JB Hi-Fi TradeUp is the trade-in programme offered by JB Hi-Fi, Australia’s leading consumer electronics retailer. Launched in 2019 in collaboration with Asurion, this initiative accepts a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and laptops from any brand. Participants receive store credit rather than cash, encouraging reuse and recycling within the community. Since its inception, JB Hi-Fi TradeUp has seen significant growth, processing thousands of devices annually and contributing to the retailer’s sustainability goals.
Galaxy S23 128GB | AU$415 | | Samsung Galaxy A54 | AU$165 | | Google Pixel 8 Pro | AU$575 | | iPad Pro 11-inch M2 256GB | AU$845 | | iPad Air 5th gen 64GB | AU$425 | | MacBook Air M2 13-inch 256GB | AU$985 | | MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 512GB | AU$1,815 | | Apple Watch Series 9 GPS | AU$285 | | Galaxy Watch 6 | AU$155 |
Prices are typically 8-15% below JB Hi-Fi's own listed second-hand selling prices and 5-12% below the Asurion-direct rate. The premium covers in-store testing and instant credit.
Acceptance criteria
JB Hi-Fi accepts working devices subject to:
- Device powers on and passes basic functional test
- No iCloud, Google, Samsung account active
- No reported lost or stolen status
- Not under finance with another provider
- Battery health above 70% on iPhones (checked via diagnostic)
Damaged devices are evaluated case-by-case. Cracked screens are usually accepted at 25-50% of Good price.
Condition grading on-site
The store diagnostic checks:
- Power-on, full boot
- Touchscreen responsiveness across all zones
- Front and rear camera function
- Speaker and microphone test
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Charging port function
- Battery health (iPhone Coconut Battery analog, Samsung Members app)
- Physical condition score from photos and visual check
Failed devices return to the customer free of charge. Customers can choose to leave failed devices for free recycling through MobileMuster (Australia's mobile recycling program) or TechCollect (e-waste recycling).
TradeUp vs alternatives
| Provider | iPhone 13 128GB Good | Payment | Open to all? |
|---|
| JB Hi-Fi TradeUp | AU$395 store credit | Same-day credit | Yes |
| Telstra Trade-In | AU$370 store credit | Same-day | Telstra customers |
| Optus Refresh | AU$385 cash/credit | 14 days | Optus customers |
| Officeworks TradeUp | AU$365 store credit | Same-day | Yes |
| Asurion Direct (online) | AU$420 BACS | 14 days | Yes |
| Reebelo | AU$415 BACS | 7-14 days | Yes |
JB Hi-Fi typically wins on convenience (in-store, instant credit) and loses to Asurion Direct or Reebelo on absolute cash payout. For Apple devices, Apple Trade-In Australia usually matches Asurion.
What happens to the device
Per JB Hi-Fi's 2024 Sustainability Report:
- 76% of TradeUp devices are refurbished and resold via JB Hi-Fi's certified pre-owned range
- 18% are stripped for parts and used for warranty replacements
- 4% reach material recovery facilities for metal extraction
- 2% are recycled via MobileMuster or TechCollect (typically older feature phones)
JB Hi-Fi does not publish destination warranties on individual trade-ins but provides a Certificate of Disposal on request via customer service within 21 days.
Asurion's Sydney facility runs nist 800-88 Clear-level software wipes on every accepted device. Devices that fail the wipe (storage chip damage) have the storage physically destroyed. Customers should:
- Sign out of iCloud, Google, Samsung account
- Sign out of banking and password apps
- Perform factory reset
- Remove SIM and microSD before handing over
Asurion's data destruction process is independently audited annually by an external security consultancy per JB Hi-Fi's 2024 Sustainability Report.
Key takeaways
- JB Hi-Fi TradeUp accepts smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and laptops from any brand
- Payment is store credit only, not cash, applied instantly on approval
- 2026 prices for an iPhone 13 128GB Good: AU$395 credit
- In-store diagnostic takes 10-15 minutes, no postage required
- Asurion partner handles processing and NIST 800-88 Clear data sanitisation
Sources
JB Hi-Fi TradeUp published price guide Q1 2026. JB Hi-Fi 2024 Sustainability Report. Asurion Australia processing facility documentation. Telstra / Optus / Officeworks / Apple / Reebelo published trade-in prices Q1 2026.
