Black Friday 2026
Black Friday:
fix it or buy new?
Black Friday (27 November) makes a new iPhone feel like a bargain. But for most iPhones from the last five years, the repair that fixes the actual problem costs a fraction of upgrading, even after trade-in. Here's the math first, and the few things worth buying on sale after it.
Updated 9 November 2026 · US prices, before sales tax
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.
Start with the problem, not the deal
A discount only saves money if you needed the thing. Before you look at any deal, check three things:
- Battery. Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80%, or dead by evening? A new battery from Apple usually fixes it.
- Damage. One cracked screen or back is a repair. Several broken parts, or water damage, is where upgrading starts to make sense.
- A missing feature. Apple Intelligence needs an iPhone 15 Pro, or any iPhone 16 or newer. No repair adds it.
Tap what's broken and get your exact keep, fix or upgrade verdict.
Check my iPhone firstThe keep-it math for the most common iPhones
| Your iPhone | New battery | New screen | Upgrade after trade-in | Battery leaves you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 | $89 | $279 | $779 (17) | $690 |
| iPhone 13 | $89 | $279 | $724 (17) | $635 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | $89 | $279 | $944 (18 Pro) | $855 |
| iPhone 14 | $99 | $279 | $704 (17) | $605 |
| iPhone 14 Pro | $99 | $329 | $914 (18 Pro) | $815 |
| iPhone 15 | $99 | $279 | $594 (17) | $495 |
| iPhone 15 Pro | $99 | $329 | $829 (18 Pro) | $730 |
| iPhone 16 | $99 | $279 | $469 (17) | $370 |
Apple's US repair prices and maximum trade-in values. The upgrade is the closest phone Apple sells now in the same class (a Pro for a Pro). Even a Black Friday discount on the new phone rarely closes a gap that size.
Keeping it? Four things worth buying on sale
Accessories are where Black Friday discounts are common, and where a little money protects a big repair bill. Pick your iPhone and the links show only what fits it. We haven't tested specific brands, so the links go to Amazon's search results for your model, and we tell you what to look for instead.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and never changes a verdict.
A case that fits
The cheapest insurance there is. A cracked screen on your iPhone 13 costs $279 at Apple.
Look for: a raised edge around the screen and camera, and built-in MagSafe magnets so chargers and wallets still snap on.
Cases for iPhone 13 on AmazonA screen protector
A protector costs a small fraction of a screen repair, and many come in packs of two or three.
Look for: tempered glass with an alignment frame in the box. On the iPhone Duo, use one on the outer screen only. Leave the inner screen's cover layer alone unless the maker says the product is built for the Duo.
Screen protectors for iPhone 13 on AmazonThe right cable and charger
Your iPhone 13 charges over Lightning. New iPhones haven't come with a power adapter in the box since 2020.
Look for: a USB-C power adapter of 20W or more, and a “Made for iPhone” (MFi) certified cablea USB-C to USB-C cable.
Cables for iPhone 13 on Amazon 20W+ chargers on AmazonA MagSafe battery pack
If battery health is in the 80s and evenings are tight, a pack gets you through the day. Below 80%, the better fix is a new battery from Apple.
Look for: “Qi2” or MagSafe support on the listing, and check it names your model.
MagSafe battery packs on AmazonThe iPhone 11 models and the iPhone 16e don't support MagSafe, so we've left out MagSafe battery packs.
Upgrading anyway? Do it the smart way
- Check the trade-in first. Apple's value for your iPhone 13 is up to $175 in good condition, less if it's damaged. Selling it yourself can get more, with more hassle.
- Read carrier deals carefully. Many headline iPhone discounts in the US are carrier offers tied to a new line, a plan or a trade-in, paid back as bill credits over months.
- Consider renewed. A renewed iPhone keeps a phone in use instead of making a new one. On Amazon Renewed, check the seller, the stated battery condition and the return window on each listing.
- Budget for the case and charger. The new phone needs both, and Black Friday is a good time to buy them.
Renewed iPhone 16 on Amazon Renewed iPhone 15 Pro on Amazon
How we put this page together
Every number on this page comes from Apple's own US repair estimates and trade-in values, the same data behind our calculator. We don't take payment for placements, and we don't claim to have tested the products we link. We point you to Amazon's search results for your exact model and tell you what to check, so you can judge the listing yourself. If a repair is the better deal, the calculator says so, even though that earns us nothing.
Not sure yet? Get the verdict for your exact iPhone in about a minute.
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