Apple Again Leads in Smartphone Resale Value With iPhone 15

[klasma]

But I'd think that works in reverse. There would be a ton of 256gb models on the market, and very few 512 or 1T models, thus upping the value of the higher storage models.

I think there’s very few people who have an actual need for that much storage but want to buy a used phone. Buying a used phone is primarily for financial reasons (so this is an extra filter compared to the market for new phones), and when you want to save money you’ll also be reluctant to spend extra on more storage. On the seller side, I can imagine that people with buyer’s remorse tend to realize they don’t actually need that much storage (even when that’s not the primary reason for the resale). So there’s a bias that defavors the higher storage tiers (even more) on the used market.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I resold my 13 Pro after seven months because I found the weight annoying. It can happen!

Gotta hang in there and get them gains son! How else you gonna bulk up that pencil pinky?!

 

[webkit]

Seems like those interested in Samsung devices would be smart to buy a very slightly used model at a whopping half off.

If purchased at full retail, yes but it's not unusual for Samsung to offer discounts and/or inflated trade allowances. For example, you can get a newly launched 512GB Galaxy S24 Ultra for $1,299.99 which is about 8.5% off. They are also giving inflated trade-in values towards purchase. The depreciation numbers in this report can be a bit misleading as not every phone is sold at full launch retail.

 

[masotime]

One thing I found interesting (in light of certain other threads today), the larger SSD you buy initially, the worse is your depreciation. The 256 gb models tend to depreciate less.

It's not surprisingly really. The value of higher storage models, especially given rock bottom NVMe prices, is generally understood by the market to not have much impact incrementally. It's only Apple that's marking them up to insane values - the market knows the extra storage isn't worth that much.

It would not surprise me that Apple's main profit driver is sales of higher storage options. Their storage pricing schemes have never made sense economically to me unless the aim is only to maximizing shareholder value through insane prices...

 

[Wanted797]

Actually, the numbers quoted are an "average" of all models. I'm not sure why this article calls out the 256gb Pro Max. But, click on the article and you can see the chart for all models.

One thing I found interesting (in light of certain other threads today), the larger SSD you buy initially, the worse is your depreciation. The 256 gb models tend to depreciate less.

Well that’s because most people don’t need more than 256GB.

You also can’t pass on the stupid cost of memory Apple charges.

 

[webkit]

It's only Apple that's marking them up to insane values - the market knows the extra storage isn't worth that much.

It's not only Apple. Some companies charge even more for certain storage upgrades than Apple. Looking at the MSRPs listed on the SellCell chart:
The 1TB Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was $240 higher than the 512GB.
The 1TB Google Pixel 8 Pro was $220 higher than the 512GB.
The 1TB iPhone 15 Pro was $200 higher than the 512GB.

In this comparison, Apple actually had the lowest storage upgrade price of the three.

 

[Bigg Macc]

People are already ditching iPhone 15?

 

[MNWildFan]

Ok, the 15s are not even a year old yet and yet someone is tracking resale value already?

WHY???

 

[webkit]

People are already ditching iPhone 15?

Sure, just as some quickly "ditched” the iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, X, 8, 7, etc. There are a variety of reasons why some people may choose to try to sell a phone within the first few months.

 

[webkit]

Ok, the 15s are not even a year old yet and yet someone is tracking resale value already?

WHY???

I think they may be attempting to use it as a gauge of how various smartphone models will depreciate longer term, including comparing against previous generation models.

For example:
If the iPhone 15 depreciated 11% less than the 14 after three months then it may similarly depreciate less after one year, two years, three years, etc.

If the iPhone 15 depreciated 35% less than the Galaxy S23 after three months then it may similarly depreciate less after one year, two years, three years, etc.

 

[svish]

iPhones always hold their value over time. Has been like this for a long time.

 

[selw0nk]

But Apple never gives good trade in deals for iPhones compared to Samsung when they a release a new flagship.