People wait in line to buy iPhone 4S in Tokyo last year. [File photo]

Apple Inc is buying back the used iPhone 4S in its home market in the United States, likely to prepare for the next-generation iPhone release expected in September, Shanghai Daily learned yesterday. Apple China didn't have such plans yet.

According to Apple's US website, the company agrees to buy back the used iPhone 4S 16GB (gigabyte), if it has no scratches or water damage, at US$285, 44 percent of the retail price of the new model's cost of US$699. The price paid for a used iPhone 4S 64 GB is US$349.

On its Chinese websites, Apple agrees only to recycle used devices "free of charge."