iPhones are still the used-phone benchmark. They lose a large chunk in year one, then decay more slowly than most Android flagships because Apple keeps selling last-gen models and supporting them. Pro Max and higher storage hold the curve better than the smallest base model.
Live catalog: 238 iPhones · offers $5–$450 · average $84 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working iphone: about 48%. Year two lands near 64%; year three near 76%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −15% | $850 | $72 |
| 6 months | −29% | $710 | $60 |
| 9 months | −39% | $610 | $51 |
| 1 year | −48% | $520 | $44 |
| 1.5 years | −56% | $440 | $37 |
| 2 years | −64% | $360 | $30 |
| 2.5 years | −70% | $300 | $25 |
| 3 years | −76% | $240 | $20 |
| 5 years | −90% | $100 | $8 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why iPhones lose value
- Apple’s September event is the single biggest price reset in consumer electronics.
- Apple itself keeps last-gen iPhones on the store at a discount, which caps what anyone else can pay for used.
- Parts pairing (batteries, screens, cameras) means a non-genuine repair can show a warning — and a deduction.
What still holds a price
- Pro / Pro Max, 256 GB or more, battery health reasonably high.
- No Activation Lock. Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My.
- Original or good-quality USB-C / Lightning cable; box is nice, not required.
When to sell
July and August are historically the strongest months to sell an iPhone you plan to replace in September. Announcement week itself is a bad week to list.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed iPhones. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- SellCell iPhone value-retention report
- Apple Trade In
- SellCell Smartphone & Tech Depreciation Report
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
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FAQ
How much does an iPhone drop the day a new one is announced?
Last-gen asking prices often move 10–15% around announcement week. The exact gap depends on how big the camera / chip jump is that year.
What is iCloud lock?
Find My / Activation Lock ties the phone to an Apple ID. Until it is off, the device is a brick for a new owner. Turn it off in Settings or remove the device at iCloud.com before you ship.
Does cosmetic wear change the depreciation table?
The percentages describe typical working devices in good shape. Heavy wear, missing parts, account locks, or dead boards are extra deductions on top of age. A clean, unlocked unit tracks the curve much more closely.