AirPods (3rd gen) trade-in and resale value
In the United Kingdom, CeX pays up to £55 for AirPods (3rd gen) in good condition (5 Oct 2026). Apple does not give trade-in credit for AirPods; it takes them for recycling only. The AirPods (3rd gen) do not have noise cancelling, Adaptive Audio, Live Translation, Apple's hearing features or heart-rate sensing.
Check your AirPods (3rd gen) →
What AirPods (3rd gen) sell for, by country
| Country | Best local quote | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $91 | CeX shop quote |
| Germany | €24 | MacOnline Ankauf shop quote |
| India | ₹4,800 | CeX shop quote |
| Ireland | €59 | CeX shop quote |
| Italy | €52 | CeX shop quote |
| Japan | ¥6,000 | イオシス 買取 shop quote |
| Mexico | MX$962 | CeX shop quote |
| Netherlands | €68 | CeX shop quote |
| Poland | 209 PLN | CeX shop quote |
| Portugal | €63 | CeX shop quote |
| Singapore | $50 | Mister Mobile shop quote |
| Spain | €52 | CeX shop quote |
| United Kingdom | £55 | CeX shop quote |
| United States | $10 | GadgetGone shop quote |
These prices are for a complete pair with its case.
Is it worth upgrading from the AirPods (3rd gen) to the AirPods 5?
New AirPods 5 cost £119 in the United Kingdom. After selling yours at the best local quote, they cost £64 (5 Oct 2026). Our default verdict: UPGRADE.
Your AirPods (3rd gen) are 5 years old. The AirPods 5 are a real step up.
- They are 5 years old. AirPods batteries hold less charge as they age, and you cannot replace them yourself.
- Yours still sell for about 46% of the new pair's price. That share drops every year you wait.
What the AirPods 5 add
- Active Noise Cancellation, which yours do not have.
- Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when you start talking.
- Live Translation, with an iPhone that runs Apple Intelligence.
- Head gestures: nod or shake your head to answer or decline a call.
- USB-C charging instead of Lightning.
- The H2 chip, against the H1 in yours.
Your own result depends on condition, what bothers you and where you sell, so run the tool for your AirPods.
AirPods (3rd gen) vs current AirPods
| AirPods (3rd gen) | AirPods 5 | AirPods 5 (wireless case) | AirPods Pro 3 | AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | H1 | H2 | H2 | H2 | H2 |
| Noise cancelling | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptive Audio | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Translation | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hearing features | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Heart rate | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Charging | Lightning | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
Questions
Do the AirPods (3rd gen) have noise cancelling?
No. The AirPods (3rd gen) do not have Active Noise Cancellation.
Do the AirPods (3rd gen) support Live Translation?
No. Live Translation works on AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2, with an iPhone that runs Apple Intelligence.
Do the AirPods (3rd gen) have Apple's hearing features?
No. Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection work on AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 only.
How much are AirPods (3rd gen) worth?
In the United Kingdom, CeX pays up to £55 for AirPods (3rd gen) in good condition (5 Oct 2026). Apple does not give trade-in credit for AirPods; it takes them for recycling only.
More
Other models: AirPods 5 (wireless case) · AirPods 5 · AirPods 4 with ANC · AirPods 4 · AirPods (2nd gen)
AirPods trade-in prices by country: Australia · Germany · India · Ireland · Italy · Japan · Mexico · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Singapore · Spain · United Kingdom · United States
Sources: the local shops named above and Apple's AirPods pages, checked 5 Oct 2026. How we collect and calculate.