Apple stopped making iPods. That froze the “next model kills the last one” cycle. What is left is a small collector market (especially Classic) plus leftover Touch units that still run as iOS iPods. Batteries and click wheels decide the bid more than the calendar.
Live catalog: 4 iPods · offers —–— (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working ipod: about 20%. Year two lands near 35%; year three near 50%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −6% | $940 |
| 6 months | −12% | $880 |
| 9 months | −16% | $840 |
| 1 year | −20% | $800 |
| 1.5 years | −28% | $720 |
| 2 years | −35% | $650 |
| 2.5 years | −43% | $570 |
| 3 years | −50% | $500 |
| 5 years | −70% | $300 |
“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 iPods lose value
- No new iPod means no September crash. Prices move with nostalgia, parts availability, and whether the battery still holds.
- iPod Touch followed iPhone-like iOS cutoffs while it was in production; older Touches that cannot update sit at accessory money.
- Hard-drive Classics with swollen batteries are a repair project, not a media player.
What still holds a price
- Working Classic with a healthy battery and unscratched click wheel.
- Touch models that still take a charge and have Find My off.
- Original dock or cable — not required, but it helps completeness.
When to sell
There is no launch calendar anymore. Sell when you are done using it; waiting does not rebuild demand.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed iPods. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- Apple Trade In
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
Instant quote · free prepaid label · paid after inspection.
FAQ
Is a 7th-gen Classic still worth sending in?
If it powers on and the drive is not clicking, often yes. Describe battery swell honestly — that is a defect, not a surprise.
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.