The Apple MacBook Air 15" (M3) (2024): Trade-In, Recycle, Refurb launched in early 2024 with a retail price of $1,299. As of now, after two years on the market, its trade-in value ranges from $850 to $980 across major platforms like Apple Trade In and online buyback services, reflecting a depreciation of about 30% from its original cost. This guide covers the current trade-in values for this model, highlights where you can purchase a certified refurbished unit at competitive prices, and provides information on safe recycling options if your device has reached the end of its life cycle.
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 MacBook Air 15" (M3)
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 laptop:
Before recycling, factory-reset the device, remove SIM and SD cards, and sign out of any cloud account.
What's Inside (Recoverable Materials)
A laptop typically contains 0.2-0.3g gold, 1-3g silver, 80-150g copper (motherboard + power supply), 200-400g aluminium (chassis on premium models) and 20-40g of various rare earths (speaker magnets, hard-drive magnets). Lithium battery: 200-400g.
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 $440. Repair almost always pays off - even a full screen replacement at $150-$200 lifts the trade-in to excellent tier, recovering the repair cost twice over.
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 MacBook Air 15" (M3) worth in 2026?
In excellent condition, the MacBook Air 15" (M3) trades in for $850-$980. In fair condition (screen scratches, battery health 80-90%), expect $380-$500. Quotes vary by service; check Decluttr, Gazelle and Back Market for live pricing.
Where can I sell my Apple MacBook Air 15" (M3) 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 MacBook Air 15" (M3) worth repairing?
It depends on what's broken. Battery replacement on the MacBook Air 15" (M3) 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 MacBook Air 15" (M3) 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 MacBook Air 15" (M3) with personal data on it?
Only after a full factory reset. On the MacBook Air 15" (M3), 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.
