Phones are the fastest-moving gadget most people own. Carriers subsidize the new one, flagship cameras jump every fall, and a cracked back is obvious in a photo. Flagship iPhones still lead value retention; most Android flagships follow a few points behind; budget Androids fall off a cliff after the first OS cycle.
Live catalog: 410 phones · offers $5–$450 · average $92 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working phone: about 50%. Year two lands near 68%; year three near 80%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −16% | $840 | $77 |
| 6 months | −30% | $700 | $64 |
| 9 months | −41% | $590 | $54 |
| 1 year | −50% | $500 | $46 |
| 1.5 years | −59% | $410 | $38 |
| 2 years | −68% | $320 | $29 |
| 2.5 years | −74% | $260 | $24 |
| 3 years | −80% | $200 | $18 |
| 5 years | −92% | $80 | $7 |
“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 phones lose value
- Annual flagship launches (especially September) reprice last year’s hero model overnight.
- Battery chemistry is a wear item. After 500–800 cycles the health number is a talking point in every listing.
- Account locks (iCloud, Google FRP, Samsung Knox) make a phone worthless to a buyer who follows the law.
What still holds a price
- Unlocked flagships with original box optional but original cable/brick helpful.
- Screen and back glass intact. A cheap screen repair that kills True Tone / Face ID is a deduction.
- Find My / FRP off, and a factory reset already done.
When to sell
If you upgrade every year, sell in the 2–4 weeks before the next flagship keynote. After the keynote, last-gen asking prices usually drop more in a week than they did in the prior month.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed phones. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- SellCell iPhone value-retention report
- SellCell Smartphone & Tech Depreciation Report
- Bankrate used-electronics value notes
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
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FAQ
Why do Android phones often fetch less than iPhones of the same age?
Software support length and used-market depth. iPhones get years of iOS; many Android lines get two or three. There are also more Android SKUs, so each individual model has a thinner buyer pool.
Does a carrier lock matter?
Yes. Unlocked devices sell faster and higher. A financed phone that is not paid off cannot be unlocked, and we cannot take a blacklisted IMEI.
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.