How to Sell Apple Watch Series 7: Maximize Your Trade-In Value

Each new generation of Apple Watch offers exciting new features and improved performance, and the Series 7 was no exception. Originally released in 2021, this Apple Watch model introduced a host of improvements over the Series 6, including a bigger display, faster charging, more durable casing, and more.

Like many other Apple devices, the resale market for used Apple Watch Series 7 models remains quite strong. If you’re upgrading to a newer model, switching ecosystems to a Samsung Galaxy Watch, or simply not using your used Apple Watch as much as you used to, it’s important to know how much you can get for your Series 7.

Understanding the factors that affect Apple Watch Series 7 resale values can help you maximize your return and minimize your hassles when selling these devices.

Apple Watch Series 7: The Important Details of This Popular Apple Watch Model

The Apple Watch Series 7 first hit store shelves in October 2021, with plenty of new features to entice owners of previous Apple Watch models to upgrade. Here’s a quick recap of the improvements Apple included in the Series 7 compared to the Series 6.

• Bigger, Better Display: The Series 7 includes an Always-On Retina screen with thinner borders to accommodate a larger viewable area compared to the Series 6 display. Not only is this screen roughly 20% bigger than that of an Apple Watch Series 6, but it’s also 70% brighter indoors.
• Dust Resistance: Before the Series 7, Apple Watches didn’t have dust resistance ratings at all. With the Series 7 and subsequent models, Apple created a virtually dust-proof smartwatch, as the IP6X rating indicates the highest degree of protection from dust particles available on the market today.
• Fast Charging: The Series 7 was also the first Apple Watch model to include fast charging capabilities. While previous models had USB-C charging capabilities (which is significantly faster than Apple’s older proprietary Lightning cables), the Series 7 offered 33% faster charging due to improved internal electronic components. This fast-charging capability allowed users to charge their smartwatches from 0% to 80% in roughly 45 minutes.
• Improved Durability: Apple made several improvements in this area for the Series 7, including a crack-resistant front crystal, which helps prevent a variety of cosmetic damages.
• On-Screen Keyboard: Even the relatively tiny Apple Watch now has keyboard functionality, thanks to the Series 7, which includes a keyboard on the display that users can tap or swipe.

As you can see, the Apple Watch Series 7 includes plenty of upgrades over previous models. But what if we told you that a new Apple Watch offered even more exciting new features and improvements?

How the Apple Watch Series 7 Compares to Newer Apple Devices

While the Apple Watch Series 7 is still a highly impressive device with a strong resale value, it’s worth pointing out that, at the time of this writing, Apple has released three further generations of smartwatches. Let’s take a look at the various improvements of these new models to see if it’s time for you to upgrade from your Series 7 to a newer Apple Watch model.

Apple Watch 8th Gen (Series 8, SE 2nd Gen, Apple Watch Ultra)

Apple’s eighth generation of smartwatches included three different models. The Series 8 is a direct successor to the Series 7, while the SE 2nd Generation is an entry-level model, and the Ultra is a high-end model.

Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen

To be honest, there weren’t all that many improvements between the SE 1st Gen and SE 2nd Gen, and the Series 7 is arguably a more powerful device than the SE 2nd Gen, even though it was released earlier. So, we’ll look past that device and focus more on how the Series 7 compares to the Series 8 and Ultra models.

Apple Watch Series 8

The Apple Watch Series 8 added a thermometer for the first time, and it also improved the accuracy of the Apple Watch’s accelerometers. The improved accelerometers allowed Apple to include Crash Detection features to automatically contact emergency services if it detects that its wearer has been in a car accident. This feature was previously only available on iPhones. However, overall, the Apple Watch Series 8 made very few improvements over the Series 7.

Apple Watch Ultra

Whereas the Series 8 was a minor iteration of the Series 7, the new Apple Watch Ultra had plenty of additional features to lure Series 7 owners. That said, it also had a much higher introductory price point of $799, while the Series 7 cost $399. Resale values for these devices have stayed the course, with used Ultra models being worth much more. In fact, we gathered some estimates and found that resale values for the Ultra are roughly 4x higher than those for the Series 7 at the time of this writing.

The Apple Watch Ultra was positioned as a direct competitor to outdoor recreation products from Garmin rather than as a successor to the Series 7, as Apple targeted high-level athletes, divers, and other sports-minded consumers with this new device. Still, it’s worth going through a quick rundown of the improvements the Ultra offered over the Series 7:

• Titanium Casing: Every Apple Watch Ultra has a rugged, tough titanium casing, making it a highly durable device. Although the Series 7 is also available in stainless steel or titanium, the vast majority of Series 7 models have aluminum casing.
• Brighter Display: While the Series 7 has a brighter screen than the Series 6, the Apple Watch Ultra takes this a step further, with an even sharper and brighter display than the Series 7. The advancements of the Series 7 over the Series 6 were geared toward improved indoor functionality, while the Ultra’s improvements are focused on outdoor use.
• Incredible Battery Life: There’s nothing wrong with the Series 7’s 18-hour battery life, but the Ultra is a truly next-level device in this regard. The Apple Watch Ultra provides up to 36 hours of battery life on full-power modes — switch to Low Power Mode and you can get up to 60 hours of use between charges.
• Dual-Frequency GPS: The Apple Watch Series 7 offers GPS through the L1 frequency, which is the frequency used by most consumer electronic devices. But the Apple Watch Ultra operates on both the L1 and L5 GPS frequencies, providing GPS signals that are significantly stronger than those of other Apple Watches, especially in difficult environments in big cities or rural areas.
• Better Water Resistance: The Ultra and Series 7 share the same IP6X dust resistance rating, but the Ultra is water resistant up to 100 meters, while the Series 7 is water resistant up to 50 meters. Furthermore, the Ultra is certified as a diving device, whereas the Series 7 is not.
• Larger Device: This one could be a positive or a negative, based on your preferences. The Apple Watch Ultra is a much larger device than the Series 7, making it really stand out when you wear it.
• Additional Action Button: The Ultra added an additional Action button that users can customize to various functions, features, and apps.

Apple Watch 9th Gen (Series 9 and Ultra 2)

With Apple’s ninth generation of smartwatches, consumers can enjoy faster performance and various other improvements. Let’s take a look at the features Apple added to the Series 9 and Ultra 2 that weren’t previously available.

Apple Watch Series 9

To be honest, the Series 9 is quite similar to the Series 8, but there are a few upgrades worth mentioning. The Series 9 carried over the brighter screen from the Apple Watch Ultra, providing a welcome improvement over the Series 7 and 8 models. The Series 9 also includes the S9 System in Package (SiP) chip, delivering smoother and more efficient performance.

There are two more upgrades worth mentioning with the Series 9. The first is the “Double Tap” control feature that allows users to answer calls, turn off alarms, and more by double-tapping the smartwatch’s display. The other is a more precise pairing between the Apple Watch and iPhone, making it easier to find your iPhone using your smartwatch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 introduced an even brighter display with up to 3,000 nits of brightness. This is the brightest display ever available in an Apple Watch. In addition, the Ultra 2 increased the Apple Watch’s storage capacity from the 32 GB available in previous models to 64 GB.

The other big change with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is that this is the first Apple smartwatch to be carbon-neutral. If you prioritize the environment as much as we do at ecoATM, this highly eco-friendly feature could be well worth an upgrade.

Apple Watch 10th Gen (Series 10)

Compared to the Series 8 and Series 9, Apple’s 10th iteration of the standard Apple Watch made much greater strides. Let’s examine the new features available with this latest model, which debuted in September 2024.

• Sleek Design: The Series 10 is Apple’s thinnest wearable, as it’s roughly 10% thinner than the Series 9. Obviously, it’s also much thinner than the rather bulky Ultra models. The Series 10 is also 10% to 20% lighter in weight than previous models.
• Larger Screen: Despite the thinner-than-ever body, the Apple Watch Series 10 also has the largest display the company has ever created for a wearable product, even surpassing the viewable area of the Ultra models. With a display roughly 30% larger than previous models, the Series 10 provides users with one more line of text, making it much easier to read texts and emails.
• Better Visibility: While previous models have great display visibility when viewed straight-on, Apple did receive some complaints about the Apple Watch being hard to see at an angle. The Series 10 fixed this problem, with a display that offers 40% more brightness when viewed from an angle.
• Faster Charging: The Series 10 is the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever made. It can go from a fully dead battery to 80% charge in just half an hour.

ecoATM: The Best Place to Sell Apple Watch Series 7 Devices

There are quite a few places to sell Apple Watches, but we firmly believe that ecoATM offers the best combination of pricing, convenience, and eco-friendly processes. Use the pricing tool on our website to get a free initial quote, then ship your Apple Watch Series 7 to us so we can evaluate it in person and verify its condition. Once we’ve assessed your device, we’ll submit payment within three business days or less.

In addition, we offer an eco-friendly recycling program. If we can’t resell a device, we’ll recycle it responsibly, keeping electronic devices with useful components out of the landfill. When you throw used electronics in the trash, they can leach harsh chemicals into the air, soil, and water, polluting the environment. Our environmentally conscious process always prioritizes the planet. That’s how we’ve already helped recycle over 50 million used electronic devices!

Let’s quickly review some pros and cons of your other options to illuminate why ecoATM has an advantage.

Apple Trade-In

With Apple’s official trade-in program, you can swap your Apple Watch for store credit. Once Apple pays you for your used device, you can use your credits to buy another Apple product. While this system is pretty convenient (you can mail your Apple Watch Series 7 to Apple or drop it off at an Apple Store), it only offers store credit. Furthermore, you might not get as much money as you would with other resale platforms.

Online Marketplaces (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.)

There are plenty of online platforms that allow you to sell your used electronics directly to new buyers. This process can sometimes lead to higher payouts, but this often comes at the cost of significantly more effort. You’ll need to create and maintain a listing for your Apple Watch Series 7, haggle with potential buyers, keep an eye out for scams, wait through long shipping processes, and finally (hopefully) receive your money.

Pawn Shops

Finally, you could always drop off your old Apple Watch at a pawn shop. This is an option if you’re desperate for instant cash, but it almost always produces low payouts. Furthermore, you’ll likely have to negotiate with employees to get a fair rate, and even then, you’ll usually get less money than these other options.

Overall, when you compare ecoATM to pawn shops, online marketplaces, and Apple Trade-In, we think we have clear-cut advantages. If you want a convenient process with great payouts and eco-friendly practices, choose ecoATM to sell your used Apple Watch Series 7 device.

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling the Apple Watch Series 7

How much can I get for my Apple Watch Series 7?

It’s hard to nail down the exact value of your Series 7 without analyzing its condition, both physical and functional. That said, at the time of this writing, ecoATM currently offers up to $50 for used Apple Watch Series 7 models.

Can I sell an Apple Watch Series 7 that’s still under a financing plan?

You should always pay off your financing plan with your wireless carrier before selling an Apple Watch Series 7. Many resale platforms will reject devices that haven’t been fully paid off. Even if they do accept these devices, they’ll have lower resale value because they’re still locked to a specific wireless carrier until the installment plan is paid.

What happens if I leave my Apple ID logged in when I sell my Apple Watch Series 7?

If you neglect to remove your Apple ID from your Series 7 before selling it, it will remain Activation Locked. This means no one else can use this Apple Watch until you remove your Apple ID from the device. In other words, if you don’t log out, you can’t sell your Apple Watch.

How quickly does ecoATM submit payment after accepting my Apple Watch Series 7?

If you sell a smartphone or tablet at an ecoATM kiosk, you can get instant credit for it, with your choice of cash or a bank transfer to your PayPal or Venmo account. For selling Apple Watches and other products using our mail-in program, it takes up to three business days after the receipt of your device.