Anyone looking to sell their current smartphone and trade it in for something new this year may be in for a shock. An in-depth new report from US company SellCell reveals the worst depreciating devices, and Android once again lags far behind the iPhone. In fact, the top 10 phones with the least value loss since launch were all Apple, and all lost less than 40%.
This compares to the fact that many Android devices are worth up to 80% less than when they were first released.
Apple’s devices have a long tradition of maintaining superior value over their rivals, but this latest report reveals the true size of the gap between iPhone and Android.
Among all devices launched in the last three years, the iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 ranges all top the list in terms of current trade-in value, according to SellCell.
For example, the 18-month-old iPhone 13 Pro Max has lost only 39% of its value, while the iPhone 12, launched in 2020, has lost 57%.
That’s lost a whopping 85% of its original value when compared to devices like the Galaxy S20, also launched in 2020.
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Other Android devices that have seen big drops include Samsung’s foldable Galaxy Z Flip3, Google’s flagship Pixel 6 Pro, and the premium Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
The best performing Android device was last year’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, which bucked the trend by losing 58.2% in price. That’s much higher than the iPhone, but much better than its other Android cousins.
The best and worst phones to lose money
• iPhone 14 Pro Max • 26.9% drop
• iPhone 13 Pro Max • 39% drop
• iPhone 12 Pro • 55.5 FALL
• Samsung S22 Ultra • 58.8% drop
• Google Pixel 6 • 67.4% drop
• Samsung Z Flip3 • 76.1% drop
• Samsung Galaxy S20 • 85.8% drop
Read more: Are you excited about the new Galaxy S23? You can get £1,000 free from Samsung
Sell Cell said of the latest stats: It will be released fairly quietly, but its value may hold for months.
“iPhone arguably holds the best value of any other handset. For smartphones launched in the last three years, the iPhone 14 Pro Max 128GB has been priced at MSRP since its launch in September 2022. Only 26.9% was lost, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max 128 GB was just abandoned: 39.9% of the value from January to December 2021.”
“For Android smartphones released in the last three years, the best performing in terms of depreciation is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB, which has lost 58.2% of its value since launch. The Pixel 6a is Google’s most valuable It is a mobile phone, losing 66.6%, and we have realized its high value since its launch in July 2022.”
Android clearly has some big advantages over Apple, such as a more open operating system that offers additional customization and the ability to download apps from outside the official store. These phones can also be a lot cheaper, and more manufacturers are launching Android-powered call makers, so you have more options.
However, if you want a smartphone that retains its value longer, Apple’s iPhone seems to continue to be your go-to.