Apple will now pay you for a water-damaged iPhone or iPad
You can now send Apple a water-damaged iPhone, iPad, or Mac and get a gift card in return.
Want to get rid of that iPhone you dropped in the bathtub? Apple may now give you something for it.
Apple's Reuse and Recycling Program promises you an Apple Store gift card in exchange for your used iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or Mac desktop. You can then use that gift card toward a new Apple device or accessory.
Until Monday, water-damaged devices weren't accepted as trade-ins. But the Reuse and Recycling Program site now asks if the device you wish to send in has been damaged by water. How can you tell?
Most iPhones and iPads have a liquid contact indicator dot in the bottom of the headphone jack. If water has damaged the device, this dot will appear red or pink rather than the usual white or silver. An Apple support page explains the process in greater detail.
Sounds like a good way to rid yourself of a water-soaked iPhone or iPad. Just don't expect top dollar.
A 32GB Verizon iPhone 5 with no water damage would earn you a $265 gift card. Water damage brings the price down to $235. A 16GB iPad 2 that's still dry would score $126. One affected by water is worth only $96 to Apple. And those prices assume the device still functions. A non-working iPhone, whether damaged by water or not, would earn you around $35 at best.
(Via AppleInsider)