Which phone will retain its value better over 2 years?

[Reminisce32]

I like to upgrade every two years, and the phone I buy this year will be heavily influenced by how much of its resale value is retained after the usual two-year contract.

I care more about saving money and staying at least 2 years current than having a better phone at one point but not being able to upgrade as often.

I've bought an iPhone every two years for the past 6 years, and can usually sell it for a little more than what I paid with a two year contract ($200) easily on eBay.

Any chance that either a Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, or HTC One hold this type of value after two years? If it makes any difference in terms of value, my situation usually involves selling a locked AT&T Phone.

Thanks!

 

[MRU]

If just recovering the 'heavily subsidised carrier pricing' is important to you, then Yes keep a flagship android device in good condition and you should be able to sell a Note 4 in two years for $200 ....

But if your talking maximising 'unsubsidised' pricing then likely an iPhone will hold a little better price wise - but your likely to be paying more initially regardless.

 

[CEmajr]

An iPhone would hold more value over a 2 year period but those 3 phones should all be able to hold at least $200 of value after 2 years.

 

[Reminisce32]

An iPhone would hold more value over a 2 year period but those 3 phones should all be able to hold at least $200 of value after 2 years.

If the Galaxy Note 4 costs $300 with a contract, as the iPhone 6 Plus will, how much do you think each of those two might go for on ebay in 2 years?

 

[CEmajr]

If the Galaxy Note 4 costs $300 with a contract, as the iPhone 6 Plus will, how much do you think each of those two might go for on ebay in 2 years?

The 6 plus is difficult to judge since Apple hasn't had a more expensive iPhone before. So I'm speculating on that one based off the assumption that it will be a little higher than the regular iPhone 6.

Assuming your carrier is not Sprint:

Note 4: $190-230
iPhone 6+: $270-320

 

[Shanghaichica]

The iPhone.

 

[Cnasty]

Just sold a year old, mint Note 3 for $355 if that gives you and info to help in your decision.

 

[HiDEF]

iPhone generally retains it's value over Android devices.

 

[Dontazemebro]

iPhone generally retains it's value over Android devices.

This. If retail value down the line is your one determining factor, then no other phone holds its value as well as an iPhone.

 

[Markyboy81]

You may be better off waiting a few months and getting a note 4 at reduced price - either new or 2nd hand. With apple prices rarely come down when the device is current, which is great if you buy straight away but not so good if you buy mid cycle.

 

[2298754]

I like to upgrade every two years, and the phone I buy this year will be heavily influenced by how much of its resale value is retained after the usual two-year contract.

I care more about saving money and staying at least 2 years current than having a better phone at one point but not being able to upgrade as often.

I've bought an iPhone every two years for the past 6 years, and can usually sell it for a little more than what I paid with a two year contract ($200) easily on eBay.

Any chance that either a Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, or HTC One hold this type of value after two years? If it makes any difference in terms of value, my situation usually involves selling a locked AT&T Phone.

Thanks!

Nothing touches an iPhone for resale, but various Samsung products come the closest.

LG and HTC are worthless after a year. The M8 is already selling for $75-100 less than the equivalent GS5 in my area. I can get $250 for my mint GS4, but the HTC M7 struggles to get even $175.

 

[pdqgp]

In the US likely the iPhone given it's dominance here. Elsewhere that could likely be a different story.

 

[mattopotamus]

The 6 plus is difficult to judge since Apple hasn't had a more expensive iPhone before. So I'm speculating on that one based off the assumption that it will be a little higher than the regular iPhone 6.

Assuming your carrier is not Sprint:

Note 4: $190-230
iPhone 6+: $270-320

This. All of this is assuming phones stay $650+ off contract. I honestly think they may go down in price over the next few years. We already see some premium device selling lower (nexus, one plus, moto)

 

[thering1975]

in the UK a galaxy s4 via Mazuma wil get you £150, a Iphone 5s will get you £250

 

[Max(IT)]

Any android phone after two years worths about zero .... No matter how good it was at the launch

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Any android phone after two years worths about zero .... No matter how good it was at the launch

Note 2 is still going for $240 and up.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Any android phone after two years worths about zero .... No matter how good it was at the launch

No it's not. It's not worth as much as an iPhone launched at the same time or even an older iPhone but it isn't worth zero. I sold my original galaxy note in 2013 when it was two years old and got £180/ $290.

 

[Markyboy81]

IPhones retain their value better IF:
You buy immediately or shortly after the newest version is released, and then sell it before the next version is released.
However, whilst the newest version is for sale, it rarely reduces in price. For example you could pay full price for the iphone 5S on the 8th september, then by the 20th September it'd be worth a lot less, as the 6 would have been released.

Conversely, with samsung for example, you could wait a few months for the price of the note 4 to drop (which it will), and then sell it sometime next year before the note 5 is released and probably not lose too much.
So it's not quite cut and dry.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

The Lumia 520 can be found for as low as $40, and some people say that it's a nicer phone than the 630 that's supposed to be both newer and better. You could probably resell it in 2 years for less than a $20 loss, but somehow I don't think that's the phone you had in mind

 

[McCool71]

Any chance that either a Galaxy Note 4, LG G3, or HTC One hold this type of value after two years?

Probably not since these manufacturers often do a significant upgrade to their flagship models once a year. Apple does not do that every year, so the value will fall less sharply - especially when the yearly upgrade is a slight improvement over last year's model, which they do more or less every other year.

The Galaxy Note series holds it value quite well - until the next one arrives. There is very little money to save if you are going to buy it within the first 9-10 months anyway. The price in Norway for a new Galaxy Note 3 (without contract) right now is not that different from what I paid a year ago - maybe 10% less. As soon as the Note 4 arrives though - and especially when Note 5 is on the horizon - the price will probably drop significantly.

 

[ritholtz]

Iphone and Note. Is $250 for no contract 16gb ATT Iphone 5 good price to purchase?

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Nothing touches an iPhone for resale, but various Samsung products come the closest.

LG and HTC are worthless after a year. The M8 is already selling for $75-100 less than the equivalent GS5 in my area. I can get $250 for my mint GS4, but the HTC M7 struggles to get even $175.

Unlocked LG G2 refurb was going for $230 a week back on ebay.