This is why it is financially foolish to buy any brand new phone post-2020 unless you're getting a trade-in deal.I bought a brand-new iPhone 15 ProMax back in November 2023 for around $1,380, and now, in May 2025, it is only valued at $630. This is absolutely ridiculous.
This is not 2019, my friend. Post 2020 pretty much all non-budget smartphones can EASILY last someone 5 years minimum if taken care of. No one should be replacing their fully functional phone after just 2 years, arguably even 3.Given that the typical expected lifespan for a phone is 2-3 years, you're approximately 50% into that time-frame so 50% retained value sounds about right.
There is nothing rediculous [sic] about the used value of iPhones.Hi there,
I bought a brand-new iPhone 15 ProMax back in November 2023 for around $1,380, and now, in May 2025, it is only valued at $630. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPhone 15 ProMax, but a devaluation of more than 50% in just 18 months is just not acceptable.
Apple, with their annual and permanent releases of new devices is forcing customers to permanently purchasing new iPhones and Macs almost every year.
The iPhone 15 Plus is still available at the Mac Store, not so all the Pro models.
Maybe this will be my last iPhone Pro model I ever purchased.
My Apple History:
Since the release of the original iPhone back in 2007 I only used iPhones.
Since 1993 I exclusively used Macs, notebooks and desktops, iMacs.
But I am really getting tired of all their insane and greedy product upgrade strategy.
Good luck to all of you - and choose wisely.
I'm not talking about how long they can last, I am talking about the intended lifespan of the device both for tax deduction purposes, phone plan purposes and budget planning purposes.This is not 2019, my friend. Post 2020 pretty much all non-budget smartphones can EASILY last someone 5 years minimum if taken care of. No one should be replacing their fully functional phone after just 2 years, arguably even 3.
well that’s up to you!forcing customers to permanently purchasing new iPhones and Macs almost every year
But that's my point…for budget planning purposes, get a last-gen used phone and save 30-50% of the cost and then keep it for 5+ years. A phone that retails at $1000 that you instead buy for $600 a year later when it's not brand new has instantly resulted in a $400 savings for you by comparison. And if you keep your $600 phone for 5 years then you're spending an average of $120 a year instead of foolishly spending $1000 (which would come out to anywhere from $166/year if you kept if for 6 years and $200/year if you kept it for 5).I'm not talking about how long they can last, I am talking about the intended lifespan of the device both for tax deduction purposes, phone plan purposes and budget planning purposes.
Push your phone to 5, 7 or whatever years.
It doesn't make it worth any more second-hand when the value for tax/depreciaton/software lifecycle/budget purposes is 50%.
Where do you think used phones come from?But that's my point…for budget planning purposes, get a last-gen used phone and save 30-50% of the cost and then keep it for 5+ years. A phone that retails at $1000 that you instead buy for $600 a year later when it's not brand new has instantly resulted in a $400 savings for you by comparison. And if you keep your $600 phone for 5 years then you're spending an average of $120 a year instead of foolishly spending $1000 (which would come out to anywhere from $166/year if you kept if for 6 years and $200/year if you kept it for 5).
...
Apple, with their annual and permanent releases of new devices is forcing customers to permanently purchasing new iPhones and Macs almost every year.
Also, this is another brand new poster, ranting, or just posting then never coming back. Yawn...
Actually, I think they are assets. Depreciating assets.Apple products are not assets. Frankly, they're like a car: If you want the best value, buy used.
As with many consumption goods, the price paid for a smart phone is part fashion value, part functional value & in some places also part scarcity value.Hi there,
I bought a brand-new iPhone 15 ProMax back in November 2023 for around $1,380, and now, in May 2025, it is only valued at $630. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPhone 15 ProMax, but a devaluation of more than 50% in just 18 months is just not acceptable.
Apple, with their annual and permanent releases of new devices is forcing customers to permanently purchasing new iPhones and Macs almost every year.
The iPhone 15 Plus is still available at the Mac Store, not so all the Pro models.
Maybe this will be my last iPhone Pro model I ever purchased.
My Apple History:
Since the release of the original iPhone back in 2007 I only used iPhones.
Since 1993 I exclusively used Macs, notebooks and desktops, iMacs.
But I am really getting tired of all their insane and greedy product upgrade strategy.
Good luck to all of you - and choose wisely.
You do understand that *you* don't need to buy new phones for the used market to exist...right?Where do you think used phones come from?
I always admire the Apple life story, “I’ve been a customer for decades and owned everything but I’ve finally had enough” portions. A must for troll posts.My favourite thing about these rants is where they claim Apple is forcing them to upgrade. What? How? Your iPhone 15 Pro Max is still perfectly fine, better in fact than almost any other model previous because it supports Apple Intelligence so it’ll survive even longer when AI gets actually good and not a gimmick.
The updates would only be “needless” if everyone bought their phones at the same time.You do understand that *you* don't need to buy new phones for the used market to exist...right?
However, I still think everyone should stop buying new phones for a few years. Force Apple and others to stop making needless "updates" from year to year. It'd be better for the economy and the environment.
But mindless consumers gonna consume mindless...
I thought that isn’t available anymore.iPhones are not investments... If you want a new iPhone every year without having to worry about trade in prices, get the iPhone upgrade program.
I have to say, as someone who had to replace their broken 11 Pro, this used 15 Pro is to me the first iPhone that somewhat deserves to be called „Pro“. I was always susceptible to micro stutters but this Pro Motion screen is a godsend, the outdoor brightness incredible and the bezels don’t bother me as much. Horizontal Face ID is often very handy and the DI good to have. The Ultra Wide camera is actually useful. The 3x telephoto very appreciated. USB C is a game changer in a household with an Android user, MacBooks and other recent electronics. The buttons feel better than they ever did on any previous iPhone. 5G is great. The speakers, so far, didn’t degrade with time. Loading times are a thing of the past for almost all apps. And 128gb base storage is a no brainer.The value of the phone is not in resale but in actual usefulness for your lifestyle, job or else. An iPhone is a tool, use it until it serves you and replace when you feel it doesn’t. Still cannot find a single reason to upgrade my iPhone 11 Pro, apart from better cameras. Same apps, almost same speed, few new options that I would rarely use… basically that’s it. At this point I dunno, as you pointed out 1200€+ for a new phone is still 1200€+…