Don't sell your iPhone these days... You could lose 20% of its value
If you are planning to sell an old iPhone to buy a new model, choosing the right timing could be a decisive factor in securing the best possible price, as waiting during a specific period may cause users to lose a significant portion of their old device’s value. According to the price comparison website SellCell, trading in an iPhone during the ten-day window between the announcement of new models and their official release can lead to a depreciation of up to 20% in the old phone’s value, leaving users with a difficult choice: sell early to preserve the highest possible value, or keep the device until the new phone arrives.
The decision becomes even more challenging for users who rely continuously on their current phone, as selling early could leave them without a device until the new model is available. Additionally, some users need to retain their old phone to transfer photos, messages, and other personal data to the new device, according to a report published by PhoneArena, as reviewed by Al Arabiya.
The data reveals the scale of potential losses resulting from waiting. The comparison included 2,000 iPhone owners, alongside an analysis of the launch data for the iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17. The analysis showed that 117 out of 156 models tracked over the past three years—approximately 75%—lost part of their value during the period between the announcement of new models and their official release.
The decline was more pronounced last year, with more than 92% of the 54 iPhone models tracked losing part of their value during the same interval between announcement and launch. During the ten days between the announcement of the iPhone 17 series and its release, the value of 50 out of 54 tracked models dropped, representing 92.6%.
The iPhone 16 Plus with 512GB storage recorded the largest value drop, losing $129, while the iPhone 15 Plus with 128GB storage saw a 20.2% decline in trade-in value. The problem lies in the fact that three out of five iPhone users wait until their new phones arrive and are set up before trading in their old devices, which may expose them to a loss in value if the wait extends beyond the new generation’s market release.
In light of these findings, those looking to upgrade to a new phone are advised to start comparing trade-in offers and seeking the best price as soon as Apple announces new iPhone models, rather than waiting until their official release, thereby helping to reduce the likelihood of their old phone’s value declining during the announcement and launch period.
