Most people land here when they want to sell a laptop and wonder if waiting a few months still pays. It usually doesn’t. Phones take the first-year hit; MacBooks hang on longer; a GPU can reprice overnight. The percentages below are resale / buyback curves — what we actually pay for working gear — not the IRS 5-year computer schedule.
Dollar ranges are live from our catalog (displayed listings). Open a category for the full table, why it moves, and when to sell.
| Category | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | Buyback range | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop | −45% | −65% | −78% | $1–$2,770 | 16,847 |
| MacBook | −35% | −50% | −65% | $4–$1,005 | 651 |
| Desktop PC | −45% | −63% | −75% | $10–$1,045 | 3,394 |
| All-in-one | −45% | −63% | −75% | $10–$765 | 1,298 |
| Phone | −50% | −68% | −80% | $5–$450 | 410 |
| iPhone | −48% | −64% | −76% | $5–$450 | 238 |
| Tablet | −38% | −52% | −68% | $3–$600 | 773 |
| iPad | −35% | −50% | −68% | $5–$600 | 160 |
| Watch | −42% | −62% | −78% | $1–$465 | 831 |
| Camera | −30% | −48% | −62% | $2–$316 | 695 |
| Drone | −45% | −60% | −75% | $5–$420 | 68 |
| Gaming console | −25% | −40% | −55% | $10–$260 | 37 |
| 3D printer | −40% | −58% | −72% | — | — |
| iPod | −20% | −35% | −50% | — | 4 |
| GPU | −35% | −55% | −72% | $50–$350 | 9 |
How to read this
Tax depreciation (IRS Publication 946) puts most computers on a 5-year MACRS life. That is for books and taxes. Street depreciation is faster: a new model, a new GPU, or a new iPhone event reprices used gear in days, not years.
The year-1 / year-2 / year-3 columns are typical working devices in good condition. Cracked glass, iCloud/FRP locks, missing chargers, and dead batteries are extra. Our instant quote applies those on top of age.
When to sell
- iPhones: July–August, before the September event.
- MacBooks / iMacs: before WWDC or the fall hardware show.
- Gaming PCs / GPUs: before a known NVIDIA/AMD generation lands in stores.
- Everything else: if you already bought the replacement, listing this week beats listing after the box is in a closet.
Sources
Curves draw on published resale work (SellCell phone/tablet reports, IT-asset guides, IRS Pub 946 for the accounting contrast) plus what we actually offer on working units. Each category page cites the pieces that apply.
Or a phone, desktop, tablet — same quote. Prepaid label, paid after inspection.
Guides by device
- Laptop depreciation
- MacBook depreciation
- Desktop PC depreciation
- All-in-one depreciation
- Phone depreciation
- iPhone depreciation
- Tablet depreciation
- iPad depreciation
- Watch depreciation
- Camera depreciation
- Drone depreciation
- Gaming console depreciation
- 3D printer depreciation
- iPod depreciation
- GPU depreciation
FAQ
Is this IRS tax depreciation or street value?
Both exist. IRS Publication 946 treats most computers as 5-year MACRS property for accounting. These pages describe resale and buyback value — what a working device actually fetches — which is usually faster than the tax schedule.
Where do the dollar ranges come from?
Min, max, and average offers are computed from our live catalog of displayed devices in each category. Percent curves are category research, not a promise for one serial number.
Does condition change the numbers?
Yes. Tables assume a working device in good shape. Defects, locks, missing chargers, and cracked panels are extra hits on top of age.