Holiday 2026
Apple's holiday
return window
Apple's holiday return window is open. Buy from Apple between 6 November and 25 December 2026, and you can return it until 8 January 2027, instead of the usual 14 days. If you're on the fence about a new iPhone, that window is the most useful thing in Apple's holiday update. Here's how to use it well.
Updated 9 November 2026 ยท checked against Apple's holiday policy as reported on 6 November 2026
How this page makes money. Some links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links never change a verdict, nothing here is a paid placement, and we don't list Amazon prices because they change by the hour. Repair prices and trade-in values are Apple's own.
What's covered
| Purchase window | 6 November to 25 December 2026. For online orders, Apple goes by the date you received it. |
| Return deadline | 8 January 2027 |
| Where | Apple Stores, apple.com and the Apple Store app |
| Exceptions | Some carrier-financed iPhones and iPads aren't included. Check before you buy on a carrier plan. |
| After 25 December | Apple's standard 14-day window applies. |
Also available in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and other countries; dates differ in some, such as Mexico, Italy, Spain and Japan. Apple's usual return conditions still apply, so check them on Apple's site.
How to use it if you're not sure about upgrading
- Get the verdict first. Price the repair against the upgrade for your exact phone. If a $89 to $129 battery fixes what bothers you, you may not need the box at all.
- Keep your old iPhone working until you're sure. If you can, hold off on trading it in, wiping it or selling it until you've decided to keep the new one. If you do trade in, check Apple's trade-in terms for what happens to the credit if you return the new phone.
- Test the reason you bought it. The camera, the battery life, Apple Intelligence, the size. Give it a real week, not an evening.
- Put 8 January in your calendar. A return window only helps if you use it before it closes.
What about Black Friday?
In past years Apple has run a four-day shopping event from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, with Apple Gift Cards on eligible purchases rather than straight discounts. When we checked on 9 November, Apple hadn't announced its 2026 plans. Black Friday is 27 November.
Apple or Amazon: which return window is longer?
Amazon runs its own holiday returns, and for most purchases its window is longer. The fair answer depends on what you're buying:
| Apple Store | Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
| Bought between | 6 Nov and 25 Dec 2026 | 1 Nov and 31 Dec 2026 |
| Return by | 8 Jan 2027 | 31 Jan 2027; Apple-brand products by 15 Jan 2027 |
| Sells new iPhones | Yes, every model | Limited; many iPhone listings are renewed or carrier-linked |
| Trade-in | Apple Trade In, credited at checkout | Separate Amazon Trade-In, paid as an Amazon gift card |
Both from each company's announced 2026 holiday policy. Their normal return conditions still apply, and on Amazon, check the listing: third-party sellers can have their own terms.
Our take: for a new iPhone, buy from Apple. You get every model, trade-in credited in the same transaction, and a window long enough to decide. For gifts like AirPods, an AirTag or accessories, Amazon's window runs at least a week longer, which helps if the present is opened on Christmas morning.
Shopping for someone else?
If they love their iPhone but don't need a new one, the best gift is often something that makes the one they have better.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon's search results; we don't list Amazon prices.
AirTag on Amazon AirPods on Amazon Apple Watch bands Charging stands
More ideas, matched to their exact model: gifts that make an older iPhone feel new.
Not sure you need a new iPhone at all? Check yours in a minute.
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