Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Engrave Your Apple Devices

Engraving your device reduces the chances that a thief will be able to sell it. Since many people tend to engrave their full names, email addresses, or contact information on their devices, identifying the device when a thief tries to sell it can become fairly easy. Plus, most buyers don’t want to buy an Apple device with someone’s personal information engraved on it.

While this is certainly a benefit, reverse the roles and think of it the other way around. If it would be harder for a thief to resell your device, it would be just as hard for you to sell it. While Apple claims that engraving your device does not affect its resale value with Apple (unless it is a third-party engraving), the final amount you receive will depend on the condition of your iPad, and it is possible that Apple will lower the initial resale value due to the engraving.

Additionally, you can’t trade in AirPods, AirTags, or Apple Pencils. In these cases, your only option is to sell your Apple device directly to someone you know, or through a platform like Facebook Marketplace. Unfortunately, this would come with its own set of challenges, as most buyers would prefer to buy the device without the engraving.

So if you are someone who tends to upgrade their devices every time a new one comes out, it is better not to engrave your device. If you really want to engrave it and plan to sell or trade it, we recommend engraving something generic instead of your name!