Apple, Inc. has officially commissioned a trade-in program for old iPhone and iPad products in mainland China on Tuesday, March 31.
According to local sources, owners of iPads and iPhones (as old as the iPhone 4 or newer) will receive store credits at any local Apple outlet, which can be used to purchase an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or any iPad model older than the iPad Air 2.
PC World reports that local Apple stores will only accept products that were purchased in mainland China for the trade-in program.
The amount of store credits that a customer will receive for an old iPhone or iPad depends on the specifications of the product as well as it current state (i.e., how damaged it is). The serial number of the iPhone or iPad will be assessed before store credits are issued.
Although China is one of Apple's main markets, the company is only introducing this trade-in program to the country now. Apple has been running its trade-in program in other parts of the world, including the U.S., U.K. and Canada, for a few years now.
Experts say that the trade-in program is expected to boost the sales of Apple products even more in China. It is also thought to be part of the company's strategy to get their customers in China to upgrade and lay the foundation for the introduction of Apple Watch and Apple Pay into the country.
At the moment, Apple, Inc. has not officially released any statement about the launch of its trade-in program in China.
Apple is expected to face stiff competition from third-party companies in the country, who buy old iPhones or iPads and put them back on the market after refurbishing them. Critics have noted that at the moment, there is no direct channel for Apple to sell off the refurbished products from the trade-in program.