The Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) (2021), released at a price point of $179, have been in circulation for five years. Today, these devices trade in for approximately $55 to $75, representing a significant depreciation of about 64% from their original retail value. This guide covers the current trade-in values offered by major platforms like Gazelle, Back Market, Apple Trade In, and Best Buy, providing insights on where to purchase certified refurbished units and how to safely recycle your AirPods (3rd Gen) if they are no longer usable.
tified, 90-day warranty minimum.
All certified-refurbished sellers test the device, replace the battery if degraded below 80% capacity, and reset to factory defaults.
How to Recycle a Apple AirPods (3rd Gen)
If trade-in value is below £20 / $25 - or the device has a swollen battery, cracked screen with internal damage, or won't power on - recycling is the responsible end-of-life route.
The fastest free option for a Apple device is the manufacturer programme: Apple Trade In. Cash card or new-purchase credit. Mail-in or in-store. Most products eligible including non-working.
Free options that work for any wearable:
Before recycling, factory-reset the device, remove SIM and SD cards, and sign out of any cloud account.
What's Inside (Recoverable Materials)
Smartwatches contain 0.005-0.015g gold, 30-50g aluminium or stainless steel, 5-10g lithium-cobalt battery. Apple Watch in particular uses recycled aluminium for the case.
The UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 estimates that the raw materials in global e-waste were worth $91 billion in 2022, with only 22.3% formally recycled. Every device sent to certified recycling closes a small part of that loop.
Fair-condition trade-in is around $22. Small repairs (battery, screen) at $40-$100 can lift the unit to excellent and double the resale value - worth doing if the device is otherwise functional.
Common failure modes for this generation: battery degradation below 80% capacity (cheap fix at any independent repair shop), screen damage from drops (out-of-warranty repair from the manufacturer is usually 2-3x what an independent shop charges), and water damage (rarely worth repairing - recycle and trade up).
Related Guides
Sources
- Trade-in prices: market estimates across Gazelle, Back Market and Apple Trade In, Best Buy Trade-In, retrieved 2026-05-17
- Manufacturer take-back URLs: official manufacturer recycling pages
- Recoverable materials: UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (UNITAR/ITU) baseline data
- Repairability scores: iFixit teardown database where available
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) worth in 2026?
In excellent condition, the AirPods (3rd Gen) trades in for $55-$75. In fair condition (screen scratches, battery health 80-90%), expect $15-$30. Quotes vary by service; check Decluttr, Gazelle and Back Market for live pricing.
Where can I sell my Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) for the most cash?
For US sellers, Decluttr typically pays the highest cash for Apple devices and ships money within 1 business day of inspection. Back Market wins on Macs and premium laptops. Apple Trade In pays in store credit only but stacks with current promotions.
Is the Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) worth repairing?
It depends on what's broken. Battery replacement on the AirPods (3rd Gen) costs $40-$80 at an independent shop and is almost always worth it if the device is otherwise functional. Screen damage is more expensive ($150-$250) but still cost-effective if the device is less than 4 years old. Water damage is rarely worth repairing.
How do I recycle a Apple AirPods (3rd Gen) if it has no trade-in value?
Three free options: (1) the Apple manufacturer take-back programme (prepaid mail label), (2) Best Buy Electronics Recycling (drop-off, 3 items per day), or (3) Staples Electronics Recycling (no quantity limit). All three are R2 or e-Stewards certified.
Is it safe to sell or recycle a AirPods (3rd Gen) with personal data on it?
Only after a full factory reset. On the AirPods (3rd Gen), this clears the encryption key and makes the data unrecoverable to the next owner. Sign out of any cloud account first (iCloud, Google, Microsoft account), then perform a factory reset from the settings menu before shipping.
