Instant trade-in quote

Sell my Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

Condition guide

How we grade every device that comes in, in plain English.

Condition	What it means
Flawless	No scratches or scuffs anywhere. Screen and body look like new. Fully working, no cracks.
Good	Light, minor scratches or scuffs from normal use, none deep. No cracks or dents. Fully working.
Fair	Heavier scratches, scuffs, or a small dent, but no cracks in the glass or screen. Fully working.
Cracked screen	Cracked or chipped screen or back glass, but it still powers on and the touchscreen works.
Broken	Powers on but has a fault, a bad display, or a part not working (camera, buttons, Face ID).
Won't power on	Won't turn on or hold a charge. We still buy it for parts.

At inspection

Common AirPods (3rd gen) issues we check at inspection

Left or Right Earbud Not Charging/Connecting. One earbud fails to charge in the case or loses connection intermittently. Often due to dirty charging contacts or internal battery/connection failure.
Reduced Battery Life in Earbuds. Individual earbuds hold significantly less charge than when new, requiring more frequent recharging.
Charging Case Not Charging or Holding Charge. The charging case itself fails to charge or its battery degrades, rendering it unable to charge the earbuds.
Spatial Audio/Head Tracking Malfunction. Features like spatial audio or head tracking become unreliable or stop working, often due to sensor issues.
Cosmetic Wear (Scratches/Scuffs). The plastic casing of the earbuds and charging case can easily accumulate scratches and scuffs from daily use.
Bluetooth Connectivity Issues. Difficulty pairing, frequent disconnections, or audio dropouts.

Trade-in value, last 12 monthsDown ~14%, sell before it drops more

Jul: $14now: $12

Real cash vs a carrier trade-in

Your AirPods (3rd gen) offer is paid as real cash you can spend anywhere. A carrier “trade-in” of a similar size is bill credit spread over 24 to 36 months, and only while you buy a new phone and stay on their plan.

BuyBackBear

up to $12 cash

Real cash by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or check
Yours to spend anywhere, no strings
We beat any competitor’s written quote by $2

Carrier trade-in

Bill credit

Spread over 24 to 36 monthly bill credits
Only if you buy a new phone and stay on plan
Leave early and the remaining credit disappears

Reference

Model numbers and every configuration we price, one tap away. The quote above already covers the exact variant you pick.

Find your exact model & the variants we buyShow ▾

How to identify your AirPods (3rd gen)

Make sure you're quoting the exact model and variant, it's what locks your price.

1.Settings → tap your AirPods → check the Model Number.
2.The model and serial are also printed inside the charging-case lid.

Variants & configurations we buy

Select yours above for an exact cash offer.

Conditions: Flawless · Good · Fair · Cracked · Broken · Won't power on
Released: 2021
Launch price: $169
Model #: A2566, A2897

First, turn off Find My before you sell your AirPods (3rd gen)

A device still signed into iCloud is Activation Locked and worth almost nothing to any buyer. The walkthrough covers the exact taps, the iCloud route if you no longer have it to hand, and the clean erase.

Prefer to read? Full transcript and takeaways →

Four steps

How it works

Four steps, no surprises. Decline any revised offer for free, we even pay the return shipping.

1
Get your quote
Pick your model and condition for an instant, honest offer. Price locked 14 days.
2
Ship it free
We email a prepaid FedEx/UPS label and your 5 nearest drop-off spots. Pack it with our guide.
3
We inspect & wipe
We test, certify-erase your data (NIST 800-88), and email your Certificate of Data Erasure.
4
Get paid fast
Choose PayPal, debit, Venmo, or a gift-card bonus. Don't like a revised offer? Free returns.

Answers

Selling your AirPods (3rd gen): FAQs

Straight answers on value, condition and getting paid for your AirPods (3rd gen).

How much is a Apple AirPods (3rd gen) worth?

A AirPods (3rd gen) in flawless, unlocked condition is worth up to $12 right now with BuyBackBear. Exact value depends on storage, carrier and condition, get your instant quote above. Your quote is locked for 14 days.

What is the AirPods (3rd gen) trade-in value?

The AirPods (3rd gen) trade-in value runs up to $12 for a flawless, unlocked unit and scales down with storage, carrier lock and condition. We re-price daily against the market, so the number in your quote is current, and we'll beat any competitor's written quote by $2.

Can I sell a AirPods (3rd gen) with a cracked screen?

Yes. A AirPods (3rd gen) with a cracked screen that still powers on is worth around $5. Select "Cracked screen" above for your exact offer, we buy damaged and broken devices too.

Where can I sell my AirPods (3rd gen) for cash?

Right here, get an instant quote above, ship it free with a prepaid label, and we pay cash by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or check quickly after we inspect it. No stores, no haggling, and free return shipping if you decide not to sell.

Do I get more selling my AirPods (3rd gen) here than trading it in with my carrier?

Almost always. Carriers pay "up to" headline amounts as bill credits spread over 24 to 36 months, and only if you buy a new phone and stay on their plan. BuyBackBear pays cash after inspection, no strings.

How do I wipe my AirPods (3rd gen) before selling it?

Back up, then Settings → [your name] → Sign Out (this turns off Find My / Activation Lock), remove your SIM, and Erase All Content and Settings. We also wipe it again to NIST 800-88 standards and email you a Certificate of Data Erasure.

What if my AirPods (3rd gen) is worth less after inspection?

If our inspection changes your quote, we send photo evidence and give you 14 days to accept or decline. Decline and we ship your AirPods (3rd gen) back free, we never silently accept a lower offer for you.

How much can I sell my AirPods (3rd gen) for?

From $5 (won't power on) to $12 (flawless, unlocked). No listing fees, no shipping costs and no haggling, the quote you lock is the cash we pay if the device matches your description.

Where can I sell my Apple AirPods (3rd gen) near me?

Anywhere in the US, no store visit needed. We email a free prepaid label, you drop the box at any carrier location, and payment goes out after inspection. Mail-in buyback beats kiosk and store walk-in offers almost every time.

Can I sell a broken AirPods (3rd gen)?

Yes. Cracked glass, bad battery, even a AirPods (3rd gen) that won't turn on, we buy them all. Broken units start around $5, just pick the matching condition above for your exact offer.

Is a used AirPods (3rd gen) still worth anything in 2026?

Yes, a 5-year-old AirPods (3rd gen) in good shape still brings up to $12. Resale value keeps sliding as newer models launch, so the sooner you sell, the more of that value you keep.

Should I sell my AirPods (3rd gen) now or wait?

Sooner is almost always better. AirPods (3rd gen) prices fall every time a newer model launches or a carrier promo ends, they don't recover. The price-history chart on this page shows the trend for this exact device.

Is it safe to sell my AirPods (3rd gen) online?

Yes, when the buyer does what we do: a NIST 800-88 certified data wipe with an emailed certificate, photo evidence for any re-grade, and free return shipping if you decline. You're never locked in.

Keep browsing

More devices we buy

The nearest models to yours, each with its own live quote.

AirPods Pro (2nd gen)up to $27 AirPods Maxup to $27 AirPods (4th gen)up to $30 AirPods Pro 3up to $85 AirPods Max 2 (2026)up to $290 Galaxy Buds 2 Proup to $24 Galaxy Buds 3 Proup to $58

See all Apple trade-in values →

Ready when you are

Turn your AirPods (3rd gen) into up to $12 cash

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Not ready to sell? Track your Apple AirPods (3rd gen)'s value — free.

Phones lose value every month. We'll email you when your Apple AirPods (3rd gen)'s trade-in value drops, or before a new model launch tanks the price — so you sell at the peak. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.