iPhone XS Max: what it's worth and whether to upgrade
Apple Trade In pays up to $85 in the United States, HK$700 in Hong Kong and £75 in the United Kingdom for an iPhone XS Max (Apple, 24 Sept 2026). In Hong Kong, local shops pay HK$700 to HK$1,100 for one in good condition, depending on storage. The iPhone XS Max stopped getting iOS updates at iOS 18.
What an iPhone XS Max sells for, by country
The best quote for an iPhone XS Max ranges from 11.1% of a new iPhone 18 Pro's price in South Korea to 3.7% in Austria.
| Country | Apple Trade In | Best local quote | vs new 18 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | ₩120,000 | ₩220,000 세티즌 Cetizen | 11.1% |
| India | ₹10,000 | ₹14,400 CeX | 8.7% |
| Japan | ¥14,000 | ¥19,000 イオシス 買取 | 8.6% |
| United States | $85 | $94 GadgetGone | 7.8% |
| Canada | $125 | - | 7.1% |
| Singapore | - | $130 Mister Mobile | 6.8% |
| Malaysia | RM 375 | - | 6.8% |
| Australia | $130 | $143 CeX | 6.8% |
| Taiwan | NT$3,000 | NT$2,000 地標網通 | 6.7% |
| Portugal | - | €100 CeX | 6.7% |
| Hong Kong | HK$700 | HK$700 Tradein852 先達 | 6.7% |
| Netherlands | - | €98 CeX | 6.6% |
| United Kingdom | £75 | £66 CeX | 6.3% |
| Italy | - | €87 CeX | 5.8% |
| Switzerland | - | CHF 70 verkaufen.ch | 5.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | AED 280 | - | 5.5% |
| Poland | - | 335 PLN CeX | 5.3% |
| Ireland | - | €79 CeX | 5.3% |
| Germany | €75 | - | 5.2% |
| France | €75 | - | 5.1% |
| China mainland | CN¥500 | - | 5.0% |
| Spain | - | €68 CeX | 4.6% |
| Mexico | - | MX$1,365 CeX | 4.6% |
| Austria | - | € 53 eBörse | 3.7% |
Should you upgrade from the iPhone XS Max?
Your XS Max no longer gets iOS updates. Time to move on.
- Your phone stopped getting iOS updates at iOS 18. No more security fixes, and more apps will stop supporting it.
- It is 8 years old. Apps and iOS features increasingly assume newer hardware.
What the iPhone 18 Pro adds over the iPhone XS Max
- A20 Pro chip, 8 generations newer than your A12.
- 36 hours of video playback, against 15 on yours (both with a new battery).
- Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, which need an iPhone 15 Pro or later.
- A 120Hz screen instead of 60Hz, so scrolling is noticeably smoother.
- USB-C instead of Lightning, one cable for your phone, laptop and iPad.
- A 48MP main camera instead of 12MP.
In the United States, an iPhone 18 Pro 256GB costs $1,199. After selling an iPhone XS Max it costs $1,086 to $1,114. Your own result depends on battery health, condition and where you sell, so run the tool for your phone.
iPhone XS Max vs current iPhones
| XS Max | 18 Pro | 17 | 17e | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A12 | A20 Pro | A19 | A19 |
| Video playback | 15 hrs | 36 hrs | 30 hrs | 26 hrs |
| iOS updates | ended at iOS 18 | iOS 27 | iOS 27 | iOS 27 |
| Apple Intelligence | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Display | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
Questions
Does the iPhone XS Max get iOS 27?
No. The iPhone XS Max stopped at iOS 18, so it no longer gets new features or security fixes.
Can the iPhone XS Max run Apple Intelligence?
No. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri need an iPhone 15 Pro or later.
How much is an iPhone XS Max worth?
Apple Trade In pays up to $85 in the United States, HK$700 in Hong Kong and £75 in the United Kingdom for an iPhone XS Max. In Hong Kong, local shops pay HK$700 to HK$1,100 for one in good condition, depending on storage.
More
iPhone XS · iPhone XR · iPhone XS · iPhone 11
Trade-in prices by country: Australia · Austria · Hong Kong · India · Ireland · Italy · Japan · Mexico · Netherlands · South Korea · Spain · Switzerland · Taiwan · United Kingdom · United States
Sources: Apple Trade In and the local shops named above, checked 24 Sept 2026. How we collect and calculate.