Optus Trade-In and Trade Up: Which one’s for you?

Want to upgrade your device but still have an old one that works just fine? You have two choices with Optus:

• Trade in your device and get credit on your next bill
• Pay a fee and exchange it for a new device repayment contract with the New Phone Trade Up option

How does Optus trade-in work?

Optus allows customers to exchange their old devices for future bill credit. Only certain devices are eligible and must be in "good working order" to be considered.

Here's how you can trade your device in with Optus:

1. Check eligibility. Search your phone or tablet on Optus's device eligibility list and get a quote. You will be asked a number of questions about its condition.
2. Prepare your device. Back up any data you want to keep and make sure you've disabled any locking or locating features (such as Find My iPhone or Find My Device).
3. Send your device. Optus will provide a prepaid satchel for you to return your device. Alternatively, trade your device in at an Optus store.
4. Get credit. Your bill credit should be applied in full to your next bill or the one after that.

What terms and conditions do I need to watch out for?

Optus's trade-in scheme is not too complicated, but has a couple of things that might trip you up:

• Eligibility. On top of having an eligible device for trading in, you must also have an active billed Optus service and be the account holder.
• Trade limit. You can only trade in a single device per service per contract.
• Credit reduction. If Optus decides that your device does not match the description of its condition you provided, it may offer you a reduced credit quote or refuse to accept it entirely.

How can I tell if my device is in "good working order"?

Condition is assessed on an individual basis, but Optus has a few criteria for what constitutes "good working order":

• Can power on and off
• Touchscreen and battery are both fully functional
• Has no physical damage (liquid damage, discolouration, missing buttons and so on)
• No missing parts
• Has no cracks or severe scratches anywhere
• Locking features such as Find My iPhone or Find My Device are disabled

The worse the condition of your device, the less credit it will be worth. It may end up being refused altogether.

What is Optus Trade Up?

The New Phone Trade Up option is available to customers on a device payment contract with Optus. You can trade-in your device for a one-time fee of $149 for mobiles or $99 for tablets and enter into a new device payment contract right away, without paying off the rest of your previous device.

This option is only available in the last 12 months of a 24- or 36-month contract.

Alternatively, you can keep your old device and pay off its remaining cost. New devices on repayment contracts automatically come with the New Phone Trade Up option.

Is New Phone Trade Up worth it?

This depends. New Phone Trade Up is very similar to leasing a phone – you get to use the handset for 12 months, then trade it in for $149 plus whatever you've already spent in repayments. You don't get any discount or deal on the new contract this way, since it functions the same as if you were any new customer signing a new contract.

If you intend to trade up, you should do so as soon as possible, since the value decreases for each extra month you keep it and make repayments. Otherwise, you can just pay out the remaining value of your phone and potentially sell it second-hand, recouping some of your costs.