BankMyCell published a report on the depreciation suffered by smartphones from the major phone brands, showing that iPhones consistently lost less value than all other competing phones.
Resale site BankMyCell has published a report comparing the evolution of smartphone prices after their release in the U.S. market. However, this report shows a strong trend according to the operating system, the model, and especially the brand of the phone. Indeed, although the study is exclusively American, it confirms that you earn much more from the sale of a used iPhone than from the sale of an Android equivalent.
Higher depreciation in Android phones
In fact, according to the site, during its first year, the average depreciation of a new iPhone in trade-in offers is 13.83% while it is 32.06% for Android. Then, between the first and fourth year, the drop from the initial trade-in price of the iPhone is on average 14.80% every 12 months compared to 32.18% for Android. Finally, after the fourth year, iPhones will have seen their starting trade-in rate drop by 47.49% compared to 78.94% for Android! Moreover, whether we are dealing with a mid/high-end Android smartphone ($699 and up) or a more economical model (under $399) the prices of both depreciate similarly. Thus, more expensive Android phones don’t necessarily stand the test of time better than their more affordable neighbors.
An exception to the rule: the iPhone SE 2020
But all is not well at Apple. Indeed, according to the site, the 2020 iPhone SE would be the weakest link in the smartphone range. Indeed, the device would have lost 38.32% of its value only 8 months after its launch! Poorly positioned against other entry-level iPhone models, and without Face ID, this model would not have attracted potential buyers, and even less second-hand buyers. On the Android side, it’s the Galaxy Z Fold2 launched in the fall of 2020 that represents the black sheep: it has lost almost half of its original value (-$450) since its release.
Apple still in the lead, while Google and LG complete the podium
The findings of this study still place iPhones at the top of the list of brands and models whose trade-in value is best able to absorb depreciation in their trade-in value. The iPhone 13 in particular seems to hold up very well, it is the range that has dropped the least compared to Apple’s previous ones. Samsung’s smartphones consistently take last place, behind LG, Google, and even Motorola.
BankMyCell these results from the apple brand. But we know that Apple has a more robust system update policy. Indeed, iPhone 6s released in 2015 are still entitled to the iOS launched in late 2021. On the other hand, Samsung is committed to four years of major updates for some of its devices, and other manufacturers are making efforts in this area: what seems to be commonplace on iOS is slowly starting to happen on Android.
