: If you have an older Apple TV, you might be ready for an upgrade to one of its newer 4K models. One of the most popular reasons consumers move on from their Apple TV devices is that they’ve decided to upgrade their streaming experience to Apple’s latest and greatest device.
• You’re Switching Platforms: Perhaps you’re switching ecosystems to a Roku or Amazon device, and your Apple TV is a casualty of this switch. Maybe you’ve purchased a new smart TV and no longer need a separate streaming device. In short, moving away from the Apple ecosystem is another common reason for getting rid of an Apple TV.

Whatever the reason for selling your Apple TV, if you play your cards right, you can get some extra cash in your pocket and help reduce e-waste at the same time.

What Factors Influence the Value of an Apple TV (Trade-In or Resale)?

How much you’ll get for your used Apple TV depends on a few important elements, including…

• Device Model: Newer models typically fetch the best prices. For example, a recent third-generation Apple TV 4K box will almost always have a higher return than one of the older models that doesn’t have 4K functionality.
• Storage Capacity and Other Features: While Apple doesn’t sell nearly as wide a range of Apple TV devices as it does iPhones or iPads, there are still some options that can affect resale values. For instance, the newest Apple TV 4K has two versions: one that operates only on Wi-Fi and includes 64 GB of storage, and one that operates on Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Thread technology while including 128 GB of storage. As you might expect, the latter is typically worth more than the former.
• Cosmetic and Functional Condition: Apple TV boxes in near-perfect condition have higher resale value than devices with cosmetic wear and tear or functional issues (such as a broken remote control).
• Trade-In or Resale Platform: Where you choose to sell your Apple TV makes a big difference as well. While platforms like ecoATM offer quick cash payments and minimal inconvenience, some competitors only offer trade-in credits or require jumping through numerous hoops to get your sale across the finish line.

Sell Your Apple TV With ecoATM Today

ecoATM offers a convenient, hassle-free, and environmentally friendly way to get quick cash for your used electronics, including Apple TV boxes. We accept devices like iPhones and iPads at our convenient kiosks, and we’ll buy your Apple TV through our mail-in program.

The process includes the following simple steps. Start by getting an instant quote using our online tool. Then, log out of your Apple Account and reset your Apple TV to its factory settings. From there, you’ll ship us a package containing your Apple TV. Once we receive it and assess its condition, we’ll pay you within three business days.

Our customers love how easy we make it to sell used tech devices by dropping them off at our kiosks or shipping them with our convenient mail-in process. We offer great rates for used Apple TV boxes, and the convenience of our platform is second to none.

Plus, our commitment to the environment has already led us to recycle over 50 million electronic devices to date. By keeping these products out of landfills, we prevent the release of harsh toxins into the environment and also reduce the demand for the mining and manufacturing processes required to create new devices.

Sell your Apple TV with ecoATM today and see why our customers love our convenient and profitable resale platform!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I reset my Apple TV to its factory settings before selling or trading it?

Yes. You should always log out of your Apple Account and perform a factory reset before selling any Apple device, as this prepares it for its next user. If you fail to do this, your device may remain Activation Locked, meaning its next owner will be unable to use it.

Does an Apple TV remote have standalone resale value?

Some platforms, like eBay, allow you to buy and sell Apple TV remotes separately. Since remote controls can be relatively easy to misplace, there’s always some demand for replacements. This is especially true for the Siri-integrated remotes that Apple has included with every Apple TV model since the fourth generation (which is also when Apple TV upgraded to HD capabilities).

Does Apple buy used Apple TV devices as part of its trade-in program?

To be perfectly honest, the answer to this question surprised us enough that we contacted Apple’s support team to make sure it was accurate. As it turns out, the answer is no. Apple TVs are ineligible for the Apple Trade-In Program, and Apple currently does not offer to buy any model of used Apple TV device, no matter its condition.

What other Apple devices does ecoATM buy?

In addition to Apple TVs, we buy Apple iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, iPods, laptops, and desktop computers. We also buy a variety of used devices made by other manufacturers, including Samsung, Google, HTC, LG, Nokia, and Motorola.