Save up to $700 on Surface Duo by trading in your old phone

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Surface Duo Press Lady
Surface Duo Press Lady (Image credit: Microsoft)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft has an online program for phone, laptop, or tablet trade-ins.
  • Users can get up to $700 back when purchasing a Surface Duo.
  • New smartphones yield the most money, laptops not so much.

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Duo pricing and availability today. There's no doubt that the price, which starts at $1,399, is on the high-end (but still well below Samsung's Galaxy Fold at $2,000).

Luckily, there is a way to save money if you have some old gadgets lying around your home. Microsoft, through CExchange (opens in new tab), is letting users send in their old phone, tablet, or laptop for "up to $700" off Surface Duo. That cuts the Surface Duo's price in half, which is a lot more palpable for many.

Of course, the devil is in the details as not all devices get the full $700. It seems a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and an iPhone 11 Pro/Max yield that reward. A working iPhone 11 with 128GB brings in $550, while an iPhone 8 still fetches for $400.

Microsoft is accepting phones, tablets, and laptops from all the major manufacturers, including:

  • Apple
  • Acer
  • Asus
  • Dell
  • Lenovo
  • Microsoft
  • LG
  • BlackBerry
  • Google
  • HTC
  • Huawei
  • Motorola
  • Nokia (non-Windows phone)
  • OnePlus
  • Razer
  • Samsung
  • Vizio
  • Toshiba

The best trade-ins are for smartphones, unsurprisingly. Laptops, even a Surface Laptop 3 with Core i5, only gets you $325, which seems like a poor deal. It's unclear if you can claim multiple devices to stack.

Ms Trade In Duo

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

The process is not as smooth as walking into an Apple store, but it is easier than trying to sell it yourself. Here is how it works:

  1. Pre-order or order a Surface Duo (opens in new tab) (128GB or 256GB), save receipt (PDF).
  2. Get the trade-in value for your device using this portal.
  3. Verify your purchase (upload your PDF receipt from the Microsoft Store).
  4. Send in your old device (for free).
  5. After device inspection, CExchange will send you the money within 14 days to your PayPal or bank transfer.

There's going to be some waiting, and you still need to front the entire cost of Surface Duo, but if you have a high-end phone that you would like to trade-in, it's a great way to save money.

Since Surface Duo is currently in pre-order status, you cannot claim the trade-in until your device has shipped. That also means you do not need to send in your current phone until after you get Surface Duo.

Get money back

 (opens in new tab)
Microsoft Trade-in Program

Get a Surface Duo for just $700.

The Surface Duo is not that affordable, but if you have a newish Samsung Galaxy phone or Apple iPhone that you are willing to part with, Microsoft could make it worthwhile. Some trade-ins can get up to $700 cashback.

Preorders today!

 (opens in new tab)
Microsoft Surface Duo

Two screens are better than one.

Microsoft delves into the future of foldables with an ambitious dual-screen device, featuring two ultra-thin 5.6-inch AMOLED displays bound by a 360-degree hinge. This pocketable inking-enabled Android smartphone marks the latest in the Surface lineup, geared for mobile productivity.

Microsoft Surface Duo

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Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

21 Comments
  • Time to dig into the closet for all the old Androids :-). My LG V30 and V40 will be going if they accept them, I'll keep the LG V20 and V50.
    Any chance they are accepting old Windows phones? I have a drawer of phones from as far back as the 920, through the 1520, 950 XL and the Elite X3, including some side players like the Idol 4S and some HTCs hehehe!
    Either ways, I'm gonna get this, waiting for Dan and Zac's hands-on video for the green light!!
  • No Windows Phones, sadly. I think this is all based on resale value lol.
  • It would have been a miracle if they accept the old WPs haha!! But still good if you have any fairly old Androids lying around.
  • The $9 offering for my old Pixel 3aXL with a minor screen crack will really move the needle.
  • I mean, it's a Pixel 3a lol But yeah, some older devices would make more sense to privately sell. Same with laptops.
  • True but anything under $50 is laughable. Samsung will offer $200 in comparison.
  • Offering me $250 for my S8+, definitely gonna take em up on that!!!
  • The offer only seems to apply to a few manufacturers, like Samsung. When selecting to trade in an S10, there is a drop-down to choose the MS device you purchased. The Duo and the Note 20 are on the list. using the S10 as an example, it's normally $190 on trade. When you select the Duo as purchased, it goes up to $550. That option doesn't exist for the other OEMs. I checked the Razer Phone 2, the HTC U12, and the LG G8X as a few examples. There's no option to choose a Duo purchase for a trade-in bonus, so you're stuck with the base trade values for those devices, which are pretty poor ($100 for the G8X, $65 for the Razer Phone 2, $50 for the U12). Doesn't seem to be a blanket trade offer, just a blanket ability to trade in with offers on a select set of devices.
  • Yeah the LGs are drawing really low trade-in value. Better to either find a private buyer or just keep your old phone and spring for the full $1400. Saving $60-100 out of $1400 is not worth it IMHO. Just keep your old phone in the collection for 'historical' value and get the Duo clean. I must have like 15 old phones in my closet now :-)
  • I am getting $550 for iphone 11. That is amazing. Just waiting on ATNT to open up the orders and see if they have any deal for new line.
  • $130 for the BB Key2...not worth the trade in. I'd rather play multiple games now across two devices.
  • $650 for my Note 10+ 256GB. I was hoping it would have been $700.
  • I think even Samsung only offers up to $650 for that device (for Note 20/Ultra).
  • That's crazy. AT&T offered $1000 for my wife's Note 8 to upgrade to the Note 20 Ultra. I'm hoping they have a good deal for the Duo, also.
  • AT&T can flex their “trade in muscle” when it’s $1000 bill credits. You basically signed an agreement for at least 24 months so they will gladly give your something extra.
  • Wonder if I can trade in two...Note 10 for $650 and S9 for $400. If so I'd go for a Duo for sure :-)
  • I'd feel better buying a Duo gen 1 if I knew that they'd give a fair trade in offer for upgrading from Duo 1 to Duo 2 when it comes out. Any thoughts on that, Dan?
  • I'm hoping this is the case as well. I'm still going to get the gen 1, but hoping when gen 2 or gen 3 are released that they address some of the missing features (QI/NFC) and that MS offers a decent trade value for the SD gen 1 early adopters.
  • $550 for S10 128GB isn't TOO bad but for the common consumer I just don't see that we're the target audience for Duo. I love MS but I don't see this device being of any particular benefit to me over what I already own (S10). IMO.
  • What about the HP Elite X3? This was the high end device that hung on and I am still using with no issues. This price is significantly over the $999 price point we were expecting and with less than leading edge features this is a stretch.
  • Speaking of the devil being in the details - for most of us we'll have to wait until after the Duo is delivered - hard to live without that iPhone until then...